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• Dental visits are a good habit to start (again)- “According to the Delta Dental Oral Health and Well-Being Survey, most Americans visit the dentist at least once a year, and those who do are 37 percent more likely to report their oral health as good or better versus those who infrequently find themselves in a dentist’s chair,” says Dr. Bill Kohn, DDS, and vice president of dental science and policy for Delta Dental Plans Association. “Still, a lot of Americans take a break from routine dentist visits at some point in their lives.”
• What do you say to 'Insurance won't cover that'?- When patients say, "I can't afford it," "My insurance won't cover it," "I need t speak with my spouse," "I'll do it when I win the lottery," "Stuff at work is to crazy right now," "Can't do it now because my son/daughter needs to finish with braces (dance, sports or fill in the blank)," and/or "If it isn't broken, then I'm not fixing it,"  what do you say in return?
• Eliminate the blood, sweat, and tears of budgeting for your dental office- We are still in the first quarter of the New Year, and it is not too late to set up a budget for your practice to help guide the spending for the rest of the year. Dental practice turnarounds begin with a business analysis Get your 2013 profit and loss statement from your accountant or print your own from your QuickBooks ledger. Take the totals of each of the categories, and make a list of the expenses categories that may see an increase this year.
• Overcoming Fee Reluctance- Imagine the type of dentistry that you most love doing. It could be cosmetic implants, reconstructive, orthodontics, or operative. Now, estimate what a typical total treatment fee for that type of dentistry would be, including your fee and any fees required by specialists who would be involved with the case. In the space below, write that number down.
• The Future of Dental Reimbursement- Solo practice is built on a fee-for-service model which encourages “the more restorative dentistry, the better.” An essential element in this model is the hygiene program which, in many cases, acts as a reservoir for future restorative care. But now evidence is emerging which suggests that some patients don’t need to see their dentist more than once a year if they aren't at risk.
• Fear of Change and Words- Part of my training and education has been with reputable professionals on how the mind works. The mind governs how you see the world, and how you see the world determines your actions and your way of being in the world. Given dentists are dealing with an unknown future, their minds are responding in a particular way.
• Notice Greatness- Thank patients for arriving on time for their appointments. Imagine a patient getting up early, arranging to be away from work, or fighting traffic back-ups to get to your office on time… only to have their feat taken for granted. Whether by saying “Thanks,” noting that they’er 10 minutes early, or acknowledging it in some other way, the front desk coordinator and others should let patients know their punctuality has been noticed… and appreciated.