We make house calls! The great value, savings, and benefits of mobile care near me that transcend “dollars and cents”

Dr. Roya Shoffet of Royal Dental Practice is proud to be a pioneering “mobile dentist” serving the oral health needs of individuals from across the West Hills, Los Angeles, California area with cognitive, mobility, and other challenges to getting this vital care. As you may have discovered in your search for in-home dentistry services, this concept is unheard of; the closest approach may be the mobile health clinic. 

However, such mobile clinics have their limitations in providing health services. Individuals still need to be transported to this clinic-on-wheels. This situation continues to present a challenge for patients with mobility issues and problems like dementia. Their family members may still struggle to transport them to the clinic safely and economically. Plus, not every patient can qualify for these services. There may be income restrictions or other eligibility requirements. 

These clinics have a vital and important place in the communities that we call “home”; however, Dr. Shoffet’s in-home care also plays a separate and critical role in serving certain populations in Greater Los Angeles. So, while both she and other clinics do offer “practices on wheels” by transporting the equipment and personnel needed to provide care in a highly mobile manner, there are distinctive differences:

• Again, Dr. Shoffet travels to a patient’s bedside. She provides in-home care. She does not park at a high-profile location or public space and have others come to her. She truly brings everything that is needed for a patient’s care to their home or wherever they may be at the moment, whether that is the rehabilitation center or an assisted or skilled living community

• Dr. Shoffet provides the highest quality dentistry services. She has practiced in the Los Angeles area for more than 30 years

• Individuals with mobility issues, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other physical and mental challenges have unique needs and demand a unique level of care. Throughout Dr. Shoffet’s lengthy career, she has lived her passion for partnering with seniors. She has established herself as a trusted and experienced provider of geriatric dentistry services. She knows how to patiently, compassionately, safely, and properly care for and communicate with older individuals and others who have unique needs

• She provides an all-important continuity of care. Routine dental visits are essential for all of us, especially those with “comorbidities.” The mouth’s health can influence and be influenced by systemic health and other conditions seemingly distant from the oral cavity. For instance, an illuminating National Institute on Aging-led study found that the same P. gingivalis bacteria associated with gum disease was also associated with patients who actively had or succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and related dementias

• Since such bacteria can cross the blood-brain barrier and exacerbate Alzheimer’s and other related conditions, by helping to protect against and manage periodontal or gum disease, Dr. Shoffet is also helping to support overall health, well-being, and quality of life through dentistry services

• Many services can be provided safely and effectively from the comfort of one’s home. These include preventative cleanings, diagnostics like X-rays (we have a portable machine to do just that!), relines and other forms of denture care and “maintenance,” and some restorative work (such as dental fillings and simple extractions)

• We are only limited in our ability to provide major or complex restorative and oral surgical treatment and deep IV sedation. That said, Dr. Shoffet partners with you to arrange alternate ways of getting that care if needed and can also discuss other ways to keep your loved one relaxed and comfortable. Though the very act of getting care in a familiar setting and by familiar people (Dr. Shoffet gets to know many patients and their family members well) promotes a comfortable, pleasant, and non-intimidating and non-threatening experience and environment

• As Royal Dental Practice revolutionizes the industry, we are bringing a level of flexibility to a formerly inflexible healthcare system. You and your family benefit from this. Everything that we recommend and offer is made with the patient’s specific needs at heart. If you have a specific question, idea, or approach, just share it with us! We are here to make these concepts a reality

Additionally, in its most recent Mobile Clinic Impact Tracker, The Harvard Medical School-powered Mobile Health Map reports that, aside from the positive community and health impacts associated with care-on-wheels, there are significant cost savings compared to traditional models of delivering health services. Notably, they reported that for every $1 spent on these all-important resources, there is a savings of $22 – for a staggering Return on Investment of 22:1. 

Our patients and their family members experience considerable savings related to the costs of transporting individuals with advanced medical needs, as well as the direct costs of providing skilled care (personnel, equipment, and other resources). Dr. Shoffet is incredibly transparent and fair in her pricing. The total cost is highly dependent on those factors specific to your situation and needs, including the travel/mileage requirements and the nature of the diagnostic or therapeutic services provided. 

Note that the cost of ambulance services in Los Angeles County (as of the most recently available budget data from June 2023) ranges from around $2,000 to upwards of $4,000, depending on if the service is characterized as “emergent” or “non-emergent” and if additional skilled professionals like a registered nurse or respiratory therapist are needed. The total cost can soar exponentially as these professionals are billed hourly. There are also fees associated with medical supplies and the use of other specialized equipment, as well as fees for things like after-hours requests (before 7 AM or after 7 PM). 

We have eliminated the many substantial fees while also providing benefits that transcend mere “dollars and cents”: how you “save” your loved one the considerable stress, confusion, and discomfort associated with potentially bewildering trips to the dentist’s office in unfamiliar vehicles and with unfamiliar people; how you “save” the entire household the worry about mom’s or grandpa’s safety and health as they are being moved and transported back and forth. They get to hold their hand, be with them, and they never have to leave the house! Considerable mental, emotional, and physical stressors are lifted away and off of everyone’s shoulders. A sense of relief and control is achieved or restored, with many of our clients telling us they wish a mobile or home visit with us were scheduled sooner. 

Don’t wait any longer. If you are on the fence about in-home dental care, let’s talk! Call the friendly team at Royal Dental Practice today at (818) 334-6655. 

From our family-focused Royal dental practice in the West Hills of Los Angeles, California, we can coordinate a home visit tailored specifically to your needs. 

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