Embarking on a major smile makeover is an exciting time for a patient, just as much as it is for you. They have seen before-and-after examples and simulations to get them excited about what to expect. The first few steps in the treatment plan can be exciting too, as they see the early signs of progress and what was in their mind starts to become real. It's the kind of excitement that comes from taking action and starting on a promising journey.

In many of these cases, though—especially cases where treatment is performed in several stages, visits and months—patients can easily develop "treatment fatigue." This is a phenomenon most dentists are familiar with. Sometimes patients start out strong and then their commitment to the process starts to fade; they become less enthusiastic. They start showing up late or rescheduling. In some cases they end up never completing the whole treatment plan. This is because, as I said in a previous article, enthusiasm has a shelf life.

The good news is that enthusiasm can also be replenished. Just as a good coach knows when his team needs a pep talk, a good dentist needs to be able to sense when a patient's enthusiasm is starting to wane and to take measures to get that passion level back up.

One way to do that is simply by projecting the attitude yourself that you want them to embrace. It can be easy for a dentist sometimes, especially with a complex long-term case, to get lost in the clinical details and simply put your head down and get to work. But if you take time to talk with them about how the case is proceeding and truly demonstrate how excited you are about the progress and the outcome you foresee, that is going to rub off.

In keeping with that idea, here is another suggestion: celebrate the milestones. I always encourage dentists to do that at the completion of a complex case, to make the patient and the team feel great about what they have accomplished. But there is no reason to do that only at the end. When a patient has reached a significant milestone in their ongoing treatment, call in the team to the operatory, explain the case, show off the patient's progress to this point and celebrate. It is a simple gesture that can't help but make the patient feel good and restore their passion for the process.

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