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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: San Juan Dental Hygiene |
Patsy Lindblad | 2/27/09
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My latest adventure in highlighting businesses for the Pagosa Daily Post led me to the little blue house with an unusual roof on the edge of the San Juan River at the east end of town. As I stepped inside this 900 square-foot building, I was pleasantly surprised at how neat and clean, light and airy the open floor plan was. There was no typical medicinal scent that sends chills up your spine when you enter a dentist’s office. Continued...
In April, San Juan Dental Hygiene will enter its third year in business, and it seemed from my interview with Maddie Beserra, a registered dental hygienist and owner of the practice, that they are making great strides in expanding the business and differentiating themselves.
The staff at San Juan Dental Hygiene includes not only Maddie, but long-time Pagosa dentist Randall Davis; Jim Iverson, head of their in-house dental lab; Michelle Huck, Office Manager; and Danielle Beserra, part-time dental assistant and Intern. Continued...
Hygienist Maddie Beserra offers a bit of caring advice. |
What started out as a partnership and a part-time venture for Maddie has now become a full-time endeavor.
“It is my passion — so it’s not so much work. I enjoy it. I like helping people. I like helping educate people.
San Juan Dental Hygiene initially began by offering routine cleanings, periodontal maintenance, professional teeth whitening and preventative sealants. Maddie eagerly told me about what’s new and exciting. First she talked about how they have added more components of restorative dentistry, that is, fillings, crowns, oral surgery.
“We’re focusing on our in-house lab, for denture services — partial dentures, full dentures, new and repaired” — something which is not offered elsewhere in Pagosa.
 “We’re now the only local Medicaid provider which services our youth of the community. Maddie feels that “community service is a huge part of what we need to do and offer as professionals.”
Another exciting area the business is entering involves mentoring high school students who are interested in the professional trades and dentistry. Maddie described a program now offered by the School District called “Medical Office Services,” which places students into various medical, dental, veterinarian practices and lets them shadow the practitioners to see if that’s where they want to go. Maddie told me that’s how she was introduced to dentistry. As a teenager in high school she became a dental assistant. She expressed how very thankful she was for those who showed her the ropes. So she is taking on a student right now, Daryn Butler, as an apprentice. Continued...
San Juan Dental Hygiene last year added the services of local dentist (and noted artist and sculptor) Randall Davis. |
I asked Maddie what’s now become a standard question for the Business Spotlight feature: “How’s the economic environment been treating you?”
“It’s been pretty good here," she responded, "because we’ve been on a steady rise. When I first started, I didn’t make a dollar. Now that other offices have been turning away Medicaid, I’ve seen an increase in Medicaid patients. My patient growth has quadrupled in this last year. I attribute that to being maybe more cost effective for patients, … making my fees realistic in this economic downturn, so that people can still get in here and maintain their health.”
According to Maddie, San Juan Dental Hygiene is willing to present the ideal treatment plan to a patient, but if that’s not financially feasible, they will do what people need to do to function.
“We can give patient options. It’s not one way or the highway. We try to do it one tooth at time if we need to.”
Maddie explained that now one of their claims to fame is helping patients with systemic health problems that may be related to oral health. In many cases, they can provide an alternative to going under the knife or to a periodontist. Maddie described a simple procedure of taking a sample of the plaque on your teeth and doing a test to determine the bacteria levels that are unhealthy. With that information, she can then treat the patient, using a conservative approach. As a result, “people are noticing that their immune systems are improved. They get a burst of energy; some of the things that have been bothering them will clear up.” She added that taking this test can help people reduce their risk for increased heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease.
For people who have dental anxiety, Maddie offered that their gentle approach and homey atmosphere is really kind of relaxed. She said some of her patients are former Randall Davis patients — who are "just so excited he’s back."
“He really keeps in front of them that human element. He can appreciate the fact that people aren’t made of money. That’s very comforting to patients — when a doctor can get on their level.”
San Juan Dental Hygiene is open Monday and Wednesdays from 8am to 6pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 3pm. The office is located at 101 Pagosa Street, right at the San Juan River Bridge next to Riverside Medical.
You can phone them at 970-264-9436 or find out more about them at their website. |
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