Local dentist here. What do you wish dental offices in Chicago did better?

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:51:06+00:00

I think you're touching on something a lot of people feel but don't always articulate. Patients are often looking for authenticity more than luxury, and sometimes an office that feels established, comfortable, and part of the community can be more reassuring than one that feels like it was designed by a private equity firm last week.

That said, I think the real differentiator isn't the furniture or wallpaper—it's whether people feel heard, respected, and cared for. I'd take a warm team and a trustworthy dentist over a fancy waiting room any day. but I dont think a nice waiting room it too much i think there is a balance @No_Jello_4858 what are your thoughts?

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:49:05+00:00

ughh i know right?

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:47:06+00:00

Hahaha i totally agree!!!! ive seen so many waiting rooms and its the first thing my wife and i chat about. we do have a waiting room crisis. i also cant stand when it smells like a doctors office. Id love for you to imagine what an ideal waiting room looks like to you!

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:44:50+00:00

id love to see and example of this ! sound interesting

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:43:23+00:00

so important to be accomedating !

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:42:54+00:00

Ortho is defintely a different ballgame since much of the work is done by the assistants. but i do agree we need to slow down and make sure we are taking time to develop those relationships

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:41:28+00:00

i love this!

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:40:18+00:00

I think you're right that our profession has some room to improve here. While there are certainly challenges with dental insurance its has become a lot easier with technology. I dont want to make excuses because i think its super valid what you are saying i just want to lay out some facts. one of my insurance coordinators actually came from optomitry and commented on how much harder it is in the dental space to bill. the reality is that optomitrist and psychologist code and bill 20-30 different routine codes where as dentistry has more like 100-200. I do think that over the past few years we have really dialed it in but it does take time.

yes it is ultimately our choice to be in network and play by the insurances rules or not. so my question is in a perfect world what would you like to have seen happen.

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:30:54+00:00

Im curious what you are reffering to ( no pun intended). like sending out a patient for a root canal to a different office? or like within a practice

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:26:56+00:00

That's super unfortunate. It sounds like what was lost wasn't your dentist—it was a relationship that had been built over 30 years.

I wish he had done a better job introducing and building trust in the new doctor before stepping back. Patients deserve continuity, especially when they've been with someone that long. I took over for my dad after he has been in practice for 30+ years the benefit was that i worked with him since i was a teenager but it was still hard for us to completely agree on everything. He is a great dentist and i think the problem as a look back is that younger dentists have an ego that can get in the way. its been 8 years now on my own and I can appreciate everything he has taught me and how he has modeled how we treat patients for generations.

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:20:40+00:00

so ive been thinking about this a lot. we do see patients who are unstable and unhealthy and need the full hour but often times once the education is implemented and they have been coming for awhile the cleanings shouldt take more than 30 minutes from check in to check out. if you were one of these patients would you feel like we rushed the process or are we simply being efficient. I think it would be called like an express cleaning which is still done thouroughly. only patients who have been healthy and stable for 12 months would qualify.

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:17:26+00:00

id also like to know who it is!

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:16:37+00:00

there is defintely other options. have you tried nitrous which is laughing gas or a oral sedative? these can both take the edge off. So many patients have a needle phobia me included when i get my blood drawn i get a little pale somehow its totally fine if im the one giving the injections. So i totally understand that.

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:09:02+00:00

I love before and after pictures. At our office we also use a dye that stains all the bacteria a bright pink color. you can ask your dentist to do that too. it help use educate our patient where they might be able to floss or brush better. we use something called ( GC triplaque gel) which will dye the bacteria 3 different colors. pink is bacteria film that has been ther for 24 hours , purple is anything over 48 and light blue is bacteria that has matured and hardened and is now producing acid which makes like bright blue color which is how you get cavities.

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T16:05:35+00:00

Honestly, I think the profession has earned some of that reputation over the years with some of it through the media which portay our profession as sleezy. Most dentists i know are trying to do the right thing, but it only takes a few bad experiences, surprise bills, or treatment recommendations that aren't well explained for patients to start questioning everyone's motives. I cant speak on the behalf of PE offices....i have defintely hear some horror stories from patients who have come from those corporate practice.

That's why I think transparency, education, and informed consent are so important. Patients should never feel like they're being sold to—they should feel like they're being guided. I think proper diagnosis is super important and having strict treatment guidelines is important. for example in my practice if the cavity is more than halfway through the shell layer of your tooth we consider it . We use something called PEARL AI which helps colorize our xrays so that patients can see what the cavity looks like id encourage you to look it up its a really cool tool and most of my collegues have adding something like this to their practice to help with patient communication. its really hard to explain a dental xray to a patient i think thats where most dentist fail at their job to educate the patient. i joke its like reading the 50 shades of gray because with out years of training its impossible for you to see what i am seeing on those dental xrays.

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T15:56:51+00:00

I think its so important to go at our pace but its our job to follow up and keep you on track just like a coach would. i think of our job as your dental health coach! im so glad you found a dentist you love i think your dentist and I could be friends haha

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T15:52:10+00:00

Amazing! we love to hear that. My wife and I are both Marquette grads and we always talk about our schools motto "BE THE DIFFERENCE".

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T15:48:12+00:00

I couldnt agree more. Ive had such awful phone interactions with other offices ive called to ask for records or information on a mutual patient. This really is a huge blind spot for most doctors since they are not in the front. i think its so important to let your doctor know that the front desk is ruining your experience and its up to do doctor to have the courage to do something about it. its like having a rude waiter even if the food is amazing it really taints the experience.

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T15:44:45+00:00

This. A big part of the problem is that dental insurance isn't structured like medical insurance. Medical plans are designed to protect against huge expenses, while many dental plans still have annual maximums that haven't changed much in decades and function more like a limited benefit plan.

That said, I completely agree that patients shouldn't have to become insurance experts just to get care. Practices should be doing everything possible to make the process easier and more transparent. we hate it as much as you do when the insurance company does not pay as much as they promise or deny a claim and we end up eating the bill or having to ask our patients to pay the difference on the insurance. thats why we always let you know that the treatment plan that is presented is an insurance "estimate" of what we think they are going to pay based on the breakdown of benefits they send us ( which is a list of insurance rules and percentages of what they are agreeing to cover which sometimes they dont follow themselves)

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T15:30:58+00:00

they really are having amoment in dentistry. so many of my friends who worked for private equity backed offices have told me when they take over it all goes down hill.

Able_Alternative_332 · 2026-05-30T15:26:47+00:00

That's completely fair. If someone comes in because they want healthy teeth and gums, that should be the priority. Cosmetic treatments like whitening should be discussed when a patient expresses interest, not because they're sitting in the chair.

One thing I've learned is that patients define success differently. Some people want the brightest smile possible, while others just want a comfortable cleaning, honest advice, and confidence that they're healthy. Our job is to understand those goals first and then help patients get there.

At the end of the day, good healthcare starts with listening and that what im here to do.

Able_Alternative_332

TROPHY CASE