Winter 2002
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FEATURED ARTICLES:

The Value of Media-Generated Referrals

Ergonomic Considerations in Placing Technology
in the Dental Office

Attitude is Everything


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The Value of Media-Generated Referrals

By Woody Oakes, DDS, FAES
CEO/President, Excellence in Dentistry

New patient flow is the lifeblood of a thriving practice. Today's successful dentist must be not only a skilled clinician, but also have a good understanding of how to attract and keep new patients (or hire someone who does). Since only about half this country's adult population visits the dentist regularly, plenty of new patients exist. The problem many dentists have is they don't know how to reach this large segment of the population, bring them into the practice, and convert them into long-term patients of record who happily refer others for treatment.
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Ergonomic Considerations in Placing Technology
in the Dental Office

By Lorne Lavine, DMD
Founder/President, Dental Technology Consultants

The high-tech dental office has undergone a number of changes recently. While it used to be considered "cutting-edge" merely to have a computer in the practice, this is no longer the case. The development of intraoral cameras, digital radiographs, patient educations systems and cosmetic imaging has expanded the scope of services the typical dentist can provide. However, there is a problem that most dentists continue to face - having a limited amount of space for new equipment in the dental operatory.
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Attitude is Everything

By Patty Spannagel
Senior Member Consultant, 1-800-DENTIST ®

The initial step in creating a "wow" experience is taking the time to make a good first impression. Attitude is the primary contributor to this step. It's not easy to put on a happy face and focus on a potential patient's needs when other phone lines are ringing, a stack of insurance forms is piled on your desk and you have three patients standing in front of you to appoint and dismiss. Suffice it to say that competent multi-tasking requires a positive attitude. Patients on the phone have no way of knowing what you're facing because their only concerns are their own dental needs. Add that to the fact that many a caller's attitude toward dentistry is one of apprehension, fear and concern about cost. Our attitude about patients' needs can make a big difference in scheduling an appointment. We have all felt the effects of positive, negative and indifferent demeanors, and we know that a difference in attitude can play an important role in our experience. This applies not only to the dental office, but in other situations as well.
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