Don’t you cringe when you hear patients say, “It’s just a cleaning”? Patients just don’t seem to value their hygiene visits as much as we would like them to. Fees for hygiene services are often questioned, particularly if they do not fit the insurance model. Appointments are cancelled. How can we change the way people … Read More »
Flummoxed by Floss
This is the time of the great flossing controversy! Should we or shouldn’t we? A New York Time article says it is not proven to be beneficial and could even do harm! Patients flock to dental offices to ask if it’s true! Aren’t you tired of talking about flossing? “To floss or not to floss” … Read More »
Can You Listen Generously?
When was the last time you listened deeply, without distraction? When was the last time you felt heard and understood without any need to answer questions or fill in details? I recently attended a workshop with Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen whose books such as, “Kitchen Table Wisdom” have informed my work for over twenty years. … Read More »
No More OHI
What could be worse than “Oral Hygiene Instruction?” It conjures up images of giant toothbrushes and humongous fake teeth. It carries with it an accusation of being not too bright, or worse “unhygienic.” There is a social stigma to not having a clean mouth and “fresh breath.” Even though we are trying to be helpful … Read More »
Do You Need a Parachute?
A dentist I used to work with once remarked that when he came into my hygiene room to check a patient he felt like he had been dropped out of an airplane without a parachute. He described what it was like to work with his restorative patient, loops on, narrowly focused on precise preps. He … Read More »
What am I Missing Here?
I had just gotten off a plane in the Minneapolis airport and spotted a sign with the stick figure of a woman indicating a rest room The entrance had a wide area where you could go right or left around a wall. As I confidently headed to the right of the wall, I was passed … Read More »
Family Doctor or Fixer of Teeth?
How do your patients see you? How do you want to be seen? Family doctors of the past knew their patients well. They were in relationship over time, sometimes for generations. They cared for the whole family and understood their patients in that context: their family health history, financial considerations, challenges and aspirations. Family doctors … Read More »
Are Your Patients Disappointed?
Everyone hopes they are doing enough to stay healthy. No one sets out to be unhealthy or to ruin their smile. We all hold onto the hope that, while not perfect, our efforts will be enough. Whether or not our hopes and expectations are realistic, we can feel disappointment when they fall short. The experts recommend … Read More »
A Trusted Advisor in One Phone Call?
We were standing by the front desk taking a break from a team meeting, and Jackie decided to use the time to return a call to a new patient. “No, we are not a participating provider in that plan,” we heard her say. Eyes rolling we moved away from the desk and went back to our … Read More »
Are You Accessing Your Ignorance?
Ignorance is not something we tend to look for in ourselves. We take pride in our knowledge and our competence, not our ignorance. Have you ever considered the ways in which your knowledge could get in your way? How accessing your ignorance could make you more successful? In preparation for our annual Leadership and Legacy … Read More »
