When new patients arrive at Patient-First Dental Care for the first time, they are often surprised to discover there is no check-in paper to sign. Instead, they are greeted personally. “We like a different approach,” says Abby Newhouse, office manager. “We always provide a welcoming atmosphere. Once we get to know our patients, we greet them by their first names.” It’s just one of many ways Patient-First Dental shows its commitment to patients’ dental health and well-being. “The whole staff just makes you so comfortable,” one patient says.

Not a numbers game

While some dentists might see dozens of patients per day, Dr. Gayle Fletcher has chosen a more focused approach. “We are not an insurance-driven office,” he says. “I want to treat you as a person, not as an insurance plan. It’s kind of like your physician back in the ‘60s. They knew who you were. It’s not a numbers game. It’s personal.”

Fletcher acknowledges that for some people, going to the dentist is frightening, and many people profess they hate to go to the dentist. “This is a difficult job,” he says. “It’s tough knowing you are one of those folks no one wants to see.” To make it easier for his patients, Fletcher listens to their concerns, strives to be empathetic, and tries to keep a light atmosphere in treatment rooms. “I have worked really hard to make sure my injection techniques are as painless as possible. I take my patients seriously. They put their trust in me, and I feel like I have to earn that every day,” he says.

“He is just a great dentist,” one patient says. “He is there for you. He’s always available. I drive an hour and a half to come here. It’s not a dreaded experience. The whole staff is so professional and friendly. When you call, they call you back immediately.”

Many patients appreciate the fact that their dental work at Patient-First Dental Care is covered by a six-year warranty. If, for example, a filling comes loose despite a patient’s ongoing dental health maintenance, there is usually no need for panic. If the work was completed within the past six years, the patient can recoup the original cost of the filling through Patient-First Dental’s third-party administrator. “So, even if a patient moves away, it goes with them,” Abby says. “They can use it at another dental office.”

Fletcher entered the field of dentistry via an atypical route. A member of a military family, he attended Department of Defense schools at U.S. Air Force bases in the U.S. and abroad. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he became a nuclear power plant operator on submarines. He began his collegiate studies after his Navy service, ultimately graduating from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio as a doctor of dental surgery. He then served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a dentist for four years, completing his military career in the Army Reserve. Now a retired lieutenant colonel, Fletcher has a heart for military reservists, and often helps them get required dental care so they can deploy with their units if needed.

A winning team

Fletcher has nothing but accolades for his excellent staff. “I don’t know what we would do without the team,” he says. Many of the members of the Patient-First Dental staff have worked at the practice for years. “Everyone here is like family. We have a very close-knit team,” says Amanda Chambers, who has been Fletcher’s dental assistant for 14 years—so long, she says with a laugh, that she can practically read his mind. “Everything is automatic for us,” she says. “We don’t talk much.”

While growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Amanda always had a calm demeanor. She had a knack with animals and vividly remembers her neighbors asking her to help load their stubborn bull into a trailer. She was just seven years old. Over the years, many patients have also sensed her quiet nature and have come to appreciate her presence during dental procedures. She listens to them, “getting to the bottom of their fear,” she says. “I have probably a dozen patients who request me because they are so fearful. They tell me I am very calming and soothing. I build trust and make them comfortable. If they need to hold my hand, they hold my hand.”

Although Amanda has worked for other dentists in the past, her highest praise is reserved for Fletcher. “He is the best dentist I have ever worked for, especially doing extractions. He makes sure he takes the tooth out in a way that’s not so aggressive,” she says. She notes that Fletcher, a co-founder of Dental Development Seminars, often travels to Guatemala to instruct dentists in surgical extraction techniques. “If I move anywhere else,” Amanda says, “I would fly back here to see Dr. Fletcher.”

Patients also appreciate Paige Kawszan, dental hygienist, who is known for her gentle touch during dental cleanings. Patients often tell her they’ve had rough hygienists in the past, and say, “I have never had such a gentle cleaning.” This pleases Paige, who enjoys helping people. “You can be gentle, but also effective at the same time,” she says. “I feel like I am a very sympathetic person. I care, and I want my patients to come back and see me. The mouth is the first pathway to the rest of your body. It helps you stay healthy—not just in your mouth, but systemically as well.”

For Paige, becoming a dental hygienist was a natural choice. Her mother once wanted to pursue a career in dental hygiene, but was unable to do so because of illness in the family. So, after graduating from Montgomery High School, Paige completed the dental hygiene program at UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, graduating with honors. Although she is making her mother proud and “living out her dream,” she is quick to acknowledge she loves her job. Not only does she get to help others, but she also gets to meet intriguing people. “I learn a lot from my patients,” she says. “They have jobs I’ve never heard of before. It’s really interesting and really rewarding.”

Patients are grateful for the helpful staff at the front desk, too, as well as other members of the Patient-First Dental team who work behind the scenes, including Fletcher’s wife Angela, who serves as the human resources coordinator for the practice. “They know you by name, are super friendly, and are truly good, honest people you can trust,” one patient says. “We have used several dentists before we were referred to Dr. Fletcher, and will never use anyone else!”

Patient-First Dental Care is located in Conroe at 1336 League Line Road, Suite 400. For more information, visit its website: patientfirstdental.net or call 936-856-9969.