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How to Enhance Communication in Dentistry

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It’s an understatement to say that all dental professionals need to have excellent communication skills.  We need to communicate effectively with our dental team members, labs, supply reps and especially our patients.  The goal of communication in dentistry is simple:  to empower our patients with the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision about their oral health.   Before you jump into talking to your patient about not flossing or how they’re brushing way too hard, here are some acceptable subjects for communication in dentistry to break the ice:

  • The weather
  • The patient.  People always love to talk about themselves.
  • Pets.  Does your patient have any pets?  Do you have pets?  Talk about them!  Animals make everyone happy.
  • Recent news

Sometimes just an honest smile and a joke can make all the difference in the world.  Friendly banter and some humor can dispel the patient’s stress.  Making a dental patient feel comfortable in your practice is one of the easiest ways to keep them coming back.

Communication in Dentistry:  Chairside

One of the most important elements to building a successful dental business is your chairside communication with your patients. Try these quick steps to effective chairside communication in dentistry:

  • Explain to your patients their dental problems precisely and in terms they will understand
  • Inform patients of your treatment recommendations
  • Let them know the potential consequences if treatment is delayed or ignored

Avoid these 10 mistakes from The Curious Dentist when presenting a treatment plan.

You’ll find that a compassionate approach will keep your dental patients engaged.  If you can’t communicate well with your patients and your team, you can’t win.  Communication in dentistry requires patience, humility, effort and is a process for continual improvement.

One of the biggest downfalls to a successful dental practice is the patient’s fear of treatment.  Patients can skip cleanings and put off treatments because they feel apprehensive.  You can prevent fear of dental treatment in the first place by simply talking to your patient.  Communicating—you guessed it—effectively.  If your patient needs a “scary” treatment like a root canal, break it to them gently.  Explain in detail why the treatment is necessary, allow the patient to ask questions and thoroughly describe how the procedure works.  When patients are aware of what to expect, they feel more confident in you and about their treatments.

It can be easy to get in the bad habit of herding patients through your doors like cattle to the point where patients start feeling like that.  Remember who they are—people!  No one wants to feel like “just another patient” in the lineup of your busy schedule.  Connect with them.  Communicate—really communicate—with your patients.  Take quick notes after your appointment about your conversation and follow up with your patients next time they are in.  Ask them how their family vacation was, how things are going at their new job and how their son’s big game went.

Communicating effectively and actually remembering details about your dental patients will make them feel special.  And guess what?  That feeling and connection creates a feeling of loyalty.  Patients who leave feeling special and connected to you and your practice are more likely to refer their family and friends.

There you have it.  Improving communication in dentistry with these simple tips can potentially bring more patients into your practice!  Happy communicating!

In only three simple steps you could be up and running with Patient Focus! Learn more today.

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5 Tips to Cultivating the Happiest Dental Patients Around

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Patient happiness and satisfaction is an area that many of us in the dental industry take for granted.  It’s become to say ‘we are not just treating teeth; we are treating people’, but it is oh so true.  There is tons of lip service given to this idea, but most times not a lot of action behind it.   Sure your dental patients may leave your practice with the healthiest teeth, but how was their experience?  How well were they treated?

Dental patients will appreciate the overall dental experience if they leave happy.  Then, they will come back and maintain excellent oral health and refer your office to friends and family.

Happy dental patients = successful dental practice

It’s time to provide your dental patients with quality care while making their office experience unforgettable.  Here’s how you can provide them with the best dental patient experience your office can offer and keep them smiling the moment they walk through your door.

Greet them.

Say hello and give your dental patients a warm welcome right when they come in the door.  It shows that you recognize them, that they matter and most importantly, that you care.

Remember who they are.

Everyone wants to feel special.  Make it a point to connect with them and remember details about their lives.  Connecting will not only ensure happy dental patients, but will create a sense of loyalty.

Don’t talk over their heads.

Patient education is important.  Always keep in mind your dental patients didn’t go to dental school. Speak in terms that they’ll understand.

Stay passionate.

It’s so easy to get into a rut at work.  Try to reignite that passion you felt when you first started practicing when you go about your day-to-day routine.

Use their name.

Call your patients by name whenever possible.  This will give them the sense that they are unique and being served personally and not just another number in your chair.

Making your dental patients happy should be your number 1 priority.  Why?  It’s simple—without patients you wouldn’t have a practice.  Use these tips to start cultivating the happiest dental patients around.

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In only three simple steps you could be up and running with Patient Focus! Learn more today.

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Create a Sensational Dental Patient Experience in 3 Simple Steps

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We\’92ve all at some point in our lives experienced a lack of customer service.  Has an experience with poor customer service left you asking yourself, \’93Do they not want my business?\’94  It can be one of the most frustrating things when a business treats you as if they couldn\’92t care less.  That is why exceptional customer service is so valuable. Providing this positive patient experience helps to set you apart from competitors who are too stressed, too busy or just plain oblivious to providing a superior patient experience to their patients.  

Always do everything you can do to exceed the patient\’92s expectations and stand out in their minds for excellent customer service.

Here are 3 simple steps to create a sensational dental patient experience.

Give Patients Some Control

A lot of times, dental patients feel like they have no control when they are with their dentist.  Before you begin the exam, sit down and take the time to talk with them about how you can help, listen to their problems, fears, and concerns.  Then, explain in detail what you will be doing to help them to make sure they fully understand the procedures you will be performing.   

Project Enthusiasm

Team members should always exude friendliness whether answering phones, welcoming patients at the front desk or during treatment.  A good rule of thumb is to treat patients like you would an old friend, instead of an interruption in your busy day.  

Follow Up

Dental patient contact shouldn\’92t end after they leave your clinic.   A quality patient experience involves ongoing communication. When you reach out after the initial patient visit, you show attentiveness and build and strengthen solid relationships that keep patients coming back.  

Strive to set yourself apart from the rest. Creating the best environment possible in your dental office enhances the patient experience.  Use these tips to keep your patients coming back.  

Want more dentist reviews? Improve patient satisfaction with these 3 tips!

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Common Characteristics of the Million Dollar Dental Clinic

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What makes a dental clinic exceptional and stand out among the rest?  A potential patient will be looking for specific characteristics when searching for their new dental clinic, ensure your dental practice has these characteristics.  

Here are some of the top characteristics of a dental clinic that rises above the rest. 

Friendliness

A professional and friendly staff will help your dental clinic shine.  Not only will it help staff morale internally, but patients will take note as well.  No one likes to be around a grump, especially in a setting where most patients are already feeling nervous, scared or apprehensive.  Create an atmosphere of lighthearted, personal and friendly communication.  

Achieve that sought after \’91WOW\’92 factor with these 4 ideas for creating the ultimate patient experience.

Structure

A million dollar dental clinic is structured for success, with crystal clear goals that are monitored constantly.  Create S.M.A.R.T. goals and share them with the team.  They will be true motivators for the dentist and staff when they are used consistently to gauge the practice\’92s progress.   

Skill

Both dentists and their staff should take their profession seriously and have a strong passion to deliver high quality care that lasts. Become a lifelong learner.  Your dental clinic should always be learning in order to deliver an ever-improving quality of care, and to apply new techniques and methods.  

Taking the Time

A stand out dental clinic values time\’97the patient\’92s time at the very top of the list.  Patient appointments should be adhered to and treatment should be completed in a timely manner.  Taking the time also involves answering all your patient\’92s questions and listening to any concerns.  Never speed through a patient\’92s treatment schedule.  Carefully and effectively explain a diagnosis and treatment if necessary.  

Communicate

Effective communication in the dental clinic includes listening, writing and talking.  Poor communication can have a negative effect on many aspects of the business, so it\’92s vital that you and your staff have clear communication to ensure all tasks and responsibilities are carried out correctly.  

Your dental clinic could be the best of the best if it possesses these common characteristics.  

Want to improve your business? Patient Focus can help your dental clinic find success through dental recall. Contact Patient Focus now to get more appointments.

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Dental Office Design Ergonomics for Making Patients Comfortable

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Let\’92s be real.  Dental visits are often associated with apprehension and discomfort.  Since there tends to be an aversion to dentistry, it is crucial to create a feeling of warmth and welcome in your dental practice.  One of the best ways to do this is through your dental office design ergonomics.  Ergonomics includes design factors, as for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by minimizing operator fatigue or discomfort. 

The goal is to make your patient\’92s entire experience from the reception area to the dental chair a calming, inviting and comfortable one.   They should feel at home right off the bat when stepping through your front door. 

Have your patients ever walked out of your dental office saying, \’93WOW!\’94?  Read this blog post to learn how to make your dental patients feel right at home and to create the ultimate patient experience!

Here are 6 things to consider when creating the best dental office design ergonomics to make your patients feel comfortable and right at home. 

Seating.  Dental chairs are a big part of your dental office design ergonomics.  Dental patient chairs should be comfortable, ergonomic, adjustable and durable.  The chair should be constructed of high quality materials and provide ultimate comfort and control.   Here are some ergonomic guidelines for selecting dental patient chairs

Colors.  Choose colors throughout the office that soothe and help relieve your patient\’92s fear or tension.  Here are some quick color tips to consider:

  • Blue: color of trust and intelligence
  • White: peaceful and honest
  • Brown: warm and inviting
  • Green: soothing and natural
  • Red: good for accents and to add a little pop, but too much red conveys the message of danger, pain and anger

Lighting.  Have light in several different directions to brighten the room\’97not just overhead fluorescent lighting.  Use windows if available for natural lighting to make the room seem airy and restful. 

Smell.  Bleach and anything that resembles an anesthetic smell should be avoided\’97it\’92s a clinical smell.  Avoid strong-smelling disinfectants and choose a neutral, pleasant smell. 

Sound.  Choose reception music carefully.  You want it to be quiet and fit the taste of the majority of your patients.  Generally a good go-to is classical chamber music. 

Keep the elderly in mind.  You may need to make some adjustments for your older patients.  Make sure your floors aren\’92t slippery and provide standard-height chairs that are firm and comfortable.

Having a pretty office isn\’92t enough.  Dental office design ergonomics should be geared to the comfort of your patients to make them feel at ease and entice them to come back again and again. 

Providing your patients with a goodie bag at the end of each visit shows your appreciation and furthers the conversation of preventative dental hygiene.  Here are 16 goodie bag ideas that you can give to your patients during a visit to your dental practice. 

 

 

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Wow Your Patients With These Awesome Goodie Bag Ideas

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A trip to the dentist can be stressful.  It\’92s smart for you to be doing all you can to try to ease that stress of your patients\’97new and existing. One way to help them feel comfortable is by sharing free items.   Remember visiting the dentist as a child and leaving happily with your shiny new free toothbrush?  The idea of free swag appeals to adults just the same!  Rewarding them for their \’93good behavior\’94 with a little memento or two to remember you by can do the trick. 

Providing your patients with a goodie bag at the end of each visit shows your appreciation and furthers the conversation of preventative dental hygiene.  It\’92s also the perfect way to advertise.  Your parting gifts can have your name, office and number so they have a constant reminder of your practice whenever they go to use them after their appointment. 

The first step to producing the best goodie bag for your dental office is to decide on the message you want to convey.  Will your goodie bags be providing oral health-care products?  Is it used as a marketing tool to promote your practice?  Be careful, creative and thoughtful when putting together your customized good bag. 

Here are 16 goodie bag ideas that you can give to your patients during a visit to your dental practice. 

  1. A toothbrush
  2. Business cards or magnets
  3. Floss
  4. Gum soft-picks
  5. Mouth rinses or sprays
  6. Handouts or brochures
  7. Coloring books or stickers for the kids
  8. Tongue scrapers
  9. Toothbrush covers
  10. Lip balm
  11. Coupons
  12. Dental timer
  13. Calendar
  14. Pen
  15. Sugar-free mints, candies or gum
  16. Hand sanitizer

Using these goodie bag ideas for your dental practice will demonstrate compassion, willingness to help and thoughtfulness for their oral health and apprehensiveness of visiting in the first place.  And who doesn\’92t like to get presents?  Your dental patient will walk out of your office with a bag full of free goodies and another reason to be pleased with the service they received.  That is never a bad thing.

Dental practices thrive by obtaining new patients and retaining current patients.  Because of this, it\’92s critical to make the patient experience a good and memorable one.  A patient satisfaction survey can help gauge your dental patient\’92s view of your practice.  Here\’92s how you can use a patient satisfaction survey to improve performance.    

Discover how you can begin realizing the increased revenue of a reactivated patient database with these 3 Simple Steps to Increased Revenue.

 

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4 WOW Factor Ideas for the Ultimate Patient Experience

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Have your patients ever walked out of your dental office saying, \’93WOW!\’94? 

All top-performing dental practices depend on one critical factor\’97providing an exceptional patient experience.  A patient experience that brings on the \’91WOW\’92 does not mean simply being nice and smiling. It starts with the first point of contact through when they physically set foot in your office and until they are out the door.  This first impression and patient experience will set the stage for a potential relationship with you and your dental team. 

Every single day, your decisions and actions are all stepping stones to turning your dental patients into raving, lifelong fans.  How can you make that happen? 

Achieve that sought after \’91WOW\’92 factor with these 4 ideas for creating the ultimate patient experience. 

Make a Killer First Impression

Never ever underestimate the power of a solid first impression.  Take for example the telephone.  This is often a prospective patient\’92s very first impression.  Consider establishing a set telephone greeting and decide who will be talking to patients.  Create a telephone script to provide a consistent message and go over various scenarios of how best to respond to questions and concerns. You can \’91hear\’92 when someone is smiling on the phone, so ensure your staff knows how important this is!

Razzle Dazzle Them the First Visit

The moment a patient arrives in your office, think of it as show time!  Or even better, like  welcoming a guest into your home.  Put yourself in their shoes.  What do they see when they first walk in?  Is your reception area aesthetically pleasing?  Decide to greet patients when they arrive and determine who on your staff is best fit to handle this.  You want to be sure that all exchanges are warm, quick and seamless and that you stay on time.  Try making morning huddles a priority so everyone is ready for new patients and on the same page every day. 

Make Them Feel Special

When a patient walks through your door or calls on the phone, smile and make them feel welcome.  Try to say the patient\’92s name at least three times.  Make a minimum of two connections with them such as talking about their family, hobbies or where they\’92re from.  Listen.  Truly listen.  Taking the time to hear their wants, needs and goals and acknowledge them will help you to connect with these individuals as people, not just patients, and ultimately build a trusting relationship. 

Have an Effective Dental Recall System

Not having the right system or tools in place can create or add stress for your practice.  If you\’92re stressed, your patients can feel that energy.  Through an effective dental recall system in place like Patient Focus, your practice will continue to develop and thrive!  Patient Focus offers your dental practice an effective dental recall system that has an impact on the dental health of your patients, restorative revenues, patient retention and practice growth. 

Do you struggle keeping appointments? Feel as though your calendar is a little emptier than usual? We\’92ve got your 5-Point Checklist to A Full Schedule: Essential Secrets to Successfully Filling Your Dental Chairs.

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