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How will you wear it?
Posted by | June 18, 2010
A smile...pass it on
“So, is it a command or a request?”
What? I was standing in line at the grocery store, double checking that I got everything that I came in to get. I must have had a very puzzled look on my face as I looked at the older gentleman in line ahead of me. He repeated, “Is that a command or a request?” as he pointed at my Smile Generation t-shirt.
“Well,” I replied, “I suppose most people smile when they look at it, so it must just be a given.”
“Hmmm…” he said fighting off a smile of his own, “I just have fun reading people’s t-shirts.”
I explained to him, “If you were out at the Irvine Marketplace at lunch time today, you would’ve seen a few hundred of us wandering around with this shirt on. It’s for the launch of our new website called The Smile Generation.”
I turned around so he could read the back of my shirt. “We have several hundred dental offices across 5 states.”
He just smiled at me, so I smiled back. He said, “You have a nice smile.”
I replied, “We have good dentists.”
He laughed.
When he got to the register, the checker asked if he wanted to donate $1 to the City of Hope for pediatric cancer research. He said he would, and she asked him to write his name on one of the cards they hang up around the store. Instead of writing his name, he pointed to me and said, “I want to write down her company’s name because she’s just been so nice. And I like her smile.” I flashed him my pearly whites again, thanking Dr. Reagan and Dr. Buehler in my head for all the work they did in my mouth. Then I turned around so he could see the back of the shirt and get the spelling right.
I smiled and said, “Thank you,” and he smiled back before gathering his groceries and wishing me a good day.
How do I wear my t-shirt? Well, I started wearing mine for charity:water. Then I wore it so I could wear a t-shirt and jeans to work. Next thing you know, I’m wearing it for pediatric cancer research. How will you wear it?
The Art of Modern Dentistry
Posted by | April 19, 2010
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
32 Reasons in HOW Magazine
Posted by | April 16, 2010
The Cover of HOW Magazine
“32 Reasons” is the name of Pacific Dental Services corporate brochure. It provides “32 Reasons” to join Pacific Dental Services.
32 Reasons Featured in HOW Magazine
Well we now have one more reason to be proud of “32 Reasons”. Our brochure was listed as the 16th best Brochure-Merit category in How Magazine’s 2010 International Design Awards. How Magazine is an industry leading design magazine.
Congratulations to everyone involved.
Colorado Celebrates
Posted by | February 25, 2010
Dr. Raether and her family celebrate with Linda Ryan, Joe Saporito, and Marvine Martinez
First off we want to congratulate Dr. Gail Raether for becoming Colorado’s first owner doctor. Dr. Raether provides the clinical leadership at River Point Dental Group and Orthodontics in Sheridan. Congratulations Dr. Raether.
Regional Partner Joe Saporito presents Dr. Raether with a key to her future.
We also wanted to recognize our January “I’m a Big Deal Winner” Ryan Lucio who also is from River Point Dental Group in Sheridan where he serves as the Operations Manager.
Dr. Ashleigh Harrison, Dr. Vidhya Sampath and Regional Partner Joe Saporito congratulate Operations Manager Ryan Lucio.
Ryan was the unanimous choice this month! His team sent in wonderful stories regarding his character, team spirit, professional attire, commitment to excellence, PPE, and his professional daily attitude and demeanor under any circumstances!
Way to go Colorado, don’t stop a rockin!
PDS Gives Kids a Smile
Posted by | February 18, 2010
Click Here For More Photos!
On February 5th, 2010 – PDS affiliated offices participated in the American Dental Association® (ADA) “Give Kids a Smile®” event to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Forty PDS-affiliated offices – in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs, United Way, local schools, churches and homeless shelters – provided a day of free dentistry, including dental exams, digital x-rays, cleanings, fillings, sealants and extractions, to more than 400 children throughout California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.
“We are very proud of our affiliated offices that spent the day volunteering for children in need,” said Steve Thorne, Pacific Dental Services founder and president.
This was the fifth consecutive year PDS has participated in “Give Kids a Smile®,” “and below are a few of the stories that came out of this touching event.
We had a little boy named Joshua. He and his father were here at 7:35 for their 8am appt. Joshua needed 8 extractions and 4 fillings and was so sweet about it all. Jessica the dental asst was taking Joshua’s x-rays and he began to cry as he looked at them, Jessica noticed and said “Do your teeth hurt?” He said “yes.” Dr Hashemi after completing an exam decided it would be too much for the boy to go through all the work and asked if I minded if he brought Joshua back to complete the other half of his mouth on his own time. I said “of course”. Joshua’s dad works for very little delivering blankets to the homeless, and they don’t provide insurance to the members of the organization. He was so good during his treatment and his dad was so very thankful for what we had done for his son. I went to the operatory to check on Joshua and he was watching a movie with a ton of gauze in his mouth, I said “you did really good today Joshua”, he shook his head yes. This is the reason we do this event for kids just like Joshua.
Katrina Davis – Stockton
The day went great we saw nine kids. We did have one boy from the homeless shelter that is 14. When he was 8 he broke his front tooth so he doesn’t have anything there. The root tip is still there but we’re looking to see if maybe we can help him in some way? His mom left him 8 months ago. He and his dad live in the shelter. We had a lot of great kids did a lot of fills and sealants. Everyone had a lot of fun and the staff even had ponytails.
Sue Leverett – Hesperia 2
I know we were heartbroken when the first time anyone had shown one of our “kids” how to brush and take care of his teeth was when he arrived to our office at 15 years of age. I was so thankful we had bilingual staff on hand to assist and show them step-by-step. Our Doctors were very generous in their efforts to assist the children as much as they could. All the children left the office smiling and saying that going to the Dentist “wasn’t so scary after all. They also loved their kid-themed goody bags.
Nicole Armstrong – Thousand Oaks
These examples are just a snapshot of why “We Serve”
Become A Dental Linchpin
Posted by | February 16, 2010
Are you indispensable? That is the question that legendary marketer Seth Godin asks in his new book “Linchpin”. Imagine if suddenly there was a dental office on every corner of every street, or the dental market became saturated with a product that you were making. How would you succeed, what would you do to be indispensable? February 11th Seth made a rare trip to Orange County and spoke to 800+ of us at the St. Regis in Dana Point. I was given the amazing opportunity to photograph the event and listen in on Seth’s words of wisdom.
“Become an artist” was Seth’s driving point the entire night. Art isn’t about just using brushes and painting, it’s about doing “emotional work”. Work that you pour yourself into and that you are passionate about. Creating that connection with your patient, modeling that CAD/CAM crown and laughing with your staff can be art. It shows you care, and in a world where word of mouth is driving business, showing you care can create an exponential amount of new patients and hopefully make your work life more enjoyable.
When I first started with Pacific Dental Services 3 years ago the Dental Industry was a much slower beast. Most marketing was done with traditional local ads and postcard mailers. Online, things were a little more innovative but still way behind other fast paced industries. Now it’s 2010 and things are changing rapidly, our patients are demanding value, dentistry is becoming much more competitive. Business used to be about talking about how valuable your service was; now it’s about proving it.
You can quote me when I tell you that business has changed forever. With the adoption of social tools and mobile on the rise, the practices that offer the best experience for their patient and employee will become indispensable. How great is that? Those who do “emotional work” reap the reward.
How are you and/or your practice going to be a Linchpin in 2010? How is your business or place of work going to be the one where people see value?
Tell us how you will be indispensable in 2010 and comment below! Now go “make some art”!
I want to give a special thanks to Bryan Elliott who managed to put this event together in grass roots style. He is truly a Linchpin. To see the rest of the photos from the event visit my posterous page
David Letterman Needs a Modern Dentist
Posted by | December 14, 2009
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®
Industry Insight from Dental Economics
Posted by | November 24, 2009
The following article provides insight into the changing trends within the dental industry. There is a good explanation of typical dental practice settings and where basic financial metrics fall. You will see a good explanation of the benefits of larger dental practices and how management companies alleviate some of the headaches and add value within this setting. This reasonably explains and helps confirm the logical existence of a dental management organization like Pacific Dental Services, Inc.
Please read the article below and feel free to come back and comment:
The Emergence of the Dental Practice Management Company – By Thomas A. Climo, PhD, Courtesy of Dental Economics
What trends do you see happening in the dental industry? What pros and cons do you feel this brings upon the dental field? We would like to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Charles Rodgers, DDS
Vice President of Clinicians
Community
- RT @smilegen: Next Tues we are starting to give away 2 kindles a week! Like us on Facebook for a chance to win! http://bit.ly/aXzGeS
- Share A Smile - A Smile Generation Blog — Dreya and her super cute dog Clementine... http://t.co/XGj6IDZ via @smilegen
- @ImpactMktPR Thanks for the RT! :)
- Gooooo Chino Smiles! Congratulations to them on winning KEARTH 101 office of the day! http://bit.ly/dqSjQL
- Take a Trip Together http://bit.ly/drmgUL by @ChesterElton | Thanks Chester for being a part of XP 2010 and the mention!