The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

759: Hygiene Department Power: Boosting Productivity and Profits Through Data – Miranda Beeson & Heather Crockett

Whether it’s preventing burnout, maximizing profitability, or enhancing your patients’ experience, you need data. Knowing your numbers will empower your team, and Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, and Heather Crockett, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to help you identify the data you should be tracking to elevate your practice. To learn about the metrics that matter to boost your business, listen to Episode 759 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Miranda & Heather:

• Send Miranda an email: [email protected] 
• Send Heather an email: [email protected] 
• Join Heather on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.r.crockett
• Follow Miranda and Heather on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Gina an email: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the entire webinar here: https://www.actdental.com/117
• Watch the video version of Episode 759: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Download ACT’s Capacity Tracker: https://23476641.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23476641/ACT%20Dental%20Capacity%20Tracker%20Tool%20(1).pdf
• Download ACT’s 10 Best Practices for Reducing Cancellations: https://23476641.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23476641/10%20Best%20Practices%20for%20Reducing%20Cancellations.pdf
• Download ACT’s Say This, Not That: https://23476641.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23476641/Say%20This%2c%20Not%20That%20-%20Fillable.pdf

Main Takeaways:

• Monitoring data will help you identify inefficiencies in your practice.
• Tracking hygiene data will help hygienists know the value they bring.
• By using data, you can build a balanced schedule to prevent burnout.
• You can elevate your patients’ experience by tracking the right metrics.
• Showing patients data can help motivate them to make informed decisions.
• Track metrics to help you design countermeasures for the challenges you face.
• Data will help you identify opportunities for growth and development for your team.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:17 About ACT’s TTT, BPA, and Pro Coaching.

5:09 Why tracking hygiene data is important.

15:29 Know the value that you bring.

17:46 Types of data, explained.

21:38 Hygiene production, explained.

28:18 KPIs to track: Hygiene production per day.

31:50 KPIs to track: Hygiene production per hour.

33:40 KPIs to track: Hygiene production per visit.

36:06 KPIs to track: Hygiene capacity.

43:06 KPIs to track: Hygiene reappointment percentage.

44:00 KPIs to track: Cancellations and recapture rates.

44:57 KPIs to track: Perio visit percentage.

46:06 KPIs to track: Perio presented and perio acceptance.

48:17 Countermeasures: Evaluate your service offerings.

52:17 Q&A: What is the benchmark for an eight-hour production for a DH?

53:16 Countermeasures: Block scheduling.

59:01 Countermeasures: Build value for hygiene appointments.

1:00:36 Countermeasures: Design and document a system for reducing cancellations.

1:01:51 Countermeasures: Align on what healthy looks like.

1:06:11 Being nice isn't always being nice.

1:10:25 How data can help motivate patients.

1:11:32 Final takeaways.

1:14:03 Q&A: Suggestions for a pediatric fee-for-service office.

1:15:07 Q&A: Good verbiage for texting patients who did not reserve their next appointment.

1:19:48 Final thoughts.

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:

Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

Heather Crockett Bio:

Heather Crockett is a Lead Practice Coach who finds joy in not only improving practices but improving the lives of those she coaches as well. With over 20 years of combined experience in assisting, office management, and clinical dental hygiene, her awareness supports many aspects of the practice setting.

Heather received her dental hygiene degree from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in 2008. Networking in the dental community comes easy to her, and she loves to connect with like-minded colleagues on social media. Heather enjoys both attending and presenting continuing education to expand her knowledge and learn from her friends and colleagues.

She enjoys hanging out with her husband, three sons, and their dog, Moki, scrolling through social media, watching football, and traveling.

758: Who Are You the Answer for as a Dentist? – Dr. Jim McKee

In dental school, you're taught to be the answer for everyone. But who are you really the answer for? To help you answer this critical question, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Jim McKee, founder of Chicago Study Club, to explain why you don't need to be everyone’s dentist, and how to be selective with the patients you see. To learn how to build a sustainable practice with an ideal patient base, listen to Episode 758 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. McKee:

• Send Dr. McKee an email: [email protected] 
• Join Dr. McKee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.mckee.104
• Register for Dr. McKee’s Advanced Occlusion workshop (July 25-27, 2024): https://campus.speareducation.com/workshops/advanced-occlusion/details/syllabus
• Register for Dr. McKee’s TMD course: https://courses.phelandentalseminars.com/tmd-pds
• Learn about Chicago Study Club: https://chicagostudyclub.com

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 758: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Learn more about Dental Online Training: https://www.dothandson.com/home

Main Takeaways:

• Become the answer for “above-the-line” patients.
• Understand the class one, two, and three classification system.
• Remember that not everyone values dentistry the way that you do.
• Figure out how much your patients value quality or comprehensive dentistry.
• Be aware of your patients’ ability to pay for quality or comprehensive dentistry.
• Don't do “wallet biopsies”. Never assume how much someone can or can't pay.
• There are many other patients besides crown-and-bridge patients that need help.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:30 Who are you the answer for?

5:39 The dental demographics have changed.

8:36 $1,500 doesn't go as far today.

10:38 How much do your patients appreciate quality or comprehensive dentistry?

14:22 What is your patients’ ability to pay for quality or comprehensive dentistry?

17:08 Class one, two, and three patients, explained.

20:05 Don't do wallet biopsies.

24:06 Patients don't have the same dental background as dentists.

25:34 How to maintain a low-cost practice overhead.

26:17 Your entire team needs to understand above-the-line and below-the-line patients.

35:15 The restorative diagnostic practice, explained.

39:40 Final thoughts.

41:23 More about DOT Fest.

43:10 More about Chicago Study Club.

Dr. Jim McKee Bio:

Dr. Jim McKee is a member of the Spear Resident Faculty. He has maintained a private practice since 1984 in Downers Grove, Illinois, where he treats a wide variety of cases with a focus on predictable restorative dentistry. He is a member of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and former president of the American Equilibration Society. He has lectured both nationally and internationally for over 25 years and directs several study clubs. Dr. McKee graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1980 and earned his dental degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1984.

757: 1 Simple Way to Prevent No-Shows – Miranda Beeson

Who do you blame for holes in your schedule? If you said admin, it’s time to reassess your systems! Cancellations and no-shows start in the back, not up front! To help you reduce them, Kirk Behrendt brings in Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to provide a simple solution for keeping your schedule full of the patients you want. To learn the secret to attracting committed patients, listen to Episode 757 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Miranda:

• Send Miranda an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Gina an email: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 757: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Download ACT’s 10 Best Practices for Reducing Cancellations: https://23476641.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23476641/10%20Best%20Practices%20for%20Reducing%20Cancellations.pdf
• Download ACT’s How to Differentiate Your Practice: https://info.actdental.com/hubfs/PDF/Differentiation%20Tool.pdf

Main Takeaways:

• No-shows aren’t negative profit. It’s no profit!
• Reducing cancellations starts with building value.
• Have a quick-fill system to fill holes in your schedule.
• Strategically fill your schedule. Don't just fill it with anyone.
• Know your broken appointment rates and track your recapture rates.
• Consider implementing a reservation fee rather than a cancellation fee.
• Use your verbal skills when talking to patients about your reservation fee.
• Don't blame your admin team for holes in your schedule. Look at your systems.
• Appointments are confirmed at the time of scheduling. Showing up is not optional.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:28 Why this is an important topic.

3:57 Create a plan by tracking data.

6:17 You don't need all eight hours to be crammed.

8:41 Have a system for filling in holes.

12:32 Have a system for tracking late and broken appointments.

17:51 Should you have a cancellation fee?

25:17 Should reservation fees be refundable?

27:24 Give your patients two options.

31:03 Your confidence creates predictability.

35:25 Final takeaways.

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:

Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

756: How to Kickstart Your Best Year Yet: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started! – Heather Crockett

Do you want a better year? Are you dreaming of working less days? There's one thing you need to do to make it happen — start planning ahead. To teach you how, Kirk Behrendt brings back Heather Crockett, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, with the ultimate guide to help you think better about your time. Plan ahead so you can be ahead! To learn how to take control of every schedule in your life, listen to Episode 756 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Heather:

• Send Heather an email: [email protected] 
• Join Heather on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.r.crockett
• Follow Heather on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental

Learn More About ACT Dental:

• ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.com
• ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• ACT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/actdental
• ACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdental
• ACT’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3137520/admin/feed/posts/
• ACT’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/actdental

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 756: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos

Main Takeaways:

• Know the number of days you work in a year.
• Be intentional with your schedule and plan ahead.
• You can run your practice on less than 48 weeks a year.
• 220 is too many days of work. It will lead to burnout and resentment.
• Remember that many of the best moments of your life won't happen at work.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:54 Why this is an important topic.

4:14 How many days are you working?

7:15 Have more control.

8:22 Start with your big-picture vision.

12:58 You can run your practice on 48 weeks a year.

14:11 Don't let resentment build up.

16:32 Figure out your daily gross production goal.

19:01 Predictability makes your life better.

20:50 Last thoughts.

Heather Crockett Bio:

Heather Crockett is a Lead Practice Coach who finds joy in not only improving practices but improving the lives of those she coaches as well. With over 20 years of combined experience in assisting, office management, and clinical dental hygiene, her awareness supports many aspects of the practice setting.

Heather received her dental hygiene degree from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in 2008. Networking in the dental community comes easy to her, and she loves to connect with like-minded colleagues on social media. Heather enjoys both attending and presenting continuing education to expand her knowledge and learn from her friends and colleagues.

She enjoys hanging out with her husband, three sons, and their dog, Moki, scrolling through social media, watching football, and traveling. 

755: Reframing the Conversation Around Our Orthodontic Goals – Dr. Rebecca Bockow

A beautiful smile is always the goal — but it’s not the only goal in orthodontics. To reframe the role of early intervention and how it can transform patients’ lives, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Rebecca Bockow, instructor from Spear Education, to explain the benefits beyond straightening teeth. When you understand the potential of orthodontics, you can help more patients long term! To learn more and register for Dr. Bockow’s course, Healthy Growth - Healthy Faces, listen to Episode 755 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Bockow:

• Follow Dr. Bockow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbockow
• Join Dr. Bockow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredOrtho
• Register for Dr. Bockow and Dr. Michael Gunson’s Healthy Growth - Healthy Faces workshop (September 26-28, 2024): https://www.arnettgunson.com/healthy-growth-healthy-faces-seattle

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 755: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Watch Episode 640 with Dr. Dania Tamimi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaaQxgXuESo&t=1842s

Main Takeaways:

• Recognize how the system works as a whole.
• Understand the true origin behind patients’ malocclusions.
• Early orthodontic intervention can improve dental, joint, and muscle health.
• Orthodontics is about establishing a healthy system, not just straightening teeth.
• Without a true diagnosis, orthodontics could lead to breakdown and other issues.
• It takes an interdisciplinary team to help rehabilitate a patient’s mouth and system.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:45 Why this is an important topic.

6:33 Reframe the conversation for naysayers.

9:07 Understand how the system works as a whole.

12:06 Early intervention, explained.

15:34 Understand the why behind malocclusion.

18:49 What dentists get wrong about the health of the entire system.

21:44 The fourth dimension, explained.

24:08 The origins of Dr. Bockow and Dr. Gunson’s course.

27:34 More about their course, Healthy Growth – Healthy Faces.

30:17 Final thoughts.

Dr. Rebecca Bockow Bio:

Dr. Rebecca Bockow is a dual-trained orthodontist and periodontist – the only dual-trained provider in Seattle and one of only a handful in the country.

Dr. Bockow grew up in the Greater Seattle area and attended University Prep for high school. She received a B.S. in Biology with Honors at Haverford College, where she also played soccer, squash, tennis, and ran cross-country and track. She completed her DDS training at the University of Washington Dental School in 2007. Dr. Bockow practiced as a general dentist in Seattle for two years while simultaneously teaching at the UW dental school.

Dr. Bockow completed a highly selective dual-specialty program combining Orthodontics and Periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a board-certified orthodontist and periodontist. While simultaneously enrolled in two residency programs, she also received a Master of Science in Oral Biology, focusing on intranasal ketorolac for postoperative implant pain management.

Dr. Bockow lectures nationally on periodontics, orthodontics, interdisciplinary orthodontics, airway, and skeletal growth and development. She contributes to multiple professional journals as an author and editor, and she is also a resident faculty member at Spear Education. 

754: Dental Zen: 3 Tips to Conquer Insurance Frustrations – Robyn Theisen

Dealing with insurance is not fun. It’s frustrating, time-consuming, and the least enjoyable part about dentistry. But there are ways to make it tolerable! To share how, Kirk Behrendt brings back Robyn Theisen, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, with three tips to get your team aligned and ready to have the insurance conversation with your patients. To increase your team’s confidence when talking about insurance, listen to Episode 754 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Robyn:

• Send Robyn an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Robyn on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Gina an email: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 754: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register to access ACT’s Say This, Not That: https://form.jotform.com/221665137804153

Main Takeaways:

• Make sure your patient is the main focus, not their insurance.
• Be aligned with your team about your relationship with insurance.
• Your entire team must know the ins and outs of insurance, not just admin.
• Level up your verbal skills. Be intentional with words when talking to patients.
• Utilize technology wherever possible to save yourself time and increase accuracy.
• There is a time and place for outsourcing. But try to keep certain processes in-house.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:37 Why this is an important topic.

3:25 Set aside time to align with your team.

4:01 Define your relationship with insurance.

7:12 Align on communication to develop trust with patients.

8:35 Develop your verbal skills.

9:23 Eliminate “but”, “however”, and “unfortunately”.

12:29 Utilize technology to your advantage.

14:49 Should you outsource certain processes?

17:32 Final thoughts.

Robyn Theisen Bio:

Robyn Theisen brings an entire life and legacy of dental experience to the team and every team with which she works as the daughter and sister of dentists. With almost 20 years of experience in dentistry, her roles ranged from practice management to operations at Patterson Dental to coaching teams. Robyn’s passion is empowering teams to realize that they can dramatically impact the lives of the people they serve by implementing skills and systems to remove barriers to life-changing dental treatment. She has done it for decades and does it every day with dental teams.

Outside of coaching, she enjoys time with her husband, Rob, and two daughters, Emerson and Ruby. She loves traveling, music, fitness, and cheering on the Michigan State Spartans.

753: Maximize Your Margins: Slash PPO Write-Offs and Skyrocket Your Dental Profits – Dr. Barrett Straub & Miranda Beeson

Do you want to own a practice just for someone else to control it? If not, don't miss this episode! Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Barrett Straub, ACT’s CEO, and Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, with a treatment plan to get you out of the thumbs of insurance so you can achieve financial freedom and personal fulfillment. With careful, strategic planning you can start removing some — or all — PPOs and reshape your future! To learn the steps to a better practice and a better life, listen to Episode 753 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Straub & Miranda:

• Send Dr. Straub an email: [email protected] 
• Join Dr. Straub on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrett.d.straub
• Register for Dr. Straub’s live workshop (August 23, 2024): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/act-dental-gaps-method-the-formula-for-financial-freedom-tickets-776572418007
• Send Miranda an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 753: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register to access ACT’s PPO Roadmap: https://www.actdental.com/free-resources/ppo-roadmap
• Register to access ACT’s Say This, Not That: https://form.jotform.com/221665137804153
• Email Dr. Straub for ACT’s Capacity Tracker and Patient Segment Scorecard: [email protected] 

Main Takeaways:

• Whether you're looking to drop PPOs or not, try out ACT’s PPO Roadmap.
• Insurance isn't what's killing your practice — but they will if you let them.
• You don't need to become anti-insurance to achieve financial freedom.
• Don't start indiscriminately dropping PPOs. Plan and be strategic.
• Clearly define what growth means for you and your practice.
• There isn't a singular path to reach financial independence.
• Know which data points to track to start slashing write-offs.
• Follow the 12 steps to align and strategize with your team.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

6:52 About ACT’s TTT, BPA, and Pro Coaching.

10:26 Why this is an important topic.

12:15 Objectives.

13:52 Insurance independence, explained.

21:22 Improve your thinking and mindset about dentistry.

23:04 Figure out your overhead percentage.

25:26 Figure out your capacity.

26:59 Figure out your new patient referral sources.

28:22 Figure your new patient hygiene re-appointment percentage.

29:53 Figure out your annual patient value.

31:53 Figure out your unscheduled active patients.

33:14 Why you need to join the BPA.

36:50 Figure out your hygiene reappointment percentage.

38:23 Figure out which segment your patients belong to.

40:53 Rank and identify the PPOs you want to remove.

43:32 Read your contracts!

44:48 The 12 important steps to align and strategize with your team.

52:17 Final thoughts.

54:06 Q&A: Navigating plans not allowing out-of-network benefits.

58:02 Q&A: Advice for negotiating fees.

1:02:00 Q&A: Differentiate yourself before dropping bigger PPOs.

1:06:02 Q&A: Advice for limiting PPOs in your schedule.

1:08:24 Name, number, knowledge.

1:11:55 Q&A: How do you juggle growth during this process?

1:14:22 Try the PPO Roadmap today!

Dr. Barrett Straub Bio:

Dr. Barrett Straub practices general and sedation dentistry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He has worked hard to develop his practice into a top-performing, fee-for-service practice that focuses on improving the lives of patients through dentistry.

A graduate of Marquette Dental School, Dr. Straub’s advanced training and CE includes work at the Spear Institute, LVI, DOCS, and as a member of the Milwaukee Study Club. He is a past member of the Wisconsin Dental Association Board of Trustees and was awarded the Marquette Dental School 2017 Young Alumnus of the Year. As a former ACT coaching client that experienced first-hand the transformation that coaching can provide, he is passionate about helping other dentists create the practice they’ve always wanted.

Dr. Straub loves to hunt, golf, and spend winter on the ice, curling. He is married to Katie, with two daughters, Abby and Elizabeth.

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH, has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

752: 5 Things Nobody is Telling You About Profit in Your Dental Practice – Dr. Barrett Straub

If you work more hours, you make more money — except you don't! More dentists are spending more time in the office, only to wonder where their money went. There's a way out of this scenario, and Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Barrett Straub, ACT’s CEO, to demystify the five key things to know about profit so you can make educated decisions and gain control of your practice. Stop working harder for less! To learn how, listen to Episode 752 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Straub:

• Send Dr. Straub an email: [email protected] 
• Join Dr. Straub on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrett.d.straub
• Register for Dr. Straub’s live workshop (August 23, 2024): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/act-dental-gaps-method-the-formula-for-financial-freedom-tickets-776572418007

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 752: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Download ACT’s GAPs at a Glance resource: https://www.actdental.com/gaps-at-a-glance

Main Takeaways:

• Remember that your P&L won't tell the whole story about your finances.
• Understand and close the different gaps you have in your practice.
• Profit isn't profit. There are three levels of profit to understand.
• High overhead isn't always about spending too much.
• Chasing money rarely works out.
• Get to the “I'm good” mindset.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:16 The GAPs method and its origins.

7:00 Increasing profitability doesn't have to be difficult.

10:32 The effort gap, explained.

13:37 The collections gap, explained.

18:13 The three levels of profit, explained.

21:58 Gross production, explained.

25:49 Annual patient value, explained.

28:16 High overhead isn't always about spending too much.

31:05 Three reasons your overhead is too high.

35:19 The cash flow gap, explained.

37:23 The “I'm good” mindset, explained.

40:13 About ACT’s GAPs at a Glance and Dr. Straub’s future seminar.

Dr. Barrett Straub Bio:

Dr. Barrett Straub practices general and sedation dentistry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He has worked hard to develop his practice into a top-performing, fee-for-service practice that focuses on improving the lives of patients through dentistry.

A graduate of Marquette Dental School, Dr. Straub’s advanced training and CE includes work at the Spear Institute, LVI, DOCS, and as a member of the Milwaukee Study Club. He is a past member of the Wisconsin Dental Association Board of Trustees and was awarded the Marquette Dental School 2017 Young Alumnus of the Year. As a former ACT coaching client that experienced first-hand the transformation that coaching can provide, he is passionate about helping other dentists create the practice they’ve always wanted.

Dr. Straub loves to hunt, golf, and spend winter on the ice, curling. He is married to Katie, with two daughters, Abby and Elizabeth.

If you need new patients but don't know how to bring them in, don't miss this episode! Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Jim McKee, founder of Chicago Study Club, to share five of the best ways he’s learned to attract new, high-quality patients that will stay for the rest of your career. To learn what patients want and how you can provide it, listen to Episode 751 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. McKee:

• Send Dr. McKee an email: [email protected] 
• Join Dr. McKee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.mckee.104
• Register for Dr. McKee’s Advanced Occlusion workshop (July 25-27, 2024): https://campus.speareducation.com/workshops/advanced-occlusion/details/syllabus
• Register for Dr. McKee’s TMD course: https://courses.phelandentalseminars.com/tmd-pds
• Learn about Chicago Study Club: https://chicagostudyclub.com

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 751: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Watch Dr. McKee’s previous episode, 649: The Restorative Diagnostic Practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX6oU7cnDQU

Main Takeaways:

• Think about the quality of patients you're bringing to your practice, not just quantity.
• Patients are looking for two things: answers to problems and options for solutions.
• Trade your marketing dollars for CE dollars. Gain a skill set other dentists need.
• Establish a presence in your dental community. Market your skill sets to them.
• Be involved in your local community, knowing it will be a slower build.
• Market your value to existing and prospective patients.
• Consider joining an insurance plan.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:32 Why this is an important topic.

3:30 Who are you the answer for?

7:16 Market to your existing patients.

15:01 Market to patients you don't know.

18:09 Marketing can be cost and time prohibitive.

19:30 Be involved in your local community.

21:09 Establish a presence in your professional community.

29:25 The importance of trust in your professional community.

32:57 Have a “give greater than get” mindset.

35:11 Should you keep everything in-house?

38:44 Join an insurance plan.

47:29 Final thoughts.

50:03 More about Chicago Study Club and Dr. McKee’s future courses.

Dr. Jim McKee Bio:

Dr. Jim McKee is a member of the Spear Resident Faculty. He has maintained a private practice since 1984 in Downers Grove, Illinois, where he treats a wide variety of cases with a focus on predictable restorative dentistry. He is a member of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and former president of the American Equilibration Society. He has lectured both nationally and internationally for over 25 years and directs several study clubs. Dr. McKee graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1980 and earned his dental degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1984.

750: The 15 Nightmares of Every Lab When You Scan – Dr. Christian Coachman

A scanner can do amazing things — if you know how to use it! If you don't, it leads to frustration for you, your patients, and your lab. To help you overcome the barriers and become a master at scanning, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Christian Coachman, founder of Digital Smile Design, to reveal 15 scanning nightmares that you can learn to identify and avoid. To start improving your scans and have a better relationship with your lab, listen to Episode 750 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Coachman:

• Join Dr. Coachman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christiancoachman
• Follow Dr. Coachman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscoachman
• Learn more about Digital Smile Design: https://digitalsmiledesign.com
• Register for the DSD Provider course (October 7, 2024, and November 11, 2024): https://digitalsmiledesign.com/dsd-provider
• Register for DSD Residency 1 On Demand: https://digitalsmiledesign.com/dsd-residency-1-on-demand
• Listen to Dr. Coachman’s podcast, Coffee Break with Coachman: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ADCrWhqsUKbHmZtkhhgoB
• IOS-F1 Festival (May 2025, the weekend of F1): Registration TBA

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 750: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Read Digital Dental Revolution by Alessandro Agnini and Andrea Mastrorosa Agnini: https://www.quintessence-publishing.com/usa/en/product/digital-dental-revolution
• Try Loom: https://www.loom.com

Main Takeaways:

• You need to be a great dentist before mastering the scanner.
• Be upfront with your lab about limitations and challenges.
• Always analyze your scans before sending it to the lab.
• In the digital world, there is no excuse for bad scans.
• Don't pretend like you don't see scanning problems.
• Modernize your communication by utilizing AI.
• Utilize your CAD software for the best scans.
• Train your assistants in proper scanning.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:04 Why this is an important topic and about IOS-F1 Festival.

5:14 A scanner isn't a magic solution.

9:25 Two-thirds of cases sent to the lab should be rejected.

12:43 Master the process of creating a precise patient avatar.

14:29 Find the real problems that need to be solved.

21:13 Lab nightmares: Poor mesh resolution.

24:20 Lab nightmares: Interproximal scan distortion.

28:34 Lab nightmares: Finishing lines that are not visible.

31:00 Modernize your communication.

37:37 Lab nightmares: Sharp angles.

39:29 Lab nightmares: Clearance.

41:25 Lab nightmares: Prep margin designs.

44:19 Lab nightmares: Undercuts.

47:33 Lab nightmares: Not getting the ideal soft tissue information.

51:22 Lab nightmares: The bite.

56:29 Lab nightmares: No scans and pictures of the provisional.

58:13 Lab nightmares: The picture and scan of the provisional is bad.

58:54 Lab nightmares: Noise on the scan body region.

59:54 Lab nightmares: Wrong height of scan body.

1:00:05 Lab nightmares: Scan body is wrongly scanned or placed.

1:00:35 Lab nightmares: Poor choice of scan body.

1:01:09 Lab nightmares: Full-arch scan distortion.

1:02:42 Types of scans and teaching team members to scan.

1:06:39 The vision of IOS-F1 Festival and 2025 course dates.

Dr. Christian Coachman Bio:

Combining his advanced skills, experience, and technology solutions, Dr. Christian Coachman pioneered the Digital Smile Design methodology and founded Digital Smile Design company (DSD). Since its inception, thousands of dentists worldwide have attended DSD courses and workshops, such as the renowned DSD Residency program.

Dr. Coachman is the developer of worldwide, well-known concepts such as the Digital Smile Design, the Pink Hybrid Implant Restoration, the Digital Planning Center, Emotional Dentistry, Interdisciplinary Treatment Simulation, and Digital Smile Donator. He regularly consults for dental industry companies, developing products, implementing concepts, and marketing strategies, such as the Facially Driven Digital Orthodontic Workflow developed in collaboration with Invisalign, Align Technology.