Binley Woods Dentistry explains why the patients always come first.
The importance of developing a trusting relationship between the patient and dental team should never be underestimated. At Binley Woods Dentistry near Coventry, the small team at this family-run private practice has taken this to heart and make every effort not only to deliver excellent dental care in surgery but also to get to know their patients, their lifestyle and the role they can play in their future dental health.
Located in a residential area between Rugby and Coventry, not far from the A46, Binley Woods Dentistry is led by Stewart Lenton, the practice principal. He is unequivocal about the practice’s mission: ‘Everything we do is based on health and aesthetics. I believe in properly listening to patients, identifying their problems and assessing their needs and risks, explaining why things are as they are and what can be done to restore them back to a healthy, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing dentition and mouth.
We treat everyone with exceptional care, we take the time to understand patients and help him or her understand their role in prevention. All the dentistry we provide, whether it is the smallest of treatments or complex dentistry, for all members of the family, is gently delivered with precision to a standard of excellence.’
Putting patients at ease
Right from their first encounter with the practice, the team prides itself on ensuring patients are put at ease. Alison Hewitt, practice coordinator, leads the front of house team. ‘Everyone here is known on a first name basis. We’ve tried hard to create an environment that is warm and welcoming and that doesn’t feel overly clinical or sterile. In fact the practice is much like a house, both in how it looks from the outside but also how it feels on the inside. There is even an outdoor seating area in which patients can enjoy a cup of tea and read a magazine.’
Proudly in its fifth year of business and fourth year of membership of the BDA Good Practice Scheme, the practice believes patients value external validation of their standards and ways of working by a body that is recognised and approved. Alison reports: ‘To celebrate our fifth anniversary we held an open day. It was the perfect occasion to say ‘thank you’ to existing patients for supporting the practice and an opportunity for their friends and family to come and have a look around, some of which have now become patients too.’
Patient feedback
Feedback in the patient testimonial book confirms the high esteem in which Stewart and the team are held. One comment reads: ‘Stewart and his team are the most professional and caring team ever, we have and will again recommend them to anyone’, together with, ‘After not going to the dentist for nearly 20 years, now I no longer dread it, thanks to the care and gentle treatment at Binley Woods Dentistry.’
As part of the bigger picture, the practice has a long history of supporting dental health campaigns including Stoptober, Change4life, Mouth Cancer Awareness Month and National Smile Month. For the latter the practice raffled two Oral-B electric toothbrushes, one of which was the top of the range Professional 5000 model. Additional prizes of goody bags containing oral health products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and also stationery and tickets to local attractions, made the raffle extremely popular with patients. The lucky winner of the Oral-B brush commented after a few days of using her new electric toothbrush: ‘My teeth feel better already.’ The money raised was donated to the Zoe’s Place Trust, a Coventry based hospice providing palliative, respite and end of life care to babies and infants suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. A thoroughly worthwhile cause supported by the whole community and one that the practice chooses to raise funds for whenever possible.
Tried and tested
Before making recommendations the practice team tries and tests all products. The team believes their patients expect the very highest standards and value the assurance that only products with proven results are recommended by them. Oral-B is a brand they trust. Whilst it is taken that toothpaste must contain the right concentration of fluoride, the practice is impressed that Oral-B’s Proexpert toothpaste includes stabilised stannous fluoride as the bacteriostatic and bactericidal anti-microbial action reduces bacterial activity through enzyme inhibition. This can help to reduce common problems such as plaque, halitosis, gum problems and caries.
The practice also recommends the use of an Oral-B electric toothbrush, which is used to demonstrate correct brushing technique. Prevention is not only key to government policy, it’s also key to Binley Woods’ strategy as it ensures the sustainability of all their beautiful restorative and cosmetic work. This forms part of the greater role the team believes it can play in providing guidance to patients on a diet, smoking and alcohol consumption. Their aim is to help patients understand the impact all these lifestyle choices have on good dental health and ultimately to help them prevent problems in the future.
For more information on Binley Woods Dentistry, visit www.binleywoodsdentistry.co.uk.
