I am a general dentist in the Atlanta area. I have had my own practice for over 20 years, and I have built a strong relationship with the community. I am proud that the name Frank Roach Dentist stands for quality.
What are your focus areas and why?
My focus is on cosmetic dentistry within my family dentistry practice. I believe that there are ways that every dental patient can feel better about themselves and their appearance. Teeth whitening is one of my favorite procedures, which causes a complete about-face in a person’s appearance. It is relatively inexpensive, and it also helps with a patient’s overall oral health.
How do you describe your practice in a few words?
I would describe my practice as family oriented. When people think of Dr. Frank Roach, I want them to associate me with friendly, professional dental services. I enjoy having my patients come in and visit with me. It feels like meeting up with friends. I would also say that my practice focuses on the future. I am always searching for new techniques to keep my patients’ smiles healthy and strong.
Where do you think your work is making an impact?
I know that my work has had an impact throughout the Atlanta area. I have had a successful practice. Having grown up in the area, I understand people’s daily lives and their motivations. Having a close relationship with my patients also enables me to connect with them on a personal level. I also believe that my practice is making a difference in the care of anxious patients.
How did you build up a creative spirit, do you believe you were born with it or you developed it?
I feel like I developed a creative spirit over time. I wasn’t the most creative child or young adult. As I have gotten more comfortable with the dental field, I have used my creativity to help me solve problems for my patients. When my patients have difficulties, I am always looking for new ways to help them.
Tell us more about your dedication to safety and sanitation while also keeping patients comfortable?
Sanitation is absolutely essential, especially today. My hygienists and I wear proper personal protective equipment. We clean and sanitize every treatment area between each patient. Sanitization has slowed down our work and cut the number of patients we can see in one day, but I believe that my patients’ health and safety is much more important than packing the office with more people. I have hired extra staff to help us keep our office and treatment areas as clean and sanitary as possible.
Why is Platelet-Rich Plasma is the right choice?
Platelet-Rich Plasma or PRP has become a valuable technique to help with wound healing. In the period after surgery, blood clots help with healing and regeneration. Right now, research scientists and advanced practices like my own are using PRP to help our patients recover from oral surgery at a faster rate and to make them more comfortable after the procedure.
What can you tell young dental professionals who are just starting their careers?
It can be nerve-wracking to start a new practice, but it is so rewarding. Having a dream of opening a new practice shouldn’t be ignored. If you play your cards right, you will be able to attract a wide variety of patients to your practice. Word of mouth is the most important way that dentists attract patients, so you must make sure that you treat every patient like they are essential. Too many dentists today are cold and unfriendly. I think this is a shame since dentistry depends on the personal relationship between the dentist and the patient. I love it when one patient brings their family and friends to my practice. It gives me a sense of pride in my work.
What are you most excited about at the moment?
I am excited about the possibilities of laser dentistry. It is something I have wanted to add to my practice for quite some time. Laser dentistry means that patients do not have to have as many sutures after an oral procedure. They can recover with less bleeding and less pain. They can get excellent results with less time in the chair.
There are other areas in which I am interested as well. Platelet-rich plasma is another exciting new development. It has been used by plastic surgeons for a while now, and the possibilities of its use in dental settings is just being explored.
Any last words or final thoughts?
My goal as a dentist is to keep my patients coming back. I try to impress upon the importance of keeping their teeth healthy. Too many people suffer because they did not have good oral care practices early in life. Merely brushing twice, a day is not enough; it has to be accompanied by flossing and twice-annual checkups.
While my focus is on helping patients learn what they can do to support their dental health, I also understand that many patients are afraid of going to the dentist. They may be upset by the sights, sounds, and smells associated with a dental visit. They may have traumatic memories of a past procedure, and they may have been seen by a dentist lacking in compassion and bedside manner. I try to make these patients as comfortable as I can without using sedatives that could have troubling side effects.
