Remember October 2021? Outbreaks. Masks. Variants. Vaccines. Tests. Lockdowns. Mass resignations. Shortages. Inflation. Politics. Anger. Blame. And in that context, a group of Canadian dentists and support staff, mostly strangers, left home to provide free dental services to the impoverished locals of Turks & Caicos – a tiny Caribbean island known for its accessibility to … Read more
It is often said that word of mouth is the best advertisement. That may be true, but only if people are saying good things about your dental practice. Otherwise, it can become a PR nightmare. Furthermore, the modern version of “word of mouth” is actually the written word, which is widely shared across social media … Read more
Having a long-term plan ensures the hard work you put into building your business continues to pay off when you’re ready to transition and sell your practice. To make sure your team and patients are well cared for, keep these key considerations in mind. What involvement would you like to have in the practice after … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story McAllister Dentistry is located in the heart of Ottawa and is the brainchild of Dr. Jessie McAllister. She initially had concurrent aspirations of being a medical doctor. Drawing inspiration from her physician grandfather and artistic mother, she ultimately decided to choose dentistry as the exciting path that would allow her to … Read more
Being a boss is hard! Ask any business owner in any industry the most challenging aspect of running a business and they will all give you the same answer: people. As dentists, our focus is on seeing patients and we can easily overlook the most important aspect of being a hands-on business owner, which is … Read more
Far too often throughout history, and in far too many countries today, the lives of millions are brutally affected by the imperialistic ambitions of the few. Across our network, too many of our colleagues, neighbours and loved ones know firsthand the pain and suffering of fleeing war-torn nations, something that is now being felt by … Read more
Selling your dental practice now or in the next 5 years? Get yourself checked now – legally that is. Otherwise, it could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus delays and aggravation when you do go to sell. Let’s start your self-check: grab the following: Your professional corporation’s (“PC”) minute book (that’s the big … Read more
Data is driving business in all industries. Not even dental care is immune. The insights made possible through data collection enable better service, so professionals of all backgrounds are flocking to this resource. Fortunately, modern practice management software and other data-driven tools make using patient data to improve your service offerings simple. These are some … Read more
When you see you it, you don’t forget it. Cancer. It’s as scary to look at as it is to tell a patient that they have something suspicious in their mouth – something that may be oral cancer. What if you saw the lesion in your own mouth? Would you say, “It can’t be cancer. … Read more
When your dental website appears in search results, the first thing viewers will notice is the page title. Therefore, it has a significant impact on your CTR (click-through rate), as well as the first impression that your practice makes. Getting the titles right is essential, and Google recently made it a bit more challenging. Let’s … Read more
Prior to receiving dental care, patients in Canada have the right to be fully informed. This means that oral healthcare clinicians must advise their patients of all reasonable treatment options, the associated risks and benefits, and the rate of success or failure of each procedure (or test) that is recommended. Informed consent is a legal … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story Bitehaus Dental was built in 2018 as a result of a dream in the hearts and minds of Dr. Aisling Whitaker and Dr. Anand Iyer (who are married and parents of one young child). Their journey to practice ownership began after meeting during dental school in Ireland. Dr. Whitaker was born … Read more
I don’t get it. Why are we talking about women in dentistry? More females are graduating dental school than males, and females are increasingly owning dental practices, becoming specialists, influencing, educating and leading dental organizations. In fact, several provincial dental associations have female presidents and the next president of the Canadian Dental Association is female. … Read more
You’re half an hour behind and you have three hygiene checks to perform. Mrs. Brown’s implant crown popped off while an assistant was taking an impression, not to mention the servers are down and the receptionists are panicking. Your heart is pounding, you’re getting heart burn, and your stress is overwhelming. What do you do? … Read more
Dear Editor, I have read the article entitled “Going, Going, Gone” by Michael Carabash published in the December issue of Oral Health Office. As an individual who has been working with dentists for almost 30 years and a proud member of a firm that has appraised and sold dental offices for almost 50 years, I … Read more
Is there a human alive who hasn’t at some point been frustrated or stressed at work? Anyone who is taking on life energetically and head-on will definitely hit periods of stress and frustration. Welcome to the workaday world. Sure, there are people who amble through life, not taking too much responsibility for anything and, of … Read more
The pandemic has completely transformed the dental job market landscape, as indicated by the turnover rates reported in the industry. We hear of hygienists, assistants, and administrative staff have been let go due to lack of patient volumes and inconsistent income, forcing owner dentists to reduce payroll. In seeking viable alternatives to fill the holes … Read more
It’s no secret that the dental practice marketplace has been in the seller’s favour for decades. With interest rates at an all-time low, practice loan amortization periods longer than they’ve ever been and more buyers than sellers, this is not going to change anytime soon. Finding a prospective buyer for your practice in today’s market … Read more
The savvy dental practice owner knows that it takes more than clinical skills and dedication to succeed in this competitive industry. It takes a winning marketing strategy – and that is easier said than done. In reality, some of the most basic truths and most effective methods are often overlooked. 1. Yes, your patient base … Read more
In a (post) pandemic world, where the population is more aware of the risks of airborne transmission and “work from anywhere” has become de rigueur, some patients will avoid commuting to the dental practice as often. But that doesn’t mean a dental practice should give up on the relationships it has built. By utilizing remote … Read more