A major decision for many new dentists and dental students is whether to start their own practice, work as an associate or start as an employee dentist for a practicing dentist, group practice or corporate group. But how do new dentists decide which option is best for them?
Author: Ryder Waldron DDS
Leadership in dentistry includes being able to make difficult decisions and effectively communicating those choices to all team members. As a leader, how would you react to the following four common dilemmas?
Patients are the most important part of your practice. According to a review published by BioMed Central Oral Health, patient-centric care may lead to higher patient satisfaction, more positive treatment outcomes and better overall health.
Sometimes the pace of a dental appointment feels like you are moving at the speed of light. After a health history review, X-rays and cleaning, a dentist’s individual time with a patient can be limited. We must be ready to use the valuable moments we have for patient empowerment and education.
Chronic diseases not only affect senior dental patients’ overall health, but may also have negative effects on their oral health. A key part of geriatric dentistry is helping elderly patients maintain a healthy mouth when they are coping with a systemic condition.
Marketing your practice to attract patients and convincing them to return to you for quality care are two distinct challenges. One key part of patient retention is patient satisfaction, but it can be a hard metric to measure.
Dentin hypersensitivity affects the enjoyment of daily activities and quality of life, and many patients aren’t aware that it is a manageable condition. As dental professionals, we can be at the forefront of patient education and management of dentin hypersensitivity, and make positive changes to the lives of our patients.
For years, lasers have been promoted as the future of dentistry. But before pursuing a laser dentistry certification, it is important for you to evaluate your skills and practice vision to determine if this type of technology could benefit you, your practice and your patients.
Donating your time and expertise to a volunteer dental clinic can be one of the most rewarding aspects of dentistry. It can also be intimidating at times. I have had opportunities to volunteer at a variety of different clinics and schools, and it has given me the chance to meet some selfless dental professionals, to treat some extremely grateful patients and to help underserved people in my community.
Modern patients want not just treatment for dental problems, but forward-thinking care for their Whole Mouth Health. Here’s how can you best care for these motivated patients.
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