Profits and perils; concierge dentistry

Dear DrBicuspid.com member:

Supplements, nutraceuticals, et al., are popular with patients. If something "natural" will fix your ills, why bother with traditional medicine? But as we discovered last week, supplements can pose serious complications during dental procedures.

This week, we look at dentists who are actually promoting supplements. The reason? "You can improve the health and well-being of your patients and increase your revenue substantially," says Alphonse Matrone, D.M.D., a Scranton, PA., dentist. Matrone's angle? Creating custom nutraceuticals based on analyzing a patient's urine samples. But does the technique, um, hold water? Read Senior Editor Laird Harrison's report here.

The "Four Seasons" Practice

You want to talk profit? Forget nutraceuticals. Upscale dentistry just may be the ticket -- if you're in the right market and if you're willing to radically rethink your practice. Concierge-cum-spa dentistry is on the rise, and with it, dental profits. But there are perils along the way, and an approach that works in one market (like San Diego) may not work in another (like Minnesota). Issues a dentist must confront include: How do you attract the right kind of patient? What kinds of extras do you offer patients? How should you remodel your office? And how must you remodel, retrain, and if need be, recast your office staff, to offer patients the complete experience? For real-world tips, war stories, and more, read Dan Tynan's piece here.

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