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Time to Consider Lasers!
By Dr. Michael Koceja Now that we are well into the New Year—has anything changed? Have you kept your new year’s resolutions; eating better, drinking less, are those unwanted extra pounds gone from your frame? How about your dental practice; have you carried through on your ideas to improve your practice and the level of care you provide to your patients? Maybe you don’t plan on changes and are ok with complacency, but dentistry constantly changes and our patients constantly change, not only their dental health needs, but also their knowledge of the care they receive. The Internet and social media are powerful tools for our patients to
Fiscally Fit in 2011
By Keith Drayer, Vice President of Henry Schein Financial Dental Owners have unprecedented incentives to invest in their practices! The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 increased Section 179 dollar and investment limits to $500,000 and $2,000,000 (for 2010 and 2011). The 2010 Tax Relief Act will reduce the Section 179 dollar amount by 75%, reducing the expensing benefit to $125,000 starting January 1, 2012. The Section 179 benefit is scheduled then to be reduced to a $25,000 and $200,000 investment limit in 2013. Small Business Owners have many benefits to focus on. The 2010 Tax Relief Act is in favorable treatment of off-the-shelf computer software (i.e., Dentrix,
CBCT—Key to an “Uneventful” Implant Experience
By By Walter Chitwood, DDS There are certain pieces of equipment, like my cell phone, that make me wonder how I ever got through a day before I owned one. I feel the same way about my Gendex medium-field-of-view CBCT. The convenience of having access to 3D and the information that it produces is priceless. Unquestionably, I would not go back to practicing implant dentistry without the GXCB-500™. CBCT scans are a very valuable element of an uneventful implant experience. Prior to my investment in 3D, I had to compensate for the inherent distortion of 2D pans; we were never able to truly check trajectory, width, and bone
Eight New Codes Introduced In CDT 2011-2012
By Dr. Charles Blair 1.D1352 PREVENTIVE RESIN RESTORATION IN A MODERATE TO HIGH CARIES RISK PATIENT – PERMANENT TOOTH Conservative restoration of an active cavitated lesion in a pit or fissure that does not extend into dentin; includes placement of a sealant in any radiating non-carious fissures or pits. After January 1, 2011, dental teams can report D1352 if the following criteria are met: 1. 1. The patient has had a risk assessment performed and is classified as moderate to high caries risk; 2. Decay that does not extend into the dentin is removed
A Slice of Everyday Life
By Jim L. Caskey, DDS, MS The field of orthodontics is continually evolving. When I went to dental school, no one wore magnifying loupes, and now, that is standard in most dental offices. Similarly, when I went to orthodontic school, no one had in-office 3-D. But, now that I have an i-CAT® in both of my offices in North Texas, I wouldn’t dream of doing without it—it’s just that useful. Since I implemented Cone Beam technology, I repeatedly have been asked if there is one case that “saved the day” that justified my investment. My response is that it just doesn’t work that way. Although there are cases
Realizing the Difference in Chairside CAD/CAM Systems
Wake Forest, North Carolina After years of reservation, dentists have come to realize that the time for in-office CAD/CAM dentistry is now. CAD/CAM is one of the fastest growing segments in our profession because this technology gives us the ability to deliver a crown, inlay, onlay, or veneer in one visit. Time limitations are among the many reasons patients are reluctant to seek necessary dental treatment (the most common being fear), and these can now be resolved using chairside CAD/CAM technology. What’s more, today’s world of digital dentistry relies on the chairside capture of information, which has become central to an increasing number of dental practices. It is therefore important
Planning Your Exit Strategy: Five Key Questions to Ask Before Making a Move
By Tom L. Snyder, DMD, MBA If you are thinking of a practice transition in the next five years, today is a good time to get started. This article will look at 5 key points that you should consider and act on to maximize a successful transition. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE 1. CAN I AFFORD TO RETIRE? When wanting to retire collides with being able to retire, the outcome can be devastating. Enlist the services of a financial planner to quantify the answer through a retirement income need analysis, which will project what you will need to live comfortably, for how long, based upon your current assets. If
7 Ways to Use Content for Better Online Marketing
USING SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO WIN AND KEEP CUSTOMERS. by Lee Odden, CEO TopRankMarketing.com - TopRankBlog.com Many small businesses have implemented a variety of online marketing efforts to attract new customers and increase overall sales with less than stellar results. The lure of the “next big thing” can create marketing inefficiencies when small business owners try to be a “jack of all trades and master to none.” Consider these statistics: Google sites handle about 88 billion searches each month, YouTube is the second most popular search engine second only to Google, Facebook is now over 600 million users, Twitter has nearly 200 million accounts, LinkedIn is
DEXIS—A Driving Force in My Practice
By Cedric Chenet, DDS Over my years in practice, I have experienced several types of X-ray systems. As a military dentist, I used film X-ray for 21 years. When I opened my private practice in 2002, budget constraints led me to believe that purchasing a phosphor-plate system would be more economical. After discovering that image quality was lacking with the phosphor system, I made the decision to upgrade to a direct sensor. I wanted to experience the system from my patient’s standpoint. Since patient comfort was a primary factor, I decided to try out the system on the most difficult patient I could think of—myself. Even though I am
Roger M. Harris III Family Dentistry
GREER, SOUTH CAROLINA As small business owners, dentists have the same concerns that any company might—along with the specialized clinical demands of an oral health care provider. When all the elements dovetail perfectly, Doctor, staff, and patients reap the benefits of the best that modern dentistry has to offer. In November 2010, Roger M. Harris III Family Dentistry relocated from Greenville to Greer, South Carolina to pursue a re-energized vision for the practice. With the old office’s lease coming to an end and the need for more space and better visibility—the time had come to move toward a whole new dimension for the business. What took shape gave everything
Main Street Pediatric Dentistry Tuckahoe, New York
Dr. Penny Resnick-Graulich The waiting room and hallways resemble the interior of a submarine, incorporating the elements of stylized metal-clad walls, floors, and countertops; authentic-looking lighting fixtures; and scuba-gear placed whimsically throughout. The main treatment room truly brings home the feel of being underwater by the use of window-like wall murals depicting playful sea creatures and an amused, snorkeling boy stopping to gaze into the room as they pass by. > “I want children to like coming to the dentist, not fear it. By creating a > warm, comfortable space…they are relaxed and entertained. It defuses what can > be a stressful situation.” The same charm and high level of creativity
Midwestern University Dental Institute
GLENDALE, ARIZONA The Dental Institute is located on the Midwestern University Campus in Glendale, Arizona. With 242 chairs and 99,000-sq. ft. of space, the facility is a monumental resource dedicated to the betterment of oral health care for a wide variety of patients in the area. A feasibility study was begun in 2005 by the administrative team at MWU and, after studying the metrics, determined that there was significant need for a new dental school in the state of Arizona. Construction of the Dental Institute began in November 2009; was completed in February 2010; and opened for operations in July 2010. The focus of the Dental Institute is educationally
Facebook for the Dental Practice
By Jason Lipscomb The opportunity to take control of your online destiny holds multiple possibilities for the practicing dentist. The most effective form of dental marketing, word of mouth, has taken on new life with the likes of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Foursquare. So how do you implement this new technology in your office? Last quarter we explained social media in a general sense. Now we will start to break it down and get into specific practices for social media. Let me recount a real life social media occurrence that happened this morning that tied in several types of social media platforms. Every morning I do a quick scan
Why Do Patients Choose You?
People have many choices when it comes to dental health care. Why does someone choose one dentist over another? How can you help them choose your practice? To understand this, let’s examine how we make choices in the first place. Our perceptions dictate our actions. This means that how a potential patient perceives your practice will dictate any actions they take in accordance with your practice. If they perceive you as a better alternative then the competition, they will choose you; if they don’t, they will choose someone else. It is therefore critical to convey the right information about your practice to create the correct perceptions. So how
Laser! Laser! Laser!
By Brian Toorani DDS If you are reading this article, I am sure you are one of thousands concerned with our economy and our way of life. Every day we hear about unemployment, recession, default rates, foreclosures, and business being down! Well that's not what this article is all about. This article is about being different and standing out from the crowd! This article is about embracing technology and wanting more from ourselves and our daily habits. It's about being better than most others and creating value for our patients. This article is about abundance and positivity. I purchased my first laser, a Waterlase MD, in October of 2007.
Digital Impressions “The Next Digital…”
By Bill Busch, DMD MAGD It seems like it was just yesterday that I was twenty-seven years old and thinking about digital X-ray. Now, twenty years later, I am writing about digital impression taking—something the great Dr. Gordon Christensen says will be commonplace by 2020. I got into digital dentistry immediately upon graduating from dental school; thanks to the launch of the personal computer by IBM back in the 80s. I graduated from dental school in 1989 and added my first computer to my office in 1991 to do basic accounting and patient ledgers. One thing that I learned with any technology that you use is that the more
i-CAT—Impressive Flexibility in Imaging
Three-dimensional radiographs provide precise data that dentists can use to make informed choices for each patient's individualized procedure and each treatment plan. The i-CAT offers many options in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans to help dentists to approach innovative procedures with confidence. FLEXIBILITY IN SCAN SIZES: The i-CAT has a great amount of flexibility in imaging selections that help to reduce radiation. Practitioners have the ability to choose the size of scan appropriate for various treatments, while reducing radiation exposure and helping them to achieve their ALARA goals. The system's unique feature with the full field-of-view of 16-cm diameter and offers and extended field-of-view option of 17cm x 23
Credit Scores as a Financial Asset Advantage!
This access to capital could make a substantial difference in your practice, allowing you to acquire equipment that will help you to expand your services and profit margins! Did you know that the median credit score was in the 720 range before the recent economic turmoil and has now dropped to 680? A credit score drop of just 40 points effectively doubles the risk for the creditor. Many creditors who accepted business loans at the 680 score category now require 720. It is almost impossible to get a business loan unless you have an impeccable score, which requires that all of your banks and credit card companies report
A Beginner Course in SEO "Search Engine Optimization"
By Dr. Jason Lipscomb When the horse was domesticated thousands of years ago, most were used for labor purposes. It probably didn't take long for enterprising individuals to hop on the back of a horse and start the first horse race. The same goes for the invention of the automobile. It probably didn't take long for two car owners to compete in a match of speed and agility. That competitive nature pervades many areas of our personal lives as well as the business of our dental practices. In recent years the dental Web site has been one of the biggest public representations of our businesses. Like the horse
Gearhart Dentistry Gearhart, Oregon, Dr. Stephanie White
The property that housed the shell of the practice and the family residence was purchased in 2007. Dr. White had taken ownership of her already existing business 5 years prior, providing general dentistry services for her patients. > "Henry Schein helped with the layout and blueprints; gave us tours of other > offices to get ideas for design; and provided information on their products." Construction began in January 2010 in the new location, which opened in September of the same year. "I would be able to provide dental services in a location that I owned while being within close proximity to my home," notes Dr. White. "As a
Gearhart Dentistry
GEARHART DENTISTRY - GEARHART, OR Dr. Stephanie White There’s no place like home! And, there’s nothing better than being 50 feet from your place of business. Gearhart Dentistry and the Doctor’s residence, located in Gearhart, Oregon, are only footsteps apart and ideally configured to offer an enviable lifestyle—possibly with one of the shortest commutes on record! Construction began in January 2010 in the new location (the office opened in September of the same year). The new building’s 1,750-square-foot downstairs space houses the reception area and 4 operatories. Its 400-square-foot second level is used for the Doctor’s personal office and storage. “We feel the office’s environment accurately reflects the quality of
Creating Your Customized Continuing Education Plan
By John C. Cranham DDS Although the number of continuing education (CE) options for the general dentist is ever expanding, choosing the best option for the growth of your practice continues to be a challenge. Knowing whether you should attend a one-day lecture, a weekend hands-on course, a live patient experience, or do your expanded training via the worldwide Web, is a difficult decision. The price of dental CE courses is not getting any cheaper—and the real cost is the time away from the practice. Learning to align the best educational experience with your particular practice dynamic is critical if you want to experience an optimum return on investment. A
Everyday Dentistry
By Dr. Lorne Lavine What is the definition of “Everyday Dentistry?” We use this term all the time. In lectures, everyone wants to teach us techniques we can use in “Everyday Dentistry.” Sales people want to sell us products that can be incorporated into “Everyday Dentistry.” So how do we define this term and how can we achieve success in Everyday Dentistry? I define Everyday Dentistry as controlled mayhem, because there is no “everyday.” Each day is different, each day is a new challenge, some days are great and some days—we can’t wait for them to end. A great day is high-quality Dentistry, staying on schedule, and happy
Pelton & Crane Opens the Dr. Richard Pelton Showroom and Training Center in Beaverton, Oregon
By Don Hobbs, VP Equipment Henry Schein Dental > “The new Pelton & Crane showroom and training facility is outstanding. The > showroom is fully loaded with the best of Pelton & Crane, KaVo, and a wide > variety of their 2D and 3D imaging brands.” Pelton & Crane emphatically announced its continued investment and support of Henry Schein by opening their new West Coast showroom and training center in Beaverton, Oregon. Dubbed the “Dr. Richard Pelton Showroom and Training Center,” Pelton & Crane recently opened the doors to the beautiful facility to about 80 Henry Schein Team Members, doctors, and distinguished guests. The new facility is located on the