Blog Category: Dental Practice Tips

Intraoral Camera as Marketing Tool

Intraoral Camera as
Marketing Tool

Using an Intraoral Camera as Marketing Tool

From the very beginning, intraoral cameras have been used to communicate with patients better. Many doctors are using their intraoral cameras to pitch or even convince patients to start treatment. Although intraoral cameras are designed to help doctors increase case acceptance, the intention behind your treatment plan is what really matters. In this article, our Digital Doc team discusses the dos and don’ts for using intraoral cameras as a marketing tool.

Getting Patients to Say Yes to Treatment

Of course, we want patients to say yes to our treatment plans. More “yesses” equal more money, right? But, it’s pretty obvious when doctors are seeing patients as customers rather than people. Although intraoral cameras are an excellent diagnostic tool, they’re exactly just that- a diagnostic tool. Some doctors will take it a step too far and use their dental cameras solely as a communication tool, pushing patients’ treatment. In turn, patients feel like they’re being “sold” treatment and will ultimately go elsewhere.

Building Rapport and Trust With Patients

Building patient rapport and trust is key to a higher case acceptance rate. How do you avoid breaking trust and strengthen patient rapport? The short answer is to stop overtreating. Patients are excellent at reading body language, so they can tell if you simply care about them or racking up treatment. Instead of using your dental camera to show the patient their mouth, use it to help show you their mouth.

Ask your hygienist to take notes while you examine the patient’s smile. Call out the different dental concerns you see, such as cracks or decay, and address them with your patient afterward. Your patient will, of course, hear the conversation between you and the hygienist. When talking to your patient about these concerns, show them the pictures you took during the examination. At the end of their appointment, they will feel less like a customer and more like patients.

When to Use Your Intraoral Cameras

Are you the type of doctor who only uses their dental cameras during emergency appointments? If you are, you’re missing out on a lot of treatment opportunities. Dental cameras need to be in every operatory and used at every appointment. Not only is this a great way to track patient’s oral health, but it also makes dental insurance claims go a lot smoother. Our friend Dr. Eastham, a dentist in Grand Junction, CO, agrees that intraoral cameras are excellent diagnostic tools, and you should be using them every day.

Investing in Advanced Dental Technology

Does your intraoral camera collect dust in a drawer? If so, you have the wrong dental camera. Dentists should always invest in premium advanced dental technology. It should deliver high definition images every time and be easy for every team member to use. Digital Doc LLC provides doctors worldwide with the best dental technology on the market. Are you interested in learning about our new IRIS X80 Liquid Lens Auto-Focus Intraoral Dental Camera? Contact Digital Doc today to schedule a complimentary virtual demonstration.

Rules to Increase Case Acceptance

Rules to Increase Case Acceptance in Your Practice

What do you need to get a “yes” from your patients? There’s no easy fix, magic wand, or potion that will give you treatment-acceptance success. The difference between success and failure is not a secret but a secret formula. In this article, our Digital Doc team shares simple rules to increase case acceptance in your dental practice.

Believe You Can Increase Case Acceptance

When you put your mind to something, you can do anything. Confidence comes from training, education, and experience in knowing what you’re doing. A patient or team member will know when you feel confident about something. Having a “yes” mentality will give you a positive commitment to achieve your goals. Are your thoughts generally positive or negative? The saying, “We become what we think about couldn’t be more true.” Negative thoughts will block the ability to concentrate on positive ones—those that give rise to success.

Believe you can increase case acceptance in your practice. Why? Because you and your team are capable of providing the best comprehensive dentistry. Once you change your mindset, everything will start to fall into place.

Good Intentions

Intentions are everything these days. To increase case acceptance in your practice, you’ll need to clarify intentions in order for the team to succeed. It’s your job as the dentist to direct team efforts, office culture, and development strategies. As you already know, working together is a critical part of driving revenue in your practice. When you work together, patients notice. Dr. Boals, a dentist in Colorado Springs, recommends having morning huddles, where you can set the intentions for the day. Then there’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t be on the same page.

Teamwork

Patients will look for any excuse not to start treatment. When they’re spending their time and money, who could blame them? They need to know they chose the best dental office for their dental treatment. Therefore, having your team in order is crucial. Make sure everyone on your team is thoroughly trained; that way, opportunities aren’t missed.

Education & Skills

The dental industry is very competitive. There are dental offices everywhere we look. So, how do you stay competitive? Continuing education credits are an excellent way to keep up to date with the latest dental practices. There are plenty of CE credit opportunities available. You just have to find a specialty that sparks your interest. The more education and skills you have, the more confidence you’ll have to provide your patients with the best care.

The same goes for your team. Start by providing in-office opportunities for your team. Ask them if they would prefer monthly, quarterly, or yearly training. Training can consist of new strategies and technologies that can better the practice. For instance, if you invest in a new intraoral camera for your practice, have each team member go through training. That way, you know everyone is comfortable using the new advanced dental technology.

10 Tips to Improve Patient Experience at Your Dental Office

Tips to Improve Patient Experience

Tips to Improve Patient Experience 2021

Every dentist would like to see a high patient loyalty level, numerous positive reviews, and word of mouth recommendations. Exceptional clinical care alone may not produce these effects but will certainly ensure that the patient’s experience is excellent. Below, our Digital Doc team shares some tried-and-tested tips to improve your patient experience in your dental office.

Make Your Office Easy to Find

Not many dental offices have the benefit of having an entire building all to themselves, so it goes without saying that new patients need to be able to reach your office effortlessly. Digital signage and other means to guide patients to the dental office will go a long way towards making the first impression of your patients a good one. With that first aspect of patient experience nailed, you will have fertile ground to build upon to cement your dental office as the best.

Expedite the Intake Process

Once the patients get to your dental office, the intake process must be as seamless and swift as possible. For example, interactive displays and check-in kiosks are a good way to eliminate queuing up at the reception during the intake process. The patients’ first 5 minutes in your office can make or break their experience, so make sure your front office is fast and effective.

Make Wait-Times Seem Shorter

Making patients wait is one of the most common complaints in dentistry. While you can do everything possible to avoid making patients wait for their appointments, it is sometimes inevitable that patients will have to wait. Provide entertainment and digital signage to keep your patients engaged while they wait. In this way, the wait-time will seem to be much shorter than it actually is.

Free Wi-Fi Available

In today’s world, most people carry around some form of technology. Whether that’s their smartphone, laptop, or tablet. What better way to minimize the effect of wait-times than by allowing free Wi-Fi in your office? Patients will greatly appreciate having free Wi-Fi, especially if they have little ones.

Chairside Efficiency is Key

Let’s face it. Very few patients look forward to undergoing a dental treatment. So, the secret to giving them a great experience includes being as efficient as possible.

For starters, ensure that all the supplies and equipment you will need are available in the operatory before the patient comes in. Pausing a procedure as you wait for a dental assistant to bring something you need isn’t exactly the best etiquette.

The technology you use in your dental practice can directly affect your patients’ experience. Upgrading your dental devices will not only show patients that you are keeping up with the latest technology, but it will also show them that you are serious about providing the best services possible. For example, it will take you a shorter time to examine your patient’s teeth for caries if you have the LUM Transillumination device from Digital Doc. The IRIS Intraoral Cameras made by Digital Doc also increase efficiency because you will instantly access high-quality images for diagnostic and case presentation purposes.

Make the Environment More Relaxing

You cannot go wrong if you invest in creating positive vibes at your dental office. A relaxing environment can go a long way towards easing any anxieties that your patients may have, so play soothing music in the waiting area, provide cozy seats and pass around relaxing refreshments so that your patients can be put at ease. Our friends at OG Dental, a dental office in Denver, CO, offer a comfort plan to help patients relax. This includes offering patients headphones to watch Netflix, warm towels, and more.

Don’t Ignore the Operatory

Many dental offices go all out the make the waiting area as welcoming as possible, but they pay little attention to the examination room. This is a mistake because the exam room is the one place where patients are most uneasy. Therefore, it is wise to be as meticulous as possible when selecting everything you put in the operatory. For example, the walls should be painted using a warm and calming color. The relaxing music you provide in the waiting room should also be played in the exam room to carry over their relaxation from the waiting room to the exam room until they leave.

Involve the Patient in Their Care

You can go a long way in enhancing the patients’ experience by making the patient an active participant in their care. For example, you can use the monitor in your operatory to display the images captured using a handheld x-ray machine or the best dental camera made by Digital Doc. Discuss these images with your patients and highlight the problem areas observed. That discussion between you and the patient will put the patient in the driving seat, and his or her experience at your office will be enhanced.

Hopefully, you can use the tips above to conduct a brainstorming session with your staff so that you come up with the specific steps that you can take to improve the patient experience at the dental office. At Digital Doc, we are committed to providing best-in-class dental technology, such as intraoral cameras, handheld x-rays, and other modern dental technology. Contact Digital Doc today and let us talk about how we can help you transform your patients’ experience for the better at your dental office.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in December 2019 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

XTG Handheld X-ray Training

XTG Handheld X-ray Training for Your Practice

New to Digital Doc’s XTG Handheld X-ray device? In the article below, our Digital Doc team discusses training for the XTG Handheld X-ray Device. The successful training of this training is required in some jurisdictions. Please note that as part of this training, users should study the XTG Handheld X-ray Device Manual in its entirety before operating this device. It is your responsibility to ensure the proper and safe use of XTG. Complete any applicable exams or certificates of completion required by your jurisdiction. This training is presented under the assumption that operators have basic radiation training.

This video will include the following:

XTG Difference
XTG Settings
Proper Positioning
Safety
Warranty/Technology Support

XTG Difference

The XTG provides your office with a new patient experience. This unit allows the operator to stay in the room with the patient. Explain to the patient that your office invests in technology that is safe, now allowing the operator to stay in the room when taking x-rays. Efficiency is important for both the patient and the office, as this device will save you time, taking your series of x-rays.

The shoulder strap allows the operator to take an x-ray and adjust the sensor without putting the x-ray down, saving you time. The unit, when worn cross-shoulder, distributes the weight throughout your back, making it lightweight, reducing operator fatigue.

XTG Control Panel & Display

Please refer to the XTG Training video to learn about the following:

The position is Power & Off
Patient Size (Adult/Child)
Ready Status Indicator
kV Type Display
Battery Charge Indicator
Mode select (s) button
Up/Down Exposure Time Control Button
Exposure Time/Error Display
Tooth Type Display

XTG Exposure Time

When choosing exposure time, consider the following:

Image density preference
Clinical quality preference
The various imaging sensors available
Patient size & practitioner techniques

Exposing an X-Ray

The XTG Has a two-step exposure button that has a safety that unlocks for five seconds. To unlock, just press and release the button. To take an x-ray, you will press and hold the exposure button until the system completes the series of beeps.

Positioning with XTG

With every exposure, make sure the backscatter shield is parallel with the operator. You can use rin holders or bite tabs. If using a ring holder, we recommend using this short rin bar. You want to be as close to the patients’ cheek as possible with any image you’re taking. The traditional rin bars can be too long, causing the exposure to remain away from the patient, resulting in poor image quality.

Bitewing Imaging

For the bitewing imaging, just keep your patient looking straight ahead. For the posterior mandibular pa, the patient will tilt their head up and to the side. Posterior maxillary pa, the patient will tilt their head down and to the side. There are multiple positions for anterior pa for adult and pedo. See the video to learn more.

Disinfecting XTG

Disinfecting your handheld x-ray device is easy. You can wipe this unit down with a non-alcohol wipe, such as a sani cloth. You can use a sheath to cover the shoulder strap, blue tape for the side strap, or a bag to cover the entire unit.

Battery Replacement

To replace your battery, simply remove the two screws on the bottom of the XTG, remove the battery, and replace. This can be done in the office.

XTG Warranty

A one year warranty on XTG covers all manufactured defects. Extended warranty is available. Contact your local Digital Doc territory manager for more details.

Only trained operators should be allowed to use XTG. Review the XTG user manual, follow all safety recommendations, stay in the safe protection zone, site through the backscatter shield. If you’re not able to stay in the protection zone, you should wear protective clothing. Secure the XTG when not in use in its locked case. Follow all rules for radiation safety in your local jurisdiction—Register XTG with the appropriate agency. Contact Digital Doc if you have any questions or need support.

Yankee Dental Congress 2021

Yankee Dental Congress

Yankee Dental Congress 2021

The Yankee Dental Congress has been an excellent platform for the dental community to learn, connect, and keep up with current trends and technology.

This year, The Yankee Dental Congress looks a little different. Due to COVID 19 restrictions, the 2021 Yankee Dental Congress will be completely digital from January 28 – 30, 2021.

Our Digital Doc team is excited to be attending this year’s virtual forum. Those who participate in #YankeeDental2021 will be given access to exclusive offers on Digital Doc technology. If you have not already purchased your tickets, you can still register for the online conference.

Why Attend the Yankee Dental Congress

The Yankee Dental Congress is something our company looks forward to every year. So, why should you attend this year’s virtual conference? To start, you and your team have the opportunity to learn and connect with industry leaders in roundtable styled discussions, demos, and more. Attendees will have over 40 CE credits to choose from. Take advantage of tips and strategies that you and your team can implement immediately.

Digital Doc Offers

Our Digital Doc team will be offering exclusive deals on our advanced dental technology during the 2021 Yankee Dental Congress. Not sure about investing in new dental technology? Dentists worldwide can attest to Digital Doc technology increasing their practice’s revenue while increasing patient rapport. Our team is happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Exclusive offers for the 2021 Yankee Dental Congress Event:

Purchase 2 X80 Intraoral Cameras and Receive the 3rd Camera for ½ off
Purchase 2 X80 Intraoral Cameras and Receive LuM for FREE ($3,495 value

We hope to see you at this year’s Yankee Dental Congress digital event! Please contact Digital Doc or Yankee Dental if you have any questions. We will be attending more dental trade shows this year so stay tuned!

Setting Practice Goals for the New Year

Setting Dental Practice Goals for the New Year

It’s the time of year to make New Year’s resolutions. Why not strive to make goals that are easy to maintain with your practice. If you have trouble making realistic resolutions for your dental practice, read our top practice goals for the new year.

Empower Your Team

Build a staff meeting rhythm and stick to it. If you meet once a week, once a month, or annually, it is essential to develop a positive rapport with your staff. Why not get into the habit of thanking your team? Employees who feel respected are more likely to stick around when things get rough and do the little bit extra for you. Our friend Dr. Ben Kacos, a family dentist in Shreveport, LA, says that studies have shown that satisfied teams are efficient teams. Help the best workers perform even better. As a practice owner, it is likely that you spend your time solving problems. As a result, some of your best workers don’t get the recognition and time they need from you.

SMART Goals

You’ve likely heard of SMART Goals. Setting SMART goals is a more efficient way to achieve goals. They are precise, measurable, attainable, applicable, and time-bound. For example, if it’s your goal is to increase your practice’s case acceptance, be precise. For example, to increase billings by 10% of the previous monthly output. The goal must be attainable. If the target is too much of a stretch, it can demotivate your team, which will have a negative long-term impact on growth. Make the goal important so that your team members know exactly what they need to do to accomplish the goal.

Monitor Scheduling

As practice owners, your schedule can sometimes take control of your life. Your appointment schedule is a vital part of a successful practice. When the schedule falls apart, you’ll need your team to step in. There is no space for complacency or discrimination in this process. Good communication skills are required to arrange appointments in such a way that patients understand the significance and importance of keeping them. Your team must be completely committed to this process.

Costs of Control Workers.

Effective practice is supposed to run at 20-25% of staff costs. If staff costs are higher, that may be because you have too many workers versus the workload. If you have so many openings in your hygiene schedule, you should reduce the number of hygiene hours you have opened. On average, you should be able to hire one full-time hygienist per 1,000 active patients on the basis of 250 working days per year and 1.5 to 2 patient visits per year.

Management of Sundry Supplies.

Effective practices are expected to run at 5% or less of monthly billing. The problem with this metric is that there is sometimes uncertainty about the proper distribution of sundries and confusion about what the sundries are. Inventory management is an essential part of this process, as well as creating a monthly budget using the appropriate metric, i.e., a dollar figure based on the previous month’s invoices or collections.

Lab Costs

Lab costs are projected to run at 10% or higher. If they are less, it may mean that you are conducting bread and butter services but that there are fewer high-end services, such as crowns, bridges, implants, etc. Treatment plans need to be followed up, and a trained Treatment Coordinator can help promote treatment and improve the productivity of the practice.

Accounts Receivable

There should be no accounts pending for 90 days. Both bank managers deem 90-day accounts to be uncollectible. If your patients have obtained dental services and have not paid for them within three months, they likely have no intention of paying you. Reimbursement will be issued within two weeks, including insurance-driven practices that embrace assignment. In most cases, insurance providers will reimburse the patient regardless of the assignment strategy. Remember, it doesn’t matter how much you charge, only how much you collect.

Communication

Consistency in communication is key to the success of your practice. As doctors, it’s your duty to provide the best dental care possible. At Digital Doc, we know how difficult it can be to effectively communicate with patients and team members. One of the best ways to eliminate this communication barrier is to invest in advanced dental technology. Many patients appreciate being shown exactly what’s happening to their oral health. IRIS intraoral cameras allow patients to see anything and everything you or your team sees. When you go above, and beyond patient education, it empowers your patients to say yes to case acceptance.

Now that you have inspiration for setting practice goals for the new year, you can take charge of 2021! Increasing the overall quality of your practice will help improve the work environment and quality of care. If you’d like to learn more about our dental technology, schedule a virtual consultation with one of our Digital Doc representatives. Our team is happy to help you find dental technology for your modern dental practice. Learn how to achieve sustainable growth and profitability for years to come!

Best Holiday Gifts for Dental Hygienists

Best Holiday Gifts to Give Your Dental Hygienists

Holiday Gifts Your Dental Hygienists Will Actually Love

You’ve worked with your dental hygienist for a while, and with the holiday season fast approaching, you’re thinking about getting them something to show your appreciation. The problem is, you don’t know what to get them. What’s unique and practical but won’t sit in the closet? We know exactly what you should get! Below, Digital Doc has put together some of the best holiday gifts to give your dental hygienists this year.

The LUM Transillumination

This is an easy to use transillumination device that gives instant documentation and the detection of all its findings. It detects a tooth’s impurities by shining a high-intensity light onto the tooth. In a tooth that has no impurities, the light travels to the lingual from the buccal surface uninterrupted. While in a tooth with impurities such as leaking amalgam or fractures, the light disperses, showing clearly in images.

The Iris X80 Camera

This is the best intraoral camera as it can adjust its focus automatically and monitor the area (mouth cavity) using an internal computer. As it doesn’t require installation, this makes it easy to use. It also provides high definition images and has dual capture buttons for ease of use. There are so many other advantages the X80 has to offer. Dr. Honag, a dentist in Bethlehem, GA, agrees that dental cameras are a game-changer for both hygienists and dentists! You truly can’t go wrong with upgrading.

If you want to spoil your dental hygienists this year while improving your practice’s case acceptance, purchasing Digital Doc’s X80 is the perfect gift.

Portable Handheld X-Ray Device

Digital Doc’s portable handheld x-ray device allows your hygienists to capture dental x-rays without having the patient move operatories. This device acts as a camera. All you have to do is point and shoot, and your dental x-rays will be instantly uploaded to the imaging software! The XTG handheld x-ray is durable, comes with a shoulder strap, and lasts all day long! Your dental hygienists will truly appreciate this dental technology.

Blū Digital Dental Sensor

We’ve saved the best for last. Digital Doc’s new digital intraoral sensor is our favorite new toy. Blū comes in two different sizes. It’s compact and durable design allows dental hygienists to take high-quality dental images. Not only does Blū make their job easier, but it also makes the doctor’s job easier. With Blū’s high contrast images, your diagnostic reliability is through the roof.

Contact Digital Doc

When it comes to gifting, knowing the person you’re gifting gives you an inkling of what they might like. You may find out that they’d like the best dental sensor or a nice autofocus dental camera for Christmas. Now that you know all of our best holiday gifts for dental hygienists, you can decide which is best! If you’re having trouble deciding, schedule a virtual demo with us today! We will help you decide which products are best for your team. Happy holidays!

Proactive Year-End Tax Tips for Dentists

We are less than a month away from year’s end. Owners of dental practices should be focusing on what they can do to save this current year and the coming year’s taxes. While some doctors and accountants prefer to wait till January in the new year to do this, you shouldn’t. You may not have enough time to improve your strategies for tax reduction. Below we explore some proactive year-end tax tips for dentists.

Have You Thought About Cost-Segregation?

If you own the building your dental office resides in or you conducted any renovation/remodel/tenant improvement, this may be one of the most significant tax deductions ever. If you didn’t carry out any of the above, you still get a normal depreciation deduction on commercial real estate distributed over a 39-year period.

It should be noted, though, that the IRS recognizes that not everything in a building lasts the 39-year period. They, therefore, classify different components/materials that depreciate fast in a 5, 7, or 15-year period. So, instead of spreading the materials out over the 39-year time frame, you can accelerate the materials depreciation. For high quality portable dental x-rays that will not depreciate easily, contact Digital Doc today.

Evaluate Business Structures

Until a practice proves its ability to generate revenue, most dental practices start as sole proprietorships for tax purposes. While some dental practices may still be filing their taxes as C-corporations, it makes more sense to file your taxes as an S-corporation. Mainly because S-corporation owners can report the firm’s revenue as personal income, so they don’t pay tax. Choosing to file your taxes as an s-corporation can be done at any time in the fiscal year.

Ever Thought of Prepaying Known Expenses?

Prepaying some of your known expenses for next year before December 31 allows you to accelerate deductions for this year. Practices are permitted to prepay rent for a 10-month period and subtract it in the current year. If you are aware that you’ll incur supply and lab bills from purchasing handheld dental x-rays in the coming year, one can convey a pre-paid tab to their vendors and deduct it for this financial year.

Additionally, Dr. Beth Herko, a family dentist in New Providence, NJ, points out that any item charged or ordered using a credit card can also be expensed in the current year. This ensures that you don’t have to pay right away, and you can make use of the tax write-off.

Review your Depreciation Deduction Options

Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code permits businesses to take immediate deductions for business expenses that are related to assets that depreciate, such as vehicles and equipment. So, if you require any autofocus dental camera equipment in your practice that will help generate more revenue, you may write it off before the end of the year. Ask your accountant whether you have enough tax basis in your practice to write off the total asset value before you make the purchase.

You should ensure that the transilluminator equipment has been installed and is in use by December 31 if you would like to take advantage of this deduction.

Did You Know You Can Put Your Children on Payroll?

The Internal Revenue Service says that children aged six and above can be employed through one’s business. Every year, you should consult your accountant on the yearly limit kids can make without getting taxed in exchange for actual services provided, which may include cleaning an office or arranging your dental cameras. You can utilize the funds acquired in funding tuition fees or college savings accounts.

Have You Reviewed Retirement Plans and Options?

Ensure that you’ve invested in your practice properly before investing elsewhere. Investing in your dental practice not only provides you with the equivalent tax deduction of an individual who invested in any retirement plan (pre-tax) but also has a higher ROI.

Does your practice has a healthy revenue stream? You should consult on larger retirement plan strategies that go beyond the normal profit-sharing, 401k plans. Consult your accountant as well as your investment advisor.

It is important to note that you shouldn’t buy a handheld X-ray or any other dental equipment or invest in a venture simply to avoid getting taxed. You should make each decision with the growth of your practice and its financial health in mind. However, if you’d like to purchase equipment that would help generate more revenue for your dental business, contact Digital Doc.

Now that you’ve learned some year-end tax tips for dentists, you can go into 2021 feeling financially ready. Here at Digital Doc, we have various high-quality equipment that would suit your business needs. Stop wasting your money and time purchasing low-quality equipment that is unreliable. Contact Digital Doc today for a free virtual demonstration.

How to Get Your Patients to Use Dental Benefits Before They Expire

How to Get Your Patients to Use Dental Benefits

How to Get Your Patients to Use Dental Benefits Before They Expire

For many, a new year brings new opportunities to better ourselves. In the dental world, a new year means that patients’ dental benefits reset. As 2020 comes to an end, many dental practices are faced with the dilemma of getting their patients to accept and complete their dental treatments. Below are a few Digital Doc tips for how to get your patients to use dental benefits before they expire on January 1st.

Flexible Spending Accounts

This is an account that you can create through your employer. You can choose the number of funds you will put into the account, which will then be deducted from every one of your paychecks, pre-tax. These accounts cover dental products or services such as dentures, teeth cleaning, and braces. These days, dentists use non-invasive equipment such as the best dental cameras to carry out their checkups.

To encourage your patient to complete any pending treatment they may have, remind them that they can utilize their FSA benefits pay for their treatments, along with their dental insurance benefits. Make them aware that if they don’t use their dental benefits, they will lose them.

Educate Your Patients

Your patients need to be educated on the importance of not delaying treatment and the consequences that come with doing so. Your dental team should therefore be trained on how to do this. If you’ve had a cavity or a toothache before, you know that they never get better on their own, only worse. You should encourage your patients to complete their treatment as soon as they possibly can. This will help avoid more extensive, expensive, and painful treatment if you utilize the best dental technology, such as a handheld dental x-ray and a transilluminator, to locate the affected areas and treat you in no time.

When a patient is being escorted to the check-out area, the front desk should be aware of each patient’s treatment plan and their remaining yearly maximum and their benefits details. The patient should then be informed on this while explaining what would happen if one fails to use their benefits. Additionally, they should also be informed of what can happen if dental treatment is delayed. You should always try to schedule their next dental appointment before they leave.

Promote Same-day Treatments

Talk to patients who haven’t used up their dental benefits but are in the dentist’s office for a scheduled visit. Encourage them to stay by informing them that if they undergo treatments now. This will save them an additional visit to the dentist.

Patients who have met their yearly deductible but still have more treatments to undergo, inform them that this deductible will be applied to next year’s treatment as it will reset along with their benefits.

Dental Insurance

If you would prefer not to call up your patients like a telemarketer, send them a newsletter. The newsletter should contain details about the patient’s dental insurance and non-invasive equipment, such as the best intraoral camera or handheld Xray, used in diagnosis and treatment. This will allow you to target your patient base on a large scale while also educating them on the benefits of completing treatment. You can also encourage them to use their dental benefits before they expire through this medium.

It may sound like something everyone should know, but most patients don’t know anything that concerns their dental benefits. Therefore, it is up to dental practices to inform them that they should use them before their expiry.

There’s No Time Like the Present

Patients with extensive treatment plans need to be informed about the benefits expiring. Not only will they be able to apply for their unused benefits, but they’ll also save more when they resume their treatments the following year. To find patients with large treatment plans, use Dentrix, a treatment plan coordinator. This system will generate lists of patients who have:

Unused dental benefits
No scheduled appointments with the dentist
Not completed their treatment plans

You can then contact the patients directly through text, emails, or calls.

Most dental plans pay 90% for preventative visits, so you should encourage your patients to schedule a visit. Regular dental cleanings can help detect early signs of cavities, oral cancer, and gum disease. Dr. Moghadam, a family dentist in Easton, PA, agrees that modern dental technology like dental cameras helps tremendously with diagnosing patients. Checkups can also help prevent these dental problems.

You can also remind your patients that they pay dental insurance premiums each month without enjoying the benefits. No one wants to lose money, so they will most definitely book an appointment. Digital Doc provides you with the best equipment for your dental practice, ranging from digital dental sensors, portable dental x-rays to the best intraoral cameras. Contact us today and upgrade your facility with these current technologies.

What is Your Dental Practice Worth?

What is Your Dental Practice Really Worth?

While many homeowners know how much their homes might be worth in the current market, the same cannot be said for dentists, not in terms of homeownership but about their practices. It is estimated that more than 90% of dentists have no idea or even rough estimate of the value of their practices. So, what is your dental practice worth?

Knowing your dental practice’s worth helps you keep your options open regarding retirement or planning your next career move.

To learn the value of their practice, Digital Doc suggests that dentists should:

Get a Professional Practice Valuation

To accurately determine the potential value and profit margin of a practice, one requires industry-specific skills and expertise. This is why it is essential to contact a professional who specializes in dental practice appraisals.

Before choosing, though, you should also consider the price of an appraisal. While dental practice appraisals are an important tool in retirement and career planning, a thorough appraisal requires special insight. It is a time-consuming process, which may bump up its cost significantly. Practice appraisers may charge an average of $5,000. If you would prefer not to spend this, you should source an expert appraiser that doesn’t require a high fee.

Having a professional valuation done for your practice requires a lot of assessment as well as documentation. These may include the following;

The current balance sheet
Tax returns and profit and loss statements for the last three years
List of employees, complete with salary or wage information
Active patient roster
New patients the facility has received in the last year
Production is broken down by procedure type and provider
Office hours
Dentists’ biography
The insurance plans accepted
Photo documentation of equipment, such as the best dental cameras and office
A copy of the lease (where applicable)
Accounts receivable aging report

After getting practices appraised, dentists can then:

Weigh Their Options

The two main reasons why dentists need to know the value of their practices is career planning and retirement. Having this information on hand gives them the option of either selling their practice before they retire, which can be equated to the liquidation of an asset, or transitioning their practice while making a career move.

Knowing the value may also help make decisions and investments that may double or even triple the practice’s share value and overall value.

Make the Best Decision for Your Practice

There are many factors that affect the value of a practice. A professional appraiser may factor in the following to help determine the value of your practice. This includes:

Practice availability in the community
The location of your practice
The building type, e.g., retail center or standalone building
Regional growth
Signage
The number of active patients, i.e., those who’ve visited the facility within the last one and a half years
Retention rates
Patient attraction
Value of dental equipment, e.g., intraoral dental cameras, and portable dental x-ray system.

What to Expect During Your Practice Valuation

The appraiser may include the practice type in the appraisal, whether it’s a specialty practice that relies on referrals or general practice. The appraiser will also note the number of new patients that visit your practice on a monthly or annual basis and assess whether these patients move on or stay with the practice. This helps determine an attrition rate.

The value of dental equipment, ranging from handheld dental X-ray devices to the best intraoral sensor, is determined by the condition of the office and potential resale pricing. Additionally, profit margins and practice revenue trends are also considered. Dr. Chris Green, a Parker, CO dentist, says many appraisers focus on the most recent year as well as the last three years. This is why many dentists who plan to sell their practice are advised not to reduce their activities before the sale.

The information an appraisal provides enables you to make informed decisions on how you would like to proceed or let go of your practice. Additionally, the sooner you find out the value of your practice, the better.

There’s not necessarily a perfect time for having your practice appraised, so you should have one done when your books are in order. This will make it easier to gather the information required.

So, what is your dental practice worth? Why spend another month without knowing the value of your practice? Get that appraisal done ASAP!