Here it is October already! Only two more months to reach or exceed the goals you set for 2006. You can do it if you and your team believe you can!
Check out two new columns this month. Steve Seltzer joins us as a technology columnist alternating months with Dr. Paul Feuerstein. His expertise as a consultant in the technology field is well-documented by his innovations in dental office design. Dr. Wayne Harrison starts a column on “Laser-Assisted Dentistry.” I am impressed with his depth of knowledge of the use of lasers in the everyday practice of dentistry.
Yesterday, I received the American Academy of Dental Practice Administration’s program for their annual meeting beginning on February 28, 2007. The program chair, Dr. Larry Cook, has put together a tremendous program for the meeting, to be held at the Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz. This is a great time to get away from the cold and enjoy the warmth of Scottsdale, play a couple of rounds of golf, and enjoy one of the best kept secrets in dentistry, the AADPA Annual Meeting. The program is packed with talented speakers, including Dr. Sam Low, Dr. Henry Gremillion, Dr. Irwin Becker, Dr. Sandy Parrott, Mr. John Kornitzer, and Dr. John Cranham, plus Mastermind Groups, the Mountain Walk, golf, tennis, and the Arizona sun. This one will sell out, so make your reservations now! For more information, go to www.aadpa.org or call Kathy Uebel at (847) 934-4404. After attending just one meeting, you will never miss another!
Here is another date to put on your calendar. The Professional Dental Assisting Conference will be held May 10-12 at the Marriott in downtown Indianapolis. Join us for PDA 2007, a one-of-a-kind event focused on dental assistants. Dental assistants will have the opportunity to attend hands-on workshops presented by nationally known educators, as well as take in seminars conducted by some of the nation’s widely recognized speakers. I will be the keynote speaker and do some hands-on workshops, so I will look forward to seeing you there.
I don’t often do this, but I want to be sure that you read the updated “Pearl” that I have written on the KaVo DIAGNOdent. I was amazed when I heard that theDIAGNOdent technology is only used in about 14 percent of U.S. dental offices. I have seen many surveys of dentists, and they all seem to say that dentists are aware of the technology and intend to make a purchase, but the sales statistics indicate most of you have not.
I find my patients intuitively understand the disease-detection concept when it is explained to them in an interactive way. Perhaps this is like one of those Pogo statements - “I have seen the enemy and he is us.” Many times, it seems we perpetuate the old paradigms. Maybe this is because we have trouble with change. We are afraid to discuss some of the new technology with our patients, even when it is proven technology and it will mean better dental care for our patients.
I can remember back in the early 1980s when I initiated a “soft-tissue management program” in my practice. I was convinced it was the thing to do, but was afraid my patients would not understand it and would leave my practice. That was not the case at all; patients did understand and accept the periodontal disease model we presented to them. In today’s world, we need to discuss with our patients the diagnostic void that exists today in the detection of occlusal decay. All dentists should accept the proven technology that will allow them to diagnose more than 90 percent of pit and fissure decay before it has destroyed a large amount of tooth structure. For more information, please read “Pearls for Your Practice®”
Look for another great issue in November.Joe Blaes, DDS, Editor - e-mail: [email protected]
Toll-free phone number: (866) 274-4500
