When selecting your dental care provider, it is important to know and understand the dentist's practice philosophy. Fortunately, as an experienced dentist serving Buckhead and the greater Atlanta area, Dr. Allman of Gallery 32 Dental Arts knows how to explain exactly what he stands for.
We would like to stress that in today's tough economic times, many patients make important decisions regarding their health solely based on cost. Though the cost of treatment is important, we feel it is more crucial to talk with your dental care provider and learn their practice philosophy. A patient focused practitioner should be able to educate you on findings and options that are available to you, so that when you leave, you feel confident in the choices that you have made regarding your care.
Dr. Scott Allman graduated from the University of Southern California in 1984 where he earned his Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS). He was the third-generation of his family to graduate from USC School of Dentistrystarting back in 1916 with his maternal grandfather, then his father in 1962. After starting his career in Southern California, Dr. Allman married his Georgia peach of a wife, then relocated a few years later to Atlanta in 1991. Since that time, Dr. Allman has devoted his professional life to building a patient-centered practice based on what Dr. Allman calls the Journey of the 4 Ts: TIME, TRANSPARENCY, TRUST, and TRUTHand at the end of this Journey, his patients reach Dental Health Nirvana!
Each client can expect to receive plenty of Dr. Allmans TIME, so that he can listen to the patientthoroughlyand find out what the patients true goals and concerns. This use of time applies to the patient, also. Dr. A schedules patients one at a time so that each patient gets the maximum use of their own time. The TRANSPARENCY of Dr. As actions and motivations must be clear to the patient so that he or she feels that Dr. Allman has their best interests in heart and mind. The inputs of TIME and Dr. Allmans TRANSPARENCY to his interactions with the patient, there is a relationship of TRUST between Doctor and Patient. Because of this elevated relationship of TRUST, the patient is ready to hear the TRUTH of their clinical conditions in relationship to their wants and needs. The course of action(s), short-term and long-term, evolve from Dr. Allman and the patient both knowing the TRUTH of what needs to be done. In this way each patient of Dr. Allman can benefit from having strong, durable, comfortable teeth that function well and look nice for a lifetime. Having great teeth also requires functional harmony and health from the TM Joints (jaw joints); muscles; and the connective tissue and gums that support the teeth. Oral health must be a contribution to good, whole-body health. The highlighted phrases immediately above--this is what its all about, right? This is the destination of Dental Health Nirvana.To stay on the cutting edge of dentistry and dental technology, Dr. Allman has made it his mission to be a continuous student of the art and science of dentistry. As part of this knowledge pursuit to benefit the patients he treats, he has been a member of a number of local and national/international organizations:
How would the concept of Dental Health Nirvana be described? Its achieved through the Four Tees. Dr. Allman and our team first invest TIME into the relationship with the patient. The TRANSPARENCY of Dr. Allmans explanations makes the patient more confident that he/she has indeed chosen their dentist wisely, and has the TRUST that Dr. Allman will do nothing but the best for them. The patient is ready to hear the TRUTH about what is going on in their mouth and what is the best plan of treatment to satisfy their wants and desires, and to correct clinical conditions that can cause harm.
Dr. Allman establishes an open dialogue between patients, which helps patients understand all aspects of their dental health. In return, patients are able to make sound decisions about their dental health.
Once Dr. Allman establishes time and transparency, the patient can trust his expert advice about their oral health. Dr. Allman also keeps preventative procedures in mind, to reduce the risk of future health concerns.
The ultimate goal of a dentist-patient relationship is for the dentist to use his utmost care, skill, and judgement to assess a patients clinical dental needs and to understand how the patients dental wants and desires affect their life. After that, it is possible to treat the patients needs and wants and desires according to a mutually agreed upon treatment plan.
Good teeth are the result of the treatment activities of this dentist-patient relationship, but it includes much more than just the teeth themselves. The desired outcomes of Dental Health Nirvana are:
So, to achieve Dental Health Nirvana, Dr. Allman cannot just look at the teeth. or at your smile. or at that one tooth broke off two months ago and still doesnt hurt. Dr. Allman must take a global view of what is happening in your mouthand how what he sees contributes to problems that may be affecting other parts of your body. He also needs to see how your wants and desires for your mouth fit in to the overall picture of your own Dental Health Nirvana.
Imagine a PYRAMID with four sides. The pyramid is a naturally strong shape. Think of this pyramid as the tangible representation of Dental Health Nirvana. Each side of the pyramid describes which of Dr. Allmans services will contribute to the theme of that side of the pyramid.
At Gallery 32 Dental Arts, you can always expect to receive the Four Tees of dental care. In the journey of the Four Tees, the end-point is labeled Dental Health Nirvana. The activities that occur at Dental Health Nirvana represent the culmination of best practices by the dentist to treat his patient as if the patient was a loved one or a dear friend.
Time is invested by Dr. Allman to get to know his patients, to really do a thorough diagnosis, and to understand the patients dental concerns and desires. Dr. Allman recognizes the value of time to his patients in return, and his scheduling philosophy is based on reserving a specific time with you as Dr. Allmans primary focusthis concierge, one-at-a-time approach is the best way for Dr. Allman and the team to be respectful of your valuable time.
Transparency fosters an open dialogue between doctor and patient about whatever they are concerned with in their mouth. Transparency also helps a patient understand what exactly is going on in their mouth, why it happens, and how to solve the problems. Without the development of transparency, a patient cannot make a sound decision about their dental health and who should be their guide on this journey. Once the patient has travelled on the path of transparency, they are able to establish a relationship of
The trust that the patient now has in Dr. Allman is an asset to their experience. Dr. Allman earned the patients confidence with the investment of time and transparency, creating an open dialogue with the patient about his or her dental concerns and desires. Trust prepares the patient to hear what needs to happen to address their concerns and desires. The patient now believes what else Dr. Allman may say in regards to other concerns about their oral health that the patient was not aware existed, and listens to Dr. Allman in these additional mattersthe patient also knows that Dr. Allman has his or her best interests in mind as the #1 item of any plan.
Finally, truth comes into focus. Truth is the treatment plan that satisfies the patients needs and wants at that moment in time, as well as the clinical conditions Dr. Allman has uncovered through the process of his complete examination with the very best course of action. If needed, an alternative plan or phased plans can be developed. In every instance, the treatment plan will always have a constant of high quality; the only variable will be time. At the very least, the patient knows the truth about the state of his or her oral health and function and trusts Dr. Allman to address any of these concerns in the best way possible.
Dental Health Nirvana is the end-point of what the Doctor-patient relationship accomplishes and maintains for a lifetime. It requires everything to be stable from the jaw joints forward to the most anterior teeth and everything in between. There are many nuances to be understood and correctly performed as treatments in order to navigate this pathway. Many a lesser Atlanta dentist makes false steps along the way to the patients detriment. But a dentist like Dr. Allman, with a passion for excellence and governed by integrity, 40 years of dental experience, the highest level of training, and 2500-plus hours of continuing educationwith him, you have an experienced guide for your journey to the Nirvana of Great Dental Health.