DrBicuspid.com recently posted an article by our President Steve Thorne. Steve focuses on “optimizing your practice” in these changing economic times in an article entitled”The Art of Modern Denstistry”.  Visit Dr. Bicuspid and check it out:

http://www.drbicuspid.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=pmt&pag=dis&ItemID=304372&wf=34

President & CEO Steve Thorne

It’s amazing to me that most dentists still practice dentistry the same way my grandfather did for 50 years; and he retired about 30 years ago!  Yes, bridges and partials were common practice for him.  I don’t believe he ever did an implant.  He used film to take x-rays (most dentists in America still use film).  He also sent his crowns out to laboratories and told his patients to come back two weeks later for a delivery, hoping that the patient’s temporary didn’t come off and the crown would fit.

Check out this video clip from David Letterman prodding at dentists in America for their deficiency in practicing Modern Dentistry (a concept that PDS is pioneering).  It’s an excellent commentary; a true patient’s viewpoint on what patients want from their dentist!  Patients don’t want goopy impressions.  Patients don’t want multiple visits.  Patients don’t want temporaries that simply fall off.  Patients want to be offered up-to-date techniques and the best possible care.  They deserve to have their dentist practicing Modern Dentistry. At PDS we are continually working to make sure that patients don’t have the same experience as Mr. Letterman.

To all of our colleagues in the world of dentistry, what advancements have you seen add real value to your patient’s experience?  What are ways that you have helped make your patients love coming back to your office?  If we can make going to the dentist an efficient and enjoyable experience for everyone; it’s a benefit for all!  Tell me your thoughts.

P.S. Mr. Letterman, I would love for you to experience true Modern Dentistry at any PDS affiliated office any time you want, compliments of me!

Video Courtesy of Youtube®

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWwFm4vUzoI

It was a weekend of inspiration and celebration as Pacific Dental Services held its annual XP Conference at the Bayfront Hilton in San Diego, CA.  This year’s presenters were Stephen Thorne, John Maxwell and Connie Podesta.  Above is a video recap of the great time we had last weekend.

Founder and President - Steve Thorne

Last year PDS experienced a 45% increase in PPO dental plans. In the first quarter of 2009, we experienced even faster growth. In the coming decade, two types of dental plans are expected to continue to grow: PPO’s and Discount Dental plans. They are essentially the same thing whereby the insurance carrier asks our affiliated dentists to take a discount to their “normal” fees, and then they will refer patients. The main difference is who pays the fee. With PPO’s, the insurance plan pays the fees. With Discount Plans, like our My Smile Dental Plan, the patient pays. Our incredible service, modern facilities, and strategic marketing, combined with the fact that the local competition is not as proactive as we are; means that most of our affiliated practices are sure to get more PPO & Discount patients coming to them.

The great thing about Discount Plans is that they are very easy to administrate. Patients come in, and if they need treatment, they pay the fee listed on their fee schedule. On the other hand, PPO’s are an entirely different animal. PPO plans, while providing a very valuable service, don’t make it simple. Let me explain and give you a picture of what it is like. Imagine if you were the manager of a Target ®, and in that Target you had 600 items you sold (that is the approximate number of different services dentists can charge for). Every customer that came into your store on any given day had a different price they were supposed to pay for each of the 600 different items. For many of those customers, you, nor the customer, knew the exact price they were supposed to pay. When it came time to figure out the price, the company who contracted for the reduced prices wouldn’t divulge the information, so you had to guess. And if that wasn’t already tough enough, there is one more twist.

Each of these customers had an uncle out in the parking lot that was going to pick up a portion of the elusive price, and it was your job as the manager to know exactly what portion the uncle was paying. Furthermore, you were supposed to know exactly where that uncle lived and bill the uncle for the share he was going to pay; all because he forgot his credit card that day. To top it all off, the customer expected you to get it exactly right every time, or they got upset. Can you imagine? Yet this is the daily (or shall I say, hourly) life of a BC and Manager in the dental field.

Nevertheless, dental plans provide many patients. People are 2.5 times more likely to visit a dentist if they have a dental plan and in my estimation, that will only increase. It’s imperative that we work together to help patients understand the reality of dental plans – that they are a subsidy to help them reduce their dental expenses, not a “catch all” for everything they need. We need to have the patient’s trust that we are going to help them fully utilize thir valuable benefits. Patients must know that we are the dental insurance experts. They all want to use their benefits, and we are the best in the business at helping them maximize their usage.