BUSINESS 13 Doctor Takes the Fear Out of Dentistry Week of November 16 - November 22, 2012
by Patricia Older Saratoga TODAY Like many people, Audrey Page did not like going to the dentist. It was something she knew was a necessity, but at the same time, an experience she would like to avoid as much as possible. “I have a tremendous fear of needles and dentists,” Page said. “I was so afraid of the pain.” But when she was faced with a major procedure that would affect her smile for the rest of her life, she decided to seek out a second opinion. “I had a broken front tooth and my dentist said there was only a 50/50 chance [the root canal] would last,” said Page, who admitted she had not smiled in years because of her teeth. That is when some friends told her about Dr. Marc Johnson’s Smiles For Life Dental Care on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs. That one visit, said Page, changed not only how she views dentists, but her future. “It seriously changed my life,” she said. “I have not stopped smiling since.” “Everything in this office is high tech,” explained Dr. Johnson about his practice.
He continued, pointing out that one of their newest technologies is the E4D System. “We are able to scan the area where the tooth is going and then have the patient come back in an hour and they have a brand new implant,” he said. “That’s pretty cool technology as opposed to waiting three weeks. It is amazing.” While Dr. Johnson may have just opened his new office this past spring, he has been practicing dentistry in the area since the late 80s. “I had a prior dental office for 18 years,” said Dr. Johnson, who revealed that he was drawn into the field by his own childhood experiences in a dentist chair. “I wanted to find a way to make it a pain-free experience for people.” But a lifelong desire to sail the world had been gnawing at the doctor, who along with his wife Angie moved to the area after college because of the “quality of life it offered.” “We had a dream we wanted to sail about the world, even before the kids came along,” said Dr. Johnson. So, the couple sold their business and set out on a 42 foot catamaran with their son and daughter who were nine and seven at the time. “We visited 27 countries in the Caribbean and in South and Central America.”
That adventure took the family four years to complete and they returned home in 2011. After dabbling in a couple of other business ventures, Dr. Johnson said he just couldn’t get dentistry out of his mind. “I decided to come back into the business because so many people would say to me, ‘You have such a gift,’” said Dr. Johnson. “This time, though, I wanted to keep the practice smaller and intimate. I want to be able to spend what time people need in order to help them with their fears and anxieties. I want this to be a pleasant and pain-free experience for them.” That calming effect Dr. Johnson promotes is what sold Page to give Smiles For Life Dental Care a go. She explained that when she went for her initial visit, even the look of the office had a soothing and reassuring feeling. “Just the appearance of the office put me in a relaxed mood,” she said. “I wanted to create an environment that was bright, comfortable, and non-threatening,” said Dr. Johnson, pointing out the comfortable fabric chairs, soothing pastel décor and unconventional use of small spaces through-out the workplace. “In addition, each [patient] room has high-depth monitors with soothing images playing. Or
Dr. Marc Johnson chats with a patient while his dental assistant, Renee DuBois looks on. Photo by MarkBolles.com.
patients can watch Netflix or listen to music.” Even the dental chairs, he said, are designed for ultimate comfort for the patient. “Our two hygiene areas have chairs with memory foam and gentle massage capabilities,” said Dr. Johnson. “When you get out them you feel like putty.” By utilizing technologies such as the high resolution scanner and lasers, Dr. Johnson said he can give his patients pain-free experiences while also providing excellent dental care. “We can use oral sedation which makes for a pleasant experience, laser for soft tissue procedures, and E4D system for [faster reconstructions],” he said. “We want long term problem-free solutions for people.” Page, agreed, saying that she never felt pain or even realized Dr. Johnson had completed the root canal when he stepped back. “I never felt anything,” said
Page, adding that since the work was performed, she finds herself smiling all the time. “I honestly had not smiled in so long,” said Page. “But since [I had the procedure,] I am always smiling. Everyone always comments about it now – my friends, my coworkers, people who come into my office – they want to know what has changed.” She continued, “My self-confidence is back and I have had so many compliments on my teeth. It has seriously changed my life. I am dumbfounded and in awe. He is top of the line.” It is that feeling, said Dr. Johnson, which keeps him doing what he loves. “It is all about quality of life,” said Dr. Johnson. “And the ability to change people’s lives for the better. It is what I love.” For more information on Smiles For Life Dental Care, call (518) 886-8610 or visit their website at www.My518Dentist.com.