Accelerate My Practice Blog

How to have a successful hygiene exam with your dental patient.

Do you ever walk into your hygiene room with your last patient still on your mind and then wonder what is going on with this patient? Do you think this patient can sense this? Many doctors approach us about improving their case acceptance rate, and this step in the process is key to success. If you don't have a great handoff of information during your hygiene check, you will most likely have a hygiene fumble and not see the outcome you are looking for!

I see too many offices where the doctor and the team aren't quite on the same page regarding clinical diagnosis. Now, we all know that it is only the doctors job to diagnose dentistry, but let's face it, every hygienist is prepping the patient with what the doctor will see. How do you suppose your hygienist feels if she sets you up to tell this patient they need a crown and then you walk in and tell the patient, they don't need it, or you will watch it? The answer is they feel undermined and will probably stop setting you up for success. Not to be malicious, but because they were embarrassed. The key to success is being on the same page.

How to build good relationships with your dental patients quickly?

If I were to give my overall analysis of Dentistry; I would sum it up by stating that it is definitely a relationship Business.  In order to Develop and Foster those relationships within the Dental Practice; we must be cognizant of our goal.  The Goal of the entire Dental Team must be to offer every Patient a "WOW" experience.  This must be the "Golden Rule" with every patient, every time, without any exception.  Let's look at the opportunities within your Dental Practice to achieve this goal.  The Primary foundation on which you built your practice was to have a "thriving (not just surviving) " patient first practice that promotes overall oral healthcare throughout the patient's lifetime.  One opportunity to accomplish that Patient First goal is communication.  This is a pertinent step for every Team Member.  It typically begins with that first phone call prior to the appointment.  We must "offer that WOW experience " from the beginning.  This imperative time is the initial start of "the patient relationship."  There are many ways within your Dental Practice to continue fostering that first experience.  However, a consistent method within your practice is highly recommended. 

Today we discuss Napoleon Hill's book, Think and Grow Rich. To be clear, when Napoleon Hill discusses being rich, he is more often referring to the riches of life (happiness, great relationship, successful professions). All of these things of course added up to financial success. I didn't want anyone who hasn't read the book to assume it was all financial success only. It is far deeper and profound in thought than just making more money!!

One of the first principles discussed is having a "definiteness of purpose". I think this applies perfectly to dental practice success. Too many offices don't really have a purpose outside of seeing patients and restoring decay. The most successful ones, by contrast, really seem to have a greater purpose in what they do and why they do it.

As we all sit and reflect on last year and dream about bigger and better things this year for our dental offices, it is interesting to look backwards and move on from the past year.  Are the Holidays relaxing for you or stressful?  For many, they can be very stressful and can increase anxiety and thus start causing self-doubt and decrease self-confidence.  Is this how it was for you?

To help deal with all of this stress and anxiety many deal with, I suggest you get very focused on what is important to you.  Many tell me that they want to grow their dental practice.  When I ask why, they all tell me "to grow profit."  When I ask what that will give them, I often stump them.  What is really important to you?  Growing your income is only a vehicle to something.  Is it more time off?  Is it more vacations, more charitable giving?  Is it to support a loved one or send a child to college?  I think once you are focused on what is really important to you, you will find it much easier to work toward that goal with the motivation of sending your child to college, or having more free time, or more vacations, or retirement, etc.