Week in Review: 6 DSO trends | 4 metrics you should know | A history-making cyst

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

So how is the fourth quarter treating you and your business? It's certainly been a year that none of us will ever forget, and as it comes to a close, we are seeing new and unexpected effects from the COVID-19 disruption in many dental practices.

That includes the people you work with every day and their shrinking numbers. One thing I hear about from dentists every week is the struggle to fill vacancies in their team. Data released this week from the ADA's Health Policy Institute confirm that hiring is a big problem for many practices, no matter which part of the U.S. you call home.

Yes, many dental practices are currently looking to hire a new team member. Earlier this week, consultant Lynne Leggett shared her advice on what is needed for a successful interview and hiring process. She also shared one of the biggest mistakes she sees dental practices make when they are ready to hire a new team member.

Of course, having the right team is part of running a successful business. Another part is knowing which aspects of your business are doing well -- and which ones need some work. That's the focus of one of our most popular articles from the past week, written by Curtis Marshall. Using the power of actionable data, practices that review and understand four important metrics have a much better chance of a successful 2021, regardless of what new uncertainties may lie ahead, he believes.

Speaking of what may be coming in our industry, dental service organizations (DSOs) have continued to evolve through the years, and that certainly includes what has happened in 2020. How did the COVID-19 business disruption affect DSOs, and what lies ahead for them as the days tick toward 2021? Dr. Anthony Stefanou gave his view and offered advice about what is happening and could happen in the DSO space.

Finally, on the clinical side, a fascinating story earlier this week detailed a 5 x 3-cm mandibular structure and eight teeth that were found inside an asymptomatic ovarian dermoid cyst removed from a 15-year-old girl in New York. This was according to a case report published online and it is believed to be the first reported case of a cyst containing teeth within a mandibular-like bone in a pediatric patient.

As always, I am grateful for the time you spend reading DrBicuspid.com. We know your time is valuable and we appreciate you spending part of your weekend with us.