IDEAS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Practical ideas for better dentistry.
Thinking on case acceptance and efficiency to create a more successful practice.
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Red band handpieces
Still using an air turbine for restorative dentistry? I explain why I prefer electric red band handpieces for smoother cutting, consistent torque and a quieter working day.
Please take an x-ray
I’ve seen crowns placed over failed root fillings and toothache treated as TMJ pain. Five avoidable mistakes with one common thread: missing or inadequate x-rays.
Be more disagreeable
Being easy to deal with can come at a cost. I explore how avoiding confrontation can hold dentists back, and why saying “no” deserves a place in your practice.
Bullshit jobs
Is everything we do in a dental practice worthwhile? Inspired by David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs, I question the routines we perform without asking whether they actually help.
Go hard or go home
Buying a practice is one thing. Giving it a genuine chance to grow is another. Under-staffing, an answering machine and postponed improvements may cut costs, but they can also eliminate the growth potential.
Clear out your drawers
Do you have expired products, obsolete instruments and purchases you don’t like anymore. Tidying up lets you make deliberate choices about the materials and systems that belong in your practice.
Stop walking patients out
Walking patients to reception may seem like excellent service, but it can waste the dentist’s time and disrupt the front desk. I explain why a seamless team handover creates a better patient experience.
Bur butler
Going to the drawer to pick out burs one by one wastes time and isn't hygienic. I explain why the Shofu Bur Butler solved that problem in my own practice and became a permanent fixture on every tray.
Wear your loupes
I remember the shock of putting on loupes for the first time. Fillings I'd been proud of suddenly looked rough. I think every dentist should wear magnification for every procedure, not just the fiddly ones.
Rapid setup
I've timed how long it takes to setup for a root filling in 12 practices. It averages 10 minutes with the dentist standing idle. Here's how to get it down to 3 seconds.
Curly suction device
One of the cheapest, most useful pieces of kit I've ever used. It retracts the tongue and gives you a dry field without the fuss of rubber dam. Here's why the "curly suction" deserves a spot in every surgery.
Massively increase efficiency
I cut 12 hours from my working week and increased my net income. The change came from rethinking how my practice worked. Here’s how to make productive days easier.
What patients value
A lady told me she'd pay $200 more for a 30-minute crown prep appointment over a 90-minute one. That changed everything I thought I knew about fees.
Fourteen crowns. No rushing.
A day booked entirely with check-ups and cleans ended with fourteen crowns prepared. The surprising part was how calmly it all happened. Here’s what made that day possible, and why great dental days don’t have to be rare.
The courage to do less
Doing fewer procedures and doing them brilliantly leads to better outcomes and a more profitable practice. Here's the case for focus in dentistry.