Athena Consulting: Dental Practice Solutions

Your dental degree, ego and $3.15 will buy you a latte at Starbucks!

If you graduated high in your class and feel well prepared to begin private practice after a few years of being an associate dentist, that’s wonderful. However, if your ego is telling you you’re “one of the best” and patients will knock down the front door of your practice on the first day, you’re mistaken.

Patients are not educated in the technical aspects of dentistry. They're not equipped to evaluate your skill level or whether you can provide them with a better crown than can the dentist down the block. They will judge your skill on concrete things they can see, feel, hear and process:

• whether or not you hurt them during the administration of local anesthesia.
• how well you treat them as people.
• the cleanliness of your office.
• the friendliness of your staff.

Becoming a dentist is a long process requiring a very expensive education, a tremendous time commitment and lots of energy and perseverance. Dental school isn’t fun. Did you like the way some of your Professors interacted with you?

Now you’ve graduated and you’re a doctor! Great.

The reality is that you are a person who happens to be a doctor. That was your choice in life. Many others could have made the same choice and commitment, but for whatever reason they chose a different career/life path – and that doesn’t make them any less important than you.

Treating your patients in a condescending manner won’t build your practice – and if you don’t build your practice you won’t be able to pay those school and practice loans.

Many doctors deliver a poor quality of dentistry but have booming practices because they are “people persons” with whom the public feels comfortable to provide their dental care. Doesn’t seem fair, does it. These people tell their friends and family how wonderful “Dr. Taylor” is and what great care they received – even though they don’t know their new crown has an open margin!

To enjoy a successful practice in a competitive location, set your arrogance and ego aside. When a patient refers to you by your first name, chances are the patient is not disrespecting your doctoral degree but rather feels so comfortable with you that he or she feels a special connection with you, almost a friendship. That patient has built trust and confidence in you. If that’s the case, congratulations are in order! You’ve done a great job interacting with that patient. He or she will accept your treatment recommendations and regularly refer other people to you.

Further, if your staff members call you by your first name when you are away from patients, that speaks volumes to what an excellent employer you are.

The choice to be “human” within your own dental practice is the best practice builder you will ever have. It’s all about comfort, both that of your patients and your staff. When people are comfortable, it provides an atmosphere much more conducive to a happy and profitable practice.

I’m glad you made the choice to become a doctor, but now is the time to get a handle on that feeling of self-importance and start becoming the nicest doctor you can be. Your patients will love you for it and your staff will jump onboard and go the extra mile to support you in your success!