BACKGROUND
The Dental Button System’s success is based on the now well-understood field of psychology and the related impact to Dental anxiety.
“Previous experience of pain is a significant factor in current pain experience. Both classical and operant conditioning has been implicated in the etiology of pain via the association of behavior and pain. In classical conditioning theory a particular situation or environment may become associated with pain (e.g. the dentist) and therefore provoke increased anxiety and pain perception.” -- Health Psychology, Michael Murray et al
As doctors of dentistry, we are skilled in building rapport and performing our craft without pain. What we cannot do is eliminate or greatly reduce the sensations of drilling on teeth, or adequately deal with anxieties based on previous experiences, imaginary fears, and/or fear of negative consequences for patients. By sharing a form of control during a procedure, The Dental Button System has proven to reduce patient anxiety between 50-80% and also increase Dentist productivity by up to 30% with less interrupted procedures and also fewer last minute cancellations due to anxiety.
"my fear was that patients would be clicking the button shutting off the hand piece at every moment. I thought it would slow my procedures to a crawl. In fact, I have experienced quite the opposite - my procedures have actually gone faster because of the dental button." - Dr C Go, CA (US)
Patient apprehension and hence pain perception is related to locus of control. In dentistry, the locus of control is with the doctor. While the patient is assured that when they raise their hand the dentist will stop, they still do not have the locus of control, even though they trust their dentist. Without the locus of control, many patients have anxiety that directly relates to their perception of pain. The more anxiety, the more it hurts.
"I have noticed patients are much more relaxed and comfortable in the chair. I have noticed I can do procedures much quicker thus allowing the patient to be done much quicker" - Dr K Postal, MO (US)
The Dental Button System gives the patient the locus of control and has proven successful in reducing procedure disruption and increasing patient trust. It involves patients in their own care, giving them a sense of control and ultimately rendering better patient outcomes.
"When the locus of control is placed with the patient, studies consistently show less anxiety, better pain management and faster healing times/discharge times.” -- Royal college of Surgeons and Anesthetists, 1990.
The Dental Button System can be correlated with similar medical devices that have been around for a number of years. Bowers in 1968 showed that an individual endures more pain when they control the pain-stimulus on/off switch than when it is controlled by someone else. This concept relates to the development of patient controlled (PCA) or self-administered analgesia, in the management of post-operative pain and in palliative care. PCA resulted in patients administering less analgesic morphine than when it was controlled and administered by nurses or through continuous infusion. By means of a simple push button mechanism, the patient is allowed to self-determine “the need” to temporarily halt a dental procedure instantly with The Dental Button System. Where previously hands would have been raised in anticipation of pain, patients report being comforted with the security The Dental Button System provides and hence rarely choose to halt the procedure.
SO WHAT IS THE DENTAL BUTTON SYSTEM
The Dental Button system puts the ability to safely and remotely stop the dental drill in the hands of a patient, giving the patient a sense of control, instantly reducing fear and anxiety. While this brings thoughts of patients controlling the dentist; in fact the reverse is true, since few patients want to actually interrupt a dental professional.
Through a one year trial of the Dental Button System, the physiological benefit has proven to lower patient anxiety by between 50% - 80% (with reports up to 100%). Due to the patient comfort provided, more go without interruption at all resulting in a productivity gain of up to 30% on certain procedures. Fewer rescheduled appointments are required due to patients becoming over-whelmed, and lower numbers of missed appointments, or last minute cancellations due to patient fear, are experienced in the office.
This product is not for every Dentist. Those with a disbelief of the psychological impact to medicine of patient control, or those not subscribing to the value of operating with patient centricity (which is now the differentiating modus operandi of many) to gain market share and grow their business will resist the Dental Button System.
"every claim that the dental button it says it is going to do is true. Patients are very, very happy that I have it. Several patients have told me their freinds are asking their own dentists to get it and say, if they don't, they are going to switch" - Dr M White, MO (US)
It is well documented that fear drives 50% of the population not to receive regular oral health*, with between 9%-20% stated as avoiding the dentist through fear and anxiety*; 85% experience anxiety on a scale of 7 out of 10 or above. With fearful patients taking up to one third more time to manage, and dental anxiety leading to a high turnover of the typical customer base, the Dental Button System is an answer for your office.
Never has the dental business been more competitive and the economic times so severe. The need to retain and attract more patients whilst also increasing dentist and dental chair productivity is critical. During the trials, 90% of patients indicated informing their friends of their improved dental experience. The Dental Button System is one of the highest returns on investment you will make towards increased productivity.
"the dental button is definitely the next piece of the puzzle in separating your practice from the one down the street. The dental spa movement seems to have come and gone. Sedation is popular, but it has its share of inherent risk and hassles. 'Are we still catering to cowards'" - Dr M Levy, OH (US)
With costs and insurance risk growing for sedation dentistry and the highly publicized sedation deaths of dental patients, the state dental boards are trying to restrict the use of sedation. The Dental Button System is a perfect solution! The Dental Button is a low cost answer to anxiety control for all patients that is proven effective, completely non-invasive and has no ongoing, reoccurring or maintenance cost.
It is seamlessly integrated into the dental operatory. The dental technician will have you up and running in no time and with a zero learning curve, reaping the benefits immediately.
The Dental Button system is manufactured in the USA with certified medical grade components and engineered to provide a life time of maintenance free operation—designed to outlast your dental chair. The technology consists of a hand held patient push button, a dentist reset switch (with optional mounting styles) and a small control box.
Installation is a 30 minute retrofit to most pneumatic chairs with the small control box mounted inside the delivery system. The Dental Button System allows the air flow to be terminated between the source and the hand piece by the patient instantly, with a dentist reset system to re-establish the airflow allowing the procedure to continue when the doctor and patient are satisfied.
"it was a simply install and everything you need was in the kit" - prominent dental equipment and supply company.
Patients are seeking dentists that use the Dental Button System and upon purchase, your practice name and contact information will be uploaded to our patient web site.
A media kit will ship with The Dental Button system, helping you to accelerate your growth and leverage your investment with potential and existing patients. The media kit includes a press release for your local newspaper, tabletop display for your reception area, patient letter and marketing post card for your patients explaining your new offering and the benefit of this effective, anxiety-reducing device.
REFERENCES
* American Hygienist Assn. 2/03
* Pain Control after Surgery - Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA): Post Operative Pain Relief in the Patient's Hand by Susan Spinasanta, Senior Medical Writer, Spine Universe
* Sechzer, PH (1971). "Studies in pain with the analgesic-demand system". Anesthesia and analgesia 50 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1213/00000539-197101000-00001. ISSN 0003-2999. PMID 5100236.
* Fast Fact and Concept #085: Epidural Analgesia, End of Life/Palliative Education Resource Center, Medical College of Wisconsin
* Loeser, John David; Bonica, John J.; Butler, Stephen H.; Chapman, C. Richard (2001), Bonica's Management of Pain (3 ed.), Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 772, ISBN 0683304623
* Health Psychology by david marks, Brian Evans Michael muray, Carla Willig, Cailine Woodall, Catherine marie sykes,
* Reference : WebMD - Jay H. Rosoff, DDS 3/07 - Reviewed by Columbia college of Dentistry
