The dental community is among the first line of defense when it comes to early detection of disease. And with oral cancer being one of the highest-ranking killers, the ADA has assumed the task of increasing public awareness about this often underrated disease. Their efforts include taking a more aggressive approach to the importance of…
Read MoreIn observing thousands of patient exams and case presentations, I’ve come across the singular, biggest obstacle dentists have with case acceptance; they assume. They assume patients only want to focus on one thing or they assume patients want to focus on everything. They assume patients don’t have time or they assume patients can spend the…
Read MoreMyths, widely held yet false beliefs or ideas, are generated throughout dentistry by chronic fear, stress, and by having a negative filter of daily situations. They are perpetuated at study clubs and conferences, in message forums or chat rooms, masked as dentists offering their experiences and advice while dripping with cynicism and jadedness. Some…
Read MoreOne of the most common questions I get is, “How do I know my stress levels are too high?” It is a great question to answer because if you knew when you’re levels are high then you could start to do something about it before you surpass your stress threshold. It’s especially important to understand…
Read MoreHolidays Stressing You Out The holidays mean different things for different people. We all experience and celebrate in our own ways; threading in various traditions, scheduling festive occasions, and attending once-a-year events that fill our calendars from the end of October into the new year. We also carry around a high level of expectation for…
Read MoreYou’ve worked hard all year and you deserve time off during the holiday season. Most private practice owners find themselves working longer hours and more days to accommodate Joe Public’s desire to get years’ worth of work completed before their holiday party or insurance benefits lapse. You take the onslaught of patients now for fear…
Read MoreNegative emotions arise easily when life doesn’t go as planned. What makes it even worse is when you’ve done your homework, thought through potential roadblocks, and prepared the team by sharing expectations. Still, things can go south. When this happens it evokes senses of failure, disappointment, and regret. There is another way to look at…
Read MoreThe stress closet. A euphemism for all things scary, dark, and feared. A place we shove unwanted items or things we don’t want to deal with in a given moment. The closet is such a visual representation of all things deep and dark we have cliches about being in them, where our skeletons lie, and…
Read MoreHow stressed are dentists, really? The American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Dental Association used the same Likert scaling question* to determine the perceived stress levels of the American population and that of dentists, respectively. On the 10 point scale, Americans claim stress levels equal to a rating of 4.9 (mild-moderate) while dentists report…
Read MorePulitzer Prize-winning American novelist Ellen Glasgow wrote, “The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions.” This makes me wonder if business owners find themselves in so many daily ruts, why do they keeping digging? What’s the cause behind the compulsory attitude and behaviors commonly repeated by owners that kills their practices,…
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