A visit to the dentist isn’t at the top of most people’s list of favorite activities. The team at KB Dental wants to change that perception. Their goal: to make patients of all ages feel comfortable throughout their visit, and happy that they took steps to care for their oral health when they walk out the door.
With locations in West Bloomfield and Troy, KB Dental (kbdental.com) can be a one-stop shop for a family’s dental needs. When Kristen Balutowicz, DDS, bought the practice in 2016, she was determined that patients wouldn’t feel like they were going through an assembly line. The practice offers everything from basic oral hygiene services, including fillings and root canals, to more technical procedures such as restorative dental implants and cosmetic porcelain veneers, Invisalign and teeth whitening.
“We want to treat patients like an extension of our family, and provide good care in a friendly atmosphere,” Dr. Balutowicz says. “We offer a boutique-style experience with a very high standard of care that features the latest technology.
“We like to have fun, and we worked hard to build a team based on teamwork, where everyone works toward a common goal,” Dr. Balutowicz says of the group, which includes doctors Jennifer Murri, Dawn Mann, Sara Hannoodi and Ashley Metz-Suska. “We’re here for the patients, to do a good job and treat them well.”
For those anxious about visiting the dentist, KB Dental offers a comfort menu to help ease their nerves. The list includes weighted blankets, nitrous oxide gas, noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses to block out the bright lights, televisions and squishy balls. When kids come for an appointment, each doctor takes the time to talk to them. They let children touch and hold the instruments and get creative in describing what’s going to happen.
“We have certain words for things we use, like sleepy juice, Mr. Bumpy, the polishing tool, and Mr. Whistle, the drill,” Dr. Balutowicz says. “And I will make up a story so they can try to picture what’s going on, like, ‘Okay, I’m going after the sugar bugs. Oh my gosh, there’s a mom sugar bug. She’s wearing purple shoes. Oh, there’s the baby sugar bug.’”
Adding to the “treat” in treatment: Each patient gets to choose a gift from the practice’s prize boxes. Kids choose from fun toy items after each procedure; an adult prize box offers a selection of gift certificates, wine, golf balls and more to choose from after completing their entire prescribed treatment.
“It’s a big hit,” Dr. Balutowicz says. “We know it’s not fun to have dental work done, so we want to celebrate when patients make a commitment to improving their oral health.”