Dental Practice management


Home Discussion Forum ISOC Revisited Book is ready! Tell a Friend Search Members

Home | Practice Management

Articles on creating the systems that free dentists and teams to help people and provide their best care for patients.

Not a member? To access these articles, use this form to join our community of dentists, dental team members and consultants Click Here-use our Secure encrypted on line order form

Should you set yearly goals for your dental practice and life?
Lynn Carlisle, DDS
Yes, but don't get totally invested in them. Setting goals gives meaning and direction to your life. It is very important for a business person to do this. But setting goals doesn't guarantee you will achieve all of them. . . . keep reading >>

Authentic life for a dentist - more relevant today than ever
Bill Brown, DDS

A Bill Brown article stimulated by Mike Robichaux's article comparing a relationship-based dental practice to a standard or business centered practice. Bill stresses the importance of determining one's own tenets instead of following the tactics of others. This leads dentists to an authentic life. . . . keep reading >>

Share your highlights for 2011 with your family and dental team
Lynn Carlisle, DDS

Bud and Judy Ham introduced Kirsten and me to the concept of highlights years ago. Kirsten and I have done this for the past 20+ years. We sit down sometime around the beginning of the new year and share our last year's highlights. Try it - you will like it. . . . keep reading >>

Two Distinct Dental Visits with "Dr. A" and "Dr.B"
Mike Robichaux, DDS

Mike Robichaux, DDS continues his "How to Have a Higher Conversation" with a short story he wrote about a patient's visit to Dr. A and Dr. B. He highlights the difference between a relationship-based dental practice and a standard or business centered dental practice. Which way would you rather practice? . . . keep reading >>

Are Yellow Page ads disappearing? The impact of social media on your dental practice.
Lynn D Carlisle DDS

What impact is social media having on the way you market your dental practice? Where should you focus your dental marketing efforts? What are the ethical and HIPAA guidelines for social media? Who is controlling the conversation? Can you keep up? . . . keep reading >>

How much do you charge for --- ? A higher conversation
Mike Robichaux, DDS

We have all had it happen to us, especially the ladies at the front desk. The famous question: How much do you charge for…? Very soon in the conversation, we begin to feel the acid filling our stomachs and then we find ourselves on the defensive, trying to explain value of some service to someone who is only focused on costs. How does one turn this conversation around so that both parties win? . . . keep reading >>

The Triathlon Dentist
Lynn D Carlisle DDS

What does it take to practice dentistry at a high, fulfilling, rewarding level? You have to be a triathlon dentist - adept but not a master in 3 areas: people skills, technical skills, business skills. Here is another way I presented this: dentistry requires three things - your head, your hands and your heart. . . . keep reading >>

Thinking about adding a dental team member or associate? "Not so fast - my friend!"
Lynn D Carlisle DDS

Adding an additional dental team member or associate often seems like an easy thing to do to improve productivity or simplify your practice. "Not so fast - my friend!" It usually adds exponential complexity to a dental practice that results in more problems and less productivity. "Brooks' law" and Polyamory math explain why this happens. . . . keep reading >>

Improve your communication skills with your dental patients. What horse sense can teach you.
Lynn Carlisle, DDS
Looking for ways to improve your doctor/team/patient relationships? Want to improve your dental patient communications? You can use this in your next team meeting. Using horse sense in teaching the doctor-patient relationship. . . . keep reading >>

The Five Pillars of a Dental Practice
Bill Brown, DDS

The new scientific information and the shift of dental practice from a series of techniques to a process that involves the dental patient and dental team in a human setting required new systems. What evolved was Comprehensive Oral Health Care (COHC). There are Five Pillars to a COHC practice. The first pillar is Humanistic. . . . keep reading >>

Pankey Classification of Dental Patients
Lynn D Carlisle DDS

A discussion of L.D. Pankey's system of classifying patients to help dentists give their best dental care and service. Included are several excellent articles that expand on the Pankey Classification. . . . keep reading >>

Creating a dental practice mission statement
Lynn D Carlisle DDS

Over the years, ISOC has published several examples of excellent mission statements from the Aspen Ski Corporation to the Y-Camp at Estes Park, Colorado. These mission statements serve as excellent models for dental practices in creating or re-creating their mission, vision, values and philosophy statements. Here is one of the best. . . . keep reading >>

Looking for resources to plan your dental practice?
Lynn D Carlisle DDS

Here are seven articles from the In a Spirit of Caring archives by Bob Frazer, Lynn Carlisle, Harry Beckwith, Rich Green, L.D. Pankey, Doug & Marlyn Young, and Deb Castillo to help you start or enhance your dental practice planning. . . . keep reading >>

Exceptional service versus cheap service - a lesson on the commoditization of dentistry.

Do not fear commodity based dental practices. They will automatically create a market for relationship-based practices who practice In a Spirit of Caring. Commodity based dental practices are the Microsofts's, Dell's and Wal Mart's of dentistry. They are price not service/values based. . . . keep reading >>

How are you? The recession and your dental practice - a check up.
Lynn D Carlisle DDS

This week marks the two year anniversary of the start of the recession. How have you weathered the recession in your dental practice? What have you learned? How hardy have you been? What have you changed that has worked? What is better about your dental practice? Have you been a good leader? . . . keep reading >>

Social networking and the dentist-patient relationship
Lynn D Carlisle DDS
Should you communicate with your dental patients through social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, My Space, etc.? Should you respond to their requests to be their "friend" or ignore their requests? Should you answer their dental requests via these social networking sites? . . . keep reading >>

More Headlines