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Back to Basics: What do You Need in a Laser?
By Michael Koceja, DDS Technology continues to provide us with the new tools needed to improve patient care. Things we dreamed of 25 years ago are now part of our daily practice. Digital radiography, CAD/CAM, lasers, and other advances in technology have changed dentistry, but advances in technology come with a certain cost. * Technology can be expensive. * Technology can put us on auto-pilot – we still need to know how to “land the plane.” * We can be overcome with too much technology. What is enough technology? When is it too much technology? These questions need to be answered
Digital Imaging: Enhancing the Delivery of Health and Happiness
By Gerald Bittner, Jr., DDS My parents were both dentists. They had a great philosophy when it came to patients: Let them know they are in an environment where they are cared for, listened to, and receive the very best. I learned this firsthand early in life. When I joined the practice in 1985, I began making decisions with my parents to further build on this philosophy. Later when they retired, it was up to me to keep this legacy going. Over the years, we’ve been able to improve patient care with technologies, such as digital imaging, lasers, and even sleep modalities; these things make our office a comfortable,
Insurance Coding Changes for 2013
By Dr. Charles Blair Current Dental Terminology (CDT) 2013 has now been released. The combined efforts of the prior Code Revision Committee (CRC), the new Code Advisory Committee (CAC), and the Council on Dental Benefits have resulted in 84 changes: 35 new codes, 37 revised codes, and 12 deleted codes—all becoming effective on January 1, 2013. Many of the modifications for 2013 are related to the most commonly performed dental procedures including fluoride treatments, bleaching, and crown retainer buildups. Additionally, assessment and screening codes have been added as well as codes to describe the use of an ICON™ infiltrate procedure and prefabricated ceramic crowns for primary teeth. Radiographs are now
3 Ways Every Dental Office Can Reduce Overhead
By: Mark Haslip, MBA I’ve been working with dental offices, helping them reduce overhead for the last nine years, and in that time, almost all of my experiences have been remarkably similar. Despite the varying office locations, personal economic challenges, production levels, and socioeconomic conditions of the surrounding community, the basics of running a small business remain the same. Whether you're operating a dental office, a print shop, or sporting goods store, the same things need to balance on your P&L in order to run a healthy business and be profitable. All businesses want to run more efficiently, lower overhead, and increase profitability. Through the years, I have noticed
Driven to Excellence — A Dental Practice Design Experience
Over the years, we have heard many dentists ask the question, “What is my dental practice telling my patients?” With the help of Pelton & Crane and dental design expert Dr. Mark Tholen, 60 Chicagoland dental professionals are about to discover the principles of office design that will help answer that question. As they sit in a conference room at the Chicago Marriott in Oak Brook, Illinois, in Pelton & Crane’s Driven to Excellence (DTE) dental office design course, these attendees are being exposed to the same office design principles that have helped thousands of dentists across North America achieve their office design dreams. For the last five years,
Multi-Modality Endodontics with 3D Imaging —What to Look for in a New Imaging Unit
By Brian Trava, DMD, PA As an endodontist in New Jersey, I know the standard of care in my profession is changing dynamically in relation to the technology that is available. Researching and investing in the right technology allows dentists the full potential to practice the complete spectrum of endodontics. Cone Beam Computed Technology (CBCT) 3D imaging has been repeatedly mentioned by our professional associations and various authors as a new standard. It is a conduit to advancing the specialty of endodontics, raising our high standards of excellence and providing enhanced comprehensive oral health care to our patients. Having the right technology, such as CBCT 3D imaging, allows your practice
Creating the Wow Factor in Your New Office
(Mark Tholen, DDS, MBA is our guest blogger today at Sidekick Magazine) I am frequently asked how to create an office that will immediately impress the new patient and serve to quickly reinforce their choice for dental treatment. The term “wow factor” is the phrase most often employed in this question posed to me. Usually, I reply to the doctor’s question with a question: why do you want a “wow factor”? You might think it odd to answer a question with a question, but it is important to articulate the architectural objective or desired (emotional) impact of a particular space. The anticipated response to my question would be
Evolve Your Practice’s Communications
IMPROVE FLEXIBILITY, EFFICIENCY AND MOBILITY WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK Modernizing your dental practice can be daunting, especially when it comes to communication systems. Upgrading from an old phone system to a new one that offers all the advanced features you need can seem like it is only a possibility if you are willing to spend a small fortune. Outdated physical phone systems make it nearly impossible to ensure that everything is functioning properly and, even more challenging, to diagnose and resolve problems. In addition, they are expensive and time consuming to maintain. Thankfully, there is now an affordable solution for dental practices nationwide—one that provides a flexible, mobile-optimized system for
Fiscally Fit in 2012
By Keith Drayer, Vice President, Henry Schein Financial Services Dental practice owners have been provided with historically significant tax incentives through 2012, making this the right time to invest in your practice’s future. The government estimates that its cost of enhancing Section 179 is $50 billion alone. Are you poised to seize the opportunity? Dental practice owners have unprecedented incentives to invest in their practices! The Section 179 benefit in 2011 was a record high $500,000. In 2012, the Section 179 benefit was reduced to $139,000, less but still significant. On January 1, 2013, the Section 179 will be reduced again by 83%, to $25,000 because of the 2010
The Case Against Utilizing Digital Technology in Your Practice
By Gary Kadi ARE YOU LOOKING TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY? Would you like to have more fun in your practice? Do you want to make a difference for more patients and have patients accept more treatment? Would you like to be more profitable? If you don’t, then absolutely do not read anything else in this article. Let me explain… at the age of two, my son was diagnosed with autism. As my wife and I were immersed in research, sorting through all the issues that may have an impact on those with this diagnosis, we learned that the electro-magnetic radiation emitted from electronic devices might have an influence or effect
Six Reasons for Choosing an i-CAT
As dental professionals increasingly incorporate 3D imaging as a treatment tool for implants, restorations, oral and maxillofacial surgery, TMJ, sleep disorders, and orthodontics, the decision is no longer if the modern dental practice should implement this technology, but what brand brings more to the practice in greater flexibility, ease of use, and reputation for quality. i-CAT offers these qualities, and more, to general practitioners and specialists alike with i-CAT Next Generation and i-CAT Precise™ 3D imaging units. 1. FOR IMPLANTS– Tx STUDIO™ software, exclusive to i-CAT systems, facilitates planning of implants and other surgical procedures such
A Clear Improvement in Imaging — DEXIS Digital Radiography
By Dr. Randy Machen Evolving technology brings with it welcome changes, and in certain situations, dramatic improvements. With imaging being an important part of the patient’s dental visit, I need a system that provides quality X-rays for my diagnosis, a quick and easy workflow for my team, and increased patient comfort. Colleagues who have been using digital X-ray sensor systems for some years now suggested that I switch from my phosphor storage plate (PSP) system to a direct digital solution, and DEXIS was the brand recommended most. With my PSP system, I noticed a degrading image quality over time and was concerned that I was missing decay and other
Claremont Dental Institute–Claremont, California
CLAREMONT DENTAL INSTITUTE - CLAREMONT, CA Dr. Vijay Patel Southern California has been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn, and many dental practices have experienced challenges in maintaining patient loads and full schedules. However, Doctor Vijay Patel has experienced the exact opposite. He recently opened his fourth dental office, in Claremont, California, and he has discovered that expanding has been a boom to his production and profitability. “The practice started 22 years ago in Montclair, California,” noted Dr. Patel. However, over time, the building and the practice began to show its age. “My equipment was old, and the building had not been renovated on the outside. Moreover, the stores in
Plaistow Dental–Plaistow, New Hampshire
PLAISTOW DENTAL - PLAISTOW, NH Dr. Ron Holiman FROM NEW ENGLAND FARMHOUSE TO MODERN DENTAL OFFICE The Plaistow Dental practice building has a rich history. It began as an authentic New England style 1860s farmhouse, built in the typical L-shaped style, in which the barn was attached to the home through a breezeway that protected the owners from going outside into the brutal Northeastern winters. Beginning in the 1970s, this farmhouse underwent a series of renovations that would convert it from a working farm into a successful dental practice. Even though the changes inside the building are dramatic, the bones of the structure remain intact and the design and architecture
Just Kids Dental–Sheboygan, Wisconsin A Dental Office Just For Kids
JUST KIDS DENTAL - SHEBOYGAN, WI Dr. Andi Igowsky Few kids would tell you that a dental visit is “fun” but for the pint-sized patients of Just Kids Dental, that’s an accurate description. The Sheboygan, Wisconsin pediatric office is not just comfortable; it’s an explosion of color and kid-friendly activities and spaces that grab the children’s attention the minute they come in. The waiting area is all about making the patients feel comfortable and happy. With bright fabrics and window treatments as well as vibrant stained glass inlays in the walls and whimsical lighting fixtures, the entrance is cheerful and bright. The waiting area features a creative coloring station and
The Last Piece of My Technology Puzzle
My old panoramic machine (Gendex Panelipse®) was a trusted workhorse and the last piece of equipment in my office that was not in a digital format. Imaging technology had advanced, and I was ready to invest in a digital panoramic X-ray that will reduce radiation exposure, is flexible enough to have different projections, and doesn't use traditional film to produce a higher quality image. My research led me to a model that also has a 3D component (Gendex GXDP-700™), increasing its value to my patients and practice. > My patients are grateful for the tools I have to treat them more > appropriately. I knew that the new pan-3D
Tools for Making Prudent Decisions
For most dentists, the main objective of attaining a dental degree is so they can apply their trade and help patients enjoy the benefits of good dental health. We tend to enjoy doing the work, interacting with a wide variety of people, setting our own schedules, being our own boss, and from time to time, creating much out of not-so-much. It is always a good feeling to sit down with a patient who has a dental problem, help solve that problem because of our skill sets and knowledge base and, have the patient thank us for helping them. When we applied to dental school, we knew it was
An Inventory Solution That Gives Staff More Time For Patient Care
How do you manage dental supplies for your practice? Despite recent innovations in patient care, many dental practices still use a manual, inefficient, costly, and time-consuming approach when it comes to managing thousands of dollars in inventory. But what if your supplies were stored in a secure, easy-to-access cabinet in a central location where they could be managed and automatically reordered via a simple computer placed right on the face of the cabinet? Cubex allows a dental practice to do just that. CEO Anton Visser and his team developed Cubex solutions so that any size dental practice could manage inventory as Fortune 500 companies do—on a “just in time”
Digital Imaging Rocks the Rocky Mountains
By Justin Moody, DDS, DICOI, DABOI Digital radiography plays a vital role in the clinical and business aspects of a dental practice. With seven offices operating in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota, and a new dental implant center, the Rocky Mountain Dental Institute (RMDI), in Colorado, I am very aware of the importance and the cost-effectiveness of the equipment that I choose — especially my X-ray equipment. From a clinical standpoint, imaging provides a visual guide to diagnosis, treatment planning, and implementation. Digital 2D radiographs, panoramics, and 3D scans provide data quickly, clearly, and cost- effectively. From a business aspect, digital radiography has given me a quick return on investment. Traditional
Sidekick Alumni – Lake Shore Cosmetic Dentistry “Smiles by Ameri” – Humble, Texas
LAKESHORE COSMETIC DENTISTRY - HUMBLE, TX Dr. Mash Ameri SIDEKICK ALUMNI When you and your staff enjoy coming to work because you’re excited about the technology and ambience that surrounds you, that feeling comes through to patients. Lakeshore Cosmetic Dentistry in Humble, Texas, a growing suburb of Houston, is simply stunning, but it’s about much more than gorgeous style. This office functions as beautifully as it looks! That’s not by accident. Dr. Mash Ameri had a very focused vision of what his start-up dental office would look like and how it should operate after attending design classes sponsored by Henry Schein and presented by Dr. Mark Tholen, a specialist in dental office
Putting Hurricane Katrina Behind Them, McCabe Dental Clinic Is Thriving
MCCABE DENTAL CLINIC - GULFPORT, MS Dr. Tim McCab In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina let loose a fury of water that flooded Gulfport, Mississippi, and leveled the successful practice of McCabe Dental Clinic. Located on 16th Street, a short walk to the Gulf of Mexico, this third-generation dental practice, owned by doctors Mike and Tim McCabe, took a direct hit from the hurricane and was ultimately reduced to its concrete slab and the exterior signage that stood stubbornly in the wake of the wind and storm surge. > The building is oriented to see the oak trees that survived Katrina and the > water views. We have the best view
Creating Great First Impressions with Office Design – Making Your Office “Pop”
Throughout our lives, we have been encouraged to make a great first impression: with the teacher, the coach, the employer, the (future) parents-in-law, and now…every patient. So, besides our personal appearance, communication skills, and those of our staff, how do we collectively “put our best foot forward”? By greeting the new patient with a great office. Of course, this begs the question, what are the components of a great office and what does it look like? Read on. The first contact your new patient has with the office is viewing its signage. It should reflect the quality of care you are providing in the office and be legible and
A Calculated Investment in Technology
By Lou Shuman DMD, CAGS As the president of the Pride Institute, I have consistently encouraged the use of technology in the dental office. Our research indicates that 81 percent of Americans between the ages of 30 and 49 are online daily. Patients have become educated consumers for their daily purchases as well as in choosing their practitioners; researching treatment options; obtaining patient feedback; and browsing practice Websites to increase their chances for a better dental experience. From the practitioner’s viewpoint, digital radiography is a superior technology over film that improves clinical assessment and greatly enhances treatment presentation. When faced with implementing new technology, dentists often express budgetary concerns. In the
Plan for More Digital Data
It seems like every day, another piece of technology gets added to your digital practice. Electronic documents, cameras and imaging devices, digital radiography and cone-beam scanners all clamor for space on your computer network. How do you know how much server storage space you’ll need today, tomorrow, and three years down the line? Furthermore, are you confident that your digital data will be protected in the event of a server failure or catastrophe? Let’s start with the basics. If you’ve turned over a computer ad lately, you have some idea of the massive advances the PC industry has made in computer hard-drive storage. Years ago, disk drives could only