Are you chained to the grind? Do you work hard with little return? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. We know two dentists who felt the same way…until they joined the Best Practices Association. These dentists are Dr. Matt and Sarah Karls. Matt’s father was a dentist with his very own practice. After he retired, Matt and his wife took over the family business.
This is one of my favorite metrics, but it’s one that often goes overlooked. Your Gross Production Per Day (PPD) is more than just the money you’re making—it’s a powerful tool for planning your future.
Getting lost in the competition? Sounds like your practice needs some TNT. No, not explosives! TNT stands for “takes no talent.” These are small, controllable habits that require little to no skill. And yet, they make a huge impact. Patients notice them, and patients will remember them.
Dentists are incredibly busy, often at the expense of their practice. One of the most frequently overlooked aspects of being a leader is the need for alignment, but it’s incredibly important. Without that alignment, even the most well-intentioned leaders can create confusion and frustration within the team.
What was the last time you took a vacation? If you can’t remember, it’s probably been too long! Dentists don’t prioritize rest as much as they should. Rest is often seen as a reward, something you only do when there’s spare time. And what do dentists usually say? “There’s so much work to do. I don’t have time to rest!”
Do you know how many days your office was open last year? Most dentists don’t. According to the American Dental Association, dentists now work an average of 220 days per year, up from 209 in the previous study. Many don’t realize how much they’re working because they don’t track their office days.
Bad things happen when you least expect them. Maybe you’re dealing with car problems or a family emergency. Your kid is sick, so you need to leave early. You just had the snowstorm of the century, and now your practice is shut down. No matter the problem, people always respond the same. They FREAK OUT!
Stepping out of dental school and into a leadership role is an incredibly challenging move to make. The truth is that while you learn a lot of what you need in school, how to be a great leader is not part of it. One of the most important aspects of leadership is how to handle conflict in the workplace,
Meet our hero, Dr. Whitney Anhorn! When we first met Whitney, she wanted to run a successful practice. Instead, the practice was running Whitney. Dental school taught her how to be a good dentist—not a good practice owner! No one prepared her for the business side of things, like how to hire amazing people, how to define the practice culture, or how to establish core values.
Want a fun place to work? Of course you do! That’s why you need a culture playbook. This isn’t a handbook or a manual. Instead, a culture playbook tells the story of your practice. It outlines shared values and what makes your team special. New hires should get a copy, and for existing team members, it’s a great resource to come back to!
