What pitfalls are most common in dental practices? In this episode, Michael and Sandy unpack the challenges and strategies that can make all the difference. From mastering efficient systems to ensuring your team remains accountable, Sandy's insights will steer you away from common pitfalls like the notorious slow periods in August and September. With a focus on tracking crucial metrics and recognizing trends, this conversation is packed with actionable advice for keeping your practice bustling year-round.

But that’s not all—Sandy emphasizes the irreplaceable value of proactive communication and patient follow-up. Discover effective techniques for team training, how to maintain a dependable system for patient retention, and the best ways to handle unscheduled treatment follow-ups. As the episode wraps up, Sandy shares her upcoming seminars dedicated to continuous learning and improvement, inviting you to further your practice management skills.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to maintain efficient systems in a dental practice.
• Strategies for retaining patients and ensuring team accountability.
• The importance of tracking numbers and understanding trends.
• How to prevent and manage slow periods, specifically in August and September.
• Best practices for proactive communication and patient follow-up.
• Effective methods for team training and development.
• Systems for patient retention and handling unscheduled treatments.

Dive into this episode now to find out what common pitfalls your practice needs to avoid!

Sponsors:

Do you need a new website or marketing agency? Check out what Docsites can do for you: https://www.docsites.com/landing-pages/ddb/

Mentions and Links:

Communities/Groups:

Dental Gumbo Group

Dentaltown

Events:

Front Desk Pro - August 23, 2024 Boston, Massachusetts

Front Desk Pro - November 15, 2024 New Orleans, Louisiana

Places:

Disneyland

Software/Tools:

Yapi

Demandforce

Flex

Excel

thedentaldashboard.com

Stats:

2024 Dental Industry Annual Benchmark Study (Henry Schein One Report)

 

How can your practice ensure a seamless and enjoyable patient experience from start to finish? In this episode, Michael and Sandy delve into the critical role of effective communication and smooth handoffs in transforming dental visits into positive experiences. They unravel the nuances of ensuring clear, empathetic communication at every touchpoint during the patient's journey, especially during transitions between different stages of their appointments. The conversation is packed with actionable insights on implementing structured handoffs, involving patients in the process, and the importance of using plain language.

Empowering your dental team with tools like detailed scripts and role-playing exercises can dramatically improve patient interactions and build a patient-centered culture. By fostering an environment of empathy, understanding, and clear follow-up communication, practices can elevate their service and retain more patients.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The impact of clear and empathetic communication on patient experience
• How to involve patients in their care transition process
• Techniques for structuring handoffs within the dental team
• Importance of avoiding technical jargon with patients
• Strategies to validate patient experiences and build trust
• How to ensure clear and effective follow-up on treatments and appointments
• The role of role-playing in refining team communication skills
• Tips for creating a patient-centered culture in the dental office

Don't miss this episode to transform your patient's dental experience from routine to remarkable!

Sponsors:

Do you need a new website or marketing agency? Check out what Docsites can do for you: https://www.docsites.com/landing-pages/ddb/

  Mentions and Links:

Communities/Groups:

Dental Gumbo Group

Events:

Front Desk Pro - November 15, 2024 New Orleans, Louisiana

Are you ready to discover the wake-up calls that can transform your leadership style and elevate your team’s performance? In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Michael and Sandy delve into crucial leadership lessons that every manager or leader, especially those in dental practices, should heed. Drawing inspiration from the 12 vital wake-up calls designed by Eric Partaker, they break down each point with practical examples and genuine insights, ensuring you leave with a toolkit of actionable steps to improve your leadership skills and your team's dynamic.

Throughout the episode, Michael and Sandy discuss how key themes like accountability, handling criticism, and resisting the urge to micromanage can dramatically improve the workplace. From avoiding favoritism to setting clear standards and leading by example, they provide relatable stories and strategies that you can apply immediately. To cap it off, Sandy underlines the significance of recognizing and praising good work while promoting open communication to build a positive and cohesive team culture, ensuring not just a successful practice, but a happier, more motivated team.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The 12 wake-up calls every leader should incorporate to enhance their effectiveness.
• Strategies for embracing accountability and handling criticism constructively.
• How to avoid common leadership pitfalls like favoritism and micromanaging.
• Ways to set clear standards and lead by example.
• The importance of recognizing and praising team achievements.
• Techniques for fostering open communication and a positive work environment.

Tune in now and start transforming your leadership skills today!

Sponsors:

Don’t just look ahead. Plan Forward. Discover the dental membership plan partner that empowers your entire office. Created by a team in your shoes. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://www.planforward.io/

  Mentions and Links:

Communities/Groups:

Dental Gumbo Group

Events:

Front Desk Pro - November 15, 2024 New Orleans, Louisiana

Places:

The Ritz-Carlton

4 Seasons

Disneyland

Social Media:

Eric Partaker's Post

Businesses:

Raisin Cane’s Chicken

 

Are staff meetings in your practice driving productivity or just wasting time? In this episode, Michael and Sandy dive deep into the art and science of effective staff meetings, unearthing the transformative power they hold when done right. They explore the contrasts between casual huddles and well-structured meetings, underlining their essential role in fostering communication, training, and team unity. Sandy shares her seasoned strategies for making meetings productive, from appointing a facilitator to engaging the team in planning and decision-making, while also steering clear of common hazards like gripe sessions.

Leadership sits at the heart of these discussions, with Michael and Sandy stressing the importance of meaningful interactions that tie directly into the practice’s success. They reveal the benefits of rotating the role of meeting facilitator, celebrating team achievements, and cleverly using tools like suggestion boxes and whiteboards to collect agenda items. Sandy concludes with advice on the meticulous planning and scheduling of these meetings to ensure they remain significant and effective, helping to build a cohesive, motivated team.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How do casual huddles differ from structured staff meetings?
• What are the key benefits of regular staff meetings in dental practices?
• Strategies for appointing a meeting facilitator and engaging the team.
• Common pitfalls to avoid during staff meetings.
• Why leadership is crucial in making meetings productive.
• The advantages of rotating the facilitator role.
• Tips for celebrating team achievements during meetings.
• How to use tools like suggestion boxes and whiteboards for agenda setting.
• Best practices for planning and scheduling effective staff meetings.
• How to maintain meeting importance and engagement over time.

Let's jump into today's episode on effective staff meetings!

Sponsors:

Do you need a new website or marketing agency? Check out what Docsites can do for you: https://www.docsites.com/landing-pages/ddb/

  Mentions and Links:

Communities/Groups:

Dental Gumbo Group

Events:

Front Desk Pro - November 15, 2024 New Orleans, Louisiana

Ever wonder why patients often decline treatment and how you can address these objections effectively? In this episode, Michael and Sandy dive deep into the top three most common excuses patients give: fear, lack of awareness, and financial concerns. Sandy sheds light on why recognizing these objections is crucial and offers actionable strategies for overcoming them. Through compelling examples, she underscores the importance of educating patients about the benefits of timely care and mastering verbal skills, including the art of voice inflection, to present treatment plans compellingly.

Sandy doesn’t stop there. She explains how role-playing and regular training can transform your dental team's approach, making patients feel more at ease and informed. By the end of this enlightening discussion, you'll understand how to create a comforting environment for your patients, empowering them to move forward with necessary treatments. Tune in to harness the power of effective communication and patient education in your practice.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to identify and address patient fears regarding dental treatments.
• Techniques to inform patients who are unaware of their dental needs.
• Strategies for handling financial objections to dental care.
• The role of verbal skills and voice inflection in presenting treatment plans.
• The impact of role-playing and team training on patient interactions.
• Ways to make patients feel comfortable and informed during decision-making.
• Tips for educating patients about the benefits of timely dental treatments.

Transform the way you handle patient objections by listening to this episode today!

Sponsors:

Don’t just look ahead. Plan Forward. Discover the dental membership plan partner that empowers your entire office. Created by a team in your shoes. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://www.planforward.io/

  Mentions and Links:

Communities/Groups:

Dental Gumbo Group

Events:

Front Desk Pro - Friday, August 23rd - Boston, MA - Use Promo Code: Secret Sauce

Brands:

Louis Vuitton

Places:

Disneyland

Disney World

Organizations:

American Dairy Association

Are you struggling to streamline your practice’s front office operations while juggling departments, patients, and metrics? In this episode, Michael and Sandy delve into the essentials of managing a successful practice, starting with the highlights of Sandy's recent webinar and her upcoming seminar in Boston.

The conversation quickly transitions into a focused discussion around a listener's question on maintaining consistent department meetings and tracking pivotal metrics. Sandy offers an actionable guide on conducting effective meetings, complete with tips on following up on assignments, gathering feedback, and defining clear objectives. Specific topics like tracking new patient conversions, handling broken appointments, and managing production and collections metrics take the forefront. By the end of this episode, you'll grasp the importance of accountability, clear communication, and performance metrics in leading your practice to success.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to run effective and consistent department meetings.
• Tips for following up on previous assignments and setting clear goals.
• Key metrics to track for the smooth operation of a dental practice.
• The importance of tracking new patient conversions and handling broken appointments.
• Best practices for managing production and collection metrics.
• Strategies for efficiently managing insurance claims and ensuring accountability.
• Benefits of in-person training and special promotions for upcoming seminars.

Tune in today to learn about department meetings, metrics, and paying attention to what matters in your practice!

Sponsors:

Do you need a new website or marketing agency? Check out what Docsites can do for you: https://www.docsites.com/landing-pages/ddb/

  Mentions and Links:

Communities/Groups:

Dental Gumbo Group

Events:

Front Desk Pro - Friday, August 23rd - Boston, MA - Use Promo Code: Secret Sauce

 Books:

The No Complaining Rule

The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy

Services:

Practice by Numbers

How transformative can employee training be for your practice? In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Michael and Sandy delve into the critical role of structured training programs and their immense benefits on profitability, employee satisfaction, and patient care. Sandy illuminates the stark contrast between trained and untrained employees, revealing how targeted investments in specialized programs can significantly enhance your practice’s performance and efficiency.

The duo also shares a wealth of practical advice on implementing effective training within your  office, covering everything from verbal skills and role-playing exercises to comprehensive onboarding protocols. Sandy makes a compelling case for the necessity of consistent training, emphasizing how it leads to predictable outcomes, boosts employee retention, and propels overall practice success. They remind practice owners that despite budget challenges, investing in training is pivotal and suggest starting with free resources like podcasts to begin the journey toward excellence.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How structured training programs boost profitability and employee satisfaction.
• The significant differences between trained and untrained employees.
• Practical steps for effective employee training within a dental office.
• The long-term benefits of consistent training and its impact on practice success.
• How to utilize free resources like podcasts for initial training investments.

Ready to elevate your dental practice through strategic training? Don’t miss out on this episode of Dental Drill Bits!

Sponsors:

Elevate Patient Care with Automation: Are you looking for dental software that puts your patients first? From online scheduling to online forms, patient communication, and office coordination – Yapi simplifies every step of the patient experience. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://yapiapp.com/ Mentions and Links: Events: Front Desk Pro - Friday, August 23rd - Boston, MA - Use Promo Code: Secret Sauce Community/Groups: Dental Gumbo Group Products: CEREC

Underperforming team members in your practice? In this episode, Michael and Sandy dive deep into the intricacies of practice management, starting from upcoming seminars to managing underperforming team members without rocking the boat. Sandy shares her wealth of experience on the art of effective communication, setting realistic goals, seeking constructive feedback, and the crucial follow-up processes needed to help your team excel. Her emphasis on thorough training, meticulous documentation, and structured management will leave you equipped with practical tools to ensure your practice runs smoothly.

Moreover, this episode tackles one of the most daunting aspects of practice management: dealing with the potential need to fire staff. Sandy uncovers common concerns doctors face and provides thoughtful, methodical steps to navigate this challenging terrain.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to communicate effectively with underperforming team members.
• Steps to setting realistic and achievable goals for your team.
• Techniques for seeking and using employee feedback to improve practice performance.
• The importance of training and documentation in maintaining a high-functioning team.
• Structured management strategies to optimize your practice.
• Approaches to handling the difficult decision of firing staff.

Tune in to harness these insights and elevate your dental practice management skills today!

 

Sponsors:

Don’t just look ahead. Plan Forward. Discover the dental membership plan partner that empowers your entire office. Created by a team in your shoes. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://www.planforward.io/

Do you need a new website or marketing agency? Check out what Docsites can do for you: https://www.docsites.com/landing-pages/ddb/

  Mentions and Links:

Communities/Groups:

Dental Gumbo Group

Events:

Front Desk Pro - Friday, August 23rd - Boston, MA - Use Promo Code: Secret Sauce

How can your front desk team transform every call into a positive patient experience? In this episode, Sandy draws from her recent speaking engagements at the Delivering WOW Summit to uncover key strategies for top-notch front office communication. She also previews her upcoming seminar, Front Desk Pro, set to take place in Boston on August 23rd, revealing the secrets to boosting front office performance. Michael and Sandy tackle real-world phone interactions, from handling insurance queries to managing cancellations, ensuring that your front desk makes a lasting impression.

But it’s not just about what you say; it's also about how you say it. This episode underscores the critical role of tone, verbal skills, and intuitive call handling. Sandy shares practical advice on avoiding the pitfalls of sounding robotic and burdening patients with unnecessary tasks. With actionable tips and relatable scenarios, this episode is a must-listen for any practice aiming to elevate their front desk etiquette and foster a welcoming, efficient environment for every caller.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to handle common phone interactions effectively in your practice.
• Techniques for making a positive first impression over the phone.
• The do's and don'ts of discussing insurance with patients.
• Strategies for dealing with appointment cancellations smoothly.
• The importance of tone and verbal skills in patient communication.
• How to implement a call-handling system to avoid common pitfalls.
• Ways to promote your practice during phone calls.

Ready to transform your front desk team's phone skills and enhance your dental practice's first impressions? Tune in to today's episode!

Sponsors:

Elevate Patient Care with Automation: Are you looking for dental software that puts your patients first? From online scheduling to online forms, patient communication, and office coordination – Yapi simplifies every step of the patient experience. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://yapiapp.com/ Mentions and Links: Events: Front Desk Pro - Friday, August 23rd - Boston, MA - Use Promo Code: Secret Sauce Delivering WOW Summit   Community/Groups: Dental Gumbo Group Insurance Companies: Cigna

Brands: Baskin-Robbins

Dental membership plans are only for low-income patients, right? Join Michael and Sandy in this episode of Dental Drill Bits as they sit down with Megan Lohman to debunk common myths surrounding dental membership plans. Megan dives into the core advantages of Plan Forward, a tool designed to streamline the creation and management of dental membership plans. She reveals how these plans are not just exclusive to low-income regions but can be effectively tailored to a wide range of demographics, including affluent areas and retirees without dental insurance. Megan busts myths and shares eye-opening statistics about the significant portion of Americans lacking dental insurance, shedding light on how transparent pricing through membership plans can promote better dental care. Addressing concerns about potential revenue reduction, Megan explains how offering discounts can actually lead to increased patient visits and higher treatment acceptance rates, ultimately boosting overall revenue. She provides actionable strategies to add substantial value to your membership plans, such as including emergency visits and fluoride treatments, and emphasizes the role of Plan Forward in enhancing efficiency. By the end of the episode, you'll understand why simplifying and tracking membership plans is crucial for your practice's success. What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why dental membership plans are not just for low-income patients
• How to tailor membership plans for various demographics
• The significant number of Americans without dental insurance
• Strategies for making dental pricing transparent and manageable
• Debunking concerns about reduced revenue from membership plans
• How offering discounts can boost patient visits and treatment acceptance
• Value-added elements to include in membership plans
• Strategies for tracking performance and gaining team support

Don’t miss out on this game-changing conversation! Tune in now to uncover the full potential of dental membership plans for your practice.

Sponsors:

Don’t just look ahead. Plan Forward. Discover the dental membership plan partner that empowers your entire office. Created by a team in your shoes. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://www.planforward.io/

  Mentions and Links: Community/Groups: Dental Gumbo Group