Why ask the patient’s spouse what they want different about the patient’s smile in a cosmetic case?
Because cosmetic outcomes the patient wants and outcomes the spouse wants can differ in subtle ways that derail the case if discovered too late. The patient may want whiter teeth. The spouse may want straighter teeth. The patient may want a more youthful smile. The spouse may want the smile to look more natural. The patient may have shown the doctor a reference photo of one outcome. The spouse may have a different mental image entirely. Without surfacing the spouse’s preferences before the case presentation, the doctor proceeds with an option set anchored on the patient’s preferences alone. Halfway through the conversation, or worse, after treatment is underway, the gap surfaces. The case stalls or treatment goes sideways. Asking the support person directly at arrival, in front of the patient, brings both viewpoints into the room and lets the case presentation address both. Disagreements get aired and resolved before the recommendation is delivered, which produces more durable post-treatment satisfaction for everyone involved.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.
