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
Even the best of us can lose our way in all the noise and hubbub of the day-to-day stresses. Establishing a code of commitments for the practice will help the entire team keep on track – even in stressful situations when the wheels fall off. A code of commitments is about having a preplanned game … Read more
Sint Maarten. My Island Bride. I Crave Your Curves: Hillside, Bays and Beaches, Narrow, Wide. Some Parts Raw. Some Gentrified. Your Warm Embrace, Sunnyside Let’s me Hike or Bike, Mountainside. Swim or Sail, Race or Ride. While Gentle Breeze Makes Heat Subside. Statehood-wise, a Great Divide: French – to the North; Dutch – South-side. But When … Read more
As a dentist, when you are prepping a dental crown or undertaking a dental filling, you would always follow a diligent process, right? However, the same diligence is usually not followed when you are hiring dental staff for your clinic. This is despite the fact that a bad hire can turn out to be extremely … Read more
Commercial air travel is safer with every passing decade.1 Advancements in mechanical, operational, and technological design contribute to an ongoing trend in risk reduction of mortality in the airline industry. That risk is now approximately 1 in 8 million passengers.1 Regardless of how small a given risk, it behooves any industry to continually strive to … Read more
At first, it might seem easy to keep your dental practice’s social profiles active and interesting. After all, we all find time for social media in our off hours and idle moments. However, social media marketing is quite different. It involves setting goals, developing strategies, and creating a cohesive plan involving all channels. To make … Read more
Many of us want to incorporate healthier habits into our lifestyles, but the mere thought of a wellness routine is daunting. You floss, you brush, you exercise, and think to yourself, “there are only so many hours in the day!” I recently read a great article by Jamie Millar about this very topic, and I’ll … Read more