How to Survive (and Thrive) Through a Recession

When the economy takes a downturn, many industries struggle to stay afloat, and dentistry is no exception. However, some of the most successful dental practices have not only survived but thrived during past recessions. So, what’s their secret?
This week we’ll explore the strategies and insights shared by industry experts like Dr. Ben Kacos, Dr. Addison Killeen, and Ryan Gross, who have studied the trends of the 2008 recession and are now preparing for future economic challenges. Here’s a preview of what they’ve uncovered.

Join us Wednesday August 13th at 3:00 pm PDT (6:00 pm EDT) for a DSN MEMBERS ONLY WEBINAR

During this webinar, you’ll discover:


This is a DSN-member exclusive event, but if you’re not a member yet, you can still join us!

Get a 7-day free trial of DSN using the promo code RECPROOF to access this valuable webinar.

Want the Secret to Surgical Extractions?

Sectioning teeth can be essential when the root configuration prevents straightforward extraction. Roots may be dilacerated, widely splayed, or curved, making it impossible to extract the tooth in one piece. When a tooth is broken down to the bone with no structure to grasp, sectioning becomes necessary.

Key Techniques for Sectioning and Extraction

  1. Evaluate the Root Configuration: Before sectioning, assess the tooth’s root structure using radiographs. Look for any dilacerations or curvatures that could complicate the extraction.
  2. Section Early: It’s often better to section a tooth early rather than later in the extraction process. This can prevent complications and make the extraction smoother.
  3. Create Space by Removing Bone: Remove bone up to two-thirds of the root’s length to create enough space to push the roots into. Ensure you’re aware of anatomical structures like the sinus and the buccal and lingual plates.
  4. Sectioning in the Lower Jaw: When sectioning in the lower jaw, be mindful of the buccal and lingual plates, especially near the mental nerve. Use a bur tipped towards the center of the tooth to avoid damaging these structures.
  5. Sectioning in the Upper Jaw: In the upper jaw, consider the sinus proximity. Section through the tooth carefully, ensuring you don’t perforate the sinus. Use a sharp elevator or luxator to expand the bone around the tooth after sectioning.
  6. Using the Right Instruments: Not all elevators are suitable for every situation. Ensure your 301 elevators or luxators are thin enough to slide down the periodontal ligament (PDL) space effectively. Sharpen or replace old, worn instruments regularly.


Practical Tips for Sectioning

  • Feel the Difference: Get accustomed to the tactile differences between cutting tooth and bone. This helps prevent “over-sectioning” and ensures precise bone removal.
  • Elevator Techniques: Use sharp elevators to slide down the PDL space. If the roots are still encased in bone after sectioning, use the bur to remove additional bone around the roots.
  • Dealing with Root Tips: When root tips break off, create space by removing or condensing the bone around them. Use luxators or thin elevators to wiggle down the PDL space and loosen the root tips.

These techniques can significantly enhance your efficiency and success rate with surgical extractions. Practice these tips, and you’ll notice a smoother, quicker extraction process, leading to better patient outcomes and increased confidence in handling complex cases.

If you found this helpful and want more insights on advanced techniques, feel free to reach out or check our resources on the Dental Success Network. Join me in Ocala, FL, on October 5th for our Efficient Extractions Hands-On Course.

Sincerely,

Dr. Aaron Nicholas
Dental Success Blackbelt Coach
Founder Monday Morning Dentistry


P.S. Are you looking to elevate your dental practice? Join Dental Success Network today and connect with a community of over 1,000 dentists. Gain access to exclusive resources, continuing education, and vendor discounts to help you run a more profitable practice and become a better clinician.

Optimize Inventory, Maximize Profit

Let’s get real about inventory control. Think about it like your kitchen pantry. You wouldn’t want to buy so much pasta that it expires before you can use it, right? Same goes for our dental supplies. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where we have just what we need without overstocking and watching precious dollars go down the drain.

Carve out some time each week just to peek at what you’ve got and what you need. It’s like making a grocery list before hitting the store. And, don’t forget the power of a good deal: keeping an eye out for the best prices can make a big difference in our budgets.

Try making your team part of the process. When everyone knows what’s going on with inventory, it’s easier to keep things tight and right. Plus, using clear bins and a simple whiteboard can work wonders for keeping everyone on the same page.

Let’s not get tempted by those bulk deals too often. Buying more doesn’t always mean saving more, especially if we end up not using it. Lean and mean is the way to go, focusing on what you truly need to keep our practices running smoothly and patients smiling brightly.

If you want more inventory control tips, check out a snippet from “Lady Leaders: Inventory Control” on Dental Success Network:

The concept of inventory control might seem daunting. But, this is your moment to redefine what’s possible, not just for your business, but for your growth as a visionary leader.

To your success,
The Dental Success Network Team

Want to view the entire “Lady Leaders: Inventory Control” webinar? Join DSN today to gain access to this and more courses as well as DSN’s exclusive Workplace where you can talk with other dentists to learn how they control their inventory.

If you’re looking for a place to start working on your inventory control, then look no further than The Dental Supply Ordering and Fee Analysis Manual! You can order this manual on its own or together with The Ultimate Bundle which includes all the manuals and 2 free months of DSN and Front Office Academy.

Certainty in Recruiting Associates

If you’re going to build a successful group practice, you’re going to be recruiting a lot of associates. You probably know what you’re looking for in a quality candidate, but do you know what they’re looking for in a practice to join? Here are five points of certainty you must solve on the recruiting trail:

If you are interested in using an exclusive discount between Polaris and Dental Success Network, apply to DSN today!

Implementation of Effective Ortho Techniques

With her consulting experience, DSN Orthodontics faculty Dr. Amanda Wilson is attuned to giving the best tips and tricks for Ortho treatments. If you want a taste of her tips, check out the clip below:

Join Dr. Amanda Wilson, DDS, MDS on January 18, 2024, at 7 PM EST for a FREE webinar on “Advanced Aligner Tips, Tricks and Pearls.”

Discover effective strategies, including:
  • Optimizing clear aligners
  • Minimizing revisions
  • Enhancing tracking accuracy
  • Mastering orthodontic systems for primary care dentists
If you loved the tips in the video above and want to see the full video, join DSN today!

Setting Expectations for Associate Partners

If you’re committed to building a successful group practice, you’re probably going to allow for associates to become partners at some level. But, are their expectations truly aligned with your expectations? What about the aspect of “control” of the business? And, what about distributions as income versus reinvestment int the growth of the business? Our friend Perrin DesPortes at Polaris has been working on a series about exactly that topic! Check out the video below: 

If you are interested in using an exclusive discount between Polaris and Dental Success Network, apply to DSN today!


To your success,
The Dental Success Network Team

Getting Associates a Vested Interest in Your Practice

Our friends at Polaris have some great tips for you around attracting and bringing on a new associate. Check out the info below.

Building a successful group practice means creating stability among associates, and stability is often best achieved through ownership. Aside from a traditional buy-in scenario, there are two types of “earn-in” methodologies. Here’s a closer look at Restricted Stock Units:

If you are interested in using an exclusive discount between Polaris and Dental Success Network, apply to DSN today!


To your success,
The Dental Success Network Team

Creating Certainty for Associates

Our friends at Polaris have some great tips for you around attracting and bringing on a new associate. Check out the info below. 

Building a successful group practice means creating stability among associates, and stability is often best achieved through ownership.  Aside from a traditional buy-in scenario, there are two types of “earn-in” methodologies.  Here’s a closer look at Profits Interest Units:

Are you interested in building or scaling a group practice or DSO and tired of learning by trial and error? Click below to learn more about an event held by Perrin DesPortes, Co-Founder of Polaris Healthcare Partners, where he will break down the depth of information that will be shared at the DSI/Polaris co-hosted event, “Scaling from Clinician to CEO” on October 11-13 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Associate Buy Ins

Our friends at Polaris have some great tips to share with you!

Building a successful group practice means creating stability among associates, and stability is often best achieved through ownership.  There are a number of factors involved with allowing an associate to buy-in to your business in terms of structure, expectations, dollar investment, control and distributable income.  Here’s a closer look at each one:

Are you interested in building or scaling a group practice or DSO and tired of learning by trial and error? Click HERE to learn more about an event held by Perrin DesPortes, Co-Founder of Polaris Healthcare Partners, where he will break down the depth of information that will be shared at the DSI/Polaris co-hosted event, “Scaling from Clinician to CEO” on October 11-13 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Favorable Trends in Recruiting Associates

Our friends at Polaris have some great tips to share with you!

If you’re going to build a successful group practice, you’re going to have to recruit a number of associates to join you. Fortunately (for you), there are a number of compelling data points that indicate that you may be at the right place at the right time to create success. Here are several to consider:

Want more tips like these? Catch up with Polaris Co-Founder, Perrin DesPortes, on Workplace at Dental Success Network!