Mentoring Young Dentists

You may not know this, but the Federation of Canadian Dental Students Associations (“FCDSA”) will be holding its bi-annual conference in Montreal on January 13 and 14. Yes, we are that close to January! This event will provide current dental students an opportunity to hear from speakers about preparing for those anxious moments as they … Read more

Devils and Miracles: DMC’s 2022 Dental Outreach Program to Grenada

Devil! Devil! Come And Play. Emancipated. But Drag the Chain. Let Blackened Blood Fill Your Vein. Escape From Thought. Go Insane. On with the Horns! Masquerade! Now Rise Like Ash of Burned Cane. – Rise Like Ash of Burned Cane – Floating High. Beyond Terrain. Over Clouds to the Astral Plane. Where Rivers o’ Rum … Read more

Digital Dentistry & Your Practice

Digital Dentistry

We wear many hats in our daily practice – doctor, artist, engineer and therapist to name a few. Under all those hats we are always thinking: how can I make this better? How can I make this faster? How can I make this more comfortable? To answer all of these questions and steer our patients … Read more

The Rights and Responsibilities of Dental Patients

Dental Patients

Because of the special relationship that exists between a healthcare provider and a patient, dental practices must be dedicated to the well-being of their patients. The duty of healthcare providers obligates the entire dental office team to treat patients with dignity. Unlike the transactional relationships that may exist in non-healthcare retail sectors, clinicians and team … Read more

Office Design: Yonge Star Dental

Yonge Star Dental

THE WHY: Owner’s story Dr. Wenyi Yuan started his career as a vaccine research scientist. At the age of 29, he decided to follow his heart by shifting career directions and enrolling in dental school at U of T. During dental school he would often envision opening his dream start up practice – a uniquely … Read more

Market: Post COVID

dental Market

Many are asking great questions about corporate buyers and the effects of the rising interest rates and inflation on practice values. The market continues to expand as corporate buyers, like traditional ones, see the value in healthcare. I may sound like a broken record, especially now that we are two years past those initial dark … Read more

Great Expectations: Navigating Warranties and Guarantees in Dentistry

Every dentist aims to please by providing their patients with optimal treatment outcomes. This dedication to success can sometimes lead a dentist to offer patients a guarantee (a promise of a satisfactory outcome) or a warranty (a time-limited agreement to replace, repair or refund a defect in material or workmanship). Other dentists may feel obligated … Read more

Stop the F Word in Your Practice: FRAUD!

fraud

Fraud is on the rise now more than ever in the dental industry. Usually, seven percent of dentists’ monthly revenue is embezzled, and it happens to two-thirds of all dentists, so don’t ever think it can’t happen to you. Dentists are at high risk because they are usually in the operatory all day, generating revenue … Read more

How (and When) to Write a Press Release for Your Dental Practice

press release

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

Why Recession-Proof Your Practice Now?

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

Radical Candor and the Patient-Dentist Relationship

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

Office Space: Viva Dental

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

Retirement and the Two Universes

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

Finding The Job That Fits

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

Eight Traits of Successful Dentists

Successful Dentists

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

How to Win Conversations and Influence Patients

Influence Patients

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

How to Make Your Practice Less Scary for Children

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

Branding Basics: Why Create a Dental Brand Guide (and How to Do it)

dental brand

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