In this episode of The Best Practices Show, Kirk sits down with Dr. Glenn Dupont, who has been in dentistry for forty-one years, and has experience and expertise in restorative dentistry. Initially, Glenn talks about the origin of the Dawson Academy, which began as a study group with Dr. Pete Dawson and several other prestigious dentists. Dr. Dawson was exceptional at his ability to simplify things and that he never stopped learning or writing. He was passionate about changing dentist’s lives.

Dr. DuPont does a lot of complex and challenging cases and wants to help other dentists understand how to simplify those types of cases. He believes that if you approach it systematically and follow the steps, challenging cases don’t have to be too difficult. When something is sequenced to be predictable and efficient, that is when it’s most profitable. Quality and principles should be constant, the only thing that should vary is how long the process takes.

Regarding sequencing, first you need to make sure the patients joints are stable and healthy. After establishing healthy joints, determine where the front teeth go. Once you’ve determined this, it’s all about the back teeth hitting. When developing the sequence for a case, it’s important to determine what work needs to be done and during which phase the work should be done. This helps to simplify the process. Prioritize and organize a few steps at a time instead of all of them at once.

In regard to making progress in cases and seeing them to completion, it’s important to make sure the patient understands the process from the very beginning, and then to advocate for them based what is best for their life at that time. You need to not only plans out the steps, but determine how long each step will take. This information helps the patient understand the process.

Do not be afraid to quote the fee. Follow a checklist for predictability and profitability. Dr. DuPont is an experienced, exceptional dentist, who is eager and willing to help other dentists become better at what they do.

Main Takeaways

When you follow the steps, complex cases are not difficult to do (6:51)

The principles and quality are constant, how long it takes varies (10:22)

Dividing work into phases allows you to simplify the process (18:34)

It’s important first that the patient understands the process, then it’s important that you advocate for them (22:29)

The whole process is easier if you follow the checklist from the beginning (36:42)

Key Quotes

“If you follow a systematic approach, those kinds of cases are not difficult to do, but you’ve got to follow the steps.”

“To sequence something for predictability and efficiency leads to profitability, and that’s sort of the bottom line.”

“Treatment plan the best [option].”

“The number one thing is, are the joints healthy? Are the joints stable?”

“The main reason that I see for people losing teeth isn’t really decay, it’s really broken teeth and the forces on the teeth.”

“Most difficult cases are solved when you figure out where the front teeth go.” - Dr. Dawson

“Once you get [the steps] in the phases and you get them prioritized, now you step back and you say, ‘Where can I combine appointments?’ That’s what gives you the profitability.”

“The patient has to understand the whole process, up front, and that’s critical. And none of these decisions are made without the patients understanding.”

“I not only determine each step, I determine the time that it takes for each step.”

“I don’t want dentists to be afraid to ask questions or be afraid to quote the fee.”

“Do they understand it? Do they really want it? Okay, I’m going to work with you, let’s figure it out.”

“You can do a big case, and you will lose money if you don’t sequence it efficiently.”

Snippets

3:57-5:38- A background of Dr. Pete Dawson and the Dawson Academy

8:11-9:19- Why sequencing is important

9:30-11:23- Quality is the constant, time is the variable

11:55-20:54- How to...