General

As we transition further into the 21st century, the significant demographic shifts within our population are becoming increasingly pertinent within the field of dentistry. Aging is now a cardinal factor that holds sway not only over oral health outcomes but also over the composition and operation of dental practices themselves.

Should leadership be taught in dental school curriculums?

Absolutely!  The dentist running a practice must be the ‘scientist’ in dental sciences and deliver quality care. Also, the dentist has to be a ‘business’ savvy individual to ensure the practice’s financial health. What else does the dentist need to be … the team ‘coach’. 

It is either the dentist’s role or if the office has an office manager, it may fall upon the manager.  Nonetheless, it’s a reality that hand-in-hand with being a practice owner comes leadership.  So where does a practice owner ‘learn’ leadership? 

It would be fantastic along with DENT 3055 there would be a Leadership 101 course that teaches the practice owner how to navigate the various dynamics of a team to develop and strengthen that team. 

How do I save money on dental supplies? 

Operating a dental office requires a substantial upfront cost for dental equipment and supplies.

Dentists spend a large percentage of overhead keeping those supplies stocked.

Many routinely purchase items from a dental supply distributor, never realizing they are overpaying for items.

Unlike manufacturers, distributors charge more for products, therefore increasing dentists' overhead costs.

Manufacturers save dentists money by cutting out the middleman and providing the lowest prices for dental supplies.

Basic Equipment Costs

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Going Through Your Inventory

The most important task that a dental office manager needs to do is fill orders. By this we mean getting the patients in, and making sure the dentist has the resources to address them.

To fill those orders, you’re going to need to find out what supplies are required to meet the needs of the upcoming procedures. But it’s not just the procedure that you need to worry about, because the patient will or may visit several rooms in your practice. So the best thing is to have a checklist and to go around the entire office, marking off anything that might be getting low.

Here’s a great breakdown of all the most common disposable and infection control supplies for all the different rooms