How Dentists Can Avoid the Trap of Compromised Care. Recently the ADA News published an article with the headline: “Dentists remain cautious about economic conditions in their practices.” I was baffled and dumbfounded by the inherent negativity of such a headline. It really does nothing but confirm to dentists that the economy is bad, when […]
GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND IMPROVE YOUR PRACTICE. Since the 1980s, dental implants have been a reliable method of replacing missing teeth. However, during the last few years, this specialized dental procedure has grown dramatically in popularity. Why? The answer is simple: advertisements. Today, dental implant ads are everywhere—on television commercials, billboards, magazine […]
HOW EVALUATIONS IMPROVE OVERALL PERFORMANCE. When I meet with a new dental team, one of the first steps that I take is to conduct an in-office evaluation. I run through a systematic list of questions to get an idea of what specific remediation is necessary for a particular group. The questions help me to understand […]
MAKING SURE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY REALLY BENEFITS YOUR PRACTICE. Computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is all the rage these days and with it people can create everything from the simple to the complex: jewelry, tools, machine parts and toys. Considering the widespread utilization of this type of technology, it’s no surprise that CAD/CAM machines are in widespread […]
PLANNING AHEAD MAKES LARGE CASE DENTISTRY PREDICTABLE. “Simple extraction? There is no such thing as a simple extraction!” I once overheard an oral surgeon in dental school utter those words to an unsuspecting dental student who had made that erroneous claim. Like that student, dentists often put procedures into categories and subsequently choose the ones […]
OPENING HEARTS AND BRIGHTENING SMILES. Guatemala is a land of wonder: a strikingly beautiful country both in geographical features and cultural landmarks. In this Central American nation (about the geographical size of Ohio), there are lush green rainforests, cone-shaped active volcanoes enveloped in misty clouds, bathtub-warm aqua-blue water bordered by sparkling white sand beaches, and […]
ARE PEDIATRIC, ORTHODONTIC AND TMD SERVICES COVERED? Dental practices and the public alike are navigating the maze of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (a.k.a.: “Obamacare”), and how its healthcare mandates relate to dentistry. As part of the ACA, dental care for children is cited as one of the “Ten Essential Health Benefits,” but the reality […]
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DENTISTS AND PATIENTS ALIKE. If you asked physicians to name one of the most common afflictions from which Americans suffer, chances are they will say “headaches.” Chronic headaches are an overwhelming problem in the United States, with an average of 40 percent of Americans reporting chronic headache pain on a daily basis.1,2 While […]
INSIGHTS GAINED FROM MY FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTION. My experience with full mouth reconstruction was amazing from the very start. When I made my decision to get my teeth done, I chose a dentist whose working style was very similar to my own professional style. After speaking with a close associate at Arrowhead Dental Lab, I […]
Mentor: a wise, trusted, experienced advisor; a consultant; one who advises or trains someone else (especially a younger colleague). In 1969, Assistant Dean Dr. Harvey Coleman asked me to teach at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry in Los Angeles, CA. Every Wednesday I drove an hour to the dental school and shared […]
Discovering Why We Do Things the Way We Do. One of the biggest obstacles to becoming a truly productive dentist is failing to ever question the way you do your work. As a dentist, it’s critical to analyze how and why you perform your dentistry in a certain way—from the way you run your offices […]
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