Does your dentist know the kinds of food you eat, your medical history, overall health, social habits and genetic path? When working toward optimal dental health, this information, along with your home care practices are all factors that should be considered when you visit your health care professional.
Knowledge of a client’s dental health is the first goal to aim for with clients, according to Dr. Walter Heidary of Pathways Dental Care. An interview with the client will answer health and behaviour-related questions to define a client’s needs. This may include dental cleaning, jaw related problems or simply fixing decayed teeth.
Achieving a healthy smile is not all that some clients want from a dental professional. It might be all that they need but some want a more attractive smile. This represents the next level of dentistry – cosmetic dentistry.
Before embarking on this next level, Dr. Heidary stresses that the mouth needs to be healthy. He is a multi-faceted dentist that deals with dental health as well as cosmetic dentistry. In fact the Pathways Dental Care website address is “desiredsmiles.com”.
Dr. Heidary suggests that clients motivated to improve the appearance of their smile might be tempted to forego a foundation of good dental health. The needs have to be covered before the wants are pursued, he explains.
“The path of the “want” can go in many directions. It’s like the ideal retirement, some want extended exotic vacations, like porcelain veneers and others want a weekend away, like a little whitening technique,” says Dr. Heidary, adding that the group of clients who want more is diverse.
An important first step along the path is an assessment of what the client wants and how they line up with treatment options. Clients are fully informed so they can make the right choices and achieve realistic outcomes, that will look good, feel good and last a long time. Cost is also a consideration that could direct the path to the desired smile.
In many cases, cosmetic dentistry is an opportunity for clients to do something for themselves, he says. With cosmetic dentistry, they can straighten crooked teeth, replace missing teeth, deal with crowded teeth, make teeth brighter and give them a new shape. Still, there is a limit to the magic that can be performed and clients need to have their expectations in line with what is achievable.
At Pathways, client care is supported by a Client Facilitator who answers any questions that the client may have once the initial assessment visit is complete. The facilitator supports the client with any concerns that may arise during the decision making process. Another of the facilitator’s roles is to ensure that the client has a realistic vision of his or her desired smile. It is important that the client understands the components of a perfect smile and that these components are in harmony with the client’s facial features.
To find out more about dental wants and needs, visit the Pathways Dental Care website at www.desiredsmiles.com.
