The problem
What happens between the chair and the next visit
01
They nod in the chair.
Most patients won't say they didn't follow the explanation.
02
The front desk is not private.
Questions about cost don't get asked with other patients standing nearby.
03
Then they come back when it hurts.
Months later the tooth has broken or the problem has grown, and the treatment is bigger and costs more.
Today
What every dental office hands a patient today
A printed treatment plan: a tooth chart, abbreviations and a column of fees. It tells the patient what things cost. It doesn't tell them what any of it means.
Existing Treatment planned
| Vis | Tth | Surf | Description | Fee | Ins | Pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | MO | Resin comp-2 surf, post | 295.00 | 236.00 | 59.00 |
| 1 | 13 | Crown-porc/ceramic | 1550.00 | 775.00 | 775.00 | |
| 1 | 13 | Core buildup w/ pins | 325.00 | 162.50 | 162.50 | |
| Visit 1 totals: | 2170.00 | 1173.50 | 996.50 | |||
| 2 | UR | Perio scale & root plane | 330.00 | 264.00 | 66.00 | |
| 2 | UL | Perio scale & root plane | 330.00 | 264.00 | 66.00 | |
| Visit 2 totals: | 660.00 | 528.00 | 132.00 | |||
:: FINANCIAL SUMMARY ::
Treatment plan total2830.00
Est. insurance payment1701.50
Est. patient portion1128.50
Fees are estimates only and are subject to revision. Estimated insurance coverage is not a guarantee of payment.
Handed over at the front desk and read in 30 seconds.
What the patient is left wondering
- "What is a core buildup?"
- "Why do I need a crown on that tooth?"
- "What happens if I wait?"
- "How many visits is this going to take?"
- "Can I ask about the cost without everyone hearing?"
Most patients don't ask. They take the paper home and put it in a drawer.
With Mehriva
What the same patient gets with Mehriva
A personal page on their phone that answers those questions. It explains each procedure on their plan in plain language, with content you approved, and they read it at home, in private.
From your dentist's office (sample)
Crown, upper left tooth
What it is
A crown is a custom cap that covers the whole tooth to protect it and restore its shape.
Why it was recommended
Written by your dentist's office for your situation, in everyday words.
What to expect, step by step
How many appointments, how long each one takes, and what happens at each visit and afterward.
What it costs
The same estimate from the office, next to an explanation of what you are paying for.
I'd like help with:
Sample page. Tap a section to open it.
For each procedure, the patient sees
- What it is, in everyday words
- Why it was recommended for them
- What to expect: the steps, the number of appointments and how long each takes
- What it costs, next to what they are paying for
And they can tell your office what they need help with, without saying it out loud at the front desk.
How it works
Four steps, and you approve the content first
-
After the visit, the patient gets a text with a link.
The text contains no health information.
-
The link opens a page built for that patient.
Each procedure on their plan opens into a plain-language walkthrough: what it is, why it was recommended, what happens step by step, how many appointments, and how long each one takes. You approve the content before any patient sees it.
-
Patients can tell you what they need.
They can set comfort preferences for their visit and tap to flag what they have questions about, such as cost or what to expect.
-
Your team sees it all in one place.
Who opened their page and what they asked for help with, so you know who to call and what to say.
Who built it
I'm Dr. Vaheed Shahnam. I practiced dentistry in San Francisco and around Northern California for 15 years, as an associate and as a practice owner.
In my own chair, and in the many offices I've worked in and visited, I watched the same thing happen. Patients nodded at a plan they didn't fully understand, then came back when it had gotten worse. I built Mehriva to fix that.
Vaheed Shahnam, DMD · Founder, Mehriva
General practice residency, University of Washington · Master's in management, Harvard University