In part two of our practice strategy series, we examine how a SWOT analysis might look through the lens of COVID-19, how to apply the learnings of your SWOT analysis and how a TOWS matrix can help you further connect the dots.
Dental practice strategy, Pt. 1: SWOT analysis
A SWOT analysis allows you to look at four key areas of your business environment: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Here’s how to complete a comprehensive analysis so you can see what’s going well at your practice and what needs to be addressed.
How dental practices can protect themselves from cyberattacks
Keeping your practice and patient information safe requires layers of protection and ongoing vigilance. Here are several steps dental practices should take to protect their business from cyberattacks, plus common misconceptions debunked.
4 tips for going green at your dental practice
From going paperless to consolidating product orders, here are four ideas you can implement at your practice to reduce your carbon footprint.
Green dentistry: Does sustainability cost more?
Sustainable practices sometimes cost more than traditional ones, but is Going Green good for the bottom line?
Green dentistry: 3 high-tech solutions for a sustainable practice
Investing in quality equipment that will stand the test of time can greatly reduce dental waste and deliver long-term savings. Here are three high-tech solutions to support green dentistry initiatives.
Green dentistry: Build your practice around sustainability
As the first carbon-neutral general dentistry office in the U.S., Artisan Dental incorporates many individual sustainable efforts into its day-to-day routines, seeking to be not only a successful business, but also a better one for society. Learn how Artisan Dental’s dedication to responsible growth is paying off.
Jeffery S. Kahler, DDS: Making a dream practice come true through difficult times
Dr. Jeffery Kahler’s imagination and determination helped him push through numerous obstacles to open his new office during the pandemic. Dr. Kahler could have retired. Instead, with the help of Patterson and his wife, he reinvented his practice and reignited his passion for dentistry.
Beata A. Carlson, DDS: Dentistry focused on whole health
By taking a holistic approach to oral health, Dr. Carlson offers her patients quite a different experience from your average dental office, leading to continued practice growth.
Dental practice goals for the new year: 5 opportunities for growth
There are many considerations when evaluating a practice’s annual goals for the new business year. Here are five opportunities for growth appropriate for any dental practice.
Tax Benefits of Investing in Your Dental Practice
Code Section 179 election and Bonus Depreciation could help when investing in your dental practice and are methods of accelerating depreciation. Your tax or legal advisor can advise you on what is right for your practice. Read our high-level summary.
This post was updated for tax year 2024.
5 Ways to Increase Revenue with Patient Recall Software
With the end of the year approaching, now is a great time to take inventory at your practice regarding patients and your schedule. Here are five tips for getting the most of your recall system and increasing revenue without adding extra work for your team.
Convergent Dental’s Solea Sleep CO2 all-tissue laser: A key technology for an airway-only treatment center
As a partner at Gentling Dental Care in Rochester, Minn., Ryan Henrichsen, DDS, MAGD, found himself building many mandibular advancement devices, treating TMJ issues and focusing more on the airway component of these conditions. Henrichsen eventually opened Respira – Airway, Snoring, & TMJ in January 2021.
How No-Shows Become Lost Patients
Patients become no-shows for a variety of reasons, and the impact that has on a dental practice is well documented. Finances, fear, forgetfulness, transportation and last-minute issues can all lead to a no-show. But there is another side to the no-show issue that is important to recognize: a no-show patient may be looking to receive care from somewhere else.
Twenty Twenty-One Day Success
David Rice, DDS, founder of igniteDDS discusses how New Year’s resolutions compare to dentistry and offers four things to focus on that all revolve around same-day dentistry.
Keeping up With Demand: A New Practice Faces Questions About the Future
For many new and longtime dental practices, the thought of expansion can be daunting. Questions persist about how to take on more patients in an existing space and whether the adoption of newer technology will help dentists deliver services faster. But with the help of Patterson Dental educator Kathy Brodal, a new practice in North Dakota reached its goals in less than six years.
Dentistry Beyond 2020: Looking Forward to the Future
To say that 2020 was a year of rapid change is an understatement. After a brief shutdown of practices across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dental industry reopened with the adoption of new technologies, stricter infection control guidelines and a renewed focus on personal and team wellness. Linda Harvey, MS, RDH, HRM, shares her thoughts on what’s in store for 2021.
Turbo-Charge Your Dental Practice with Data-Driven Decisions
Practice management software can generate all kinds of metrics on your practice, but which ones are the most important, and how do you improve those figures and, by extension, your business?
From Emergency to Complete Care: A Three-Step Guide from igniteDDS
With dental emergencies – in particular cracked teeth – on the rise, we decided to ask David Rice, DDS, founder of igniteDDS to share his best approach for squeezing in dental emergencies during regular office hours and how to convert those emergencies into comprehensive care patients.
Invest in Dental Technology with an Eye on the Future
If you clearly define your practice vision and goals, and then choose the appropriate technology to help you reach them, you can confidently take the steps needed to move your practice forward. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when investing in dental technology.
Building a Dental Office with ‘Everything a Patient Needs Under One Roof’
As he watched his patient base grow and identified what needs the community had, Steven Freeman, DDS, owner of Elite Smiles in St. Augustine, Fla., began investing in 3D technology, including CAD/CAM, a CBCT and a digital intraoral scanner based on the advice of his Patterson Dental team.
Stopping Cancellations and No-Shows: A Step-By-Step Guide from igniteDDS
Now that most dental offices are fully open again, it is even more important for dental practice owners to have a plan for reducing cancelations and no-shows. We asked David R. Rice, DDS, founder of igniteDDS to share some steps dental practices can take to reduce cancellations and no-shows.
On-Demand Webinar: New Patients, New Procedures and Faster Recovery with Solea
When dental offices reopened amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some practice owners saw an increase in costs associated with PPE, coupled with a loss in revenue from scheduling fewer patients. Learn how Mark Ligocki, DDS, surpassed pre-COVID production and collections by performing new procedures and doing more same-day dentistry with the Solea all-tissue laser.
When You’re a Rock Star in and Out of the Practice: Changing Careers Midlife and Rocking Out with Technology
After holding down the roles of lead singer, songwriter and guitarist in two rock bands, Jeffrey S. Butts, DDS, is now the owner of a thriving dental office in Atlanta. So, how did Butts go from a touring rock star to owning his own practice?
The WHO Just Recommended the Delay of Routine Dental Care due to COVID-19. Now What?
The WHO recently recommended the delay of routine dental care in certain situations due to COVID-19. In a written response, the ADA said it “respectfully yet strongly disagrees” with the WHO’s recommendation. Roger P. Levin, DDS, shared a video outlining a scripted response dental practices can use to address patient concerns. Dr. Levin also offers three signs that may signal patients are opting out of routine dental care due to this news.
Working with Patterson to Build a Dream Dental Practice
When planning to relocate and build out a larger office, Dr. Ricky L. Farmer trusted Patterson Dental to help him see his vision through. At nearly 8,000-square-feet, Lake Pointe Dental Care is now at 10 operational operatories with the capacity to go to 16, and the staff has more than doubled.
Combining Career and Community into A Successful Dental Practice
Dr. Ricky L. Farmer’s practice in Somerset, Ky., was successful, but patients couldn’t always be accommodated immediately in the 2,500-square-foot space. His vision was to transition to a larger group practice aligned with his philosophy of “contemporary, comprehensive, compassionate care.”
7 Tips for Financing Your New Technology
Have you been thinking about bringing new technology and equipment into your practice? Most of the latest dental tech can help practices perform quality dentistry more efficiently. And it can...
Technology in Practice: an Interview with Dr. Tarun Agarwal
Dr. Tarun Agarwal knows a thing or two about dental technology. The son of an Indian immigrant dentist, he has built several cutting-edge, successful practices, leveraging everything from digital impressions,...
Lend an Ear to These 15 Dental Industry Podcasts
September 30th is International Podcast Day, and we're celebrating by sharing with you a list of 15 dental industry podcasts worth lending an ear to. Podcasts as a whole have...