A new patient walks into your practice. They’re in their early twenties, and generally healthy. After reporting their medical history, which reveals struggles with mental health, they tell you, “I’m not happy with my smile. I want white crowns on my teeth. My grandfather recently died and left me $40,000.” Your clinical evaluation notes healthy … Read more
As we age our natural teeth and gums are more susceptible to dental caries, gingival recession, demineralisation, fungal infections, and periodontal disease. Regular hygiene and dental care is important but is often neglected, especially by those who require long-term care. 1. What is LTC? In the United Kingdom, long-term care is provided by a range … Read more
When a child is scheduled to be seen by a dentist, it is important to remember that this visit will likely involve at least two individuals: the child and his or her parents. Today, parents want to play an active role in their child’s healthcare, and will report to the dental office with certain expectations … Read more
For dentists, advanced technology means using the latest treatment tools, such as digital X-rays, diode lasers, CAD/CAM, etc., but something like Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a practice assistant, I bet most of us never gave much thought to the idea. Nor did I, but that was before I implemented a sentiment analysis program at my … Read more
We have all been mystified and even exasperated by our more challenging clients, for example: those with inadequate self-care despite having sufficient manual dexterity; and people who attend irregularly for dental care, or fail to show up for scheduled appointments. We might also encounter individuals who panic if reclined in the chair, or seem angry, … Read more
Question My new dentist gave me 22 X-rays yesterday (bite-wing and full mouth) plus a panoramic. He says he does this to all patients. This seemed ridiculously unnecessary and dangerous. Could you give me info on this? To view the answer, click here for more. It’s a common concern for patients – read another Q&A … Read more
Dentists working for corporate clinics and health insurers are being incentivised to churn through patients and administer so-called “drill and fill” dentistry, according to industry insiders. And some dentists say the situation is leading to unnecessary dental work, or over-servicing. Kyle Mervin, a dentist from the NSW Central Coast, told Background Briefing that five years … Read more
As healthcare professionals, we all want to provide the best possible care for each and every patient we serve. With some patients, this is a walk in the park, but for others, it can be more difficult to give them the care they need while making sure they are comfortable and happy. Patients can have … Read more
“How’s your dog?” “What’s new with the kids?” “Are there any changes in your health history?” These are typical and appropriate questions to ask patients during their recare visit. But there is one question that sometimes isn’t asked that should be the first review when the patient sits in the hygiene chair, and it can … Read more
Online reviews are taking an even more prominent role in how new patients will find your dental practice in 2017. Survey results show that reviews must be positive AND recent to build trust, so it’s essential that your practice has a plan to keep them coming in at a steady pace. The SEO experts at … Read more
Sometimes a new patient may decide to make an exploratory visit to your dental office for an initial consultation. This is more likely to happen when you have a robust online presence through your website and social media, and enjoy high local search engine rankings for major keywords. These efforts could bring over a patient … Read more
Change is everywhere and especially in dentistry. How are you adapting to the changes and using them to be more relevant to your patients? Technology, as we all know, is revolutionizing what the dentist is able to accomplish in the clinical arena. We now have a multitude of diagnostic tools that only a handful of … Read more
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The sustained popularity of Facebook as the leading social media network can be effectively leveraged to promote your dental website. In a highly competitive online environment, you need more than just website promotion and internal SEO to reach your target audience. Social media marketing plays a vital role, and Facebook continues to be the social … Read more
DOWNTIME: What happens when patients cancel or just fail to show up? This is especially a problem in hygiene (which patients often skip because, after all to them, “It’s just a cleaning”), but it affects the whole practice. Think of Downtime as a Percentage: Downtime is the share of non-productive time your practice incurs each day. … Read more
The traditional model of “dental customer care” has been in place for a long time, and it has seen little real change. It goes like this: modernize the dental office, promote expensive surgical procedures (e.g. implants and smile makeovers), put up a website and perhaps a Facebook page telling the world what services you provide. … Read more