Shaping positive experiences
Keystone Pediatric Dentistry focused on connecting with kid patients from newborns to teens
The team at Keystone Pediatric Dentistry in Medina is committed to shaping positive health care experiences for youths to carry into adulthood. Photos by KEVIN MCMANUS
Top priority at Keystone Pediatric Dentistry is making sure kids feel at home and that they can ask questions about their dental health.
Keystone Pediatric Dentistry Office Manager Kelly Zdelar has been on board since day one, when there were only two patients.
It's evident Keystone is dedicated to making kids feel comfortable by not only the care provided but in the fun, artistic environment of the practice.
Keystone Pediatric Dentistry is fittingly located in The Keystone Building at 3591 Reserve Commons Drive, Suite 200, in Medina.
Dr. Sally Z. Lauterjung (left) has been practicing locally since 1995. She was joined by Dr. Julie Rudgers-Croft in 2012.
It's difficult to find a wall at Keystone Pediatric Dentistry that isn't creatively painted.
One of the things Keystone Pediatric Dentistry's Dr. Sally Lauterjung prides her practice on is the team – all women – is mostly made up of moms.
No doubt, your experiences as a kid shape who you become as an adult. This is arguably no more important than in health care, according to Dr. Sally Z. Lauterjung at Keystone Pediatric Dentistry.
“Often times, medical appointments can be really challenging, difficult, uncomfortable. Dentistry is no different,” said Lauterjung, known by the community simply as Dr. Sally. “If we teach them at this age you have to take care of things and this is how to take care of things, when you do have medical needs as an adult, you don’t shy away from it. And if we’ve taught you well, hopefully that’s an aspect of your overall health care and it doesn’t fall downhill and take extraordinarily large amounts out of your wallet.”
Fear of health care – whether due to insurance limitations or general uneasiness with medical professionals – is a problem in the U.S., something Lauterjung, her associate Dr. Julie Rudgers-Croft and their staff of about a dozen work to reverse every day, at least in this community.
Kids are No. 1 at Keystone, evidenced in not only the office’s colorful and artistic aesthetic, but in how the team of doctors, hygienists and administrators – all women, most are moms – connect with their patients.
“We engage them and make them feel important when they come in here. We’re talking about them, ‘What are you up to? What’re you wearing? Did you pick that out?’ This is their opportunity to be the center of attention,” Lauterjung said. “You have these conversations and suddenly they open up and the world is about them for that moment ... the kids are hilarious and they’ve always made it very fun.”
It’s all about the kids
Pediatric dentistry is entirely different than general dentistry in the relationships built and fostered that gives Keystone the edge with kids and parents alike.
While Keystone does offer unique services tailored to their niche – like working with an outside partner to conduct sedation appointments if needed and offering simple consultations with potential new patients – kids are treated, medically speaking, the same as adults, but not necessarily the same from an emotional standpoint.
“I think what people don’t always realize is what I do on kids is the same I’d do on an adult.” Lauterjung said. “What sets us apart is the way we interact with our patients and their parents. This is where we excel.”
Lauterjung said she likes to give as much control as possible when it comes to her patients’ experience. This could be as simple as having the opportunity to choose flavors for cleaning procedures all the way up to being comfortable enough to voice concerns and ask questions about their dental health.
“We strive to treat each child the way we want our children to be treated. Most of us are moms, so we can easily put ourselves into that situation,” Lauterjung said.
Lauterjung added some of her patients stay on older than 18, specifically members of the developmentally disabled community.
“We’ll keep them for life. They’re all my kids,” she said.
The right fit
The Keystone team hasn’t seen much turnover since Lauterjung opened up shop locally in 1995. For instance, Practice Manager Kelly Zdelar has been on board since day one, when there were only two patients.
“We have a great team here and it’s not always easy to get a group of women, in particular, to work together. They’re fantastic. I couldn’t imagine working with other women,” Lauterjung said. “Our patients appreciate they are greeted by the same faces when they come in.”
While Lauterjung primarily works with patients and families who have been coming for years, Dr. Rudgers-Croft is there to work with folks who are new to Keystone or to the community altogether. Rudgers-Croft has been with Keystone since 2012, a native of Norton.
“It’s not just about filling a hole, it’s about finding the right fit for the team,” Lauterjung said. “We’re all likeminded, same philosophy ... being a woman in this business is a good thing, but being a mom takes it to the next level. We get it. I think that gives us a different level of connecting and understanding.”
Keystone Pediatric Dentistry is located at 3591 Reserve Commons Drive, Suite 200, Medina, OH, 44256. Call 330-723-7566 to make an appointment, or visit www.keystonepd.com for more information.
“Often times, medical appointments can be really challenging, difficult, uncomfortable. Dentistry is no different,” said Lauterjung, known by the community simply as Dr. Sally. “If we teach them at this age you have to take care of things and this is how to take care of things, when you do have medical needs as an adult, you don’t shy away from it. And if we’ve taught you well, hopefully that’s an aspect of your overall health care and it doesn’t fall downhill and take extraordinarily large amounts out of your wallet.”
Fear of health care – whether due to insurance limitations or general uneasiness with medical professionals – is a problem in the U.S., something Lauterjung, her associate Dr. Julie Rudgers-Croft and their staff of about a dozen work to reverse every day, at least in this community.
Kids are No. 1 at Keystone, evidenced in not only the office’s colorful and artistic aesthetic, but in how the team of doctors, hygienists and administrators – all women, most are moms – connect with their patients.
“We engage them and make them feel important when they come in here. We’re talking about them, ‘What are you up to? What’re you wearing? Did you pick that out?’ This is their opportunity to be the center of attention,” Lauterjung said. “You have these conversations and suddenly they open up and the world is about them for that moment ... the kids are hilarious and they’ve always made it very fun.”
It’s all about the kids
Pediatric dentistry is entirely different than general dentistry in the relationships built and fostered that gives Keystone the edge with kids and parents alike.
While Keystone does offer unique services tailored to their niche – like working with an outside partner to conduct sedation appointments if needed and offering simple consultations with potential new patients – kids are treated, medically speaking, the same as adults, but not necessarily the same from an emotional standpoint.
“I think what people don’t always realize is what I do on kids is the same I’d do on an adult.” Lauterjung said. “What sets us apart is the way we interact with our patients and their parents. This is where we excel.”
Lauterjung said she likes to give as much control as possible when it comes to her patients’ experience. This could be as simple as having the opportunity to choose flavors for cleaning procedures all the way up to being comfortable enough to voice concerns and ask questions about their dental health.
“We strive to treat each child the way we want our children to be treated. Most of us are moms, so we can easily put ourselves into that situation,” Lauterjung said.
Lauterjung added some of her patients stay on older than 18, specifically members of the developmentally disabled community.
“We’ll keep them for life. They’re all my kids,” she said.
The right fit
The Keystone team hasn’t seen much turnover since Lauterjung opened up shop locally in 1995. For instance, Practice Manager Kelly Zdelar has been on board since day one, when there were only two patients.
“We have a great team here and it’s not always easy to get a group of women, in particular, to work together. They’re fantastic. I couldn’t imagine working with other women,” Lauterjung said. “Our patients appreciate they are greeted by the same faces when they come in.”
While Lauterjung primarily works with patients and families who have been coming for years, Dr. Rudgers-Croft is there to work with folks who are new to Keystone or to the community altogether. Rudgers-Croft has been with Keystone since 2012, a native of Norton.
“It’s not just about filling a hole, it’s about finding the right fit for the team,” Lauterjung said. “We’re all likeminded, same philosophy ... being a woman in this business is a good thing, but being a mom takes it to the next level. We get it. I think that gives us a different level of connecting and understanding.”
Keystone Pediatric Dentistry is located at 3591 Reserve Commons Drive, Suite 200, Medina, OH, 44256. Call 330-723-7566 to make an appointment, or visit www.keystonepd.com for more information.
