Imagine a Pain-Free Dental Experience

Imagine this: you have a pain-free dental practice. You look out the window of your operatory and see a line of patients going down the block and around the corner. You can’t even see the end of the line. These are patients waiting to get into your practice because you’re known as the pain-free healthcare provider.

Sounds great, right? Most people make fun of going to the dentist—“Who wants a root canal?” “Who wants to see a surgeon?” “Who wants to have a gum graft?” In fact, just yesterday a patient said, “I hear a word on the street that a gum graft is really painful.”

Well, it's not really painful—if you give proper pre- and post-operative instructions, use the right surgical technique, and make a surgical stent for the patient to wear for two weeks to avoid pain.

Our Approach: Technology and Setup

We've developed some technology in our office that provides patients with a pain-free experience, and honestly, it all comes down to the setup. That setup includes giving proper pre-operative and post-operative instructions and telling patients exactly what to expect.

We have a saying—something like “under promise and over deliver.” The idea is: never give patients expectations you can’t exceed. We tell patients they might experience pain, but in reality, 95% of our patients have no post-operative pain. That’s despite doing five or six surgical procedures per doctor, per day.

A Real Patient Example

I called a patient today who was experiencing some pain—but they weren’t following my instructions. That’s key. Let's talk more about the importance of instructions and the post-op follow-up call.

Step-by-Step: Pre- and Post-Operative Protocol

In our practice, we have written pre-operative and post-operative instructions for every patient. These are given to the patient before treatment.

We also provide a link to a video that demonstrates the process. But if you don’t watch that video, here’s what we do:

Pre-Operative Instructions

We don't treat this as an afterthought—like just handing over a narcotic after surgery. In fact, we rarely use narcotics unless a patient specifically asks for one, and even then, it’s usually unnecessary.

Our pre-operative protocol includes four medications:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID): Typically 600 mg of ibuprofen, taken an hour before treatment—unless contraindicated by a physician or medication.

2. Arnica: Some consider it placebo, but I believe it works. We provide it as both a cream and a pill.

3. Antibiotic: This varies per doctor. My personal protocol is 500 mg of amoxicillin an hour before treatment, then 500 mg three times a day for five days—assuming no allergies.

4. Sedative (optional): For patients who request it.

We also tell patients to purchase and prepare all medications in advance—so they’re not standing in line at the pharmacy while numb and in pain. The data is clear: pain medication works best before the pain starts.

We recommend patients stock soft foods, take a couple of days off from work, avoid exercise, and avoid travel. Some patients bounce back quickly—I treated a neurosurgeon yesterday who was back operating today. But everyone is different.

Post-Operative Instructions

Patients also receive written post-operative instructions in advance.

After surgery, we review everything in person—both myself and a nurse. They receive the instructions written and verbally. If they were sedated, their caregiver gets the instructions as well.

Here’s what we tell them:

• Motrin (600 mg every 3–4 hours) for Day 1. Start Day 2 the same way.

• If Motrin isn’t enough, add 1,000 mg of acetaminophen.

• Studies show Motrin + Tylenol is more effective than narcotics.

• Continue Arnica (pill and cream) for 5 days.

• Ice the area, avoid exercise for 48 hours, and sleep on two pillows.

• A sedative may be used the night of surgery to help with sleep.

Communication is Key

We know patients are bombarded with information—social media, phone calls, texts, and emails. That’s why we repeat instructions multiple times:

1. With my administrative team two days before surgery.

2. With the clinical team right before surgery.

3. As the patient leaves the office.

Then, we call them post-surgery:

• A team member calls the evening of surgery.

• I personally call the next day, and sometimes again around Day 3 (when pain usually peaks).

Another Patient Follow-Up Example

Right before recording this, I called a patient treated two days ago. My team had already called on Day 1 and Day 2. When I called on Day 3, the patient said, “I’m in a little pain.”

I asked what they were taking. They said Motrin—but only once at the start of the day, and now it was 1:00 PM. So I advised them to take a Motrin now, and Tylenol in 40 minutes.

99% of my patients are pain-free when they follow this method. Once they’re out of pain, they can reduce medication use.

The Results of a Pain-Free Protocol

In my 40 years of practice, I’ve seen that this pain-free approach works. Patients are happier, they heal better, and they give us glowing five-star reviews.

But more than that, once a patient experiences pain, they lose trust. They don’t believe the treatment worked. That’s why pre- and post-operative instructions are so critical.

We go over the protocol three times with patients. And we write it all down. Despite this, few patients follow it to the letter—but every detail matters. Skip a step, and they might experience pain unnecessarily.

Final Thoughts

In dentistry—and especially outside of it—many healthcare providers don’t put this much attention into the patient experience. But the details matter. The written instructions, verbal reviews, post-op phone calls, and follow-ups make all the difference.

All my patients have my cell phone number on my business card. Because of that, I rarely get calls—they don’t need to call me. But if they do, I’m there.

That’s my gift to them. I hope this information is a gift to you.

Have a great day.