Download Untitled - Anthony Patel Orthodontics

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Cover Story
Article by FRANK GESLANI
Somet
hingt
o Smile
I
f you wore braces back in the day, you may still wake up in the middle of the night bathed
in a cold sweat with shrill echoes of “robo mouth” and “metal muncher” reverberating
in your head. “Awkward phase” doesn’t even begin to describe the torment. Thank goodness
you don’t have to go through that again. Or do you? Now it’s your kids’ turn. “I wore braces
for about five years and it was awful,” confesses Tessa Peck. “I wanted my kids to have the
least amount of brace time as possible.” Oh, how times have changed. Peck found that out
when her kids started seeing Dr. Anthony Patel, a Board Certified Specialist in Orthodontics.
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(pictured) The Patel family
“I
Dr. Do-Good
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feel the gift of a healthy and beautiful smile is priceless,” says Dr.
Patel, who has offices in Keller, Southlake and Haslet. “The quality
of orthodontic treatment can vary considerably, and I strive to treat
each and every patient to the highest standard of care attainable.”
These aren’t empty words. For one, Dr. Patel is board certified, which
is only granted to a select few orthodontists who pass a rigorous written and clinical examination and defense of exceptionally treated
cases. “This is the standard by which we treat all of our cases and it
is definitely one major feature that sets us apart. Being anointed into
this group of specialized clinicians carries enormous responsibility—
to uphold and maintain the elite standard of care that is worthy of
such a distinction.”
About
He bolsters it with an impressive portfolio of
professional accomplishments:
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• He is a Diplomate of the American Board of
Orthodontics (ABO). His treated cases were
featured at the ABO Case Display at the 2008
Annual Session of the American Association
of Orthodontists.
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• He’s the current President of The University
of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio Orthodontic Alumni Association.
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• He completed a dual degree program at
The University of Pennsylvania, concurrently
earning a DMD and MS in Education.
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• He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of
Orthodontics at The UT HSC San Antonio
Dental School where he donates his time
as a lecturer and clinical instructor to train
future orthodontists.
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• He presents an annual award formed in his
name for excellence in orthodontic education
to a graduating resident.
Welcome to
Anthony Patel
Orthodontics
Perhaps his most notable accomplishment is
the growing legion of happy patients who
praise his top notch service and adore their
gorgeous new smiles.
“My daughter would rather go to the orthodontist than Six Flags,” raves Ashlyn B. “Dr.
Patel and every staff member there are truly
amazing people. I was very impressed with how
everything for my daughter was handled.”
“Dr. Patel’s office is the best,” exclaims young
patient, Alex W. “They are always so helpful
and friendly. I rarely have to wait to be seen,
and if I have to wait, it's okay because their
waiting room is awesome. They have TVs in
the waiting room and a game room, which
keeps my little brother busy.”
NotYour Mother’s Braces
Young people are a big part of the practice.
“They are instantly welcomed and feel like they
are joining a family,” says Dr. Patel. “We take
the time to listen to them and learn about their
interests and activities so that there is no anxiety
about anything related to orthodontics.”
One way Dr. Patel keeps his young patients
engaged is their Elite Rewards Program.
Patients earn points for things like good grades,
regular dentist visits and participating in fun
contests. They can redeem points for gift cards
to some of their favorite restaurants, online
stores and retail shops. “The points system they
have really encourages me to get cleanings and
take care of my braces,” says Alex.
It also helps that Dr. Patel offers some of the
most innovative, effective, and cutting edge
treatments available. “The technology that we
utilize helps patients achieve their results faster
and more comfortably than ever, and delivers
superior results,” he explains.
The Damon System is the hallmark of that
treatment philosophy, and Dr. Patel’s is one of
the very few orthodontic practices in DFW to
provide this elite bracket system at an affordable
cost. The Damon System uses high-tech wires
that move teeth into place through specially designed metal or clear braces that deliver forces
gently and consistently. The bottom line: more
(continued)
comfort, better results, less time.
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“T
here is plenty of research-based evidence
supporting the use of very light forces to move
teeth more efficiently and comfortably than ever
before,” explains Dr. Patel. He also credits the
Damon System for a dramatic reduction in the
need for tooth extractions. “Many patients are
fearful they will be told that pulling teeth will
be necessary to achieve their goals. The Damon
System allows us to give these patients an alternative to that approach and still achieve an
outstanding smile.”
This conservative approach to treatment appeals to Tessa Peck. “They’re there to give
Mother Nature a hand,” she says. “They don’t
want to do anything more than is necessary.”
“I am a firm believer that ‘less is more,’” says Dr.
Patel. “There are a number of methods used to
essentially achieve the same outcome, but in my
practice, we aim to avoid the use of extraoral and
intraoral appliances like headgears and expanders
as often as possible. I often feel that discomfort
with braces is exacerbated by the use of these
appliances and can be quite overwhelming to deal
with for certain patients.”
Many patients, especially adults seeking treatment, worry about the cosmetic impact of braces.
That’s less of a concern when they’re practically
invisible. Invisalign, an alternative to metal braces,
has really changed the game in that regard. It uses
a series of comfortable, removable and transparent aligners to straighten teeth. It’s possible to
continue eating your favorite foods, brush and
floss as normal. The treatment plan is generated
using computer-controlled precision through
an elaborate software program developed by
Invisalign. Each aligner is worn for two weeks
each as it gradually guides the teeth to the
final desired outcome. Dr. Patel and his team
will supervise the progress of the alignment
at regular intervals.
“About 25% of our practice consists of adult
patients,” says Dr. Patel. “You’re never too old to
benefit from the gift of a beautiful smile. Research
has shown that individuals with straight teeth are
healthier and more likely to live longer. Many
systemic disorders can be controlled simply from
improving one’s oral health, and having straight
teeth plays a huge part in that process.”
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“This is becoming more popular among the
younger patients now, too,” says Dr. Patel.
“Invisalign Teen is a very similar product that was
launched specifically to treat teenagers who also
would like to avoid having to wear braces to
achieve their wonderful smiles. It is heavily compliance driven, so not everyone is a candidate,”
adds Dr. Patel, “but for those who can stick to
the plan of wearing them, Invisalign can deliver
results as good as braces in most cases.”
“We are recognized as a Premier Preferred
Provider of Invisalign, which is a designation
reserved to only a small percentage of orthodontists in the entire country,” says Dr. Patel. The
practice is also one of the exclusive providers
of the state-of-the-art iTero intra oral digital
scanner. iTero takes precise 3D digital scans of
the patient’s teeth and bite—instead of messy,
uncomfortable, and time-consuming molds –
which are then used to design the Invisalign aligners. In minutes, patients can see a 3D rendering
of the outcome of their treatment.
No Surprises
If patients love the clear braces, they’re besotted
by the clear and straightforward pricing. “Our
treatment fee is always all inclusive, which includes records and a consultation, all aspects of
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treatment, retainers and follow up visits up to one
year after treatment,” says Dr. Patel. He warns
that some offices mislead patients into believing
that treatment is less expensive when what
they’re really doing is dissecting fees. You
may rack up surprise charges for broken
brackets or missed appointments.
“It makes patients feel like they are being nickel
and dimed,” says Dr. Patel. That’s not something
Dr. Patel’s patients need worry about, even from
the start. Consultations are free. “Too often, consumers are reluctant to seek out expert advice in
fear of being charged excessive fees and being
manipulated into starting treatment. We never exhibit pressure sales tactics—just genuinely honest
information supported with evidence,” he adds.
“They were very patient with me and answered
all of my questions thoroughly,” says Becky S. “I
felt 100 percent comfortable with my decision
when I left the office.”
Braces are undoubtedly expensive, but it’s even
harder to put a price tag on customer service.
“The moment I walked into Dr. Patel’s office, I
knew right away it was a great fit,” says Jolene G.
“Dr. Patel and his staff are so welcoming, warm
and friendly. They make you feel like you are a
part of their family, not just a patient.”
Dr. Patel himself extols the incalculable contributions of his staff. From Vicki, the treatment
coordinator and 25-year veteran of the orthodontics field, to the pleasant and thoughtful
front office, to the meticulously trained clinical
assistants, this team seems to put up their best
efforts so that Dr. Patel can put up his. There’s
a dignified order to their day-to-day operations.
Leadership this assured can only come from a
military background. Dr. Patel served as the
Division Officer of the Dental Department on
the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. “The
leadership role that I was thrust into allowed me
to gain valuable experience with managing a
team. It taught me how to exhibit service before
self and strengthened my moral and ethical
values.” It’s not just intent. His patients see these
principles in motion at every visit.
Most modern orthodontic practices use highly
skilled technicians to perform routine procedures like wire insertion of and the changing
of colors. “In some practices, these procedures
are performed without the orthodontist having
an opportunity to check the progress of the
treatment,” explains Dr. Patel. “In our practice,
I will see every patient at every visit each and
every time. It is my moral obligation to my
patients to ensure that all aspects of their treatment are always being supervised.”
Feel at Home
It is an exciting time for Anthony Patel
Orthodontics. This year, they’ve opened the
doors to their striking new office in Southlake.
Dr. Patel himself gave us the grand tour. Workspaces—from the light-filled, open bay concept
of the treatment room to the tidy sterilization
room—all suggest mindfulness and reliability.
There’s a video game room (an obvious appeal
to the gamer generation), a computer room that
doubles as an off-site business center (an obvious
appeal to busy parents) and a snack and beverage
center (an obvious appeal to the hungry and thirsty).
The message is obvious—make yourself at home.
We were impressed by the “custom home” feel of
the office, but truthfully (and at the risk of sounding
corny) they already had us at “hello.” The warm
welcome the instant we stepped through the door,
the bright smiles, the steady eye contact—that
kind of human touch is a lost art that separates
merely adequate practices from fervently beloved
ones. “They have the whole package,” says Tessa
Peck. “I know at end of the day, these doctors
are all fairly comparable in price, but I wouldn’t
go anywhere else.”
SOUTHLAKE OFFICE LOCATION
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Southlake Orthodontics
311 W Southlake Blvd., Suite 130
Southlake, TX 76092
(682) 214-0688
KELLER OFFICE LOCATION
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Alliance Orthodontics
4120 Heritage Trace Pkwy., Suite 200
Keller, TX 76244
(817) 612-4469
HASLET OFFICE LOCATION
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Alliance Orthodontics
Avondale Haslet Dental Center
1373 Avondale Haslet Rd.
Haslet, TX 76052
(817) 847-0100
WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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www.AnthonyPatelOrtho.com
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