Dr. Ionela Dumitru

Most of my patients have extremely busy schedules and opt for complex and comprehensive treatments, so I’ve developed many mechanisms to streamline the process. For example, we schedule fewer but longer appointments that fit their agendas, sometimes even on weekends, and occasionally successive appointments with different specialists on the same day, at the same location.
A huge step in streamlining our workflow has been the digitization of most procedures. A simple example is the digital impression taken with an intraoral scanner, which is faster, sent instantly to the lab, and much more precise. This reduces errors and, consequently, the need for adjustments. Plus, it’s much more pleasant for the patient.
An important addition that shortens appointments is the harmony in the office, between the doctor and a well-trained assistant. A patient recently told me: “It’s a calming choreography how Adela, your assistant, hands you all the instruments you need before you even ask for them.” Team harmony among interdisciplinary medical staff is crucial. I work with some of the same doctors for over 15 years, such as Dr. Iana Dilă-Luță, an orthodontist. And, of course, between the doctor and the lab technicians, with shorter and more efficient work times and regular feedback on the status of the work.
An important step for us doctors was the establishment of our own Aspen lab. After ten years of collaboration with technicians from Santa Barbara known for the famous Hollywood veneers and years of working with a technician from Paris, I found the same level of expertise and excellence in the Aspen technician team, with whom I can discuss directly, from simulating the new smile with Digital Smile Design to planning the veneers. It’s also a bonus that I can reach the office in five minutes for fittings to discuss directly with our patients any modifications they want until we achieve the perfect smile.

At the beginning of treatment, there are a few important sessions in which I patiently gather as much information as possible about what the patient desires, including medical history, photographs, and radiographs, as well as tomograms if necessary. I also conduct a scan with Modjaw to assess the occlusal component and the temporomandibular joint. We continue with model photographs reflecting what the patient wants, followed by several smile simulations using Digital Smile Design.
A second important stage in establishing aesthetic goals occurs when we reach the prosthetic stage, at the grinding appointment for veneers and crowns. I create the temporary ones according to the plan agreed upon with the patient during the simulation stage using Digital Smile Design, in which we preset the shape and color of the definitive works, allowing the patient to have a "test drive" during the two weeks before the final works are completed, providing me with direct feedback to communicate to the lab.

Ongoing professional development is essential, with a constant deepening of the latest research in areas of interest, in my case, dental aesthetics and implantology. I participate annually in international congresses and intensive specialization courses at renowned universities like NYU or Bern, and I am a member of recognized associations, such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry or ITI International Team for Implantology, and I belong to online medical education platforms, such as DentalXP by Dr. Maurice Salama, where I can instantly access recent specialized publications and the latest research updates: books, journals, articles, and case studies.
I recall a recent case involving an extremely well-informed patient who shared with me during the first visit that they had sought opinions from two other well-known clinics before coming to me—they needed a total oral rehabilitation treatment of the All-on-4 or All-on-6 type with immediate fixed prosthesis. They had already read extensively online and knew they wanted a Straumann BLX implant. I remember how their face lit up with every answer I provided, as the proposed solution was indeed the Straumann ProArch on Straumann BLX implants. I told them it was the implant of choice I had been using lately, due to its qualities making it perfect for immediate implantation and prosthetics. When I explained the surgical protocol and that we would place the implants using a surgical guide designed from the computed tomography and printed with a 3D printer, they were even more pleased. They had also read about the surgical guide and immediately agreed to proceed. When we discussed sedation, their anxiety level decreased instantly. It's true there were several initial consultation sessions, but their level of satisfaction after the surgical procedure was exceptionally high.

I recently listened to Dr. Apa, probably the most famous cosmetic dentistry specialist in the U.S. at this moment, whom I met in March 2024 in Miami at a course organized by Dr. Coachman, the inventor of Digital Smile Design. He mentioned how he probably heard patients say a thousand times that he changed their lives, and only after the thousandth time did he truly begin to hear them. At first, he thought people were kind and grateful because he poured all his artistic talent, expertise, and hard work into achieving their perfect smiles, but now he truly hears it when patient after patient tells him he changed their lives.
As a practicing cosmetic dentist for over 20 years, I understand and find that he perfectly described the disbelief and impostor syndrome one feels when hearing such significant statements from patient after patient, like "you changed my life," "you are an angel." I remember a message from a patient who sent her husband to me for treatment: "Michelangelo of smiles, masterpiece, you don’t even realize the splendor you’ve created, how natural, amazing."
It also took me hundreds of completed cases to start truly hearing them. I believe what helped is that I see them for check-ups year after year and witness their life progress. And it’s true, after a smile comes a more successful job, a healthier and more active lifestyle, they become fitter, change their wardrobe, and improve their relationships with those around them, visibly flourishing.
A smile that you are ashamed of is a burden that constantly weighs you down; I see people covering their mouths with their hands when they laugh or notice how their lips don’t rise.

Constant, transparent communication is necessary from the day of the consultation and throughout each treatment stage.
Especially at the beginning, I dedicate as much time as needed to understand the patient's true treatment needs, as well as paying special attention to hidden needs that are not explicit. Sometimes the patient may not necessarily know what they want, particularly dental aesthetics patients; but by providing them with multiple options and constantly explaining, I patiently guide them through the multitude of medical terms, presenting solutions they may not have considered, and ensuring they understand how the treatment progresses, especially those that are lengthy and involve multiple specialties like periodontology, orthodontics, implantology, or prosthetics, depending on the case.

Volunteering is an anchor in reality, "soul food," and a beautiful way to give back to the community. There are so many disadvantaged groups in Romania, unfortunately. There is always time when you prioritize what is important to you.
It can be something different, from helping children from underprivileged backgrounds with their homework on a Saturday at school, to cooking a meal at a nursing home, to running a half marathon for terminally ill patients in palliative care.
I started due to a patient with whom I achieved a stunning aesthetic smile transformation after a longer treatment plan involving interdisciplinary collaboration between orthodontics, implantology, and aesthetics, with whom I developed a wonderful friendship. This patient is the director of Hospice Casa Speranței, the largest palliative care center in Romania, and I started my volunteer work there.

It means that I have had no limits; I could try anything. Every time I attend an international congress of the highest level, such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry congress, the first international Modjaw congress, or a course at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, like NYU or the University of Bern, I know that I can return to the office and immediately implement all the new knowledge acquired.
It also means the comfort of belonging to a professional community. For example, after ten years in cosmetic dentistry, when I decided to develop a new competency in implantology, alongside access to international courses and congresses to stay updated with the latest advancements, I found great psychological comfort in daily practice and discussions with the DENT ESTET implantology team, the mentorship of Professor Dr. Paulo Maló, the inventor of the All-on-4 concept, and the regular ITI International Team for Implantology meetings led by Dr. Alexandru Georgescu, which create an open environment where any clinical case and any topic related to implantology can be discussed.