18

IN DEPTH
Slow

What is slow David Westgarth

Editor of BDJ in Practice goes on
the hunt for the meaning of the
concept

dentistry?
A
ccording to Dr Miguel Stanley,
one of the greatest challenges
facing modern dentistry is the
fact that consumers who have
been investing in their dental care for the past
two to three decades are ‘finally beginning
to understand that they have no way of
controlling the quality of the work performed
by their dentist.’
The tools by which patients choose their
dentists haven’t really changed in the last 50
years; they make their selection because they
are referred to them; because of advertising;
proximity to home or work, and of course
if it’s on their NHS circuit or their health
insurance network. However, unfortunately
none of these criteria actually bear any
relevance to the quality of the dentistry
delivered.
However, things are changing, and
consumer choice will affect the way dentists
are selected. We are now living in a world
which is being driven by consumer choice;
take, for example, what happened with
transportation. In over 50 years nothing
changed in the taxi trade until an app
called Uber came and disrupted the whole
industry. If you think about it, you know
more about your Uber driver through the
app before you even get in the car than you
do about your dentist before you sit in the
dental chair.
Slow Dentistry aims to change that
narrative just a little bit, as it is impossible
to control the excellence of your dentistry
or the materials or the techniques that
you employ. Dr Stanley has lectured in 50
countries around the world and spoken
to 100s of dentists from those recently
graduated to veterans with over 50 years
of clinical experience. He comments that
© David Leahy/ Cultura / Getty Images Plus

there are professionals who have a range of

motivations, different focuses and different
business strategies; some clinics are more
focused on profit, whilst others are more
focused on the beauty of the craft and the
science.
However, it is almost impossible for
patients/potential patients to perceive the

VOL 32 | ISSUE 11 | BDJ IN PRACTICE


difference between one or the other, given
the fact that we are all humans and can
be impressed by the fact that someone is
nice to us; that the service is good; that
people are punctual; and of course that
the cost isn’t that high. Unfortunately, our
consumer brains tend to perceive speed
and a fair cost, as reasons to pick a dentist,
and whilst those are just good practice
management tools, they are not good ways
to judge a dentist.
The Slow Dentistry concept is the
brainchild of a group of international
clinicians with a vision to build a network
of worldwide dental practices signed up
to delivering four universal key principles
that any patient can use as a checklist. They
believe this will empower patients to be
confident of their safety, wellbeing, comfort
and understanding of treatment when in the
dentist’s chair.
Slow Dentistry reflects a cultural shift
in the pace of life generally. The ‘slow
movement’ itself is a reaction to the 21st-
century desires for instant gratification, a
modern-day mind-set that poses a risk to
good dentistry and causes stress for those
trying to deliver it.
According to a paper in the British Dental
Journal 1, there are high levels of self-reported
stress and burnout among UK dentists. The
paper suggests that future interventions
should not solely focus on individual
solutions such as stress management, but
also look at global solutions such as changing
aspects of the working environment. A
shift towards a slower pace of care not
only ensures ultimate patient safety, it also
reduces the triggers that causes anxiety for
practitioners.
Slow starters
There are already several well-known
UK practitioners among the global
ambassadors for Slow Dentistry,
inspirational figures for future generations
of dentists, all chosen for their reputation
as industry leaders. They include award-
winning dentists Dr Rhona Eskander, Dr
‘A shift towards a slower pace of care not only
ensures ultimate patient safety, it also reduces
the triggers that causes anxiety for practitioners.’
Zaki Kanaan, Dr Koray Foran, Dr Jameel
Gardee and Dr Simon Chard.
Explaining her advocacy for embracing a
change of pace in the way she practises, Dr
Eskander explains: ‘Having created a large
client base through my passion and love for
dentistry, I found myself overwhelmed and
unable to cope with the growing patient
list. It soon became evident to me that time
was what I needed, and what is essential to
provide the best care for my patients.
‘I then came across Slow Dentistry – the
epitome of excellence in dentistry. No
compromises must be made. I soon made
active changes to ensure that my patients
received the best. This is a platform that is
long awaited and I am honoured to be part
of something that is set to shape the dental
sphere through its patient-centred approach.’
Dr Miguel Stanley, one of the founders
who has over 20 years of clinical experience,
understands the negative effects of this need
for speed and, for him, sound ethics play
a huge part in building a foundation for
excellence. He and like-minded colleagues
developed the concept of Slow Dentistry
to combat the impact on a profession often
under pressure to perform and achieve
results instantly.
He explained: ‘The four cornerstones
are easily identifiable and are a means to
allow patients to influence their own safety
and wellbeing at the dentist. We encourage
everyone to insist on having the time to
explain and understand, the time to ensure
that anaesthetic is effective and to take note of
all aspects of hygiene. Whilst we may assume
this is all happening – and in many cases
it is – the cornerstones of Slow Dentistry
encourage patients to take some control over
their appointments.’
For those seeking to reassure their patients
of the quality of their dental practices, the
founders believe this ethos creates an easy-to-
follow navigation tool.
The ‘four cornerstones’ are based on the
concept of a patient asking the following
questions:
1. Is the practice thoroughly disinfected?
19
IN DEPTH
Slow
2. Have the risks been explained and has my
patient signed a consent form?
3. Is my anaesthetic working?
4. Is a rubber dam being used?
These simple four cornerstones will protect
the patient a little bit more. It is important to
understand that the Slow Dentistry ‘badge’
is not a means of helping patients determine
the experience of the dentist; the quality of
the materials they use or the techniques they
apply. It simply focuses helping the patient
to factor in important elements when they
are in a position to choose a dentist, so they
have an extra determinant to use. It makes
it easier for them to understand that some
clinics are focused only on performing fast,
affordable dentistry. This means that they will
be seeing many more patients a day at the
risk of patients’ health and the quality of their
treatment and experience.
Conversely, a Slow Dentistry practice will
be one that sees fewer patients, with higher
quality of patient preparation, and higher
level of patient care. It will be seen as a badge
of patient reassurance, and adopters believe
that this will revolutionise the dental sector
and improve the standards of dental care
globally. And ironically, done at pace. ◆
Reference
1. Collin V, Toon M, O’Selmo E, Reynolds L and
Whitehead P. A survey of stress, burnout and well-
being in UK dentists. Br Dent J 2019; 226: 40-49.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41404-019-0217-y
If you want to join the clinicians
already signed up to saying no to
30-minute dentistry, you can sign up here
https://www.Slow Dentistry.com/how-to-
become-a-member/.
For practitioners looking to discover
more about the initiative, the first ever
UK Slow Dentistry event is taking place
in London on Saturday 23 November.
Supported by Voco, the meeting is being
held at the Atmosphere from 5.30pm
until 8.00pm
BDJ IN PRACTICE | VOL 32 | ISSUE 11