By Scott Morgan
One trend in dentistry today is the group practice: the large-scale operation that houses several doctors under one roof.
And while group practices have their advantages, these advantages are often more beneficial to the business than the patient. Enter Dr. Karen Winterfield-Dodds, who goes by the personable moniker of Dr. Karen. She and her staff find that the smaller, more personalized touch goes a lot further for patients than the big-business model.
“Dentistry is very intimate,” Winterfield-Dodds said. “You’re working in peoples’ mouths, they’re already nervous, and some of them may be uncomfortable. We definitely want to make them more comfortable.”
It’s true that some people don’t really enjoy going to the dentist, and Winterfield-Dodds acknowledges that. The last thing she wants her patients to feel is anonymous and unconnected. She spent almost 25 years in another practice (also in Lawrence) before opening her own practice six years ago.
Many of her patients have been with her for more than 20 years, and the reason, she says, is because she knows and listens to everyone.
That last part is important and a growing rarity among doctors of all areas of expertise. It’s one of the issues that makes group practices better for doctors than patients. The efficiency and business practices are more streamlined, but it’s harder for patients to feel they’re heard when it comes to what they want.
Having a friendly staff helps, Winterfield-Dodds said. Everyone at Exceptional Dentistry actually listens to what patients say, what they want, and what they need. And everyone who works there has the highest degree possible to do her job, unlike many other practices that will train assistants and other staff from scratch while on the job.
Winterfield-Dodds opened her own practice because, she said, it was simply the right time. Her three daughters were grown and on their own, and after a quarter century as part of another practice, she wanted to tell her own story and make her own way.
She also wanted to treat her patients with her own approach: care and gentleness. Exceptional Dentistry follows up with patients to make sure discomfort or complications do not arise from a procedure—an example of another personal touch that’s fading from many practices these days.
Exceptional Dentistry offers an array of procedures to patients.Winterfield-Dodds, who earned her D.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, put in 1,100 hours over 10 years to attain her mastership from the Academy of General Dentistry to ensure that she offers the best care in the most areas. Her facility offers general dentistry, cosmetic, implants, root canal therapy, full mouth reconstructive procedures and bleaching.
What it all comes down to for Winterfield-Dodds is helping people. She greatly enjoys transforming lives. On the one hand, those patients who come to her in pain cannot help themselves feel better. And the fact that she can properly treat and relieve people from that pain is intensely gratifying.
On the other hand, there is the larger picture of transforming lives. Those who feel they have a bad smile often live very sheltered, self-conscious lives, she says. They may not date or go out for jobs. The opportunity to meet so many people and improve their self-confidence through restoring their smiles is almost sacred.
As for the future, Winterfield-Dodds foresees more digital impressions and less uncomfortable materials to take impressions of teeth. “We’re not there yet, but I think we will be,” she says.
The practice accepts most insurances. “And we help patients through the process,” she says. And that’s a big help—insurance can be just as intimidating as those faceless group practices that may be keeping a lot of great smiles hidden away.
Exceptional Dentistry is located at 109 Franklin Corner Road in Lawrence. Phone: (609) 895-8882. On the Web: winterfielddmd.com.
Dr. Karen Winterfield-Dodds at her practice, Exceptional Dentistry. (Staff photo by Lexie Yearly.),
