Our limited time becomes increasingly apparent the further on we progress in our careers. Yet it can become an abstraction when a large offer to purchase your practice is being placed in front of you over the course of a compelling sales pitch that can sometimes be months or even years in the making. The … Read more
Earned media, particularly mentions in the news, is probably the best brand exposure that your dental practice can get. Research has shown that earned media has a much greater influence on lead conversion than other brand exposure, potentially leading to nearly ten times as many new sales as blog posts. A downside to earned media is … Read more
Did you know that the price of a box of mac and cheese was about $0.99 before COVID and is now $2.50? The price of gas has gone up and down and up beyond anything we could have anticipated. And there you have it – the inflation of food prices and gas is happening and … Read more
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
THE WHY: Owner’s story Over the span of a 32-year dental career, Dr. Craig Siemens has transitioned his career through various practice settings. He owned and operated three offices in North Vancouver, eventually selling his final practice and moving to Victoria in 2012, around the mid-stage of his career. At that point, he had decided … Read more
I think I might be getting old (I am almost a senior!). Time passes quickly and with age comes reflection. What I have learned from my journey is that most people view their lives in two possible universes as it relates to their retirement. The first universe deals with exposure and risk management. The second … Read more
The biggest issue facing our industry is hiring (ADA, 2021). If there has been one big takeaway from the pandemic, it has been that we are all looking for a better balance in our lives. We are all reflecting on our careers and homelife, and identifying what is important to us. In a recent survey, … Read more
Dentists are facing what many perceive to be unprecedented times. Raging inflation, 8.1%, as of June 2022, vs. 1.1% in February 2021 and 11.91% in May 1982, staffing shortages, corporate dentistry, rising interest rates, prime rate 4.7% as of August 5, 2022, vs. 2.45% in February 2022 and 21.25% in September 1981. Government funded dentistry … Read more
We’re ashamed to say it. We’ve had some bad conversations with our patients. We meant well; we were trying to get our patients to improve their oral health, but, instead, we ended up making our patients feel pretty bad about themselves. Instead of empowering them, we embarrassed them. Instead of trusting us, they disliked us. … Read more
Surveys have shown that around 16 percent of children have a fear of going to the dentist. When you work in the industry, that statistic probably doesn’t surprise you. You’ve likely had your fair share of fearful kids walking into your practice. Hopefully, by the time they leave, you’ve been able to calm their fears … Read more
You may have a niche market, but there is an equal chance that a half dozen other offices in the neighbourhood offer the same dental services. Either way, your practice is unique. That is because your services do not define your brand. It is comprised of many things, from the aesthetic design of your website … Read more
The concept of mise en place (everything in its place), a modus operandi conceived and perfected in gourmet restaurants, could significantly improve the quality and consistency of the treatment and patient experience provided in dental offices. Those who recognize mise en place as a process and method of preparing high-quality meals in restaurant kitchens might … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story Dr. Luc Ducharme’s professional journey began at an early age. He vividly recalls being interested in becoming a dentist at the tender age of 7. On his path to professional excellence, he is proud to have had the exceptional guidance and experienced mentorship of Dr. Walker – a wonderful dentist, successful … Read more
Doesn’t it feel great when patients come in with pain and, like a magician, we use our trained hands to get them smiling again? How about when we cannot get the patient out of pain? What if the condition is outside of the scope of dentistry? Is it out of our hands? Sadly, this is … Read more
Who is the beneficiary of your corporate owned life insurance? A rather simple question but one that is often misunderstood. If one were to dust off one’s corporate owned life insurance contract you would see that the owner and beneficiary of the contract is your corporation. Why? Because of tax law rules dealing with taxable … Read more
Lawyers excepted, everyone lost. That’s my conclusion after reading two recent Ontario employment cases involving hygienists and dentists. Shelley Nicholas v. Dr. Edyta Witulska DPC, 2022 ONSC 2984 A dental hygienist (“Nicholas”) was employed part-time until she resigned in 2018. She had been employed from 1991 to 2011 with Dr. Michael Veer without a contract. … Read more
Dentists have few ways to control or manage inflation. A major tool that dentists have to fight inflation is their ability to increase productivity and/or use money to buy tools that increase productivity/efficiencies. Dentists who upgrade and enhance their clinical skills may be able to bill more per hour. Dentists who buy tools such as … Read more
“Agoal without a plan is just a wish.” You have probably heard this famous quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, often mentioned in motivational and self-help texts. However, it is equally applicable to most areas of business, including marketing your dental practice on social media. In fact, we can take it a step further. You need … Read more
In oral healthcare, ingestion or aspiration of foreign objects are significant iatrogenic events. These mishaps are by their very nature unexpected, and successful prevention and management are key to minimizing potential adverse consequences. While relatively rare, dental literature is filled with reports of ingested or aspirated dental burs, implant components, endodontic files, amalgam fragments, crowns, … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story 14th Avenue Dentistry is located in the city of Markham, Ont., approximately 30 km northwest of downtown Toronto. Whether you are a resident, visitor or tourist, there is something for everyone to enjoy, see or do in this rapidly growing community. This thriving practice is owned and operated by the extraordinary … Read more