Building up a patient’s confidence takes time, especially in the beginning. That’s why I do everything I can to demonstrate that I am here for them every step of the way. From the first meeting to the last stage of our treatment program, I care for each patient personally and do everything I can to connect with them. Knowing how to create that bond is key to building trust between you. Once that is in place, everything becomes easier. Particularly with patients who feel overwhelmed, I always remind them that it’s one step at a time. Understanding their limits and how I need to work within them leads to successful treatment and results.
Dr. Veena Patnam, DMD FICOI, is a general dentist with expertise in dental implants and cosmetic dentistry. She received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine before completing a preceptorship in implantology at UT Health San Antonio, one of the country’s leading health sciences universities. As her first surgical exposure to implantology, it was during her time at San Antonio that she fell in love with the complexity of surgical procedures and decided to pursue surgery. Afterward, she was accepted to the University of Florida for an internship in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry. An avid proponent of continuing education, Dr. Patnam is also a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Dr. Patnam supports using AI in dentistry and is constantly looking for new tools that can improve the patient experience.
“AI tools are wonderful for helping patients better understand their treatment with more thorough visuals. Now, our X-rays show bone density, if infection is present, and various conditions have corresponding colors. For example, cavities show up as bright orange, which is an advantage, because the patient can clearly see what is going on in their mouth.”
Dr. Patnam is eager to point out the role that various mentors played in her education.
Still relatively new to the US and without much guidance on how the education system works, she was delighted that TUFTS had a program director for international students.
“Dr. Perry was one of the first people who became a mentor to me, and his guidance in my education was invaluable. I feel incredibly lucky to have learned alongside him and that he mentored me throughout my time there".
“My internship at Gainesville was another transformative experience. All the program directors are major players in the field of dentistry, and being around that level of expertise and learning from top professionals gave me the best foundation I could have asked for."
When supporting patients through more complex treatments, Dr. Patnam believes that setting up their expectations beforehand goes a long way toward helping them get through the procedure as easily as possible.
“Particularly with more complicated procedures, it’s crucial to bring the anxiety level as low as possible".
“I always spend time talking through the steps with my patients beforehand. They need to know what to expect during and post-op, including if there will be any discomfort. Getting specific about what to expect helps them prepare mentally, which is half the battle in having a positive outcome."
“Before I became a dentist, I also worked as an assistant and a hygienist. Not only did all this experience help make me well-rounded as a dentist, but it also made me appreciate every team member that much more".
“Being nice to your staff is important for them and the patient experience. Creating a positive atmosphere benefits everyone and makes the patient’s time in the chair much more enjoyable.”
Connect with me through social media or email today so we can get started on creating your healthy lifestyle together.
