Michael McCarthy, the official Dental Geek, is introducing a NEW segment to the blog, titled People You Should Know in Dentistry. First up, PennWell Dental Group's Kevin Henry. Check out the video below where Michael explains just what it is about Kevin that makes him a person you should know in dentistry.
Do you know a candidate for this new segment? Nominate them today by filling out the form on the "Contact the Dental Geek" tab!
Geeks,
We just got our hands on some really neat watches that feature artwork from Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (50 Dentures) on the face of the watch. 50 Dentures was originally showcased in the Andy Warhol: The Last Decade exhibition, but will look even better showcased on your wrist.
Understanding the Dental Geek mentality (Geeks unite!), we knew they’d be the perfect giveaway for this community. Unfortunately, we only have a limited supply, but we’re willing and ready to give them all away to our loyal readers.
So, here’s how you could become one of those lucky owners. Complete any one of the three listed activities below:
Once you complete one (or all!) of the items listed above, hang out by your email inbox, where we’ll alert you if you’ve won. Good luck!
Do these words sound familiar? I hope so. Unfortunately, some of us do not hear them often enough. I have worked as an office manager in the dental field for more than ten years, and I try my best to make sure that at the end of every day I thank every member of our team for a job well done. Even if the day wasn’t as busy as we would have liked, they came and were ready and willing to do whatever the day’s schedule called for.
I recently heard an interesting statistic: 60% of employees are searching for a new job one month after being hired. That shocked me, and yet I know it must be true: I have inadvertently found employees searching online through the local hospital's job postings. It’s a sad fact that a lot of people are unemployed right now, but that doesn't mean those who have jobs aren't looking for something better.
So, how do you keep good employees? A competitive salary is a must, but money is not the key factor for employee satisfaction. Your team wants to know that their work is valued, and that you also value their ideas. How many times have we all said that we spend more time at work than we do at home? It stands to reason, then, that our job is a home away from home. It is exactly because of this fact that we need to appreciate these very important people: they are a part of our family.
What would happen if you went home every day and cooked dinner, cleaned the house, or did whatever other job you want to mention, and no one ever said “thank you”? Your feelings would be hurt, wouldn't they? You might even start to feel a little resentful, a little unappreciated. This is true in the workplace, too.
There are lots of things we can do to show our team members that they are appreciated. One suggestion is to treat them to lunch once a month, and start a “Gem” program that recognizes when team members go the extra mile in patient care. A drawing for those who were recognized is held, with the winner of the drawing receiving a reward. This makes everyone feel good about themselves and their job, and one lucky team member gets an added incentive.
We all know that we’re paid for our day's work, but I also know that if a team member shows me that this is not just a job to them but a profession they care deeply about, I have to do everything possible to keep them in our practice. Sometimes, the easiest but most forgotten form of appreciation is a simple thank-you. It may seem simple to us, but it is oh-so-important to the one receiving it.
I have not always worked in the dental field. Prior to working in a dental office, I spent almost seven years at a major retail department store. It was during this time that I learned how much I appreciated being thanked, and how much I resented it when no one seemed to notice all of my hard work. It is because of this experience that I understand the importance of telling someone “thank you” and really appreciating it when they go the extra mile.
So to everyone who helps make my job such a pleasure, I say “Thank you, thank you very much.”
Author- Lisa M. Spradley
Lisa M. Spradley has been working in the dental field for more than 15 years. She is an office manager for a general dentist and has her own dental consulting business, TCB Dental Consulting. She helps train front office staff in effective time management techniques. She is an active, lifetime member of the American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM), and plans to receive her fellowship this fall. Lisa can be reached at lisamarie@tcbdentalconsulting.com.
When you look at the multitude of dental treatments that are routinely carried out, few procedures have stood the test of time as impressively as the use of dental crowns. There are many reasons that a person may require crowns on their teeth and this is, of course, at the discretion of their dentist, because they are in the best position to know the requirements of their patients.
But why are crowns one of the most frequently carried out dental procedures in the UK and abroad? Well, let’s take a look at the main features of crowns and why they are one of the cornerstones of the dental industry.
Is the Crown Slipping?
It wouldn’t appear so. Crowns consistently remain a mainstay of most dental practices, and this treatment is carried out with great regularity. But why are crowns such an important tool of the dentistry trade? The main reasons that dental crowns are used include:
One of the biggest differences between the types of crowns commonly used in dentistry is the material with which the crown itself is made. Each of these different materials will have their own characteristics and features which differentiate them from their counterparts – so let’s take a look at the different materials used in the manufacture of crowns:
When it comes to treating broken or damaged teeth with crowns, it is extremely important that a good foundation is built on what is left of the tooth, as this is required to help support the crown once it has been applied. Generally speaking, the foundation used prior to the placement of a crown will either be a large filling held in place with adhesives, or a laboratory-prepared cast gold post which will be cemented into place on the tooth in question.
There are some cases where further preparatory work will be required prior to the use of dental crowns. For example, sometimes the nerves of the tooth that is to be crowned may be damaged and, if this is the case, the dentist may well suggest root canal treatment prior to considering the addition of a crown to the tooth.
Author, Leo Parker, is a dental blogger who writes about many different facets of the dental industry, whether these are cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as dental implants, or more routine treatments that dentists carry out every day, like root canals or dental crowns.
As in any profession, there are a number of so-called social media “experts” in dentistry, touting that utilizing social media will send a flood of new patients lining up at your door. Can the use of social media be beneficial? Of course. Can heavy traffic to your Facebook page translate into increased clientele? Sure, to a certain extent. Is it a silver-bullet approach? Heck no.
I was inspired to write today due to a number of email notifications I received last week from a Dentaltown message board I subscribe to. I’m not going to mention names or specifics, but it was one of those “YOU HAVE TO DO SOCIAL MEDIA, OR ELSE!” posts that makes my blood boil.
I’m not a dentist, nor do I know everything about what makes a business successful. What I do have is the benefit of being engulfed in social media day in and day out, and have been able to test and refine many aspects of social media for a living. Being a social media marketing professional, I have to look objectively at dental professionals who use social media for business, to see the forest from the trees. With this outside perspective, I have the ability to see what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t.
The thoughts expressed in this post are purely my opinion, based on my experience with social media during the past few years. I welcome and encourage you to challenge anything I’m about to say, as there’s complete understanding on my end that experiences vary.
Myth #1: “YOU HAVE TO DO SOCIAL MEDIA, OR ELSE!”
Social media is the new shiny object everyone wants to get their hands on. Some businesses have had great success with social media, but to say you MUST use it is unjustifiable. I’m going to tell you right now there’s no reason for you to use it unless you’re a) committed and b) use it as an integrated supplement to other marketing tactics. You can very easily set up a Facebook page, but unless you make an effort to promote it and use it regularly, what’s the point? Are they both commitments you’re willing to make?
Myth #2: Social Media Builds Relationships
Yes, you may make connections on social media, but at some point you’re going to have to escape the digital world and actually build relationships. Relationships on social media tend to be very shallow. At the end of the day, face-to-face meetings will always be where real relationships are built and strengthened.
A patient may walk in your door based on something they saw on social media, but the future of your relationship with that patient is built within your office walls. Digital efforts or not, there’s no substitute for good customer service.
Myth #3: More Likes = More Success
I’d be lying if I said the number of “likes” you have isn’t important. I continue to track how many new likes our clients receive each month because more likes = more eyes on your content. What we lose sight of is the old-fashioned concept of quality vs. quantity. A dental practice can easily grow their number of likes, but are those people ever going to visit your practice? Do they even live in the area?
Don’t discount page visits. You also have to consider the online habits of some potential patients. They’re going to do a Google search, find your website, and then, if it’s available, they’ll fish for more personal information on your Facebook page. They may, at that point, decide based on something they see on Facebook that they want to visit your office, but that doesn’t always mean they’re going to click the “like” button. It’s not personal. A “like,” as trivial as it sounds, is a commitment that some… most… Facebook users don’t make very easily.
Social media isn’t for everyone, and what may work for one dental practice or manufacturer may fail miserably for another. Don’t be foolish enough to think people are out there on social media waiting for you to write your first Tweet, and don’t be disappointed when minimal activity occurs on your pages at first. It takes time to build a community and earn people’s attention.
I’ve been fortunate in my career to see solid connections being made and marketing campaigns greatly enhanced by including social media strategy in the mix. In the end, it’s not the tool or the medium that’s going to help you succeed; it’s the way you approach it.
-Marisa Tranchina, Lanmark360 Social Media & PR Coordinator
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