Why This Doc Chose to Rock
In the face of the increasingly prevalent dental “salon and spas,” I am often asked why I have a rock and roll dental practice. First, it’s what I love. It’s who I am. I love music – live music, local music, the music in my head – I love how it brings people from all walks of life to the same playing field. I find more of my patients feel at ease in the presence of album covers, signed guitars and classic rock, then Feng Shui furniture arrangements, fake grass plants, waterfalls and classical music. Instead of trying to be someone I am not, I have found that I can put what I love and what I do into one big ball of hairy fun for my patients and employees to enjoy. You would be surprised how often people participate – patients constantly bring me CDs they have made, suggestions on music to play and bands they want me to check out or think I would enjoy (even 80 year-old women). Not only do I love this interaction, it gives me a little more insight into who my patients are, which makes me better at connecting with their needs, in turn making me a better dentist. I can connect with them easily since we are coming from a common place, instead of immediately inundating them with the dental jargon to which they have become accustom and defensive, like treatments for tooth numbers and various surfaces. While the jargon is necessary, we like to bring the dentistry to you while whistling some Pink Floyd and giving you guitar picks with the typical to-go toothbrush. Don’t misunderstand, we take dentistry very seriously here; it’s a balance. It’s the real deal. We take pride in what we do and we like to learn how to make your time here better, as that time is as valuable to us as it is to our patients. We just don’t take ourselves too seriously. I simply like to be straight up; and luckily music paves the way. One of my favorite patients wrote this if this gives you an idea of how my patients roll:
“I have been a patient of Dr. Cook’s–”The Doc That Rocks”–for more years than I care to remember. In fact, I was just in yesterday and I over-heard the words LET IT BLEED when I walked in. If you’re not a regular patient those words would send shivers down your spine–but in Dr. Cook’s practice those words come from the many overhead speakers throughout the office. You see, Dr. Cook is a music lover and those were the lyrics to the Rolling Stones’ song LET IT BLEED. In fact, if you were expecting PAIN you came to the wrong dental office. You’re more likely to hear Tom Jones sing AFTER THE TEARS over the speakers before you hear them spoken by a patient; and yes, that’s the Rolling Stones singing TOO MUCH BLOOD–not anything said by the dental hygienist. It’s very possible that the words IT’S ALL OVER NOW can be said at the same time by Dr. Cook as the Rolling Stones sing the same words from the song lyrics. Take some advice from a guy who gets “woozy” by just getting a haircut: The next time you need dental work or professional teeth cleaning–sorry, Uncle Clem: tooth cleaning–stop by the dental office of Dr. Cook and listen to some great tunes. You might as well be entertained while you have your dental needs attended to. And when you leave, it’s very possible that their courteous staff will send you off with BOTH the words “Keep on smiling” while Tom Jones sings the lyrics to the song KEEP ON SMILING.”
That’s awesome; my patients rock it hard. Therefore, I try to be myself, because that’s what I am best at – in addition to dentistry, of course. Luckily over the years my patients seem to have liked the laugh better than the lab coat. It’s been rewarding on many levels, whether patients have become cherished personal friends, I have made someone really love their own smile or I have eliminated the fear of pain from dreaded dental visits. So, instead of a waterfall patients get Ms. Pacman and Golden Tee, and instead of scrubs tops my hygienist and assistants wear rock and roll t-shirts. Today my front office administrator has a Kiss shirt on, my hygienist a Bob Marley shirt and my dental assistants are sporting some Rolling Stones and Johnny Cash. I like them to be themselves, too; it’s what makes my practice what it is – an awesome place to work and play hard and listen to great music while we give and our patients get great dental care. Not to mention we usually manage to have a few laughs somewhere between getting you clean, numb or paying the bill. The dentist is a very scary place to a lot of folks; we try to distract you, put you at ease and make you feel like you’re going someplace to hang out rather than the dental spa, while at the same time giving your choppers the topnotch services. Besides, if you really want to go to the spa, tell us and we will send you; don’t waste your money on it while at the dentist. But just in case there are a few non-believers, we’re also stocked with fresh white towels and bottles of water (and someone in the complex might have some Enya and we will provide the CD player).
