Welcome to the July edition of Precision Dental Laboratories' e-Newsletter!
This month, we have some eye-popping stories and great information as well as a laugh or two. Please consider forwarding this email to one or two colleagues!
Just ahead:
- 52 great status updates to use on your social channels
- A classic sketch from a pair of comedic geniuses
- How Pre-Suasion in your practice will lead to increased case acceptance
- Incentivizing Your Team
- Did you know...?
- Chairside Chuckle
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Social Media: 52 Weeks of Facebook Dental Related Posts by Rachel Mele
Facebook now has over 2 billion users (1), including more than 60 percent of active online U.S. consumers (2) spending an average of seven hours a month on the site.(3) These figures emphasize the power of social media to create interactive dialogue. Running a dental office and actively engaging with patients on Facebook can be challenging without support. To lend a helpful hand, we’re offering 52 weeks of Facebook dental posts for your practice. You can use these posts to start or enhance the conversation with your patients online. Remember to personalize each Facebook post and include a link, photo or video to support the topic!
- If you knock out a tooth, here are steps that might help ensure [practice name] can save your smile: 1) don’t touch the root of the tooth, 2) rinse it off with milk if dirty, 3) keep it moist by dropping it into a glass of milk and 4) get to our office quickly. Have you ever knocked out a tooth? Tell us your story.
- January 24 is Parent’s Day. Dr. [name] would like to thank his/her parents for all they have done. Tell us why you are thankful for your parents.
- According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the average person only brushes 45 to 70 seconds a day. (4) [Practice name] recommends two to three minutes per day. How much time do you spending brushing your teeth each day?
- Teeth have many layers and components including __________. Choose one: a) Nerves b) Muscles c) Veins d) Joints
- Join us today for our fourth annual [practice name] blood drive. We donate because we believe it’s the right thing to do. Why do you give blood?
- [Practice name] supports the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation. With your help, we have helped the foundation raise more than $[x].
- Today is National Toothache Day. Celebrate St. Apollonia, the patroness of dentists. If you have a toothache, be sure to give us a call at [phone number]. We can help!
- It’s Valentine’s Day. The average woman smiles approximately 62 times a day compared to men who only smile eight times a day. (5) Guys, will you remember to smile at your lady today?
- Dr. [name] just got a haircut. [Post photo] What do you think of the new style?
- Congratulations to our patient(s), [name(s)], on opening their new shop in town at [location/address]. Can’t wait to stop by and check things out!
- Celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month in February. We are giving away a $100 gift card to Toys “R” Us. Tell us how your children take care of their dental health and you could win.
- [Practice name] tip of the day: Leave a toothbrush at work in your desk so you can brush your teeth after lunch. What’s your favorite way to keep your mouth feeling fresh during the day?
- Check out our page on RealSelf.com at [insert direct RealSelf.com practice profile link] to see what the discussion is all about as it relates to cosmetic treatments.
- “A laugh is a smile that bursts.” – Mary H. Waldrip
- February 28 is National Tooth Fairy Day. Losing baby teeth can be traumatic. There isn’t much that can make it better than the smiling, caring Tooth Fairy! What do you think the Tooth Fairy looks like?
- Guess whose [practice name] team member smile this is? [Include a picture of a team member’s smile.]
- Did you know we have a mobile-enabled Web site? Check it out at [Web site address] on your mobile phone to quickly get our doctor and team bios, map to our office, important links or click to call our office.
- Have you flossed your teeth today?
- Today we are featuring our Team Member of the Month, [name], our [title]. [Name] has worked in dentistry for more than 25 years and he/she ensures we always provide top quality care and customer service to our patients. How have you interacted with [name]?
- Don’t forget! If you “Check In” at our office on Facebook, you could receive a $20 Starbucks gift card. Try it!
- Did you know we’re a TruDenta practice? We offer quick and painless examinations, provide a diagnosis and actually show you the potential reason for your pain and other symptoms including headaches, migraines, clenching, tinnitus, sensitive teeth and more. Call us at [phone number] to schedule an appointment.
- April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Call our office at [phone number] to schedule an oral cancer screening.
- We have QR codes up in our office. Check them out next time you are here and be sure to scan them all. If you find the right one, you’ll be entered to win a $100 shopping spree.
- Our [title], [name], just had a baby. Congrats to [name] on her/his new bundle of joy, [baby’s name].
- For your convenience, our practice Web site now offers secure online payment options. Just click the “Patient Log in” button on our Web site at [include direct link to patient log in].
- Would you like to be the face of [practice name]? We’re producing a new TV commercial and we are looking for a patient to be the face of our practice. Just submit a video on our Facebook Fan page telling us why you’d be the best. Videos must be received before [insert deadline].
- It’s Take Your Child to Work Day. Today Dr. [name]’s son/daughter is shadowing his/her dad/mom in our office. He/she wants to be a dentist one day. What are you doing on Take Your Child to Work Day?
- Would you rather have perfect: teeth, eyesight or hair? According to Glamour Beauty, 44 percent say teeth. (6)
- What’s the best joke you know? One that makes everyone smile. Post clean jokes only!
- What are you smiling about this weekend? According to a recent study, folks with big smiles may actually live longer than those who don’t smile big. (7)
- Moms help with our homework. They cheer us on and fix our boo-boos. Moms can also be our chauffeurs, our cooks, the ones who picks up after our messes and so much more! [Practice name] wants to recognize one mom with a $100 gift certificate to [name of spa]. Tell us why your mom deserves this day of pampering by [date] to win (for your mom that is).
- We know our patients prefer different methods to help them remember their appointment. For your convenience, we offer e-mail, SMS text and/or voice reminders (or all three). You can even manage your preferences through our Web site at [provide direct link to patient log in].
- We recommend that a toothbrush be kept at least six feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush. (8) Where do you keep your toothbrush?
- Did you know Dr. [name] is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists? AACD member professionals stay one step ahead of their peers by keeping informed of market trends. They learn how the latest products and technologies benefit the patient and support the twin concepts of responsible aesthetics and systemic oral health. By selecting an AACD member dentist, you know your dental professional cares enough to stay in the forefront of the cosmetic dentistry field so you receive the most up-to-date and best care available.
- We are putting together care packages for overseas military. We’ll be including toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste and more. If you’d like to include anything in our care packages, please let us know.
- Today Dr. [name] and his/her spouse, [name], are celebrating [x] years of marriage. Congratulations! Anyone else celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month?
- Has your experience with our office been great? Leave a review for us on Google! It only takes a minute and we greatly appreciate your feedback. [Link to Google Places listing.]
- Our office now offers a massaging chair, aromatherapy and warm towels during your appointment. What do you think of that?
- Floss picks or traditional floss?
- Today is National Junk Food Day! Don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth and don’t forget to wash away the junk food between your teeth.
- It’s Mick Jagger’s birthday. Mick Jagger has a diamond implanted in his tooth. What do you think?
- Click “Like” if you brush your teeth after lunch!
- Thirty-three percent of Americans have untreated tooth decay. (9) Schedule an appointment today to help ensure you aren’t a statistic. Call us at [office number].
- In France, the Tooth Fairy is a mouse!
- We’re having a Web site scavenger hunt. Go to our site at [Web site address] and find the answers to these four questions: 1) Question One, 2) Question Two, 3) Question Three, 4) Question Four. Send your answers to us at [e-mail address] and you could win a $25 gift card.
- We are excited to announce that [practice name] was awarded the Invisalign Premier Provider status for 2012, making us one of the top Invisalign providers in the country!
- We use environmentally friendly methods and materials wherever possible, while minimizing waste and energy. Our toothbrushes are even made of recycled yogurt containers! What do you do to stay environmentally friendly?
- It’s Halloween. We want to buy your candy! Our goal is to collect 300 pounds. We’ll be accepting candy all week long. One dollar per pound of unopened candy. We’ll be sending all candy to service people overseas.
- This month, we are pleased to present [patient name] as our Smile of the Month. Visit our blog to learn how her/his smile was transformed with Invisalign treatment and porcelain veneers [link to on-site blog].
- 2017 is quickly coming to a close and so is your chance to use your remaining dental insurance benefits! As a valued patient, we want you to get the most from your dental care, but there are only a few months left before your current insurance benefits expire. For any treatment you need that is not fully covered by your insurance, we offer several payment plans through [insert available third-party financing options]. This option offers you flexible monthly payment plans to fit your budget. Call us now to book your appointment before 2018 arrives!
- Today is our 10th annual food drive. We are in need of pasta, cereal, peanut butter, baby food, toilet paper, canned tomatoes and vegetables or anything you have that is not perishable. Thank you for helping us feed our hungry neighbors.
- “All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” was written by Donald Gardner in 1944. He asked his second grade class what they wanted for Christmas, and noticed that almost all of the students had at least one front tooth missing as they answered in a lisp. Gardner wrote the song in 30 minutes. (10)
References
- Facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics.
- “Social Networks/Blogs Now Account for One in Every Four and a Half Minutes Online,” Nielsen, June 2010.
- “Facebook Users Average 7 hours a month in January as Digital Universe Expands,” Nielsen 2/16/2010.
- “How Do I Choose and Use a Toothbrush?” Academy of General Dentistry
- http://www.deltadentalok.org/oralhealth/funfacts.asp
- “Would You Rather: Have Perfect Teeth, Perfect Eyesight or Perfect Hair?” Glamour Beauty.
- “Life span may be as wide as your smile,” Los Angeles Times
- http://www.funfactz.com/health-facts/dentists-have-recommended-that-toothbrush-be-kept-1688.html
- “Surveillance for Dental Caries, Dental Sealants, Tooth Retention, Edentulism and Enamel Fluorosis,” CDC, 2002
- “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth,” Wikipedia
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Tips For Adding More Hygiene Days
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In this piece from
fluence, Mike Smith lays out the simple equation that can result in more hygiene days. Read on.....
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Classic Laughs
We can never get enough of this Tim Conway-Harvey Korman sketch from the Carole Burnett Show.
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You Seem Like the Type of Person This Article Is For
by The Madow Brothers in
Practice Management Tip
Here is some really cool information for you that will help when discussing treatment needs with your patients!
Recently, we sent an interesting story about treatment plan acceptance based on a story from Dr. Robert Cialdini’s excellent book “Pre-Suasion.” The response was so great that this month we will go back to that book again with another cool story and lesson.
Have you ever been at a mall and been approached by someone with a clipboard, asking for “just a few minutes of your time to give your opinions for some market research?” Even when the pot is sweetened with a free gift or cash, the percentage of people who comply is very low.
A study was done to see if there was a simple way to boost response. (A study about a study – how meta…)
In the control portion (just asking people to help with the survey) 29% said yes. But then the same steps were taken with one difference. Before asking people to take the survey, this question was asked:
“Do you consider yourself to be a helpful person?”
Following brief reflection, nearly every person said “yes.” (We all consider ourselves to be helpful!) Then, once the public affirmation was made, the researchers asked for help with their survey. This time 77.3% of the people volunteered to help!
We are not fans of the old car salesman technique of presenting a humongous treatment plan and then asking, “Is this the kind of dentistry you want?” That strategy just smells a bit funny.
But there is certainly nothing wrong with asking pre-emptive questions to have your patient affirm what they want.
If you are about to discuss periodontal disease, why not “pre-suade” the discussion with something like “You want to keep your teeth for the rest of your life, right?”
When a patient presents with a shattered molar, before explaining the core and crown, why not say – “Good news – we can repair this tooth and make it solid and strong again. Does that sound good to you?”
Getting someone to publicly affirm their belief can be a great way to lead to a commitment towards dental health. And you do want your patients to have excellent dental health, right?
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6 Reasons Why You Should Offer Incentives to Your Team
By Jay Geier, DrBicuspid.com contributing writer
I believe in the power of incentives. I incentivize my team at the Scheduling Institute, and we advise our clients to do the same. I believe, when administered appropriately, incentives motivate people to expand their current capacity and do more for their jobs.
A story from the Foundation for Economic Education about British prisoners being shipped to Australia in the 1800s is a great example of the influence and motivation of incentives. Captains were paid per prisoner to transport them, but when they arrived in Australia, only 40% were surviving the trip. Many humanitarian groups got involved to ensure proper treatment of the prisoners, but their efforts had no effect on the survival rate.
A British economist suggested that instead of paying the captains for each prisoner who boarded the ship in England, they pay them for each prisoner who arrived alive in Australia. With the payout at the end -- the result of the trip -- the captains took better care of their prisoners and the survival rate rose to 98%.
6 Reasons
That is a pretty strong argument for incentives, don't you think? Here are six more reasons why you should consider harnessing the power of incentives in your practice.
1. Incentives create a results-oriented practice culture
The problem with many practices today is the flawed idea that "showing up" is good enough. By paying your team members high base salaries, you are essentially saying, "Great job! You showed up!"
Incentives encourage your staff members to actively seek results. By paying a lower base salary but giving them the chance to earn more money through incentives, you are creating a practice culture that is driven by results. People who resist incentives tend to be people who think they should be paid highly for "showing up." And they will naturally weed themselves out.
2. Incentives create a sense of ownership
Give team members more control over their areas with the responsibility of owning the tracking of results. Do you know what happens when each team member starts to fully own their areas and that area's results? Everything increases. Front desk staff who own the phones schedule more new patients. Hygienists who own oral healthcare become better advocates for their patients, and their production increases. Marketing directors who own marketing results test, track, and tweak more effectively to boost return on investment. Ownership increases engagement, and engagement increases productivity and results.
“The incentive system operates on a simple principle: When the practice does well, the staff does well.”
3. Incentives create a win-win
The incentive system operates on a simple principle: When the practice does well, the staff does well. And when the practice does well, the dentist does well. This creates a synergy between your efforts and the efforts of your team -- it gives everyone a single, unified direction and increases office morale. Wouldn't you enjoy having a team that loved coming to work every morning? Incentives show them that hard work and improved results equal rewards!
4. The value of each team member
Incentives connect value to your team members. This is an opportunity to understand the value each team member brings to your office. If you are writing checks based on an individual's results, you'll be much more likely to notice which team members are consistently under- or overdelivering (as will they).
5. Team members who are holding your office back
Certain team members are going to fight the incentives system. Why? They are usually the ones who don't want to go above and beyond. They just want to get paid to show up. To them, incentives threaten their financial security. And they're right.
Incentives are bad for those who underdeliver. On the flip side, incentives are very beneficial for team members who work hard and overdeliver. Which type of employee would you rather have?
6. A physical check
I can't emphasize enough the importance of this concept -- physically handing team members a reward for their work will increase their desire to succeed and maximize performance. And they connect you with that reward when it is physically handed to them with a "Thanks for your great work!" or even "Let's hit your goal next month!"
They recognize the amount is a direct reflection of their efforts. If they aren't happy with the amount, they will work harder to increase their results the next month and so on.
Perhaps if you incentivized your team, they, like the British captains mentioned earlier, would take better care of your practice.
Jay Geier is the founder and owner of the Scheduling Institute, a dental training and practice consulting company.
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Did You Know...?
Implant Supported Removables
For your patients who have either failing or missing dentition, Precision Dental Laboratories offers implant supported removable restorations including All-On-4®, Pro Arch and Teeth X-Press.
Precision Dental works hand in hand with you to deliver chairside conversions on the day of surgery. Implant Supported Removables placed in this manner quickly lead to improved patient satisfaction regarding function, aesthetics, sense, speech and self-esteem.
From planning and implant placement to the final restoration, Precision Dental Labs offers you all the components and support needed to provide a seamless edentulous treatment.
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Want to discuss a case with a lab technician? Please call us!
701.280.9089 or Toll-free 800.568.4145
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