Do you have the rejected dentist syndrome? Edited and updated on October 15, 2020. When we ask dentists the question “if we looked into the mouths of everyone in the population, would we see more under-treatment or over-treatment?”. The resounding answer is generally “under-treatment”. If that is indeed true, it is valuable to explore […]
Tag Archives: dental patient communication
Think for a moment about somebody you really trust. It might be a family member or close friend. It might be a professional person such as a doctor or an accountant. Whoever it is, it is likely that you have some sort of history with that person. Over time you have observed them in action […]
Ever have this experience? You thought the appointment went really well; the patient was listening, they were smiling, they were nodding, they accepted treatment. You thought they went to the front desk and made an appointment, only to find out later that they didn’t. Or worse still, they made the appointment, but failed to attend. […]
Edited and updated on October 15, 2020. When dentists offer treatment options, they do so with the patient’s optimum oral health in mind. It seems logical that a person should choose the best option as determined by their health professional. Even though there is a cost differential, it should make sense if it is the […]
Most patients aren’t really concerned about their missing tooth. It’s long gone and there’s no pain. But as dentists, we know that it’s effects are causing more problems. So, we recommend a bridge or an implant. When we tell our patient “I recommend an implant” what is their typical response? “How much is that going […]
Every now and again a new way of thinking causes a paradigm shift in our society. We’ve seen this in technology over the past 25 years. Encyclopedias, typewriters, DVDs have been replaced by google search, text messages, and Netflix. What used to be ‘normal’ is now no longer useful. What used to be impossible is […]
The ProblemHere’s what most skilled dentists do: They bond well with the patient and develop rapport. They spend a lot of time in the exam explaining the treatment that they recommend. They get the patient back for an extra consultation and have prepared a an optimal treatment plan. The net result: if the patient is […]
These days, most dentists and practices are keen to explore ways to get new patients through the front door. It’s now commonplace to spend big dollars on advertising and marketing your services, boosting SEO, running special offers on various platforms, or working out ways to encourage existing patients to refer their family and friends. And […]
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” [Warren Buffett] A question I often pose to a new dentist I am working with is: What is the most valuable thing you have to offer your patients? Some dentists say excellent clinical skills, […]
Edited and updated on October 15, 2020. Depending on the type of practice you run, you probably see about 15 patients every day. That’s 15 conversations about next steps and potential treatment options; which means 15 opportunities for you (or your front desk coordinator) to hear those four words: “I’ll think about it”. At first, […]
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