Painless techniques: the promise of comfortable dentistry

Charl du Toit explains why he lets the technology do the talking when it comes to meeting patient expectations for comfortable, painless techniques in dentistry.

A continuous cycle exists between dental marketing and patient demand, creating a feedback loop. Social media posts featuring perfect smiles and enhanced aesthetics raise aspirations, which in turn generate more promotional content. While this ‘sells dentistry’ and shapes perception, it can present unprecedented challenges for dentists, with patients presenting in the chair seeking quick fixes and easy treatment. The onus then is on dentists to deliver on this.

As such, trust remains fundamental to quality clinical care. It is built through open, face-to-face communication and an honest exchange of information. The best approach is to ‘under promise, over deliver’, which helps align expectations about clinical results and the patient experience.

Charl du Toit would agree. He is practice principal at Newbury Smile Studio, which provides general and cosmetic dentistry in Berkshire. Having qualified in South Africa, he has been a private practitioner in England since 2001 and, like many of his contemporaries, has witnessed the shift towards aesthetic treatments and the value of a more minimally invasive approach. He has refined his approach to dental care, improving both his equipment and his communication with patients.

He says: ‘At Newbury Smile Studio, we stay current with our dentistry and learn new techniques to help meet the demands of modern society. However, we primarily concentrate on putting our patients first and ensuring they always receive the highest level of dental care.’

The impact of painless techniques

Newbury Smile Studio is a private dental practice with a special interest in helping people suffering from TMJ problems and those who are anxious. Over time, it has incorporated soft-tissue lasers, intraoral scanners, TMJ therapy, 3D digital X-rays and painless anaesthesia technology into its offerings.

Regarding the latter, a 2024 paper (Tom, 2024) suggested that: ‘Integrating painless techniques into practice can help patients struggling with dental anxiety and also help clinic owners build and grow their practice.’

Charl has seen the benefits, as have his patients.

Among the many five-star Google reviews, one patient writes: ‘It’s the most professional and friendliest dental practice I have ever used. Everyone in the team is so kind and welcoming. You couldn’t be in better hands. They have all the latest equipment and technology, which is very reassuring. They are always so accommodating when making appointments. It’s just such a nice, relaxed environment.’

Tackling dental phobia

Charl says: ‘While we are a general practice, we are also geared up to welcome patients with dental phobias. The practice offers RA and IV sedation, and we sometimes collaborate with a hypnotherapist on the premises. Using The Wand, a computer-assisted anaesthetic system, was almost a natural add-on.’

He first encountered The Wand when he bought a practice that had already invested in the digital technology, and it is now the only form of anaesthesia he uses with his patients.  

‘Initially, I believed I didn’t need it because I considered myself highly skilled at injecting. However, after attending a training course on its use, my perspective changed completely. It’s been almost 14 years now. I would like to communicate the advantages of The Wand more effectively, but I prefer to “under promise and over deliver”, so patients realise how superior The Wand is only when they experience it.’

So, has he seen an increase in case acceptance or new patient referrals due to this improved comfort?

‘For sure. Patients, amazed by the painless treatment, can’t help but share their positive experiences with friends. While the traditional dental injection often appears intimidating, The Wand seems benign by comparison. And most of the time, the fact that it offers significantly greater comfort than conventional injections is often enough to make a decisive difference. However, being able to perform single-tooth anaesthesia, where the lip does not go numb, is also a big selling point.

‘There is a technique where you can numb the upper front 10 to 12 teeth with two palatal injections. This helps a lot in aesthetic cases. The patient can still smile as the lip does not numb, but the teeth do not feel pain during the try-in of crowns or veneers.’

How do painless techniques benefit dental professionals?

In fact, the comfort benefits extend to practitioners as well.

‘It causes fewer unsettled responses for patients, but its pen-like grip is comfortable for clinicians, too. The handpiece can be shortened to improve access and visibility, and since no pressure is required, the risk of repetitive strain injury is reduced. The immediate onset of anaesthesia also saves chair time. 

‘But, in my practice, the return on investment is more about the patient returning. No pain with the injection means the patient comes back for more treatment.’

The Wand is exclusively available from Dental Sky.

Charl adds: ‘It meets the needs of a practice like mine, but I would say it is a must-have in any practice. Explaining that we use an injection system that uses pressure feedback to make it less painful and much more comfortable is half the battle won.’

And, while he recognises that high-tech dentistry and innovative dental solutions can be a game-changer for business, it is the relationships with his patients that underpin the practice’s success. The proof is in those consistent five-star Google reviews Charl and his team receive.

As one happy patient writes: ‘Charl put together a programme that has completely transformed my smile and was way better than my own expectations.’

Testament perhaps to his philosophy of under-promising and over-delivering, and an ability to deliver an experience that goes above and beyond.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020653924002570

This article is sponsored by Dental Sky.