Question and Answer: Patient Experience Surveys

At Norfolk Dental Specialists, we always put the patient at the centre of everything we do. We are always looking for ways to improve our service and to do that we need honest accounts of patient experience. With that end in mind, we’ve introduced a Patient Experience Survey – a set of questions that the patient can answer anonymously. These honest accounts can then be shared with prospective patients to give a sense of what to expect from treatment by our specialists.

Early Responses

We hope to gather patient reports on all of the treatments that we offer. The aim is to cover all the combinations of implants and treatments for periodontal issues, as well as the aesthetic treatments we offer such as gum grafting. It's early days, but we have already had two detailed responses from patients who report very positive responses to procedures for multiple implants. One factor picked out by early responders is the success of Root Surface Debridement (RSD) - this is a deep-cleaning treatment that it is very successful at reducing 'pocket depth' (a key indicator of advanced periodontal disease).

The Questions

The questions are designed so that the patient has a chance to voice their experience of each stage of the treatment. They cover anxiety and concerns that the patient may have had before the procedure, the experience of the procedure itself, including whether there was any pain during or discomfort after the procedure. We also ask the patient to report on the difference the treatment has made to their lives once they are fully recovered. We are very interested in the patient experience at every stage of treatment.

Reducing Anxiety

We’ve been using surveys similar to these in-house for years. Then we realised that this effective tool for improving patient experience could also be shared with prospective patients. The best cure for pre-procedure nerves is knowledge. Knowing that other patients have had positive and pain-free experiences reduces the anxiety that a patient may have about their upcoming treatment. By distributing these completed Patient Experience Surveys, we’ll be helping new patients understand what to expect. It's also a good opportunity to share some of the life-changing results that our patients report.

Distribution Plans

We’ll be distributing these Question and Answer sheets at the complimentary discussion sessions that we offer first time implant patients, at initial oral hygiene appointments and at specialist consultations where applicable. We also plan to share them via social media and to make them available for download from our website. All the information is anonymised – the before and after photos are close ups of the gums and teeth. We'd like to thank all the participants who have shared their experiences. In doing so, they have helped us identify areas where our services could be improved and helped our patients envisage what to expect from a course of treatment at Norfolk Dental Specialists.

If you would like any further information about our implant procedures, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can download our patient’s guide to dental implants from the banner at the bottom of your screen or call our reception to arrange a visit to the practice to chat to someone about what we offer.

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