Monday

Midwinter Dental Meeting in St. Paul Minnesota

The Northern Dental Alliance will be at the St. Paul (MN) Midwinter Meeting. Our consultants can help you practice fearless dentistry!

Date: January 15, 2010
Minnesota and Twin Cities area dentists look for the NDA banner and booth at the show.

Talk with...
Invite the NDA to speak at your dental study club, conference or event!
Contact The Northern Dental Alliance or a NDA member.

Wednesday

Thanksgiving Food For Thought - Dental Marketing Reprieve

Time to eat and talk turkey. Tomorrow we have a date with the dinner table. Friday we have a date with the mall. Soon we will party till we ring-a-ding in the new year.

There is something WRONG with this picture, much like how dental marketing is unflatteringly employed. You and I need to talk frankly about how dentistry should be presented to the consumer to affect a positive and productive result.

It is time to change the rules. You need to avoid overindulgence on supposedly simple million-patients-in-a-month, fairy tale spun marketing tripe. Stop bingeing on super secret 100% money back dental advertising turkey droppings.

Following 'all the rules' and practices of yore vidal sassoon without serious reflection will too often mean ending up going in the wrong direction.

Thanksgiving dinner can turn into tummy tuck redux. Holiday shopping can trample the reason for the season. Tipping a few too many glasses of bubbly back has caused a staggering number of people to hear sirens sound rather new year's party horns blare.

Instead of following other dentists off the cliff of same old outlandish brain-locked marketing schlock, get real and start building an integrated, consistent, scalable communication strategy. It will take some hard work and even cost more money than you think makes sense. Of course, this cheaper by mutton headed philosophy might sound like something dentists like you have heard from patients.

Stay away from the easy and the cheap, anyone can do it, buy another lottery ticket solution. Following these tired and "always about money off your valuable expertise" rules will take you down a path where you will meet patients of the same perspective.

How can it cost that much doc? Why can't marketing/dentistry be easier and done without a lot of thinkin? Can't I just watch a training video, steady the marketing drill on my own and take care of that tooth back there? Oops. Ouch! Darn. That dental marketing without a net thing is more dangerous than I suspected Skipper.

You could ask me to show you how you can actually build your practice, increase revenues, bring in more new patients and help more people get the care they need. Or not.

Just wait till things turn around. Sit there at the table and keep telling yourself eating all this food is a good thing. That some day you will get up and do some jumping jacks and calisthenics to tighten up your belly full of yesteryears when things were easier and money flowed like milk shakes and honey ham.

But when you realize no one uses the words calisthenics or does jumping jacks anymore. And figure out the milk toast selling dental marketers are shaking you down. Regain consciousness from the ham handed money scam you been hit with. Let's talk turkey about raising some revenues so you can improve the dental health of more consumers instead of navel oranges grazing.

Leave the lameness of last year's simpleton marketing ideas behind. Flush the toilet of no revenue movement. Whether it is virtual reality or real world advertising techniques, make a pact with yourself to do things in the pragmatic, continual build mode while utilizing concepts that help real people make real decisions about dentistry.

Promoting dentistry like its a sale on turkey franks at the big box grocers is detrimental to the health of your practice and us consumers. Frankly, I recommend beefing up your marketing strategy with data reality developed through comprehensive marketing tracking. I even have some grade A prime steroid infused data that will whet your "prove it to me" appetite.

Here is something the slick marketing their magic tricks group won't tell you - even in their super secret dental marketing reports... "It ain't easy to get it right, partner." And most fail because they thought it was easy and were shocked into backing off.

Of course, there is an "easy" part. It is in how THEY take your money and then move on to the next dentist waiting with fork in hand.

These marketers sell you smile whitening gel when you have periodontitis. They pull your teeth when they should have performed a root canal. Place a sold sign on the London crown and bridge when implants would have conserved even healthy teeth of a Brit.

So. Before you get sold a bill goodies again make sure their idea does not reek of LIMITED TIME ONLY marketing halitosis.

If these marketers have done so much good with their reports and deals of the century - why does this STATISTIC remind me of the movie by Dr. Even Steven Cling : "Caries" - the dental visit horror report.

"Overall, there was no change in the percentage of the population
with a dental visit from 1996 to 2004." (SeniorJournal.com)

Looks like my time is up. See you next week. Same bat channel. Same lame puns. Blame tame nuns. Game day runs. Claims son's name. Hum gains fame. Gun came framed.

Okay... it has gotten to be too late again. Sorry about that. Good night.

Happy Tank Living. A Marry Billie Hollandaise to You. Lappy New Beers. Dunk Murray, He My Pappy. Just scream when it starts to hurt.

Dick Chwalek
• Dental Marketing Coach • Dentistry Communication Consultant
CALL 866-453-1026

Thursday

Dentists: Can A Lease Negotiator Can Help You?

> Dental Office Leasing Article By George Vaill

Bryn Mawr Dentist Bill Deal had a problem. He'd found a terrific location for his new dental office in this Pennsylvania town, and negotiated what he thought were good rental terms.

The office space would be delivered "as-is" but the landlord was to give him an allowance of $30,000 for renovations. He thought the allowance would be sufficient and was about to sign the lease when he became concerned about how far he could stretch $30,000.

Upon expressing his concerns to his dental equipment specialist, Bill was urged to contact a nationally recognized dental office lease negotiator. "They specialize in negotiating office leases for dentists all over the country." Bill was told "Why not give them a call?" So Bill contacted George Vaill of Winchester, Massachusetts to see if he could help.

Bill explained his circumstances to George and asked him how he could negotiate without knowledge of local market conditions. George explained that his services are about the lease negotiation process - not about how much the rent is on Main Street in Peoria - and that he had successfully negotiated leases for dentist all over the country because of his knowledge of landlord needs.

His concerns satisfied, Bill decided to hire George. George said he’d be glad to help and set out to establish his negotiation strategy. His first task was to educate himself as to Bill’s negotiation goals, the condition of the space, the occupancy status of the property and the history of the negotiations to date.

Next, George spoke to Bill’s contractor to learn what would be required to bring the property up to an acceptable delivery condition. George then spoke with the landlord to understand his perspective and to learn what the landlord’s needs and attitude were. Armed with all this information, George was able to determine how much leverage he could expect to exercise and then develop a negotiation posture and strategy to maximize that leverage.

Once the negotiation strategy was in place, George called the landlord and discussed Bill’s concerns. Describing the truly poor condition of the building and spelling out in detail the cost estimates for the work that was required to even to bring the building up to a reasonable starting position.

The persuasive techniques George employed with the landlord were so effective that, within three days of being contacted by Bill Deal, his lease advisor had renegotiated Bill's rental deal, persuading the landlord to triple the renovation allowance to $90,000!

Bill was thrilled. Not only had George saved Bill $60,000 and crafted a more beneficial lease, but he had made Bill's life much easier during a complex negotiation with which he had little experience.

Unusual experience you think? Quite the contrary. This dentist's experience is typical of the result many others report after they have engaged a lease negotiation specialist. More and more dentists are coming to the realization that they need lease negotiation assistance from a professional. Because it is not just a casual arrangement about dollars and dates, negotiating a lease effectively requires specialized knowledge and skill.

A lease expert applies in-depth knowledge of lease concepts and of what landlords need employing negotiation skills borne of years of experience to level the playing field with landlords who negotiate leases every day for a living.

Their involvement eliminates the acute disadvantage experienced by dentists who attempt to negotiate a complex and unfamiliar contract unassisted and leaves them free to concentrate their time and energies, providing dental care without intrusion from the lease negotiation process.

The return on a modest investment in the services of an expert includes a considerable saving of time and money and elimination of most of the hassles and anxiety inherent in the process.

© George Vaill 2001
34 Edward Drive, Winchester, MA 01890

George D. Vaill is president of George Vaill Dental Office Lease Negotiations. He specializes in negotiating the economic elements of office leases for dentists throughout the United States. Additionally, George reviews, and in many cases renegotiates, leases as part of dental practice transitions.
Call George
800-340-2701
Visit

More Dental Consultants

Sunday

Multi-Million Dollar Dental Office Results

How do you achieve the increased dentistry production levels your practice needs to help patients stay healthy? What is holding your dental office revenues in a stall mode?

Start managing success with the right plan. Claudia Walters will make sure you are 'scripted' for big time results!

Whether it is case presentation, hygiene production, team cohesion, or scheduling effectiveness, CW Dental Consulting has the tools to make your patients and office the healthiest it can be.

Michigan Dentist Client Testimonial:

Dr. Rita: "I am writing to give you some background on Claudia Walters and her abilities to help practices map out successful strategies on all levels, from the new patient experience to accounts receivable and far beyond. She took my practice from 35K per month to more than 180K now. We hope to do 2 million this year. The principles she and I set down help us to continue to thrive in a bad Michigan economy. We take no HMO's or PPO's and continue to get 20 to 30 new patients each month with our internal marketing and word of mouth.

Thanks to Claudia we have a perio recall system that keeps three full time and two part time hygienists busy. We employ a part-time hygiene recall coordinator that spends 20 hours a week making phone calls to patients that are due or over due. We have an extensive chain of command that begins with our Front Desk Manager and her three front desk co-workers that do everything according to our front desk manual put together from Claudia's scripts and financial arrangement protocols.

We do a daily fifteen minute huddle that reviews our previous days work, today's goal and patients, as well as the entire week ahead to make sure we are all on the same page. We do a weekly meeting, every other is a team meeting and then each department is arranged on alternating weeks so every area is addressed every 5 weeks. Claudia was instrumental in developing our present day blueprinting and color coding our appointment book (now computer), so that we were better able to meet our daily production goals just by plugging patients into our daily blueprint. It makes for a much better day, week, and month when we spread our needs over each day instead of the haphazard ways of the past. She was able to help us implement a successful strategy for payment options so that patients are able to choose one to four options that allows them to afford and receive the care and treatment recommended to them.

I could go on, but I believe Claudia can take any practice and guide them to be more efficient and organized from the front desk to everyday huddles. Again, she has helped many and can do so for anyone willing to listen and learn."

Find out more about Claudia's services for dentists and dental offices at CWDentalConsulting.com.

=====
Blog entry by Dick Chwalek

Thursday

Dental Lab Tip: Predictable Results with Digital Photography

Communication between dentist and dental laboratory is a critical element in achieving a desired restorative and esthetic outcome. Visual images are a key part of this communication and provide the dental technician with valuable information about the patient.

Photos not only serve as a practical case tool but also allow the laboratory technician to have a better connection with the patient and a higher level of involvement with the dentistry case. Images of the actual dental patient versus a stone model, especially in an anterior case, are a key component needed in the fabrication process.

The digital camera can sometimes be challenging for some dentists and dental practices, but with the proper training and commitment of the staff, the camera can become a part of the everyday routine. Using a digital camera dedicated to dental photography is recommended, single reflex cameras seem to be preferred for producing high quality images.

Although each type of camera has its own unique features and many guidelines to follow, here are some quick tips to remember:
  • It is important that your camera is properly adjusted to the optimal settings suited for dental photography
  • Hold selected shade tabs up to incisal edges of teeth so that the tab numbers can be seen in the photo. Photos should be taken of stump shade as well (for all ceramic)
  • Along with close up photos, also provide full face natural photos – smiling and resting position (for incisal edge positioning)
  • Upload the photos to your computer and store them in a folder that is easily accessible
  • Email the photos to Renstrom dental lab by attaching them as a file and in the message part include the patient's name and doctor’s name.
Photos can be emailed to randi@renstrom.com
  • Lighting is the most important element – There should be an accurate amount of light exposure that displays detail throughout the image. – electronic flash
  • Have a good quality lens on your camera –consider the working distance and a close up lens with reproduction numbers for standardization
  • Mirrors should be used for intra oral views – the mirror should be stored at room temp and brought to body temp at time of photos, also clean and dry prior to each picture
  • Unobtrusive retractors should be used for proper retraction- to avoid a reflection use plastic vs. metal
For more information on digital photography or hands on assistance, contact Renstrom today!

Tuesday

An Open Letter To Dentists Who Want More From Their Vocation, Business, Life, Expertise...

  • Based On An Actual Client Correspondence
Dear Dentists,

I came up with eight general goals/categories to improve and enhance your hourly, daily, monthly, yearly and lifelong success quotient. Each one is derived from issues, concerns, or logjams - you, your spouse, your team and/or I saw and discovered in our recent interviews.

Rather than identify where someone is doing or not doing something, it makes sense at this early stage to take an overall, goal-focused approach. Then as we have the team consults - we can address specific processes and areas of concern as they relate to these goals.

Plus I need time to review the team interviews, and produce a report on them, which will be included in my monthly fees. In a couple of days – we will schedule the first team session as soon as you are available.

By using the ‘goals format’, we can proceed without disrupting dental team cohesiveness. No one is put on the spot to defend their role, responsibilities, and job critique. We will directly address specific concerns - just not in a group session. It will depend on how things go--each team member's participation level, etc.

FORMAT of FIRST CONSULT: The goals we develop, together with some examples of how you/team are already making strides, bringing up some specific areas of concern (without naming names) to show the reality of what was discussed and give everyone an ‘assignment’ so it is not mostly about me talking and talking and all of us meeting and meeting.

1. Family First – Success Is Possible Only When Priorities Can Be Honored*

2. Time Management – Higher Production Requires A Targeted Focus

3. Put Money (Fees, Cost, Etc.) in Its Place – HIDDEN BEHIND Value!

4. Think/Find Solutions – Because blame has few positive attributes; the obvious one is that blame rhymes with lame

5. New Idea Success – Prep Everyone First, Let Simmer, Then Delegate Planning, and Finally, Implement with the knowledge that changes will be needed and a new direction will be taken in (possibly in multiple areas).

6. Total Team Cohesion – Consistency, Documentation and Review (Trust & Verify)

7. Facing Reality/Challenges – Even When Some "Thing" Can't Change - Improvements Are Possible

8. Specific Goals – Achieving A $5,000+ Per Month/Per Employee Improvement How to achieve: Rethinking Old Habits (personal, patient, referral, vendors, etc.), Process/Systems Improvements and More Connected Communication

NOTE: the first goal is not just about the discussions we had about your needing to be home more - but also that your team is very family oriented - and anything that conflicts with their family time - drains them of energy you need to be successful. Basically, if we can't improve the priority - day in and day out reality - of this part of their work experience - the other things we do are probably not going to get the level of results we want either.

Dentists who want to achieve a higher level of success need to go beyond the normal make money at the cost of value concepts. Your dental expertise matters more than the money you can make from it. The patient’s oral health has more value than the money you can glean from them.

Show real concern with a consistent level of effective communication. The more they understand about the value you offer, the more likely they will increase their appreciation for the higher level services you offer.

The consumer is wary of “being sold” so dentists must go the extra mile to reach out to them proactively and strategically rather than merely as another service sold at a discount. Expertise has value; presented in a way that lessens its value only leads to more wariness and distrust.

Consumers are not afraid of large fees or high costs – they are distrustful of any slippage in your resolve to justify the recommendations you present. Trust in what you have to offer by being profitably honest about the potential your dentistry can achieve.

Sincerely, Dick Chwalek

I also did some quick searches for various value focused articles to show how common the idea of presenting value is. Dentists need understand how it applies to their services and expertise. While these articles are not dental focused, they provide a perspective on the 'value' of the value presentation.

Choosing a Dentist: Are You Looking At Their Dental Training?

Dentists who regularly improve their skills and learn new techniques are able to offer their patients the level of care they deserve. When you are choosing a dentist for any type of procedure, for your family, and just for ongoing preventive care, their level of expertise matters.

Review their website, ask their team, and look at how their colleagues compare. See if they are regularly updating their training, get them to show you the results they have achieved, and make sure you know what their patients have said about the care they have received.

While a nice and friendly dentist is one criteria to consider, how healthy, comfortable and confident you feel after treatment has much more long term valuable.

No dentist is perfect. No dental treatment is completely guaranteed. No dentistry training makes everything right. However, we as dental consumers, can take more time to determine if we are getting appropriate, updated, and comprehensive dentistry.

Michigan Dentist Completes Yearlong Implant Fellowship

Dr. Brian Klym of Northwood Dental recently completed the yearlong Fellowship training program at the Misch Implant Institute. This comprehensive hands-on program is considered the gold standard of implant treatment training.

Created in 1984, the world-renowned Misch Implant Institute helps set and elevate the level of care in implant dentistry using a hands-on approach. Dentists attend specific classes on diagnosis, implant dentistry planning and patient evaluation, and all phases of implant treatment. Each course includes lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions for both removable and fixed prosthodontics.

Dr. Klym started his implant training many years ago, receiving a fellowship from the ICOI in 1998 (International Congress of Oral Implantologist). His patients are receiving a high level of care and his continued implant training will help insure long-term, healthy results for his patients.

Brian P. Klym, DDS, is the owner of Northwood Dental in Traverse City. He has DOCS certification—an oral conscious sedation program, which means his patients can expect comfortable and anxiety-free treatment. To learn more about Dr. Klym, his background, the Northwood team, and the comprehensive services he provides, visit NorthwoodDentalTC.com.

CONTACT INFO
Northwood Dental
Brian P. Klym D.D.S.
10748 E. Traverse Highway
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
(231) 947-7202
www.NorthwoodDentalTC.com

=======================================

While Dr. Klym is one choice for you if you're a Traverse City area resident, review all your options. It is your health, your smile, and your well being.

Dentists who want to communicate with the consumer in a proactive, positive and purposeful way, can Google a dental consultant. If that does not work for you, contact me.

Sincerely,
Dick Chwalek
866-453-1026 Ext 251

Wednesday

Garden City Dentist Sponsors Trade In Your Treats

Dr. Nancy Tobin of Garden City New York will pay local residents and patients one dollar per pound for their extra Halloween candy. She will then send our troops the treats residents drop off to Operation Gratitude.


Support The Troops, Improve Your Child’s Dental Health
Bring In Your Halloween Candy
on Tuesday, November 3rd From 2pm - 6pm
Will Donate Your Treats To Our Troops!

Tobin Dental Care Welcomes You!
For every pound of wrapped candy, children will receive $1.00 (5lb. limit). They will also receive a Firefly toothbrush and be entered into a drawing to win a 8GB ipod Nano!
  • Open to children 2 to 12 years of age.
  • All children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cash will be paid on first 5 pounds of candy per child.
  • One drawing entry for each pound of candy donated.
520 Franklin Ave., Suite 126
Garden City, NY 11530
For More Information, Please Call Us
516.747.2535

Sincerely,

We would also like to thank the Garden City News for their promotion of Treats for the Troops.

From cosmetic dentistry and dental implants to preventive care and tooth saving treatments, Dr. Tobin and her team are ready to help you achieve exceptional dental health.

Friday

Vanity Numbers: See How They Power Up Your Dental Marketing.

One Tool = 3 Steps to Grow Your Dental Practice

> by Laura Noonan

-- Presented by NicheDentalCollaborate.com

Looking for a way to cost-effectively boost your number of patients, billings and profits?

Look no further than the telephone on your desk. The first challenge is to get that phone to ring. To do that you need to advertise. And, to get the most out of your advertising you should include one pivotal tool. One tool that will generate better response rates to advertising and brings in more calls – a toll-free vanity 800 number.

Just look at some of the well-known businesses that currently use vanity 800 numbers…1-800-FLOWERS and 1-800-CONTACTS. These brands successfully relay to consumers what they sell and who they are, and they are now the “go to” companies for flowers and contact lenses.


By selecting a vanity 800 number that makes sense for your dental practice you are scaling one of the highest hurdles of increased ad response and effective lead generation. Numbers like 1-800-NEW-GRIN or 1-800-NEW-TEETH tell people exactly what you’re offering them. And, because it is unforgettable, a mnemonic phone number makes it effortless for people to contact your practice for implants, veneers, and other advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

Now, once you have that powerful advertising response mechanism, the THREE simple steps to growing your dental practice fall into place as the vanity 800 number does the work for you.

Step One – Improve your advertising performance:
You only have seconds to make an impression and words are much easier for people to remember than a string of ten random numbers. When you use a vanity 800 number in all of your advertising and marketing you’ll see 30-60 percent more incoming leads.

In fact, a recent study from InfoSurv, Inc. shows that vanity numbers improve consumer recall in print advertising by 84 percent compared to a numeric number. And, when used in radio and television vanity numbers yield a nine times higher recall rate than a numeric phone number.

So, by using a vanity 800 number in your advertising you’re including a built-in direct-response tool that will bring more leads to your dental practice. Just make sure you have a good offer and strong message – something that will encourage prospects to call you.

Step Two – Capture the details of your incoming calls
All of your dental office advertising efforts are incomplete if you’re not analyzing how well your marketing efforts are performing. Vanity 800 numbers come with real-time call tracking reports that provide data on your incoming calls – what days and times are busiest, and where your callers are located.

Tracking reports also provide caller names, addresses, and average home values and household incomes. You’ll discover where your best prospects live, and where those customers are that may need some extra attention and incentive to commit to a consultation and procedure.

This information is immensely helpful when you develop targeted mail and advertising campaigns by geographic location and demographic profile.

Step Three – Record your incoming calls
Recording calls is the best way to monitor how your front-line staff are handing your current and future patients. Playback recordings and use them in training sessions to demonstrate how to build relationships and get people to schedule appointments and consultations.

To become the “go to” dental practice in your market, include a lead generating tool like an unforgettable toll-free 800 number in your advertising and marketing. This one pivotal tool will bring you more incoming calls and allows you to track and monitor those calls, all in support of growing your practice.

Laura Noonan has 15 years of experience in the vanity 800 number and telecommunications services industry. She coaches hundreds of clients each year on using toll-free vanity 800 phone numbers as direct marketing tools to increase advertising response rates.

For more about 800response and their collaboration with NDC: click here. Laura encourages you to contact her colleague Suzzanna for more information about 800Response.
Now! Email Suzzanna

Advanced Collaboration & Consultation Strategies...

For Dentists, Dental Health & Dentistry

CONTACT NicheDentalCollaborate.com
800-763-0913

Wednesday

Dental Office Training Session: RSO Responsibilities, X-ray Rule

Dentists and dental office team members will get the Nuts and Bolts of Radiation Safety Officer Responsibilities and X-ray Rules by attending this October training session in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

NDA member and Dental Consultant, Leanne M. Mathieu Kramer of Statements Plus Compliance Solutions will be conducting this seminar to help dental offices stay on the right track with their safety responsibilities and rules. This two-hour course will provide two dentistry CE credits.

Below are the specifics of Leanne's dental CE update course:

Seminar Location
• Ramada Minneapolis (Mpls) NW
• 6900 Lakeland Ave N
• Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Date
• Wednesday
• October 14, 2009

Time
• 9:00 - 11:00 AM
• 2 Dental CE Credits

Cost
• $50.00

Presented by Leanne M. Mathieu Kramer, RDA, CDA, CDPMA

To Sign up for this training session, click link below to download sign up sheet...

PDF FORM: RSO Responsibilities, X-Ray Rule Dental CE Course

Leanne is a Registered Dental Assistant, Certified Dental Assistant, and Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator through the Dental Assistant National Board. She is authorized by the Department of Labor as an OSHA Outreach Trainer in General Industry.
Her memberships include, The Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures, American Dental Assistants Association, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and ChiroCode News.

Dental Office Safety & Compliance Training Leanne Mathieu Kramer, Statements Plus Compliance Solutions, Inc.

Expertise in infection control, OSHA compliance training, site evaluations, manual reviews and office implementation.

Contact Leanne:

CALL 763-878-2150