When it comes to dental care, some Virginians are positively phobic, and few look forward to having a cavity filled… but one Richmond dentist has found a way to deliver care that leaves patients feeling relaxed and glad to have come.
In the lobby of Brent Rusnak’sdental practice, large fish swim peacefully in a pond. Bottled water is available in a small refrigerator, scented candles flicker, and a video game invites kids to relax before appointments.
“Patient care is obviously the most important thing, but we also try to make it a little bit different when they come in so patients don’t feel anxiety as much.”
Rusnak and his two partners have taken their cues from spas, offering dark glasses to shield patients from strong medical lights during treatment and hot towels to refresh afterward. No one is criticized for failing to floss.
“We try to put ourselves in everyone’s shoes that comes in. Whether it’s someone who hasn’t been in here in 15 years or someone who’s pretty regular with the checkups.”
They even considered bringing a massage therapist into the group, but opted instead for memory foam chairs.
“It’s a massaging chair. I hear about one comment a day on that. There’s TVs in the room and radio and headphones - that type of thing - anything to help you relax and take your mind off of where you are.”
Rusnak says some patients even fall asleep during treatment, but there are still people who are filled with dread at the thought of a dental visit. Chrystal Brooks, who has worked with Rusnak since he opened the practice nine years ago, says the dentist is willing to prescribe medication in certain cases.
“The one that sticks in my mind is a gentleman that came in with his wife with him, and it was his first cavity ever, and he had to take medication the night before, the morning of and have nitrous. So that probably was the most scared I’ve seen someone over something so small. He did great.”
And there’s one other factor that seems to put patients at ease - the people who staff the practice.
“Here everybody’s nice and friendly and they know coming to the dentist stinks, and they make it a lot more fun," says patient Brittany Roots.
This westside dental spahas grown from 1,300 to 5,000 square feet, added two general dentists and an orthodontist, welcomed thousands of patients and put 38-year-old Brent Rusnak on Style Weekly’s list of 40 under 40 Young Men and Women Who Are Changing Richmond.
