Wow! What did I just say?
Well, alchemy is as applicable to dentistry and healthcare as it is to anything in life. It’s an all encompassing way of thinking AND operating, and a practice,; I believe to be incredibly fundamental given the world as it is today. We’re no longer living in a world of ‘tell me what to do doctor’. It’s rapidly become a DIY kind of time and granted, even though many people cannot perform their own dentistry, they can and do look into what their options are. This combined what they intuitively know about their needs in addition to what the doctor incorporates, makes for a very integrative approach.
Did you happen to notice that I did not mention changing your techniques?
There have been plenty of times when I mention Integrative or Holistic and the doctor or staff members begin to cringe because they think I’m talking about changing materials, revamping the office and, and, and …… I’m not. I believe in working with what you have. We have the technology we do for a reason. Otherwise, those who developed them wouldn’t have been given the skills to create such highly effective tools. The key to keeping what you have while saying you have a Holistic / Integrative Practice is to listen to your patients as a whole as well as individually. As dental professionals, we are there to serve, by paying attention to what they collectively and personally want, and guiding them to see us as their best professional choice.
With this said, I offer a few additional suggestions for consideration:
1) Nutritional support ~ there’s no mistaking the role food plays in our health and well-being. The goal is to assist our patients with understanding the value to eating with intent and using meal time to support their full scale wellness. The benefits to offering this is twofold: the staff gradually shifts their eating habits to be more in line with patient recommendations PLUS we’re raising a healthier community of kids because when Mom and Dad are planning optimal choices, everybody wins!
2) Aromatherapy ~ sounds quacky AND it works! True essential oils have demonstrated their effectiveness for such things as anxiety, stress, pain relief, energy, air purification (antiviral and antibacterial), in addition to setting the mood. Memory is closely linked to aromas, so if for no other reason, give your patient’s an office worth remembering with a ‘scent’ lift.
3) Time ~ not much needs to be said about this other than change your perspective about not having enough time. Patients want and deserve to be the center of your attention; before, during and after a procedure. They are dying to be heard. I’m certain many are concerned that people will take advantage of this which ‘throws off the rest of the schedule’; I say, only if you let them. There is a fine line between being attentive and filling a ‘needy’ void. Create the space; be clear about what you need and want for them, and designate a staff member to address the concerns, etc during at a more appropriate time. This time is a powerful tool for building an integrative practice.
4) Acupuncture anesthesia ~ Acupuncturists around the country know how to do this; however, not many are asked. Locate one, maybe they are a patient of record, and let your patients know it’s available. This does not have to be routinely done; maybe just offered a couple days a month. See what your patients think.
5) Detox programs ~ offer classes / programs for smoking cessation, seasonal cleansing, information on why you need to take x-rays and what can be done afterward to flush the system. Again, I encourage you to find out what your patient base feels they need and create the support structure they will appreciate.
6) Community connections ~ offer the use of your office once or twice a month and allow a local healthcare practitioner to give a class. This creates synergistic relationships benefiting everyone. Holistic dentistry is more about treating the entire system than it is about incorporating ‘green’ or less toxic products. Use what you have; patients can be taught how to be proactive. In fact, it’s far more important that they learn how to care for their overall health and stop isolating one system from the other. One body; one integrated system. It’s no longer possible to treat the mouth without affecting the body and vice versa. We know perio is an inflammatory response and when left untreated OR under cared for, the patient becomes progressively sicker. This being the case, by collaborating with fellow medical professionals, you are raising the bar and affecting a positive change for the medical / dental community as well as your patients.
Above all remember, one body; one integrated system … now that’s perfection!