Achieving Success in the Practice of Dentistry – Part Nine

After writing eight posts in this series on my observations over the years of why certain doctors achieve success in the practice of dentistry – none of which relate to clinical expertise – it is finally time to discuss something related to teeth and the oral cavity! In truth, there really is no substitute for great hands and great confidence and great diagnostic ability. Some of that is God given, and those people are very lucky. But I see so many doctors who really grow into  becoming excellent clinicians with some serious commitment to continuing education that can increase their productivity. All states, of course, have minimum requirements for continuing education. I am talking about going way beyond that.

• Spending time with world class clinicians and educators like Frank Spears and Ross Nash or David Hornbrook gives a doctor  confidence and the ability to visualize cases. I hear only good things about these guys, and I see wonderful results from my clients. A major additional benefit to the learning process in formalized lectures is the socialization and rubbing elbows with other doctor attendees who are as serious as you are about improving. Often the idea sharing among the participants at the conference is just as beneficial as what is presented on stage.

• Participating in study clubs. In just about every successful practice I have been involved with, the doctor is an active participant in a well organized study club. Again, you learn not only from the lectures but from the involvement with other doctors in the club who are serious about upgrading their skills and knowledge.

• Learning new procedures like short-term orthodontics with Six Month Smiles enables a doctor to create opportunities for much more restorative dentistry. In the past two years, I have had fifteen different clients attend the Six Month Smiles  course – and they are all happy. I actually attended the course two years ago just to see what this was all about, and I can honestly tell you it was the first time in all these years that I wished I was back doing clinical dentistry. It is really pretty amazing. The room was filled with frustrated Invisalign providers!

• Promoting aesthetics. I see a lot of good results from practices that continually talk about whiter teeth. I think people in general want to look better. I think they feel it will help their life both personally and professionally. But if a doctor wants to be successful promoting aesthetics to the patient base, he or she better be very sure that their own smile looks great as well as the smiles of their staff members.

So challenge yourself to be the best clinician you can be. It is a privilege to be a “doctor” and to be held in high esteem by your patients and your community. You have earned this by hard work and perseverance over many years – but the quest for excellence is never ending. So continue on this path, and success is almost guaranteed.