Jessica Martin works with medical professionals nationwide and also co-owns Martin Dental, a successful dental spa in Eau Claire, WI. Jessica is a licensed school psychologist and helps medical professionals understand why patients feel anxious or fear at the dentist and other medical appointments. Jessica has created strategies for dental offices to remove some of the most common barriers to dental care. She loves sharing ways to make the experience positive for every patient. Jessica has also been involved in leadership positions for two local networking organizations for the past 7 years. She has assisted 90+ business professionals thrive and be more successful.
Our Practice Transformation
In 2010, Jessica and her husband Dr. Tony Martin, purchased the practice of a retiring dentist. Like many new practices, they updated the décor and the technology, hired a strong staff and opened their doors. Three years later, however, they desired to grow the practice even more rapidly.
The husband and wife team began searching for a solution that would both truly serve patients and also aid to differentiate the practice in a city with dozens of established dentists. Discounted cleanings or insurance networks didn’t speak to the Martins as the ideal path, as Dr. Martin wanted to focus on quality dentistry.
In their discussions, Jessica, a licensed school psychologist, drew on her experience aiding youth with sensory and other challenges in the school setting. She quickly realized there was ample room to apply similar sensory management techniques and approaches from her previous work to the dental experience.
Forever the analyst and researcher, Jessica interviewed Martin Dental’s patients and discovered that many people had dental anxiety and were sensitive to sensory stimulation. This means that the dental chair, the tools, the lights, the smells, and the very experience of opening mouths wide for dental work set off sensory ‘alarms’ in patients’ heads… and was absolutely causing discomfort, and even distress, that most patients would prefer to avoid.
Martin Dental became the only dental spa in the area in 2014. The results have been stunning for patients and the business alike. Patient referrals quickly climbed, with appointment cancellations dropping drastically. In three years time, monthly new patient numbers have not doubled, not tripled, but actually quadrupled. Since the implementation of the dental spa approach, the Martin’s practice has exploded, crown production increasing by over 55% each year, the addition of an associate dentist, and the construction of a beautiful new building in the fall of 2020. New patients are capped each month, the practice has long waiting lists, and the marketing budget is low as there is organic growth and hype.
Jessica’s mission is to educate others on how profound an impact dental anxiety can have on a dental practice and share the strategies that have helped her business be so successful. Patients don’t need to dread dentistry and dental offices don’t need to race to the bottom of the discount game. Addressing dental anxiety effectively is a win win for everyone!
When not positively impacting the world of dentistry, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and friends on the lake! She loves being in the sun with a good book as well as any activity that gets her outside. Jessica grew up in small town Wisconsin and is an avid networker in her community.
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