Dental industry news, trends and information from Patterson Dental.
Scripting the initial greeting of the all-important telephone call is a great way to ensure that each patient and future patient receives the same five-star service. What to say when answering that call, though, is up to the dental team. Perhaps everyone on the dental […]
It’s easy to understand why patients facing a tooth implant can be confused. There are so many things to consider. How is the implant placed? What are alternative treatments? How many appointments will I need? Things can seem to get complicated rather quickly. Patients need […]
All successful oral surgeries require an equilibrium of effort between practitioner and patient: excellent dentistry on your part, and an adherence to postoperative care instructions on the part of the patient. It’s likely you feel confident about your role in this equation … but how […]
For Office Manager Cyndi Hanna and the staff at Downtown Dental on 4th in Pasco, Wash., dentistry is about far more than clean teeth and healthy mouths – it’s about people, friends and community. After 29 years working as a dental hygienist, Hanna transitioned to […]
In today’s busy dental practices, where general dentists are doing more complex treatment cases, it is more important than ever that dental teams are aware of how the practice makes treatment not only affordable but as comfortable as possible for the patient. In order to […]
Dental clinicians and staff wear eye protection because it’s a requirement to keep them safe while at work. So why not offer the same protection to patients? Imagine this scenario: One of your patients comes in for a root canal, and as the dentist is […]
After just returning from the 11th Annual American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) Conference in Nashville, it occurred to me how many offices are still not benefitting from a great feature we had incorporated into our practice management software, Eaglesoft, 9 years ago. IntelliCare, what […]
We all know that good oral healthcare begins at an early age (by age 1, if we’re following the guidelines of the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry and American Dental Association). For optimal compliance in young dental patients, a lot practices turn to products that are […]
Dental isolation has been around for many years but in the last decade there has been new, innovative technology allowing for a more effective and efficient way to isolate the oral environment. With a combination of isolation, suction and retraction, hands-free isolation opens the door […]
Implementing technology to improve the patient experience and applying the most appropriate technologies to simplify processes is something I help dental offices do every day. Eliminating paper, clipboards and manual data entry of patient forms is one incredibly simple way to increase the level of […]
Doctors Steven Ozer and Anne Norris-Ozer built their thriving Manhattan Beach, Calif., dental practice, Beach Teeth, while raising three sons who are now ages 22, 24 and 26. When their first son was just six months old, the Ozers hired a consultant to help with […]
I can recall many years ago when patients would enter a dental office, sit quietly in a treatment room and allow the dentist to perform whatever treatment the provider deemed necessary. Then pay for the fee in full when leaving with no questions asked. These […]
Being an endodontist is no easy task, especially when you consider that one of the big challenges is breaking down the perception that a lot of patients have of what their visit is going to be like. As Dr. Garrett Morris, endodontist in Metairie, La., explains […]
Looking to invest in state-of-the-art technology to improve patient care and increase production? Fearful of how your practice can afford it? Take heart! Using proper training and great communication skills, front office team members can speak to patients knowledgeably and help practices quickly see a […]
“I’m a big rock and roll fan and have been since I was young,” said Anthony Hatch, DDS, who has decked out his San Diego practice with rock and roll memorabilia. “My first concert was Ratt, who I went to see when I was 15.” […]
When Laura Hatch and her husband, dentist Anthony Hatch, opened the doors at their Maryland practice in 2003, they chose a rock and roll theme that has carried over to their new practice in San Diego – Scripps Rock Dental, which they opened in 2008. […]
Dee Dee Meevasin, DMD, has learned a lot from her mentor, Dr. James Saycich, her dentist since she was a child. Dr. Saycich inspired her to go into dentistry while she worked as his assistant in high school. After graduating from the University of Las […]
For many patients, getting to see the hygienist whom they have become accustomed to is something to look forward to when attending regular hygiene appointments. Much like having a favorite service provider at a car dealership, salon, or another type of healthcare office, this invaluable […]
I do not watch a lot of television; however, being a huge football fan my television stays on more often than not these days. I love watching the game, and it really does not matter who is playing. I just want to watch a good […]
“So how do you put a geeky germophobe to good use? Make him office manager.” This is the introduction to Mike Cruz, Office Manager at Dee for Dentist Family & Cosmetic Dental Care, on the practice website. Each team member is featured on the site […]
For Peter J. Repole, DMD, and his wife, Mary, the coastal town of Eastport, Maine became a beloved vacation destination because of its breathtaking natural beauty and small town atmosphere. The couple visited frequently from their home in northern Virginia, where they owned a successful […]
The patient experience begins the moment they call your practice. Actually, it began when they made the decision to call your office to make the appointment. That is when they decided to choose you for their care. Once they connect with you, it is the […]
Increasing case acceptance is high on every practice’s priority list; however, one factor that often gets overlooked is where the treatment and financial discussions take place. Let’s take a look at a common scenario: you deliver a clear and solid treatment plan and the patient […]
Have you ever taken your car in for an oil change for $29.00 and when you pick up your car the cost is actually over $100.00? You discover they rotated your tires and added all your fluids. This can be very frustrating and you may […]
Asking good questions opens the door to discovery. With careful and caring questions, two things occur: (1) you put the patient at ease by letting them know that you want to hear from them, you are sincerely interested in what they have to say, and […]
By 2010 Rich Cooper, DDS, and his staff members had built West Loop Dental Associates, Ltd. into a thriving practice in the trendy West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, Ill. As much as he enjoyed helping patients, Dr. Cooper felt that the day-to-day tasks of dentistry […]
When Erin Roberts, DDS, purchased a dental office from a retiring dentist to open Healthy Smiles in Enid, Okla. in 2003, she had no idea what kind of challenges she would face with the outdated office and equipment. There was little room to move around, […]
When Mark W. Heidebrecht, DDS, started his practice, Gentility Dentistry in Wichita, Kan., he wanted to create an atmosphere that supports good dentistry. “I really want to do what’s best – to have the best technology and give my patients the best care possible,” he […]
You’ll hear a lot of talk these days about creating a great patient experience, but what are the practical steps to achieving that? What I’ve learned is that everything that happens in a dental practice—everything the patient hears, sees, tastes, smells and touches—has an influence […]
Kristen Burris, DDS, started her dental practice in Shattuck, Oklahoma, more than 20 years ago after she and her husband bought a cattle ranch and moved across the state. Although she was excited about the possibilities, Burris says that fear set in when she realized […]