The drugs your older patients are taking.

Green Shield Canada, our fourth largest administrator of dental claims, has just published the list of the most commonly prescribed medications for Canadians between ages 50 and 70. These are listed below in terms of number of prescriptions. Note that 4 are for blood pressure and the most common drug is for mood disorders. Combining … Read more

Why Use Social Media for Your Dental Practice

The impact of today’s technology on your business… Social Networking is the dialogue used by one or all of the above to converse, communicate and contribute online. Social networking can re-connect someone with their past, update today’s world on your daily events, share opinions, experiences and insights to a virtual friendship that can reach many … Read more

Dentistry 2.0

One of the most popular articles in dentistry today is written by a pediatric dental specialist at the University of Washington. The article has a long, complicated title but upon reading it, I thought it should have been called “Dentistry 2.0″. Here are some excerpts which point to the new thinking in Dentistry 2.0: Historically, … Read more

Tesla and what we know as a “cavity”

Have you been following what Tesla (Elon Musk) is doing to electricity markets with its new Powerwall battery for your garage? This new technology promises to disrupt the source, distribution and use of electrical power and give the household new options as both a consumer and a supplier of electricity. It redefines what we know … Read more

The Boomers’ impact on dental care has just begun

Andre Picard, the Globe’s healthcare columnist, recently wrote an article on the aging population’s impact on overall Canadian healthcare. But what about the impact of the aging Boomers on the dental care system? Many of you will already know — the older the patient, the less likely they are regular attenders and the more likely … Read more

The Patient is a CUSTOMER

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 pitch to your community?

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

How loyal are patients to their dentist?

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

Where You Read – Dr. Daniel Lee

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

Three Time-tested Ways to Boost your Social Network Activity

You probably have an established online marketing strategy for your dental practice already, including social networking via Facebook, Twitter or other social media. At least a few of your social media members may be commenting, sharing, retweeting or liking some of your social content. However, if you are not responding back to them or acknowledging … Read more

My community’s struggle to access dental care

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 at IDS 2015

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.

Build Your Online Social Capital with Key Influencers

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

Taking a page from the shingles vaccine

The shingles vaccine provides a good model for a new kind of dental care which is emerging to better serve an older, more knowledgeable and sicker population. The shingles vaccine is indicated for those at high risk of this acute infection — those over 60 years of age (older folks have difficulty generating immune cells … Read more

Bloggers can be the Brand Ambassadors for your Dental Practice

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

STOP the Cancellations While you Sleep!

Supporting and Enforcing Your Cancellation Policy..  One the quickest and easiest way to begin supporting your Cancellation Policy is to STOP accepting appointment changes and cancellations to be left with your service or on your voice message service! Many patients will leave a message after practice hours to avoid facing the music of their last … Read more

What makes a good dental professional?

In his blog titled An Ounce of Prevention, Dr. Ashish Jha of the Harvard Medical School recently reported on his twitter poll of “what makes the best doctor.” The results had very little to do with health outcomes or technical skill, and more to do with the patient interface. See the key attributes of a … Read more