Imagine Orthodontic Studio has committed itself to providing patients affordable treatment options despite rising costs.
Sam Patel, CEO at Imagine Orthodontic Studio, recently joined the Becker’s Dental + DSO Review Podcast to discuss his organization’s work and the trends he is following in the dental industry.
Editor’s note: Responses are lightly edited for length and clarity.
Question: Specialty dental practices often take a hit during economic downturns due to low patient volume. How is your organization adapting to the tough economy this year?
Sam Patel: We recognize that is part of the environment we’re in, so we work with our patients very closely to defer payments or structure payments in a way that gives them more flexibility but [allows them to] continue their care without any interruption because that’s our primary focus, making sure our patients get the best care and continued care. We really do work hard to create flexible plans and structures that allow them greater ability to make that dollar stretch in the short term so that they can meet their other needs while not completely dismissing them as patients from the practice because we know [the importance of] setting your child or yourself up with a proper bite. [It’s] important for many things, including TMJ, lockjaw, your airway, breathing and snoring, and sleep apnea can be affected. These are things that many patients don’t realize there is a direct correlation or causation between, so we want to make sure they’re educated and make sure they’re getting that continuous care. We’ll work with them to figure out a structure that helps them achieve their oral health and other personal goals as well.
Q: Does your organization plan to make any changes this year in response to rising costs?
SP: We are very focused on providing care at an affordable price. We have not raised prices on our treatments. We don’t plan on doing so. The increases that we do feel from the supply side we’re confident we can manage internally and not need to place any additional burden on our patients … We hope things turn around a little bit better and things get a little more comfortable, but we are committed to making sure we honor any sort of contract we have with patients, and we’re committed to not passing on any burden to our patients as well. It’s all about communication. As long as patients communicate with us and come forward when they’re having some difficulty in managing their finances, we will work with them in every way we can to make sure they have that peace of mind.