Jim Du Molin offers dental marketing news and dental practice management advice for dentists.
Dentists are split over the use of dental lasers to fight gum disease. When dentists were asked if they use lasers on soft tissue in their dental practices, respondents were split right down the middle.
Half report that lasers are part of their periodontal management, and the other 50% indicate they do not use lasers on soft tissue.
The American Dental Association is dentistry’s largest professional organization, but not all dentists feel that the ADA represents their interests.
One Missouri dentist declared, “The ADA has actually become the enemy of the general dentist!”
The Wealthy Dentist conducted a survey asking dentists if the ADA is dominated by specialists who are trying to promote their own agenda over the welfare of the general dentist.
Almost two thirds of the respondents felt specialists are using the ADA so that they can make money at the expense of general dentists.
Watch the video below to hear more of what both dentists and specialists have to say about the ADA –
General dentists were eight times more likely to criticize the ADA over specialists.
How do you feel about the ADA?
Prosthodontists, periodontists and oral surgeons love dental implants, and so do general dentists. Specialists claim they are more qualified to place dental implants, but a lot of general dentists place dental implants.
Said one general dentist, “I place implants myself, but only in ideal situations.”
Another general dentist said, “After referring to specialists and getting back poor work , I thought: How much worse can I do? Now I offer implants.”
This The Wealthy Dentist survey asked the question that many dentists requested we ask: Do you place your own dental implants?
Click on Play to hear how dentists and specialists responded —
Ever since American Idol judge and Aerosmith lead singer, Steven Tyler received dental implants this year to restore his two front teeth by a dentist in Paraguay, there’s been a new surge of interest in implant technology.
What are your thoughts on who should be placing dental implants?
We conducted a survey that asked dentists what questions dental patients ask when considering getting implants. It turns out that there’s a real difference between the questions dental implant patients do ask — and which questions they should be asking.
Dentists responded with the following . . .
The top 5 questions dental patients ask –
Versus . . .
The top 5 questions dentists want patients to ask –
Many dental implant patients seem to have the same questions about dental implant therapy. Unfortunately, these questions aren’t necessarily the ones dentists think they should be asking.
The 2 main questions patients ask are –
When dentists feel their very first question should be –
There is really a disconnect between the doctor and patient. This is no surprise, since patients are thinking about how they are going to pay for the implants, and whether the procedure will be painful.
But doctors can’t afford not to address the primary concerns of the patient first: cost and pain.
One dentist wrote, “Long term, when the conditions are favorable, proper bone density, height and width, proper biomechanical considerations, proper occlusal load. A dental implant is more cost effective over a 3 unit bridge. However, when the above conditions are not meet — the 3 unit bridge (with sufficient ferule, impressions taken with custom made tray and properly impressioned, properly articulated, preprosthetic endodontic treatment performed by an endodontist, core-restoration — not in composite) will be more cost effective (for the patient).”
Read more: Dental Implant Questions for the Dentist
Fully 68% of dentists think that they need more new patients. Only 9% say they have as many new patients as they need. 23% are just getting by.
“We need new patients. This is possibly due to the fact that we have chosen not to engage in managed care, i.e., our name is not on these lists,” opined a New Jersey dentist.
Here are just a few of the comments from dentists on needing more new patients:
“New patient flow has tapered off!!” (California dentist
“Our town has had no growth in several years, so new patients are hard to come by.” (Texas dentist)
“We need patients with more $$$$” (Minnesota dentist)
“What battle are we fighting? Poor economy? Patients in a general funk and therefore just putting off dental care? Decreasing insurance coverage? Lack of perceived need? Etc? Etc? If we knew the enemy, it would be easier to address.” (Iowa dentist)
“New patient influx is affected by the holidays. We don’t see as many in November and December!” (General dentist)
“I have a unusual practice. I own a walk-in dental ER. We need about 200 new patients in pain. We have been open about 2 years and are starting to get some (50%) referrals. About 15% are now returns. Radio and the Internet account for most. The phone book gets a few older adults. This is a new idea for Springfield MO. and I am pleased with the progress.” (Missouri ER dentist)
“We have gone back to the dirty days of hucksterism and bait-and-switch in this profession. New patients are bought, stolen and traded. The destroy the reputation game on the Internet leaves patients confused and distrusting. Dentists are regaining the reputation of thieving ‘sharpies’.” (Pennsylvania dentist)
“How about a survey asking if dentists feel this recession is ending? Getting worse? Or developed into a depression? The driver of my lab (one of the largest in the state) that is a very good friend/patient says that half the employees are laid off and the other half are forced to take every 4th day off from lack of business from dentists. We are in crisis mode but no one wants to talk publicly about it.” (Indiana dentist)
Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet marketing expert for dentists in North America. He has helped hundreds of doctors make more money in their practices using his proven Internet marketing techniques.
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