May
We make decisions on purchases on a daily and weekly basis. Things like where to get gas, coffee, groceries, or lunch are decisions we consciously or sometimes subconsciously decide. With these products, if you will, the purchasing cycles are short. Products with short purchasing cycle are not as critical when one makes a suboptimal decision. If the salad is bad in this restaurant, simply go to the next cafe around the corner next time. Not a big deal. On the other end of the spectrum, there are products with long purchasing cycle – such as a house, a car, and appropriately for this blog: a dental procedure (or dental office). I am sure nobody signs papers on purchasing a house on a whim. And nor should anyone pick a dental office by randomly pointing to a map.
Because we know how long the “purchase cycle” is for dental procedures in general, we absolutely do not take short cuts, or use inferior products when it comes to treating our patients. We (all the doctors and our staff) pride ourselves using the best materials available, learning the latest techniques, and applying the most advanced technology to improve patient outcome and comfort. I personally hate seeing my own work fail because I take so much pride in what I do as a professional.
Even though this sounds counter-intuitive for a business that survives on repeat customers, my goal is the move patients from a diseased state to a disease free state – as efficiently, painlessly, and pleasantly as possible, with the hope that they never sit in my chair to do work again! For those who have spend countless hours in my chair: I am sure they can attest, my greatest joy is to see them in the hygienist chair every 6 months without having to see me to “fix” stuff. Because of this philosophy – we continues to get referrals and be busy with patients transferring from elsewhere.
I would like our patients to be long purchase cycle consumers. When they make a “purchase” of a filling, crown, veneers, dental implants, they are long lasting.
And no, we do not give out candy at the end of the appointment!
Alan Ko, DMD, studied Biology at Washington University in St. Louis (BA Magna Cum Laude), Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania (DMD Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s Scholarship recipient, Louis I. Grossman Award in Endodontics, and Academy of General Dentistry Award Recipient), did his residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH)/Harvard Medical School (General Practice Residency and Clinical Instructor Massachusetts General Hospital), was a guest lecturer at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Massachusetts General Hospital (General Practice Residency). Dr. Ko’s clinical focuses are craniofacial development in children, sleep/airway dentistry, TMD and occlusion, regenerative oral surgery, and reconstructive restorative/prosthetic dentistry, including Invisalign and dental implants. He is a member of the American Dental Association and Massachusetts Dental Society and has been named as Boston’s Top Dentists since 2012.
Brittany Bressler, DMD, attended the University of New Hampshire-Durham (magna cum laude, studying psychology and pre-dental studies). Then, she attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA (Doctorate in Dental Medicine). At Tufts, she was the Vice President of the local chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists. Dr. Bressler has been named one of Boston Magazine’s Top Dentists for the last four years.
Saeed Kashefi, DMD, FAGD, attended Harvard University (Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Literature and Creative Writing, cum laude), the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (doctorate, cum laude: He also won the JR Schmidt Fixed Prosthodontics Award), and the BWH/ Harvard-Wide General Practice Residency Program in Hospital Dentistry (residency and fellowship). He stayed on the BWH staff before taking over as clinician attending at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where he served for 16 years. Dr. Kashefi was also the Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine during this time. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Dentists and Academy of General Dentistry.
Cristina Hantavis MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed and certified Speech and Language Pathologist with extensive training in orofacial myology. She believes that oral health is deeply connected to our general health and takes a holistic approach that targets the whole body by working with the muscles of the face and mouth. Cristina previously worked in private and elementary school settings with children experiencing moderate to severe cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral challenges. She uses this experience to help children facing such issues in her current role.
David Goodman, DMD (retired), joined our practice in 1984. Our office was founded in 1975 by Dr. Carl DiGregorio, and since partnering with him, Dr. Goodman has been devoted to delivering exceptional dental care to Milford families. Although he retired in 2021, our practice still carries his philosophy of treating patients as whole people beyond just their teeth.