Ed Rabinowitz

The dental implant market is booming. However, helping patients retain their natural teeth when possible cannot only improve their overall health and quality of life, it can have a positive financial impact on a dental practice. And it cuts to what Allen Honigman, DDS, MS says is the true reason for going into dentistry: saving teeth.

Steven Lin, DDS, is on a journey; a journey to help educate how whole body health begins with dental health and a dental health diet. It's an oral-systemic link that Lin says today is clearer than ever. And through a newly released book and a continuing education course, he's excited to help start this important conversation.

Is your practice still hosting data on servers in the back room? Still closing the office for several days when training is necessary? Andy Jensen of Curve Dental, Inc., says that's crazy. For reasons ranging from stimulating practice growth to ensuring HIPAA compliance, the time is now to migrate your practice to a cloud-based system.

A new piece of equipment, complete with all the bells and whistles, may seem like a great addition to your dental practice. But patients are not as discerning. Unless you like the challenge of working with new equipment and are equally comfortable presenting these new, and likely more expensive, procedures to patients, you might want to think twice before making the investment.

A set of specific dental practice goals is more than just a pie-in-the-sky wish list. Goals are critical to maintaining growth and financial security. And they're easy to set, just not so easy to fulfill. It starts with a plan that is clearly communicated and ties staff goals directly to overall practice goals. The result can be increased revenue, along with improved employee morale.

Foot, head and neck massage, both before and during treatment? Doesn't sound like your typical dental practice. And it's not. Ira Kamp, D.D.S., has journeyed in search of a connection between science and spirituality. What he discovered is a wisdom that underlies all healing. And now he's sharing it with other practitioners.

There's a trend afoot particularly where new dentists are concerned. The American Dental Association says that 16.3 percent of all new dentists ages 21-34 are affiliated with dental service organizations—more than twice the overall percentage of 7.4. But when weighing the pros and cons, DSOs might be an appealing model for older, more established dentists as well.

If you're looking for a new and effective way to grow your dental practice, you might want to consider a podcast. Millions of Americans listen to podcasts every week, and dentists are no exception. There's definitely a time commitment if you want to start your own podcast. But even if you just listen, the networking opportunities are significant.

David Wong is a periodontist, and what really sets his practice apart is its focus on team-building activities. From hot dog eating contests that attract the likes of Joey Chestnut to Periothons that run until midnight, the focus is on creating an atmosphere and building chemistry that results in a finely tuned operation.

Initial costs aside, studies found that direct mail produces a higher response rate than online advertising. It's perceived as more trusted and personal than email, and has the potential to generate a long-term relationship. The key is effectively integrating it into an overall marketing campaign.

The times are changing, and the scope and shape of the patient conversation is rapidly evolving. Today there are tools enabling practices to grow, modernize and streamlining the provider-patient relationship. Conversations that used to be confined to face-to-face are now happening online, 24/7. Are you missing out on them?

Tischler calls himself a big goal-setter, but not just any goals. He focuses more on balancing goals.

In 2014, Scott Asnis, D.D.S., founded Dental365, an innovative dental practice with more than a dozen sites across the New York City area. And the growth continues, as both patients and doctors enjoy the benefits of exceptional dental care that can accommodate today's busy lifestyles.

If you've been looking for a way to reimburse your staff for health-related expenses, you might want to consider a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2017. The advantages are significant for both you and your staff.

Sometimes less is more. That's what Steven Feit, D.M.D., P.A. discovered when he vanquished rude and disrespectful patients from his practice. He went from experiencing desperation to forging more meaningful patient relationships, and it even slipped over to his home life.

Is your dental practice website compliant with guidelines set down by the Americans with Disabilities Act? Depending on the website content, it may or may not have to be. But even if you have no legal obligation, don't you want to be known as a good business partner in your community?

Front office staff are the face of a dental practice. Patients form perceptions about the quality of a doctor's work based on interactions with staff at the front desk. As such, the people you hire as front office staff might just be the most important staff members in the practice.

Are you stressed? Do you know how to recognize stress? Stress could be impacting your ability to practice and to interact positively with patients and staff. It can have an adverse effect on practice finances but it doesn't have to. And by taking steps to reduce stress in your life, you could rediscover the joy and passion for dentistry.

Chris Devlin, D.M.D., doesn't like to talk about himself. I kind of always try to support and push other people. But between providing care and sharing his passion for automobiles, he gives back a great deal to those less fortunate—especially within his community.

There are usually two sides to every story, and that's no different when it comes to preparing a dental associate contract. What's important to the dental practice owner may be dramatically different for the incoming associate. This first in a two-part series examines key considerations for practice owners when taking on a dental associate.

Excellent recordkeeping and policy handbooks are the heart of any dental practice. Too often, thorny situations arise without proper documentation, but potential lawsuits can be avoided with the aforementioned elements in place maybe it's time to have a conversation with a human resource professional or labor employment attorney.

Consumers are frustrated over the perceived cost of dental care, or the lack of coverage, while dentists lament the hassle of dealing with complex insurance issues and reduced reimbursement. Easing patient concerns, reducing hassles and bringing in new patients could be use a couple of clicks away.

Not everyone shops at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom's. Some prefer Walmart or Target, or a small, independent boutique. The same holds for dental practices. Anita Rathee, D.D.S., M.P.H., an integrative and cosmetic dentist, says there will always be a market for every type of practice. The key is knowing how to make it work.

Just because finances prohibit you from opening your own practice fresh out of dental school, that doesn't mean you have to give up on your dream. This second of a two-part series examines the dental associate contract from the perspective of the incoming associate. What's in the contract, and just as importantly what's not, can make the difference in achieving your dream.

If you think it's too early to start planning your 2017 business tax filing, think again. From determining how employees are classified to which method of form distribution is right for your practice and avoiding costly penalties there's a lot to be considered well before next January. Continue below for advice on getting the process started.

In 2016, Susan E. Brackett, D.D.S., M.S., F.A.C.P. became the third woman ever to earn the title of president of the American College of Prosthodontists. As a practicing prosthodontist who has been active in the ACP for several decades, Brackett has been recognized as a philanthropist raised to give back, a philosophy she espouses to aspiring young dentists.

Small businesses are facing increasingly complex wage issues driven by a trend toward a gig economy, as well as care delivery that happens outside a practice's walls. Is a worker classified as a full-time employee or an independent contractor? The answer to that and other important wage-related questions can impact a practice's finances.

If you're paying your hygienists straight commission, are you also checking their periodontal charting? That's one of the first omissions when quantity takes precedence over quality in a straight commission arrangement. But it's not the only downside to this payment arrangement that has been gaining traction.

Chicago-area prosthodontist Anthony LaVacca, D.M.D., F.A.C.P., F.I.C.O.I., has built a successful practice by creating a full dental destination for his patients. But it's his undergraduate degree in accounting that has afforded him the business background to effectively grow his practice.

The smart, young dentist is not focusing on cosmetic rehabilitative dentistry. Instead, this dentist, according to Roger Sanger, DDS, MS, is focused on the next population shift: pediatrics. By understanding that population through its millennial parents, there are opportunities to be had.