Joe Blaes, DDS
Editor
e-mail: [email protected]
February seems to be the time when most men`s thoughts turn to swimsuit issues, so I thought it would be appropriate for Dental Economics join in the fun. So welcome to the first annual "swimsuit" edition! Dr. Robert MacDonald did a fantastic job posing for our initial issue, and I want to thank him for all the hours he spent so that we would have just the right pose. Do you believe all the records Bob holds? By the way, later on this year, Bob will be writing an article on the ergonomics of practicing at the dental chair.
Stop reading right now and call 1-888-Ivoclar (486-2527) to reserve your place at a special event sponsored by Ivoclar, Dental Economics, and the National Dental Network. Tickets for this event will be extremely hard to come by because attendance is limited so call now. The event will be held at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday, February 26, during this year`s Chicago Midwinter Meeting. For all the details of this special event, see page 56! But make that call before you turn the page. It may already be too late to get a ticket, and you won`t get in without one!
Some very interesting things happened during the last couple of months of the old millennium. The Giants of Dentistry meeting that Dr. Woody Oakes put together in LaJolla, Calif., was a great success. I was fortunate to be on the program and rub elbows with the giants who were on the program with me. Woody asked me to be the keynote speaker for that meeting. My message was one of encouragement for the dentist who has positioned his practice to take advantage of the changes that are taking place in dentistry. Be sure to see my interview with Anthony Robbins for more on this eventful meeting in Southern California.
This month sees the beginning of a series of articles with some great practice-management tips by Dr. Marvin Berman. He also has just recently produced a tremendous new video series called "Winning Friends and Influencing Patients." Every dentist should have these videos in their library.
For years, dentists have been characterized in movies and on TV as either bimbos, evil, or sadists, or even worse, as in the case of "The Dentist." Mostly, we have had to endure these with a smile or a shrug, and move on. Most patients never see the human side of a dental practice. They are never exposed to the uplifting and emotionally rewarding stories that we see every day in our practices. How come nobody ever tells that part of the story?
Our story is already in print. The only problem is that the book with our story will never be seen in your local bookstore.
What is the problem here? Well, the publisher does not think that our story will sell books, so distribution has been limited to the dental profession through direct mail sales. The name of the book is Chicken Soup for the Dental Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Don Dibble. The famous "Chicken Soup" authors share a compilation of heart-warming stories about dentistry.
The stories are from people just like you and me who work in a dental office every day. I am sure that a lot of dentists and some staff will buy and read the book.
But the only way that it will ever achieve the circulation that it deserves is if we buy quantities of the book and distribute them to our patients. I will give the book to all my patients and I hope that you will do the same. After you read the book, I think that you will agree with me that it is a book that our patients should read to learn about our human side.
Speaking of books, I have co-authored a book with Dr. Nate Booth on a subject that is dear to my heart called "555 Ways to Reward Your Dental Team". The preliminary reviews have been favorable. I hope you will buy a copy because I know you will find a wealth of ideas to help you keep staff - our most valuable commodity. You can order your copy by calling (800) 917-0008.
