IDEAS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Practical ideas for better dentistry.
Thinking on case acceptance, efficiency and creating a more successful practice.
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The productivity paradox
It's less tiring to produce $8,000 per day than $1,500. This deep dive explains why and what separates practices that feel effortless from those that grind.
Your best dentistry may never get done
Communication is a vital skill yet most dentists don't know they're getting it wrong. A challenge for every dentist who cares about their patients.
Questions patients ask
A practical guide to the tough questions patients ask about cost, necessity, and risk and how to answer them in a way that builds trust and acceptance.
The 30-minute crown preparation
A streamlined approach to crown preparation that delivers predictable clinical results in 30 minutes. How to work faster without cutting corners.
3 productivity boosters
Improve dental practice productivity with delegation, consistent clinical systems and block scheduling. Three practical ways to achieve more with less stress.
Why dentists run late
The most efficient dentist I ever watched never kept anyone waiting. His approach taught me why small problems in setup, scheduling and workflow can leave the rest of us running behind all day.
6‑handed dentistry
6‑handed dentistry boosts productivity, and lowers stress. Most dentists overlook this workflow but it can add hours of productivity to every week.
When less is better
Fewer tools, fewer steps, fewer decisions. Minimalism in dentistry leads to better outcomes, lower costs, and a happier dentist.
Patients who cost you big time
Some patients cost far more than the appointments they miss or the fees they pay. They drain your energy, unsettle your team and take the pleasure out of dentistry. Here are patient types I’ve learned to be wary of, and why.
Massively increase case acceptance
Clinical skill doesn't matter until a patient says yes. A practical framework to communicate more effectively and get more case acceptance.
The cost of clutter
Clutter isn’t just a mess. It’s a tax on your attention, your speed, and your clinical confidence. Here’s how and why to get rid of it.
Explain outcomes, not procedures
Patients aren't interested in the clinical steps. They want to know what their teeth will look like after treatment. Explain outcomes not procedures.
Behaviour that creates doubt
Patients notice when you soften the truth even when you mean well. It makes them doubt you.
Instantly make patients trust you
When explaining treatment to patients, a simple question can boost trust enormously.
Step away from the computer
Lunchtime in a dental office should be for relaxing, not writing treatment notes. Doctors need to delegate.
What’s your time worth?
A group of dentists dismissed a time-saving syringe because it cost $1 more. I did the maths. The result challenges how we think about the cost of dental materials and the value of our time.