The Death of "Wait and Watch": How Smile and Grins Transformed Reactive Dentistry

“Quality is not something we can compromise on. Our journey is about focusing on the patient and doing what is genuinely best for them.”

This belief shapes everyday dentistry at Smiles and Grins, led by Dr Himanshu Sharma in Gurgaon.
It is not about treating faster. It is about treating better, earlier, and with clarity.

Challenge: dentistry driven by pain

Most dental visits begin with pain. Pain brings the patient in. Pain gets treated.
The visit ends. This reactive loop creates gaps that are easy to miss.

• Early signs go unnoticed
• Conversations stay limited to the chief complaint
• Long term risks are postponed

When urgency takes over, prevention becomes difficult. Both the dentist and the patient end up focusing only on what hurts today.

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A mindset shift before technology

The change at Smiles and Grins did not begin with tools. It began with intent. From the start of his journey, Dr Sharma was guided by one principle.

Think less about yourself. Think more about the patient.

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That translated into a few non-negotiables.

• No compromise on quality
• Minimum pain and complications
• Honest discussion about costs and outcomes
• Transparency about future risks
  
  

Patients were told in advance what could happen later in life. Not to alarm them.
But to build long term trust and avoid surprises. There was also a strong belief that patients are logical.
When given clear information, they can make the right decisions.

Why AI became relevant

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Explaining future risks using words alone was limiting. Trust needed something objective.

With scanO Air and scanO Engage, screening and explanation became visual and structured. AI powered screening happened early in the visit, supported by instant visual reports and organized data during consultation. Patients could see what the doctor was seeing, not just hear it.

This removed doubt and reduced resistance.

Because AI felt neutral and factual:

• Explanations became easier and calmer.
• Conversations naturally expanded beyond pain to include hidden issues
• And possible future complications felt less like selling

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Results by the numbers

The change was visible in daily practice. Conversations shifted from pain driven visits to preventive discussions. Patients were better informed and more engaged.

As shared in the interview, in nearly 80 percent of cases, patients who saw their condition through AI screening chose to treat not only their chief complaint, but also issues that could create problems later.

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The patient realization

One moment repeated often. Patients noticed problems that were not painful yet. But clearly visible. The thought was simple.
If this can cause trouble later, why wait and come back with the same pain again?

That realization replaced hesitation with action.

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Preventive care as a shared plan

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At Smiles and Grins, prevention is not pushed. It is planned together.

• AI helps predict and guide
• The doctor explains and plans
• The patient understands and chooses
  
  

Technology supports clarity. It does not replace judgment.

Looking ahead

Dentistry does not need to wait for pain to begin care. When patients can see, understand, and trust what is happening, preventive care becomes normal.

Not optional.
Not forced.

The journey at Smiles and Grins shows how moving beyond “wait and watch” leads to calmer conversations, stronger trust, and dentistry that truly focuses on long term health.