Your critical area of focus… In today’s fast paced world of change, competition and customer (patient) sophistication, it is critical to focus on your service, reputation and referrals. Also critical, is to know how your patients feel about you, talk about you and express their dissatisfaction. A dissatisfied customer will tell 12 other people A … Read more
A new study reports that gum disease is an independent risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at mid life. The study showed those adults between 40 and 60 years of age suffering from periodontal disease, had double the risk of AMD compared to healthy controls. This risk accounted for confounding factors such as hypertension, … Read more
I am always amazed when I visit the U of T dental school that the biggest room ever is dedicated to drilling and filling. Seemingly hundreds of chairs over which are bent hundreds of dental students practicing their techniques on folks who need low cost care. And I ask myself, is this where the profession … Read more
A new study found that Parkinson’s patients have up to 10 times more untreated decay than a healthy peer. And they live in the community on average for 15 years before being institutionalized. So, most every dental team has a few Parkinson’s patients, or at least, patients with preclinical symptoms to Parkinson’s. A recent study … Read more
Are we beginning to see a change in how dentistry is pitching itself to the community? Perhaps, if this ad in a local newspaper is indicative. The ad says a lot and very little. “Complete health dentistry” is a new brand, one which responds to the overriding preferences of this aging and largely uninsured community … Read more
The needs and wants of Canadian employers for healthcare benefits are surely changing. Now, it is all about managing chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and obesity. The days of offering a simple drug plan so that employees could take pills for these ongoing problems are long gone. Employers and their insurers are getting … Read more
A new study of middle aged adults in America reports that over 18 months, low risk adults got very little to no decay and high risk adults got between 2 and 3 new cavities. How did the study separate these risk groups? It found the following factors were significant: •visible, heavy dental plaque •frequent snacking … Read more
For a week this past March we were fortunate enough to participate in an outreach mission to Honduras. The mission was lead by pediatrician Dr F. Gorodzinsky and pediatric dentist Dr. C. Friedman, and included pediatric residents, registered nurses and pediatric dentists; this was the first of fifteen years that dental students participated. This has … Read more
For many years, studies have shown that dental decay originates in early life from a cross-infection of bacteria from the mother to the child. In the current issue of the Journal of Dental Research, researchers show that children of mothers with high levels of mutans streptococci in their saliva, have double the level of dental … Read more
An experienced venture capitalist recently identified some major trends which are affecting American health care and presumably your practice too! a shift from fee-for-service to compensation based on better health patients are becoming consumers who want a true retail experience personal medicine (and dentistry) based on risks an aging population which has more need for … Read more
In the US, there has been a surprising level of shopping and switching health care insurance plans during this second season of renewals under Obamacare. Almost 1 in 3 changed plans on the public website for health care insurance (HealthCare.gov). And for those who switched, most saved money. We know that America is the land … Read more
Attached are 2 photos of our recent annual trip in January 2015 to Quesada, Guatemala. This is part of an official Canadian charity (12+ yrs going) called Health Outreach (founded by Dr. Tim Lee, Mississauga), where the volunteers (dentists and support personnel), provide free dental work to needy children. In our 6 days of work, … Read more
My community newspaper recently featured a story about an overload of patients visiting a non-profit community dental clinic. The irony of this story is that most dentists in my community have fewer and fewer recall patients. Most want and need to get busier. My community’s struggle to access dental care – Partners in Prevention So … Read more
Oral Health Group had the opportunity to participate in the US Pavilion at IDS 2015 which took place in Cologne, Germany. Be sure to look out for the next IDS – the 37th International Dental Show – is scheduled to take place from 21 to 25 March 2017.
A recent NY Times article reported that, in an experiment, Parkinson’s patients said an expensive version of a drug worked better than the cheap version of that same drug. Does the same principle apply to hygiene services? Would patients rate an expensive cleaning more thorough and effective than a cheap cleaning? Perhaps or perhaps not, … Read more
This statement comes from a Canadian dentist who admits he feels uncomfortable communicating with his patients about their oral health prospects. He blames his dental school training for his singular focus on the teeth. And no doubt there is also blame directed to the insurance companies who prefer to pay for surgery rather than prevention … Read more
Social capital refers to the value you derive because of your social contacts. In the online world, you need to make conscious efforts to build your online social capital in order to reap dividends from this intangible investment. You may be so busy with your professional life as a dentist that it can get difficult … Read more
American companies are getting tough on disease. Increasingly, they incent their employees to participate in wellness programs by connecting healthy behavior to lower cost healthcare insurance. In some cases, poor health behavior leads to increased premiums. They are following the lead of some German insurers who limit dental coverage for those who skip their hygiene … Read more
Recently, I received a petition by nurses and hygienists which argued for OHIP payment for hygiene services. It seems the petition was started by nurses who were frustrated with the growing demands of ER patients experiencing dental problems. So, what are the chances that OHIP or any medical system will pay for regular hygiene care? … Read more
The best endorsement for your dental practice can come not from paid advertising or other forms of promotion, but from your own patients. New patients will typically have a greater trust in the reviews, comments and ratings that other people provide about you. Therefore, one of your dental marketing goals must be to have people … Read more