Scott Greenhalgh DDS - Cosmetic Dentistry

Friday, March 12, 2010

If you are afraid of the dentist, what helps most?


Statics say that 50% of the population doesn't visit the dentist regularly. That would be like if NO women ever went to the dentist. That's a lot of people. I have found that one of the most profound reasons people don't see the dentist is because they are simply afraid.

It often starts with some crummy childhood dental visit. Something to the effect of he didn't believe me when I said that it hurt. The dentist just ignored them, just kept doing his thing....didn't really have time to be bothered.

It's really sad. I saw at least three new patients this week who hadn't been to the dentist for many years. They took a chance again, that maybe THIS time, the experience would be better, that things would work out (they did great!).

After seeing people with a range of issues from normal nervousness to paralysis, or that they can barely get in through the door of our cosmetic dentist office, to being deeply emotional, to a the cold sweats. I have seen about every severe type of anxiety about visiting the dentist.

So, what helps most? Get a pencil and write this down. LISTENING.

There are some really great advances with sedation and sleep dentistry. They do have a profound role in helping heal these anxieties, but really, most can be healed with listening.

I have found that by listening for the clues to want went poorly before, strategizing a new way to specifically avoid that problem, and then discussing it together, well, it fixes things a lot.

SO, if you are anxious about care you have put off, first look for a dentist with a track record that listens (see our dentist reviews for examples).

No need to put it off any longer, start the healing today.

It all starts with a simple conversation... so contact us today.

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posted by Dr. Scott at 11:04 PM

Monday, January 4, 2010

Hey, check us out on Google!

I had a few minutes to check what was happening out on the web. You might know I am in the middle of writing a series about "How to use reviews to find a new Dentist".

As I was wandering around the web, and searched for "denver cosmetic dentist". I wound up at Google. How exciting to see that our practice has the most reviews listed by Google! And to their credit, Google has condensed a lot of information and a lot of quotes from patients who have posted reviews (in a lot of places).

I encourage you to visit the Google reviews. (and thanks to those of you who have been such great supporters, we look forward to serving you again in 2010!).

I was pleasantly surprised to see how all of those web-bots summarized our practice!

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posted by Dr. Scott at 4:46 PM

How to use Dentist Reviews (Part One)



Here is the first installment of my series about how to read and use reviews online and finding a cosmetic dentist in Denver. I'll provide a number of tips that are useful for both finding a new dentist as well as buying anything online.

Number One: Look for dentist reviews that reflect your same interests or concerns. Here's what I mean. If you are looking for a new dentist, then determine a few of your top preferences. They could be things like: easy to talk to, comforting, able to solve your dental problem, gentle, good with kids, good with anxious or fearful patients, or proven results with cosmetic dentistry.

Take those two or three top criteria and go looking for reviews that comment (good or badly) about those things. In this instance, SKIP any of the reviews that don't mention your top items. Look for examples in the reviews where a patient comments specifically about your concerns.
Another way to use this first tip is to also search for reviews that describe the same results that you would like to have. Things like: "He put me at ease", "I always had problems getting numb, but He did it!", I had some other veneers and had problems, but Dr. Greenhalgh fixed them!" or even other things like, the staff are so friendly, the hygienist is gentle...

Online reviews can be very revealing about how an office really works. By following these tips, you will increase the certainty that you will find a dentist and dental office that matches your values. (you can view some of our reviews here). More tips coming soon!

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posted by Dr. Scott at 9:39 AM

Monday, December 28, 2009

Why reading reviews really helps

I am always on the quest for the right present each Christmas. I find myself more and more going online to read the product reviews. It HAS helped me a lot of times. It either confirms the hunch I already had, or often times there is an insightful comment that reveals poor performance.

In fact, sitting here in my kitchen looking at one of my son's Christmas toys that had fairly weak reviews. It was something that he had really expressed interest in, and the price was right, so I took a chance. After using it (with poor results) it looks like it's headed for the return pile.

I will be starting a series on "how to read and use reviews for finding a Dentist". I am happy to say that we've been fortunate enough to have many insightful, positive reviews posted about our cosmetic dentistry office. Patients say it in a way that no one else can.

So I encourage you to start reading reviews for anything important that you want to buy, and you may want to look closely at how your dentist rates.

I have found that reading reviews, has saved me time, frustration, and led me to finding the products and services that match my values and concerns. I find it gives me a better idea of what to expect (here's what you can expect on your first visit).

I'll be back soon to show you the secrets on how to read and use reviews!






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posted by Dr. Scott at 12:23 PM

Monday, November 2, 2009

Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Cosmetic Dentistry



I'm nearing the end of a good read entitled "Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs" by Carmine Gallo. Steve is known for engaging, powerful communication about Apple's new products. I really enjoy the insights into how the great ones think.

One of my insights thus far is that Steve has a fanatical involvement in crafting his messages. He could farm them out to a speech writer, he could pencil sketch some slides that he wants to use in his presentation and send them off to the best graphic artists on the planet, but it largely appears that HE creates all of these things himself.

I really believe that personal involvement makes his message so powerful and persuasive.

Another insight is his ability to take the complexities of new technologies and products, and simplify them to he point that anyone can understand them. I think this is one of the single biggest mistakes in healthcare.

The doctor has volumes of knowledge, but he speaks in a way that sounds like he is speaking to his peers, rather than translate it into a message that his patient can easily grasp. I find the same is true with cosmetic dentistry in Denver. The majority of patients don't really care about what percent are we going to make the Golden Proportion of the front teeth. How many millimeters (or fractions) are we going to add here. I believe my roll is to bring clarity and to understand what my patient's concerns are, understand what technically needs to be constructed, and then converse about them in a way to build confidence about the process and the planned results.
I've watched some of Steve's presentations on YouTube. (In fact, you can watch some of my videos on our media page (or on YouTube as well.). So far, no one is writing a book about me, and I haven't had the call to speak to thousands (though you can see what 125 people have said about our practice in these dentist reviews. I AM passionate about cosmetic dentistry, and I really believe that virtually ALL dental problems can be stopped forever. Maybe someday, I 'll get invited to speak about cosmetic dentistry, or even about creating amazing dental health.

For now, I am more than pleased to speak with my patients one-on-one and help them create their results and experience they have been hoping for.

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posted by Dr. Scott at 11:53 AM

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Dr. Phil and Cosmetic Dentistry


Every once in a while, I'll pass by a day-time TV on. Sometimes I catch Dr. Phil out of the corner of my eye. I'll stop and listen as he twangs out "So you think it's a good idea to steal money and give it to your boyfriend so he can buy drugs?" The guest sits there wide-eyed, speechless, then the camera pans to the audience. Two women tearing up, shaking their heads back and forth as if to say "NO, stop giving him the money!"

What does this have to do with cosmetic dentistry? I see people everyday who are like that girl. Hoping that Dr. Phil will say it's all OK, give them a big hug and make all of the bother of life go away. But if you've watched the show, many stories have a happy ending: the ones where people face into the real issue and are ready to make changes. Everyone hugs and cries and you can see the realizations of what has to happen going through their expressions. 

Other stories don't end that way. The other ones you can see the guest sitting there with a look on their face of "this is too hard to change" or "I really don't get what is at stake here", or "I don't really want to hear that."

After 21 years of dentistry in Denver, I can fix ANY smile, or repair any mouth problem. I still see people everyday with discouraging problems in their mouths, or major disappointments about cosmetic dentistry that they have had done in another office. 

My role is like Dr. Phil's. My role is to help you change and avoid the terrible pitfalls ahead. My role is to help you accurately see the REAL picture of what is going on in your mouth. Like Dr. Phil, most of our stories end well. I am happy to say I have a practice of many patients that have attained great results and will do well for the rest of their lives (you can read some of their stories in these dentist reviews.) 

I'm sad to say that I still too often see that dazed look, where people just can't believe what is really going on inside their mouths. But you know, just like on TV, pretty much Dr. Phil (or Dr. Greenhalgh) is right...

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posted by Dr. Scott at 3:30 PM

Monday, June 22, 2009

How does a dentist choose a new dentist?


Well, OK it wasn't a dentist. It was the professional son of a practicing dentist who we saw in my office the other day. So if his dad still practices, why did he arrive in my office? Well, actually, I think he's a bright gentleman. His dad practices 1500 miles away, so it's just no longer practical to go home for everything. Since Denver is now really his home, he realized he need to get back on track with a new Denver dentist.

I checked out the Dentist/Dad's website. Most of the 
dental websites I've seen are dreadful. They should be for selling dog toys or something. (I'm very glad I found Dan Goldstein and his crew at Page1 solutions for my website). I was impressed and left with the impression that he was an excellent dentist. (I don't often enough get to say that). You can check us out here.

So, what do you say to a Dentist's son?  After a deep breath and a moment to REALLY focus... Well, actually nothing different than what I tell ALL of my new patients. We perform an exhaustive exam, checking MANY, many things. We spend a lot of time talking about prevention, talking about  unique things that they may be prone to. We take a LOT of photos, I showed him exactly what was going on with his teeth. HE could see exactly what 
I was talking about. If his dentist dad wants to see the pictures, HE will be able to see the same thing. It winds up being really simple. No pressure, no wondering IF there is a real problem-everyone can see it for themselves. In fact, it's the same way I do it when my kids come into the office, or if YOU come in. 

We try to find everything that's important. We try to help you know exactly what dental disease you are prone to, as well as what problems you are likely to have on the future. We educate you about how you can prevent problems. We give you options about how it can be fixed. We talk through all of your comfort options-no matter what you need there is a comfortable way to have it done. (We do it the same way for my kids, the other Dentist's son, and you).

So what brought him to MY office-why choose us? There is an online service called DrOOgle that collects comments about dentists. I have been fortunate enough to have many wonderful patients take the time to go post their comments on sites like these (thank you all again!) . In fact as of today, our practice is the highest rated Cosmetic dental practice in the Denver metro area. Surprisingly, we are also the highest rated Family dental practice in Denver as well. 


You'll see a new page on our website this month about How to read and Use online reviews. There is more to it than meets the eye. Like a lot of other things in life, you have to expend a little effort and think for yourself. 

SO if you are looking for a new dentist , check out some of our reviews, if you're already a patient here (thanks again), you might want to forward to one of your friends or co-workers. EVERYONE thinks their dentist is the best, we'll now they don't have to just take your word for it, they can see what (everyone) else is saying.


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posted by Dr. Scott at 11:42 PM

3190 South Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 300 | Lakewood, CO 80227

Phone. 800-757-6680 | Fax. 303-479-7599 | Contact Us

Office Hours:
Monday: closed Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.