Smiles have been linked to a long list of positive traits, ranging from attractiveness to success. The act of smiling can even make someone feel genuine joy. Unfortunately, the majority of people are unhappy with their pearly whites. A recent survey found that 60% of people hate their own smile.1
The practice of emotional dentistry aims to help patients feel more confident with their smiles and oral health. Mastering the art of emotional dentistry can be a big boon for your dental practice.
Emotional Dentistry in a Nutshell
Emotional dentistry is understanding how important an attractive smile is to someone and helping them achieve that smile through customized recommendations and treatment. It involves appealing to a patient’s desire to achieve this result and to do so in a way that demonstrates a high degree of emotional intelligence.
A dentist practicing emotional dentistry doesn’t recommend a cosmetic treatment plan solely for the sake of improving cashflow. Instead, the approach is genuine and sympathetic. Treatment plans are presented in a way that is non-judgmental and sensitive to a patient’s budget and lifestyle.
Ultimately, a patient who experiences this emotional connection will feel that their dentist is their partner and guide in helping them achieve a smile that they can’t wait to show off.
Why People Don’t Like Their Smile
We tend to be our own worst critics, and dazzling toothpaste commercials and doctored magazine cover photos can make even the most attractive among us feel insecure. Rarely does the media highlight people with less-than-perfect smiles, making the average person embarrassed about chipped, stained, and crooked teeth or other so-called “imperfections.”
Whether a patient has struggled with crooked teeth from childhood, or they have noticed discoloration and shifting as they get older, there are various treatment options that can be offered to a patient to help them achieve a perfect (or near-perfect smile).
Treatment options applicable to emotional dentistry include:
- Braces
- Veneers and bonding
- Crowns
- BridgesDental implants
- Gum contouring
- Teeth whitening
The above treatments have a cosmetic effect, but many of them are also essential for maintaining positive overall health. It’s important that patients understand that a beautiful smile isn’t just about aesthetic dentistry; there’s also an oral health component involved.
For example, a patient may be concerned about a missing tooth and desire to have an implant. A further motivation for seeking this procedure would be the knowledge that a missing tooth increases the risk of gum decay, losing more teeth, and crooked teeth.
Tools Dentists Can Use to Implement Emotional Dentistry
A patient who lacks confidence in their smile might also feel like they’re in a hopeless situation. It’s up to the dentist to educate a patient that having an attractive smile is an achievable goal.
The good news is that there are several modern tools that can assist in the area of emotional dentistry.
- Digital Smile Design (DSD): One of the best ways to instill hope in a patient is to show them what’s possible. Telling a patient, they can have a beautiful smile might sound like lip service, and it can even be perceived as a high-pressure sales tactic. Seeing the possible outcome with their very own eyes, however, can shift a patient’s perspective from one of skepticism to one of hope (or even joy). Digital Smile Design offers a virtual view of what is possible for a particular patient. It can show the final outcome of restoration and whitening procedures, for example, while also allowing the dentist to review the steps of the necessary procedures to get to the desired outcome.
- Patient Engagement Software: It’s not unusual for a patient to need to think about whether they want to proceed with a dental treatment plan. Regular follow-up and nurturing can help convince a patient that taking care of their smile is the right thing to do. Dental Intelligence helps facilitate these interactions. 2-Way Communication can send automated emails and messages that provide more information and answer commonly asked questions that the patient might not have thought of during an office visit.
Get the Tools Necessary to Benefit Your Patients
Emotional dentistry starts with a personalized patient experience. At Dental Intelligence, we provide the tools that help dentists implement and practice emotional dentistry. Schedule a demo today.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
