Your oral health is key to your overall well-being. Trusting your dentist is as important as trusting your primary care doctor. Dentistry is about more than fixing teeth—it’s a partnership focused on long-term health and peace of mind. Important factors to take into consideration when developing a relationship with your dentist: 1. Empathy Make Sure You Feel Heard: A good dentist takes the time to understand your unique concerns and goals, ensuring that each treatment plan is personalized and tailored to your needs. Know What Makes You Comfortable: Dental visits can be anxiety-inducing for many. A dentist who creates a calming, safe space where your worries are acknowledged and guides you through each step can help reduce fear and stress. Feel Confident in Your Treatment: Trusting your dentist means you're more likely to follow through with necessary treatments and recommendations, leading to better long-term outcomes. 2. Communication Insist on Clear Communication: A trustworthy dentist explains all available options, treatment plans, and their associated costs, empowering you to make informed decisions about your care. Get Collaborative Care: Your dentist should ensure you have all the information you need to choose what’s best for you, making you an active partner in your care. Lean Into Proactive Care: Regular visits help prevent small issues from becoming big, costly problems. Your dentist will identify early signs of trouble and take steps to address them before they impact your health. 3. Trust Seek Out a Long-Term Partnership: A dentist who prioritizes transparency aims to empower you to take charge of your oral health, fostering a lasting relationship that supports your overall wellness. Make it Personal: A good dentist offers personalized advice on how to care for your teeth between visits, ensuring you're always equipped to maintain your oral health. Ready to invest in your long-term health? Book a consultation today.

At Athena, we’re breaking barriers to dental care access with innovative, patient-centered solutions, ensuring exceptional care is always within reach. Here's how Athena is making dental care more accessible: 1. Empowering Patients to Make Informed Choices Lack of awareness leads to unnecessary dental emergencies. Educating patients on care options helps prevent costly procedures and supports better oral health. We believe in promoting affordable, cost-effective treatments – as well as practical financing options – to support long-term oral health. 2. Focusing on Preventive Care Preventive care is essential for maintaining good health and avoiding costly medical crises. We do this by identifying potential problems early on through regular screenings and check-ups when treatment is simpler and more effective. Holistic care is also an essential part of preventative care, which can include recommendations on limiting foods that could lead to damaged teeth, eliminating smoking, practicing effective care at home, staying hydrated, and eating foods that strengthen oral health. 3. Implementing Personalized and Long-Term Solutions We believe in a healthcare model that emphasizes quality over quantity. By focusing on patient outcomes instead of service volume, we reduce unnecessary procedures, improve provider coordination, and ensure effective, efficient care. 4. Customizing Care Plans Ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time can prevent costly procedures. This means, we create custom, integrated plans that take health factors into consideration beyond dental health. Fostering coordination among healthcare providers, enables us to eliminate unnecessary treatments and reduce costs. Schedule an appointment with Athena Dental and discover custom plans tailored to your needs. Call 786-408-6651 to talk to an Athena team member. References: USC Health Administration – How to Improve Access to Healthcare https://healthadministrationdegree.usc.edu/blog/how-to-improve-access-to-health-care American Medical Association (AMA) – Strategies to Address Physician Shortages https://www.ama-assn.org/health-care-advocacy/access-care/5-ways-improve-access-health-care Harvard School of Public Health – Making Healthcare More Affordable Through Preventive Care https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/making-health-care-more-affordable Blue Cross NC – Value-Based Care and Healthcare Affordability https://www.bluecrossnc.com/blog/expert-takes/access-affordability/simpler-more-affordable-health-care

President's response to Dr. Stephanie Hernandez's article on value-based care, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association