Dental Articles Archives - The Dental Business

Why “People before Profits”?

Still on my mind – After returning from the ADA and ADMC (Academy of Dental Management Consultants) meetings last October, one message was forefront on my mind and it hasn’t gone away. The message is “People before Profits”. I realize this message can be viewed in different ways. In the context in which I heard it, it means; “put your People first, and Profits will follow”. You teach people how to treat you. With this in mind, treating people well does not mean that you should allow them to take advantage of you. Certainly, stand firm in your expectation of more »

Helping Patients understand and accept needed Treatment

Education and a Sense of Urgency are paramount when providing needed treatment to a patient. Sit down and look your patient in the eye to discuss your diagnosis and the treatment recommendation. This will increase their level of trust in you, and substantially increase your treatment plan acceptance rate. Use an intraoral camera to show patients what you see, and if you have it available, show an educational video relating to their treatment needs. Patients must understand that there are consequences of NOT having needed treatment. Educate, Motivate, Communicate and be considerate. These actions will earn you the respect and more »

The Two Most Under-utilized Words in Business are

The Dental Industry is no exception. Throughout my career as a Consultant, I’ve spent countless hours with dental team members and one of the questions I ask is, “what aspect of your job gives you the most satisfaction”? Recently, I placed a poll on Social Media asking which of the following is most important to dental team members: Compensation, Appreciation, Relationships with Co-Workers or Other. The number one answer by far, has always been Appreciation. While monetary compensation is important to all, the overwhelming majority chose Appreciation. Consider this – How often to do you say Thank You to Patients? more »

How Does Efficiency Save Dental Practices Money?

Running a Successful Dental Practice is Stressful. You take good care of your patients and run a business too. You don’t take enough down time to enjoy your family and friends or to just put your feet up and close your eyes. It has been proven that stress can lower the immune system and make us more vulnerable to becoming ill. Who has time for that? Not you and not me! So, today I want to share our number one tip for lowering stress in your dental practice. I’ll sum it up in one word; Efficiency. Efficiency comes from having more »

What Will Set Your Practice Apart in 2017?

What Will Set Your Practice Apart is the quality of “customer service” your patients receive. Providing Great service in a Caring Environment will turn a First Visit into a Loyal Patient for years to come. Your Patient’s Experience with your office isn’t solely based on what happens during their dental appointments. Their initial impression is formed during the first Phone Call or Email interaction. They form a deeper impression the moment they enter your door. Here are a few, easy to implement, tips to take your Patient Experience from Good to Great! 1) Have phones answered before the third ring and by more »

Are you a Manager or a Leader?

There is a Difference Between Managing a Team and leading one. Leaders don’t simply ensure tasks are completed; Leaders inspire with actions. Tips to Providing Leadership for your Team Good leadership skills are important for all Business Owners and Managers. I want to share with you some skills I believe to be important to a Successful Dental Practice. Walk your Talk. If you want your employees to care about your practice; You must show that you care. Showing up to work late on a consistent basis sets a bad precedent. If you want your team to be on time, more »

Benefits of a Small-Town vs. Big-Town Practice

The following article was written by our Founder, Mary Fisher-Day, exclusively for Dental Entrepreneur Magazine and appears in the Fall, 2016 issue and the online edition Here. There’s plenty to be said of the benefits of living and practicing in a big city or Metropolitan area. Proximity to upscale dining, Cultural Activities and Shopping Malls are at the top of the list when I speak with a young dentist seeking to purchase a practice. Easily, nine out of ten are seeking a practice no further than a thirty-minute drive from a large city. While practicing in a large city does more »

Oral Cancer… Is your team educated on the fastest growing cancer in the US?

In North America someone dies every hour of everyday from Oral Cancer. Yet, according to the National Cancer Institute only 20% of the US population receive Oral Cancer exams. The ADA recommends Oral Cancer Screenings be performed annually on every patient over the age of 17. Although tobacco and alcohol use are still primary causes of Oral Cancer, the last 15 years has seen a 60% increase in Oral Cancer in adults under the age of 40. The primary cause for this increase is the HPV virus. Patients place their trust and their lives in the hands of their Dentist. more »

Will security cameras covering my front desk stop embezzlement?

I get asked this question a lot when I am speaking to groups of dentists, so I decided to share the answer, and the reasons behind it, with you. I have seen some consultants advocate cameras to counter embezzlement; their arguments center around deterrence and increased possibility of detecting a thief. While I think front-desk cameras may be a good idea for other reasons (such as catching couriers who, finding your front desk unattended, take the opportunity to steal something), their impact on embezzlement is minimal. The first thing I’ll mention is that we deal with hundreds of embezzlement matters more »

Is your surface disinfectant safe and are you using it right?

Surface disinfectant: Hands down this is the least understood area in a dental office. Understand the proper steps to use from ventilation to PPE, each area contains risky outcomes. The labels change often and include vital information, such as the exposure time to kill viruses and bacteria. A recent survey showed that when clinicians were asked if they were reading the label on the disinfectant being used, 92% said NO or that they only read if it is a new product. When asked the minimum number of wipes it takes to clean a room nearly 25% stated they did not more »

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