Whether you have been with our practice form the very inception 8 years ago or a new patient you may have noticed that State of the Art Comfort Dentistry is different in many small and large ways form the “typical” dental office. This is a story of how it came to be and a small window into the soul of my dental practice. This is form the heart.
For me, dentistry is the perfect career. It mixes my need to help people, with my interest in the sciences (especially Biology) and my natural artistic ability. I truly love being a dentist. In the late nineties when cosmetic dentistry was all the rage I spent close to a decade traveling around the country learning from the gurus of cosmetic dentistry. While I have no doubt that I helped many patients by improving their smiles, I soon discovered that there is a large number of people who have been suffering with dental fear, anxiety and full blown phobia. In fact, when people meet me for the first time and find out I am a dentist they often say “Don’t take it personally, but I HATE dentists”. Well, I do take it personally, because it offends the career that I love. While I still do a fair amount of cosmetic dentistry (in fact I believe all dentistry should be as cosmetic as possible), I decided to refocus my energy into a greater need.
8 years ago I decided to do something about people hating to go to the dentist. I stopped practicing in Glen Cove, and relocated to Smithtown, 5 minutes form my home. Instead of just building a regular dental office, I decided it will have a purpose. That purpose is to provide dentistry in the most comfortable manner possible and assemble a staff that genuinely cares about the people we treat. Compassion, empathy, kindness, caring and professionalism are the pillars of the office philosophy. Thought went into the decor, uniforms, equipment and technology. It was a very expensive undertaking. I zeroed out my bank account and mortgaged my home. I also took out a hefty loan. I decided to go all in, because I believed so strongly in the cause and the need of such a dental practice. I invested heavily into advanced technology to make my patients experience as comfortable as possible. Lasers, needlefree injections, Nitrous oxide in every treatment room (even for cleanings) became the norm not the exception in my every day practice. I spent 4 years at NSUH(North Shore University hospital) at Manhasset during my residency treating patients under general anesthesia. That experience allows me to work with anesthesiologists to provide IV sedation or sleep dentistry in my office when the need arises.
Having a clear purpose has put every staff member into the same synchronized mind set. We all know what we are about. Its not just drilling teeth and scraping tartar. I can honestly say that I finally feel fulfilled as a doctor. I know that I am truly making a difference in peoples lives. I am grateful for my wonderful staff and the hundreds of letters form patients whose lives we have made better. Although it still makes me sad that most of the phobic patients we see are a result of my colleagues errors, indifference and negligence. I regret to admit that, behind closed doors, phobic dental patients are often termed “pain in the ass patients” by some dentists. This attitude creates an atmosphere of annoyance and resentment. I take a different view. I realize that the stories must be heard, that more time needs to be spent listening, and that more effort has to be made to be gentle and empathetic. I will continue to buy every gadget that has the potential to improve the comfort of the dental care we provide. Some have been truly amazing, others disappointing. But it is an investment that I will continue to make in order to stay true to the purpose of State of the Art Comfort Dentistry.
A growing portion of my patient base is made up of people who would call themselves “holistic”. If comfort is my dental practices purpose, then health would be its paradigm. I have always been into health and abide by the “do no harm” pledge. My personal holistic life style has permeated into how I practice dentistry. I have given a lot of thought into the materials I use and the type of procedures I provide. Minimally invasive and tooth conserving dentistry is at the core of my dental paradigm. I fully appreciate that “holistic patients” want to become, and be healthy. Many have serious environmental allergies, and valid health concerns and understandably find our insure governed and Big Pharma dominated health care system wanting. They, like the phobic dental patients are eschewed by many dentists and are very dismissive of their health concerns and requirements. Like the phobic patients need to be heard and their concerns addressed. I am willing to listen, and take them seriously. I love treating my holistic patients, they are an educated consumer that do their research. In today’s health care system it is important for patients to be their own health care advocates. I have also learned a lot form my holistic patients and have improved my health in the process.
“Committed to your comfort and focused on your health” has become the office mantra. I am proud of the dental practice we have created and feel very fulfilled as both a doctor and a person.
Source: Alex Shvartsman, DDS, MAGD, founder of State of the Art Comfort Dentistry, is a Biomimetic dentist. State of the Art Comfort Dentistry is located at 260 E. Main St., Suite 109, in Smithtown. For more info, call 631-361-3577 or visit SmithtownSmiles.com.
