Levin on building your practice's value; Keller on Blind Spots; Doniger on new patients

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

As practices adapt to the new dental economy, competition for patients continues to grow. Consumers are spending more carefully, sometimes putting off treatment, and shopping around for lower fees. Patients want more value for their money. In his latest Practice Success tip, Dr. Roger P. Levin offers ways for building your practice's value.

To say that new dentists face a myriad of challenges in setting up their first practice is an understatement. There's hiring, financing, marketing -- and finding the patients to fill all those comfy new chairs! In her latest Blind Spots column, practice management consultant Jan Keller shares the advice established dentists would give if they could do it all over.

In her latest Solutions, Dr. Sheri Doniger discusses how to make potential new patients feel welcome. She notes that when patients feel as if they received an invitation to our practices, they feel as if they are joining a family of patients rather than becoming a number.

Toothbrushing is the most basic practice for maintaining oral health, but what is the best way to do it? A new analysis of brushing instructions provided by dental associations, research, textbooks, and toothbrush and dentifrice companies in 10 different countries found there is very little consensus. That should be of concern to dentistry, in the opinion of the study authors.

One common theme that runs through our three columns linked above is the need to find ways to attract and keep patients. Every practice makes mistakes, but it's how you acknowledge and learn from those that is one factor in how successful your practice will become.