16 | HealthLinksSC.com water greets you from a large waterfall feature in the waiting room, where comfortable, overstuffed chairs gather around a gently flickering fireplace. It’s the kind of place you might settle in on a lazy afternoon to read a good book – not where you expect to wait to get a filling replaced. Dr. Beatriz Dennis knew she wanted to offer patient-centered service in a comfortable and relaxed environment after working in a fast-paced practice with high anxiety and high stress. “I knew if I felt that much stress and anxiety working there, I could imagine how a patient would feel,” she shared. In 2008, she opened Waterstone Dentistry to “create a patient-centered, positive dental experience for each patient from the moment they arrive at the office until the moment they leave.” It’s a warm, artfully designed environment featuring state-ofthe-art dental equipment where Dr. Dennis and her staff take their time with each patient. Natural light pours into treatment rooms through oversized windows. Patients can relax under the comfort of a warm blanket and watch TV or listen to music with noise-canceling headphones. Seeing patients transform from covering their mouth when they speak to smiling with confidence is what Dr. Dennis loves most. “Patients appreciate the amount of time we spend with them and appreciate the friendship that we’ve formed with them because everything is more patient-centered,” said Dr. Dennis. The dental spa approach is about more than massages and soft music. It’s about trust. “One of the most rewarding things is when you work with someone who has such severe dental anxiety that they can’t open their mouth. They are just so upset at the way they’ve let their teeth get because they have such a fear. And then you help them, and they are so appreciative,” shared Dr. Dennis. Brazier agreed: “I’ve met people who felt almost hopeless. When you finally create that bond of trust, it’s life-changing for the patient. For anyone who’s had to hold back your smile, to wipe that away and smile again, it’s life-changing.” Aime added that he wants patients to know that “You are in a safe space. We are here to help make your smile what you want it to be.”
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