Being a dentist W1 in the twenty-first century is a lot more than filling and extracting teeth to satisfy patients. Their requirements are now far broader than what they were a few decades ago, and the advent of technology has brought about a different motivation for healthy teeth. The fast-paced life of the big city has meant that dentists need to be more innovative. To provide patients with the care and attention that they need to maintain a healthy mouth, dentists have to make it easier for their patients to have a consultation. Many dentists now have the facility to take bookings online and conduct a preliminary consultation using the patient’s smartphone.
Fostering relationships
Developing trust and understanding between the dentist and patient enables both to be candid with each other. This open relationship between dentist and patient allows the patient to ask questions about the prescribed treatment in a more relaxed manner. The dentist can also adopt a candid and honest approach, especially when discussing dental hygiene. Patients have become more informed and more ready to explain what they expect from their dentist. This two-way communication has given dentists the opportunity to develop a better understanding of their patients’ requirements.
Technology playing its part
The strides made in dental science coupled with the developments in technology over the past decades have resulted in major improvements in dental treatment. The additional and improved skills that dentists have acquired have led to better, more efficient and comfortable dental treatments. The ever-improving equipment and techniques have also meant that dentists have to regularly attend seminars and training, as new procedures and equipment become available. All of this is to the benefit of the patient who can experience better and new procedures. Every patient has a specific set of requirements, and the modern-day dentist will need to fulfill those needs.
Treatments going beyond dentistry
Part of a dentist’s training is the structure of the bones, skin and muscles, especially of the head and face. This has led to a more inclusive dental practice service, and more and more dentists now offer facial aesthetic treatments. For patients requiring these treatments, they can now enjoy a variety of facial procedures in a safe and sterile environment delivered by a trained clinician.
Preventive dentistry
Preventive dentistry is still the best way to maintain a healthy oral cavity, and education is one of the primary functions of any dentist today. Encouraging parents to bring their children to the dental surgery at a young age is a vital part of preventive dentistry. This allows the dentist to educate children on the correct methods of maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
A lifetime of smiles
By regularly brushing after meals, flossing at least twice a day and attending six-monthly appointments to the surgery, it is possible to maintain a healthy smile. There is nothing more rewarding than being able to send a picture of your broad smile to friends and family around the world. For a dentist, seeing a patient leave their surgery with a confident and happy smile is the greatest reward of all.
