News FLASH……….People want whiter teeth!
A recent survey in USA Today asked the following question; “What would you like to change about your smile?” 85% of the people surveyed said they wanted whiter teeth. While most dental offices provide whitening services, very few offices are anywhere near their whitening potential. The information in this blog post will provide three specific solutions to increase your whitening.
Over 25 years ago, I was introduced to a study commissioned by the Eastman Kodak Company. This study is worth revisiting today given the rising office overhead costs in dentistry today. One of the reasons why overhead is increasing is that your fees have not kept up with the rising costs of providing the care. There are many variables involved in setting your fees and only you can determine an appropriate fee schedule, but here is something to think about. 
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Last week we received the following note from a patient:
“You are an artist, not a dentist in my eyes! Fantastic job and thank you very much. You and your team have made this experience so enjoyable, that I don’t have a fear of coming to see “the dentist” anymore. For years, I would have to talk myself into it weeks before, or as you can see, not go at all. After the first visit with you and your team, you all made me feel so welcome and your genuine concern made me at ease and I immediately trusted you on that first visit. I knew I would be safe and you were there to help me. What an amazing job you have done changing my perception of dentists and my fantastic new upper grill, and can’t wait for you to finish your masterpiece when we take care of my bottom teeth next year.”
When I first started in the dental profession someone wrote the book titled, How to Have the $100,000 Practice. Now, with inflation being what it is there are many speakers and consultants giving courses on how to have the $Million Dollar Practice, as if that achievement represents some sort of holy grail. While the $Million Dollar Practice (or greater!) might indeed be a meaningful goal for you, here are six specific objectives that I would suggest have even more relevance for you:
Perhaps the biggest challenge we have in dentistry is creating value for the care provided. People will pay for things they value and likewise, patients will keep appointments for the things they value. While there can be many reasons for cancellations and no-shows, at the most fundamental level the reason patients cancel or no-show appointments is that they really don’t value the care they receive.
I know this sounds harsh, but it is a fundamental truth. Creating value should be a continuous exercise in your practice where you and your team members are constantly striving to help patients understand the value of great oral health.
“You train people how to treat you.”
-Dr. Phil
Many dental offices are reporting that it is more difficult than ever to keep the schedule filled. Patients can be more likely today to cancel or fail their appointments. However it does not have to be this way! You can train your patients to value their appointments in your office.
“Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.”
-Coach John Wooden
Holding a very brief team meeting at the beginning of every day is absolutely necessary if your practice is going to achieve peak performance!! I cannot emphasize this point enough.
Every successful practice I have ever worked with not only conducts a morning huddle each and every morning, but they have mastered the morning huddle as a means of making the most out of every day.
