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What Matters to Patients?
You might be the most precise, well-liked, and well-educated dentist, but if your patients do not feel comfortable they’re not likely to return, or worse, they’ll reconsider seeking dental care altogether. For some, fear has become a routine part of the dental experience. Although this fear is unique to each patient, similarities can be seen from case to case. The question then becomes, what matters most when patients go to the dentist? Here we will explore this question and look at 4 concerns likely in the minds of your dental patients. 1. TIMING Your patients might like you, but that doesn’t mean they like visiting the dentist. For reasons
Color-Coded Calm - Dental Supply Drawers
It’s probably safe to assume that you don’t spend much time thinking about your dental supply drawers (thank goodness!). But with a little thought—and a few pops of color—you can take the stress out of organizing your materials and instruments. Check out this quick 30-second animated video to see how the drawer bins rearrange in A-dec Inspire Dental Cabinets. It’s that easy. Start by assigning a tub and tray color for each procedure… say, aqua for crown and bridge, lime for endo, lavender for hygiene… your instruments, instrument holders, bur holders, and dental materials will all be identified by the same color for each procedure. Along with an appealing view from
3D Imaging–Know What You Didn’t Know
Although I have only had the CBCT for about 6 months, it has already prevented complications during implant placement. One patient had a trifed inferior alveolar nerve and a focal osteosclerosis, an area where there is no trabecular bone. If I tried to place an implant into that area without the knowledge from the 3D scan, the implant would have fallen through the patient’s jaw. As clinicians, we have the duty to make determinations on factors that affect a patient’s overall health. I recently saw a 39-year old man and observed that he was overweight and had a poor craniofacial posture angle — contributing factors of OSA (Obstructive
Digital Connectivity at Your Fingertips
Planmeca has a history of innovation and leadership for providing dental solutions–and this innovation will continue going forward. A powerful example of our current industry leadership is our Planmeca Romexis® open architecture software for easy third-party vendor connectivity. Planmeca developed this innovative software to network all of our technology together, and combine 2D and 3D imaging and complete CAD/CAM workflow from intraoral scanning to prosthetic designing and milling in one software. HOW PLANMECA ROMEXIS® SOFTWARE BENEFITS YOUR PRACTICE One of the great benefits of Planmeca’s Romexis open architecture software is that it’s a unique all-in-one concept, facilitating the integration of most digital equipment at your practice. One easy-to-use interface is
5 Steps to Going Green
If going green is the next step your office wants to take, you might ask, where do I start and what changes can I make? Below are 5 steps to help get you started. STEP 1 – IDENTIFY Take this time to walk around your office—what’s being wasted? Are there papers in the general trash, bottles/cans being thrown out, and/or too many wasted supplies? Write down what you can change and have the staff take notes. Is the office wasting a lot of plastic? Is the sink always on? What is the staff noticing throughout the day? Do this for a week and have a short meeting to discuss;
Have You Joined the Movement?
The latest statistics show that approximately 64.7 million Americans have periodontal disease. Science has shown today more than ever before the link between periodontal infections and many other serious systemic health risks, heart disease, diabetes, several types of cancers, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Recent papers published by the American Heart Association state that it appears up to 50% of all heart attacks are triggered by oral bacteremia. This highlights more than ever before how critical it is that we are taking action when we see periodontal infection in our practices. The sad state of affairs is that Dentistry IQ published statistics that less than 3% of all dental codes
4 Considerations for Your Dental Office Remodeling
Your office is cramped, cluttered, and you can’t keep up with increasing demand. It’s time to expand. Up-to-date dental equipment and technology will be a must, but beyond improving the technological care, what design features will you consider when thinking about the overall patient experience? Here we’ve explored four design considerations that will be important during your dental office remodeling. SOUND DESIGN Deciding on a dental office design will require an understanding of patients’ multidimensional sensory experience. What sounds?, images?, feelings?, do patients associate with my practice? Dr. Gardiner of Alaska Dental Care voiced these exact concerns when updating his office in Anchorage. The doctor knew that sound, in particular, could
Chairside systems: a current review
Summer 2017 | Markus Zaruba, Albert Mehl Since Cerec (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) was introduced as the first dental chairside computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system in the mid-1980s, this technology has enjoyed growing popularity, particularly in the recent past. Download the full article
Three Simple Changes that will Make Your Dental Office More Attractive
THE BATHROOM Most people visit the dentist on the go, and don’t have the option to schedule the first appointment of the day. When traveling from the office, there’s no time to stop home and give the teeth the 2 minute treatment, and many patients find themselves brushing and freshening up in the waiting room restroom. They’re likely not looking for elegance, but they are aware of cleanliness. When the bathroom isn’t clean it sets the tone for the rest of the patient’s visit. They might come in wondering, “What else is clean, should I be letting my hygienist anywhere near my mouth? What can I touch in
Picture Yourself in a Beautiful New Dental Practice
When you’re working in the same space day after day, it’s easy to stop “seeing” how your dental practice comes across to your patients. So take a moment to look around with fresh eyes. Does your practice accurately reflect your personality, your professionalism, and your commitment to a pleasant patient experience? Is your: * Practice up to date and modern, or does it have a tired look and feel? * Design improving your efficiency or holding you back? * Practice a comfortable place for both patients and staff? Most importantly, are you ready for something better? No matter how long you’ve been in your current space, chances are
Bringing Extraordinary Smiles to Patients Through Digital Photography
Over the last three decades, imaging technologies have played an integral role in my approach to patient care. Before these technologies, many patients were motivated to treatment primarily by pain. Today, patients have the opportunity to view their dental condition in high definition and true color through DEXcam™ 4 HD digital camera images. Our hygienist starts the conversation with the patient, and when I arrive in the operatory, the images are already on the screen, ready for my clinical opinion. These images build patients’ trust in my diagnosis, even before I enter the room. This is my third generation digital camera, and it definitely rivals my 12-megapixel SLR camera for
Using the Wrong Tech Can Put Your Dental Practice at Risk
Our guest blogger today is Donovan Gregg. As a dentist, you need to stay focused on keeping your patients healthy. You don’t have time to also be an expert on the IT infrastructure that enables your practice to run smoothly. What you do need is a competent partner to take the IT pain out of being a dentist, freeing you up to do what you do best. Using the right tech is important when it comes to protecting patient records. If you don’t use up-to-date versions of hardware and software, you potentially risk losing valuable data or exposing your patients’ protected health information (PHI), which could result in
Are your patient referrals in compliance with HIPAA?
One of the most common questions we get from dentists is “How do I get my patient’s records to a referral provider and comply with HIPAA?” There’s no simple, one-size-fits-all answer. Providing patient records to other healthcare providers is a common function and should be reviewed for compliance with HIPAA Privacy and Security requirements to avoid unauthorized disclosure. The following may be helpful in your review of your procedure for providing records to referral providers. Is the patient’s dental record being transmitted electronically? If information is not being transmitted, but rather provided by hard copy on paper or digital media (such as a DVD), you should review compliance with
Re-Examine Your Exam
Have you noticed that when your physician looks in your mouth he or she looks right past your lips to the back of your throat? Even if he scans your mouth, chances are he can’t recognize the early signs of periodontal disease, caries disease, oral cancer, or occlusal disease. We, on the other hand, look in the mouth with trained eyes and see it all. But like the physician, as is human nature, we see only what we expect to see! What if we could look in the mouth with super-powered eyes and immediately see an array of other signs—signs of early systemic diseases/disorders such as diabetes, sleep
On Your Mark, Cassette, Get Organized
Organizing your work space and implementing sound processes will contribute to your dental practice’s success and profitability while reducing costs and expenses. With the right plan in place, you will hire the right people, retain your top-notch employees, team up with the right supply companies, organize your practice for efficiency, and keep your patients happy and satisfied with your services. This article will focus on the organization and efficiency of the sterilization area and treatment rooms. STERILIZATION AREA Open the cabinets and drawers. Assess the level of organization. Discard unwanted and expired products after consulting the products’ Safety Data Sheets for proper disposal instructions to comply with state and federal
Keeping Your Practice Safe from Credit Card Fraud
Practice embezzlement has been on the rise in recent years. In fact, three out of four physicians will suffer some financial loss from employee dishonesty over the lifetime of their practice, according to the Medical Group Management Association. But whether a known party or stranger: * It usually takes about 18 months for evidence of fraud to surface * Losses can reach the mid-six figures by the time criminal activity is detected * Know that some fraudsters wait to target businesses over long holiday weekends. Nipping fraud in the bud is far easier then dealing with its aftermath. Practices should implement
Don’t Lose Your Data—Back It Up
With two offices, our practice handles a lot of important digital information. When backup processes and hardware are working, it’s easy to take them for granted, but when a server or hard drive fails, you realize how much you depend on technology. Without reliable server backups, you could unexpectedly lose all of your data in just seconds. I know this from experience. A few years ago, we were finishing work for the day when the server failed. Since we did manual backups at night, that entire day’s information was lost. I didn’t realize how much really happens in a day until then. Luckily, we were able to restore
Going Bigger Transforms General Dentistry Practice in Rural New Mexico
SMILE XPRESSIONS - ARTESIA, NEW MEXICO | KAY YOUNGGREN, DDS Building a new general dentistry office in the small community of Artesia, New Mexico, when you already own a successful practice there may appear to be a gamble for a dentist to take, but for Dr. Kay Younggren of Smile Xpressions, it was actually a carefully calculated decision based on hard data. Even so, the transition required a healthy investment—and now, two years after making the move, that investment has paid off. After opening the new office, the doctor has been able to expand the services she offers, increase her patient load while offering an incredible environment, and adopt the latest technologies, which
Renovated Atlanta Office Provides New Solutions to Old Technology
SUSAN G. RIFKIN, DDS & ASSOCIATES - ATLANTA, GEORGIA | SUSAN G. RIFKIN, DDS Every dentist has a catalyst for building a new office. For Dr. Susan Rifkin, of Susan G. Rifkin, DDS and Associates in Atlanta, Georgia, there were two main factors that propelled her into action—one old and one new! The “old” was the dated office technology and equipment. When Dr. Rifkin purchased it back in 1991 during the build of her office, it performed well and was reliable. She believes she “got her money’s worth” from it after decades of heavy use. But as it reached the end of its natural lifespan, the need for costly and time-consuming repairs became
High-Tech, Feng Shui Dental Practice Offers Advanced Dentistry in Anchorage
JERRY C. HU, DDS FAMILY DENTISTRY, LLC - ANCHORAGE, ALASKA | JERRY C. HU, DDS Anchorage, Alaska is known for its majestic views and rugged nature, but now it’s also home to a stunningly beautiful new dental practice—the second office location of Dr. Jerry Hu, a highly credentialed general dentist who is a native of the state. This new satellite office is 150 miles north of his main office in his hometown of Soldotna. The new office’s state-of-the-art equipment and elegant design, combined with the doctor’s reputation for excellence, have already caused appointments to be booked solid for the next four months! Dr. Hu has always been driven to achieve in dentistry,
Father and Son Build New Family Practice Together, Setting Up Long-Term Future
VEENSTRA FAMILY DENTAL - MIDLAND PARK, NJ | DOUG VEENSTRA, DMD & ERIC VEENSTRA, DMD The third time appears to be the charm for father-son dental partners, Dr. Doug and Dr. Eric Veenstra. The doctors recently moved into their practice’s third location so they could expand the treatment areas and make the entire office more ergonomically sound. The new location is down the road from their previous office in Midland Park, New Jersey. The office, which was previously an orthopedic practice, is located in a building that’s surrounded by a leafy, residential neighborhood. The father-son team gutted and completely rebuilt the space, transforming it into the new home of Veenstra Family Dental,
Developing an Operations Strategy for Successful Expansion
Our guest blogger today is By Jess Webber, CEO & Suzann Harms, Chief of Operations Development As dentists throughout the U.S. are taking larger leaps into dental entrepreneurship through practice expansion, we often see dental practice owners putting the “cart before the horse” so to speak when it comes to business development and expansion. Like any business pursuit, it is imperative in dental business that you put time and focus in the path you intend to take as close to the beginning of the journey as possible. But take heart – even if you are well on your way in the expansion of your dental business, it’s never too
A new veneer technique with prefabricated composite denture teeth combined with the "Biologically Oriented Preparation Technique" (BOPT) - a case report
Spring 2017 | Piero Parisini, Luca Braccini, Ivo Krejci This clinical report describes the step-by-step protocol for novel, 100% nonprep, custom-modified, prefabricated composite veneer restorations in the case of an esthetic rehabilitation of a patient presenting peg-shaped lateral incisors and undersized maxillary central incisors. Download the full article
Practice Sale Woes: It’s All in the Dental Office Lease
Practice Sale Woes: It’s All in the Dental Office Lease When signing the dental office lease for your practice, it is important to think about both the present and the future. Although you may not be considering retirement or selling your dental practice at the moment, things can certainly change during the term of your lease. Details in your lease agreement may directly impact the sale of your practice by preventing a smooth transition or reducing the value of your business. The following are a few important aspects of your lease agreement from a practice sale perspective. Assignment Provisions in the Lease Ability to Transfer the Dental Office