Great expectations

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Posted by: Dental Design 16th September 2021

It’s no secret that expectations are higher today than they have ever been. With the rapid development of technology, greater access to information and innovative solutions for nearly everything in life, people have come to expect speed, efficiency and quality in all areas. Their dental care is no different, with many patients looking for evermore impressive results in the most convenient way – regardless of their starting condition. While clinicians have a diverse armamentarium from which to draw innovative techniques, materials and technologies, managing patients’ expectations is critical to ensure informed consent and patient satisfaction. This is particularly important when offering more advanced treatments, such as dental implants.

Rose-coloured glasses

There are several reasons why patient expectations are so high today. Societal beauty standards are constantly encouraging individuals to look a certain way, with fad trends often setting unobtainable aesthetic goals for the majority of people. Whether individuals don’t appreciate how much work is needed to achieve a certain aesthetic, or they don’t realise how much of what they see is digitally edited, this can cause them to seek results that are simply not possible.

Widespread access to information on all the dental treatments now available can also lead patients to pursue a procedure that is not suitable for them. Several barriers may exist to certain treatments, including facial anatomy, current dental condition, time availability and personal finances. Only by consulting a trained dental professional will appropriate treatment be determined.

Keeping it real

While it may seem very flattering that patients put so much faith in their dental team to totally transform their smiles, it can be detrimental to their care and the practice’s reputation. People will often form a picture in their minds of what they want to look like after dental treatment. If this picture is not communicated or realistic, the dental team will be fighting a losing battle from the very beginning. If the expected results are not delivered, patients may become disheartened and lose interest in their oral health. Unhappy patients will also tell others of their experience, which could create a barrier to new patients and impact business growth.

As such, it is essential to understand exactly what patients wish to achieve through implant treatment. This requires trust between patient and practitioner, as well as two-way communication. Many clinicians utilise state-of-the-art technologies in the planning stages of treatment, as these can significantly improve patient understanding for informed consent and more realistic expectations. For instance, treatment simulation software can provide a digital mock-up of the predicted final result so patients know what their smile could look like. A physical mock-up may also be provided with temporary materials or restorations in the mouth, so patients can see their estimated final smile in the mirror. For obvious reasons, this is especially important when approaching full-arch reconstruction.

In any situation, it’s important to make the right information easily accessible so patients can review it in their own time. Everything should be communicated in a way that they understand and will engage with, and the dental team should do what they can to remain approachable and encourage questions from patients. In doing so, patient expectations can be more closely managed and their satisfaction with the final outcome optimised.

Maximising standards

It almost goes without saying that patient management comes second to delivering the highest standard of clinical care. In any situation, meticulous treatment planning, use of cutting-edge solutions and clinician skill will ensure that the very best results can be achieved for the individual. This is especially true in implantology, where patients are required to make a substantial investment of time, money and commitment to oral health – which means they often have even higher expectations for treatment! The importance of their at-home oral hygiene can never be impressed upon them enough and this also helps to put some of the expectation and accountability back on them.

Aside from this, the implant systems employed can influence treatment results substantially. In many cases, the aesthetic challenges, when combined with function and durability goals, require a flexible system that can be adapted in very specific ways. For instance, the Axiom^Ò Multi Level^Ò implant system from Anthogyr provides a highly versatile and accessible solution designed to optimise predictability of treatment in everyday practice. See for yourself by signing up for a Test Drive today!

Anthogyr Test Drive

Putting you in the driving seat, the Anthogyr Test Drive provides a fantastic opportunity to trial the system in your own hands, in your own practice. The programme includes:

- One day use of the Axiom Surgical Kit
- One complementary Anthogyr implant
- Support from a Territory Manager on the day of surgery
- Half price restorative components on selected items

No surprises

Ultimately, the aim of the game is to minimise the potential for any negative surprises during treatment so that patients know exactly what to expect throughout. With education and communication, even the highest of patient expectations can be made more realistic, ensuring every patient is more than satisfied with their treatment results.

For more information and to book your Anthogyr Test Drive, visit www.anthogyr-uk.co/testdrive

Putting you in the driving seat, the Anthogyr Test Drive provides a fantastic opportunity to trial the system in your own hands, in your own practice. The programme includes: