We found some great online articles featuring information on dental practice growth and wanted to pass them along. We know you're busy, so this is the "best of the best"...

Thanks to Spear Education, DentistryIQ, Dental Economics, and Dentaltown for sharing information included in these articles!

 

Back Again: Why Dental Patients Won’t Return For Six-Month Appointments

People do not comply to any of our recommendations (and it doesn’t matter if it is 2-, 3- or 6-month intervals, restorative needs, homecare protocol, or even showing up for their appointment on time) unless we speak to the patient’s “why”.

“Why should I spend more of my precious time and money doing what you are recommending?” When we are wanting change that is understood and that lasts, we have to address their emotional “why” first, then the rational “why” second.

How Do We Manage Our Internet-Informed Patients

We have all experienced the patient who arrives at our office armed to the teeth with printouts and factoids from websites like Google, WebMD, and other medical forums.

At best, the information provided by these sources can offer quick insights that allow us to understand the specific symptoms that the patient is feeling. At worst, these sites can act as echo chambers, worsening the uncertainties of these patients while providing equal doses of worst-case scenarios, veiled advertisements for specific products, or even outright misinformation.

Get A Grip On Your Future: 4 Ways To Take Control Of Your Dental Practice [Downloadable Guide Included]

No matter the reason, nearly all of the dentists we’ve worked with over the past 10+ years want to see more new patient growth in their practices. The common problem they often face is not knowing where to start growing their practice the right way.

The Ex-Factor: Patient Expectations vs. Experiences

A visit to the dentist is an experience for new patients. It can be a good experience, which usually means that the team and the doctor exceeded expectations. Or it could be a bad experience, which typically means the office fell short of the patient's expectations.

The key here is EXPECTATIONS. We have to be able to accurately identify what someone expects from our office before we can deliver the appropriate experience.

Technology Focus 2017: Building a Technology Platform by Dr. Gerald Bittner Jr., DDS

Dentists might not think of themselves this way, but they are the chief technology officers of their practices. You don’t need to be an expert on every single technical element involved with integrating technologies that improve efficiencies, or the patient experience, but you do need to have a vision and to understand what the right technology platform can do for your practice.