Practice Management

We go through leading small business journals and websites so you don't have to. Check out this week's best small business links: Keep your employees motivated this summer

The current outlook suggests that while there is an abundance of qualified buyers available, quality dental practices on the market are lacking.  

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your dental practice in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your dental practice, among your staff and even your patients.  

Whatever your practice goals may be, the platform that is built to grow upon is key to success. Practices are bought and sold quite often, but it is every practitioner’s dream to build their own. When dentists get to build their own practice the right way using modern equipment and materials, their future plans will be much better served. The same is true for their computer system and their future technology goals, which includes going to a paperless office by 2014.

The hiring process is hardly ever enjoyable; the paperwork alone can be enough to drive anyone insane. Unfortunately, this long, exhausting process is unavoidable.  If you’ve said, “I know I need a good team, but it is too hard to find the right people,” chances are you’ve made some mistakes during the hiring process. Here’s a breakdown of the top 5 mistakes dentists make during the hiring process, and how you can avoid them.

Next time you walk into your dental office, pretend you’re a new patient. If you’re greeted by a wall of paper charts and a reception area featuring a sliding glass window and a clipboard, think about what you are communicating. Impersonal reception areas, clipboards and paper charts scream “yesterday.” Now consider that, rightly or wrongly, patients form beliefs about the quality of your dentistry based upon these seemingly innocuous things.

It’s bound to happen. At some point in your career, you just stop feeling the passion you once had for dentistry. You find yourself in a rut, and just going through the motions of your day to day. While this is common, no matter what your career, it doesn’t have to become your normal. There are ways to get that passion back, to renew your energy and your enthusiasm for the work you do. Here’s how:

Patterson Dental has added profit-driving analytical business tools by Mercer Advisors to its Explore Store online technology center to help dentists identify lost revenue and determine the overall health and performance of their practice.

Your patients are your practice. Without them, where would you be? You have to know the best ways to attract them to your practice, get them to accept treatment and make them happy, life-long patients. That’s where we can help. Check back regularly for tips on how to keep your patients happy, healthy and loyal.  

The third video interview in a series on social media with Dr. Edward Zuckerberg, the dentist dad of Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg, touches on the fears that dental professionals have about using social media and why they should overcome them.

In light of the recent investigative film that examined the flaws in the dental care system, dental professionals from across the country have expressed mixed reactions. FRONTLINE and the Center for Public Integrity were behind the production of the film.

AMD LASERS, a global leader in dental lasers and dental laser education, announced a partnership with leading dental trade publication Dental Products Report to sponsor  a social media training series for dental professionals.

The second video interview in a series on social media with Dr. Edward Zuckerberg, the dentist dad of Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg, offers insight focusing on how social media platforms can affect your dental practice.

Biographer Walter Isaacson outlined core leadership strengths that can be used to characterize Apple founder and personal computing pioneer Steve Jobs in a Harvard Business Review article. These four approaches to leadership can be applied to the improvement of your dental practice. ExecTech, a practice management consulting firm, breaks them down. Focus

The investigative team at the television show FRONTLINE and the Center for Public Integrity, joined forces to produce the film “Dollars and Dentists,” which examined the dental care system and offers some solutions to correct problems found within it.

Digital Clinic was awarded second-place honors for the most innovative dental practice product at the Henry Schein Inc. 17th Annual Dental National Sales Meeting on June 11, 2012. The company provides dynamic, interactive and internet-linked digital signage for dental practice waiting rooms.

The Supreme Court rules the Affordable Care Act constitutional. On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Website, the law puts in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will roll out over four years and beyond, with most changes taking place by 2014.

The investigative team at the television show FRONTLINE and the Center for Public Integrity, have joined forces to produce the film “Dollars and Dentists,” which examines the dental care system and offers some solutions to correct problems found within it.

Whether you’re moving to a new office space or adding digital radiography to the office you’re currently in, there’s plenty to consider before you get started. From cabling to computer systems, you need to think about what makes the most sense for your team and your practice.

Social media agency Maximize Social Media LLC announced its cosmetic dentistry marketing program Friday, providing online marketing support to cosmetic dentistry practices worldwide. The agency will provide complete social media management for dentists who offer cosmetic surgery, reconstruction, and other specialized oral procedures.

In restorative dentistry, close attention must be paid not only to the restoration, but to the area surrounding the restoration as well. This type of thinking should be applied to provide the esthetics and functionality the patient seeks. Therefore, to provide the best in patient comfort and minimally invasive procedures, practitioners must maintain familiarity with the newest instruments and techniques available through innovation and product development.

As dental practice marketing completely transforms from the simplicity of running a few ads in the Yellow Pages to the complexity of updating your website and regularly contributing to social media, photographs are becoming more and more important to your practice.

Of course you want to help when you can. You want to be flexible and make sure all your patients get the care they need. But you also have to be careful. Most of your patients, if not all of your patients, are good people, people who need your guidance to ensure they maintain the best oral care possible. Because of that, it’s easy to let your guard down and maybe even become a little too trusting. Even though people generally are good, there are some you need to watch out for, the ones who are always looking for ways to walk away with something for nothing.

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your dental practice's management goals in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your dental practice, among your staff and even your patients. #2 New York Times Best Seller: The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and business

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your dental practice's management goals in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your dental practice, among your staff and even your patients.

Likeable today announced the launch of Likeable Dentists, the first vertical of Likeable Local, a Facebook marketing solution for small businesses. Likeable Dentists was created in conjunction with Likeable's mission to help organizations use social media to build relationships, engage with fans and create a more likeable world.

Great marketing isn't always easy. Whether marketing yourself, your practice or a dental product, there is a fine line between messages and strategies that make you feel good and messages and strategies that make your potential patients and customers say yes to what you're offering.

Ben Popken, columnist for the personal finance blog Smart Money, points out that most dental insurance coverage plans are poor. Dental price clubs, which offer pre-negotiated lower rates to consumers, might be a better option for the uninsured or those who have maxed out their annual insurance payout.

In a move aimed to improve marketing to customers, Nobel Biocare recently announced the promotion of Nicolas Weidmann to the position of Head of Global Marketing. Weidmann had previously been the implant, guided surgery and CAD/CAM company's Head of Global Communications. He will retain responsibility for Nobel Biocare's corporate communications while also taking on worldwide marketing responsibilities. According to a press release, the company hopes to the move will increase the effectiveness of the company's marketing efforts while also making them more efficient.

CEREC 4.0 Software takes full advantage of the speed and accuracy of advanced Bluecam digital imaging technology from Sirona. Sophisticated, yet easy-to-use multiple and simultaneous restoration design capabilities enable users to work on as many restorations as they want-and at the same time.