This past Friday was in many ways “just a typical” day in the office and yet at the same time, it was quite extraordinary.

My hygienist and I were both busy treating patients and there were two new patients in the reception area filling out necessary paperwork (don’t you just love all the questions?); when suddenly I heard a happy commotion coming from the front desk.  Two of my dear patients, James and Luz stopped by to say Hi and show off their beautiful 4-month old daughter.

Excusing myself from the treatment room (no, I didn’t leave someone in the dental chair with his mouth gaping open filled with cotton and yes, I completed the planned procedure) I greeted and embraced the two new parents who were already being swarmed by my excited staff.

In the midst of such an enthusiastic expression of joy, I acknowledged and introduced myself to our new patients when the doorbell rang and in came Ray, a longstanding patient of 26 years, who had an hour to kill before a job interview and decided to drop by to visit and eat his bagel before moving on to his appointment. (For clarification, Ray lives outside of the city and did not want to be late or stressed about being late and no, he did not bring bagels for anyone else.) While all of this was going on, my just-dismissed patient came out of the treatment room and joined in the spontaneous revelry.

I couldn’t help but notice that my new patients were taking this all in with smiles on their faces. And that’s the essence of what is so extraordinary about our practice….people feel at home. Whether they come by for treatment (which by the way is the most common reason for their visits) or they drop in to say hello or show off their babies or even to bring in baked goodies, our patients feel at home here.

Home is where one feels safe, secure, cared for and welcome. To create a home for patients is our signature; if you will, it is our raison d’être.

Thoughts of dental treatment do not inspire warm and fuzzy feelings.  Thoughts of home do.  So think of our office as your dental home. It may sound corny (do people still use that expression?), but that’s truly the atmosphere I strive to engender. I think perhaps I’ve been successful!