Content IS King in Websites – It’s not just me!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

Gary TakacsI don’t often link to other articles in my blog.  But, my friend, Gary Takacs has made an appearance of sorts on the Forbes website in an article titled, “Design Doesn’t Matter? Website Strategies For The New Era Of SEO And PR.”  Gary shows up in the article on the 2nd page by virtue of an embedded video of him interviewing Jack Hadley.

Jack Hadley - founder of MySocialPractice.com.

Jack Hadley – founder of MySocialPractice.com.

A quote from the article by Jack Hadley (My Social Practice):  “I wouldn’t worry about the design and graphic elements of your site so much. In fact perhaps not at all. I’d be far more concerned with the content.”  That’s coming from a guy who built his career on DESIGN.

I’ve was RIDICULED for saying that YEARS ago on Dentaltown.  I persist in my position on this.  Dentists like shiny things and they assume everyone else does, too.  Website designers with “mad graphic design skillz” know this and cater to those dentists.  Some of those dentists laugh at my website, which is rather spartan when it comes to the eye candy.  Laugh all you want.  My website works!  I wrote every word… about 55 pages worth.  I took every photo… about 500 of them.  Those things spell:  congruence, credibility, and resonance.

Another excerpt from the Forbes article: Continue reading →

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Posted in Marketing, Websites | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The ONLY Way to Stop a “Mass Shooter” Is….

Posted on June 8, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

This is MrColionNoir’s best rant, yet!  I thought it was worth sharing.  His commentary should simply be considered common sense.

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Are Spelling and Grammar Important?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

spelling

This is my second article in the same day.  I’m feeling froggy!

Edit:  I just realized this is also my 200th post!  Wow!

Last night, I was watching TV and a local dental ad came up.  Something was catching my eye, but I wasn’t sure what it was.  It just didn’t look right.  So, I used the DVR to back it up and then paused it.  It’s interesting how our brains will make corrections automatically, so we can miss mistakes at first glance and even the second glance.  Then I saw the reason(s) it didn’t look right.

Flexable? Afforable? And no space between "afforable" and "payment?"

Flexable? Afforable? And no space between “afforable” and “payment?”

I posted this on Dentaltown.  Most thought it was not a good thing.  Some argued that it’s not a big deal.

Personally, I do think it’s a big deal.  I suppose I’m a snob.  No… I’m quite sure I’m a snob!

I submit that a professional’s marketing Continue reading →

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Posted in Marketing | Tagged , | 3 Comments

“Can I trust my dentist?” How Would You Answer?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

Just this morning, I got this email via my practice website:

My 20 year old daughter had a filling come out (tooth 12).  She needed root canal.  They referred her out even though all the dentist do that procedure in the office.  The crown (d2740 porcelain ceramic substrate) was covered by the DHMO.  They added a $500 lab fee and mandatory upgrade.  When fitting the crown he did a gingivectomy and apically positioned flap surgery on the tooth.  No cuts on the gum.  Can I trust him??

 

Here’s what I wrote back: Continue reading →

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Posted in Practice Management, What Happened Today | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Tough Central Incisors Case

Posted on June 6, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

LG-

Well, since my entire day’s schedule cancelled due to a tropical storm and tornado warnings….  I’ve got time to post this case.

Long time patient.  Very nice guy.  Has some pretty severe wear on his anterior teeth.  Got him wearing a night guard every night.

I have bonded fractured incisal edges on his upper centrals a few times for him.  Even with a night guard, he keeps losing them.

We decided to crown the central incisors.  I advised him of the potential for endo.

I took a pre-op impression and waxed things up, and adjusted the opposing model to test how much interocclusal space I might be able to gain. Continue reading →

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Posted in Case Presentation, What Happened Today | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

25 Years in Dentistry – It’s Just the Beginning

Posted on June 4, 2013 by The Dental Warrior
First week of dental school (1984)

First week of dental school (1984)

Yesterday minus twenty-five years was the day I graduated dental school.  What a relief that was!  In some ways, it seems like yesterday.  In other ways, it still seems like yesterday!

Going into dentistry, I had no idea I would like it as much as I do.  Certainly, my experience in dental school would not have given me such an idea.

On the USS Independence, in the Persian Gulf... dressed for the occasion.

On the USS Independence, in the Persian Gulf… dressed for the occasion.

After dental school, I spent 3 years in the Navy, which had its ups and downs, but I’d say about 99% ups.  It was a great professional, cultural, and social experience.  I learned a lot more in the Navy than I did in dental school.  It was in the Navy where my love for dentistry really began.

Out here in the civilian world, I learned even more through extensive C.E. and a desire to learn and perform at my best.  I worked as an associate in two different offices for about 3 years before starting my practice from scratch.  I decided against participation in managed care plans.  To this day, I have Continue reading →

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Posted in Current Events, Editorial | Tagged | 4 Comments

Dissecting a Dental Ad

Posted on May 20, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

Over the years, I’ve collected many dental print ads.  It’s obvious to me that most of them were designed by dentists…. FOR dentists.  I’ve posted other ads in the past… some pretty funny…. some pretty bad.

Today, I came across an ad in the local paper with a focus on dental implants.

dental ad-5430

Let’s pick it apart…. Continue reading →

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Posted in Marketing, What Happened Today | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Some Will. Some Won’t. Some Wait. So What? NEXT!

Posted on May 18, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

“Some will.  Some won’t.  Some wait.  So what?  Next!”

I don’t know who coined this aphorism.  But, I believe I first heard it from Dr. Bill Blatchford.  I was reminded of it last week when a patient scheduled to start 6 Month Smiles orthodontic treatment.  This patient first came to me for a 6 Month Smiles consultation in 2010!  I hadn’t seen her since then.

This young woman had braces as a teenager, but she didn’t wear her retainers. She came to me (via my website) for a 6 Month Smiles consultation back in 2010. She returned last week to start treatment. She also needs hygiene, endo, and restorative treatment.

I get my fair share of cosmetic consultations.  While I haven’t kept any statistics on how many go through with treatment, I’ll admit it’s probably a small minority.  Likewise, I suspect Ferrari dealerships see far more “tire kickers” than actual buyers.

I Want You to Want Me…

rejection

Dentists are a caring breed and take rejection personally.  And, as is human nature, we tend to avoid situations that result in disappointment.  Humans will do almost anything to avoid emotional pain, and for dentists this can eventually translate into avoiding the presentation of  complex or expensive treatment plans.

We may start out ambitious by presenting the top-of-the-line to all of our patients.  But, after being beaten down repeatedly, many of us eventually “fall into line.”

Continue reading →

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Posted in Case Presentation, Practice Management, What Happened Today | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Great Customer Service Is Alive and Well in the Dental Industry

Posted on May 15, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

I just wanted to post a quick note about two companies I recently contacted for help with their dental products.

Designs for Vision

The temple piece on my 3.5x surgical telescopes broke at the hinge.  There is an optical place next door to my office, so I went there to see if they could repair it.  Nope.  They’d need the replacement part from the manufacturer (DFV).  So, I called Designs for Vision and told them about my issue.

“No problem!  We’ll get a new set of temples (both) out to you today.” 

Do you need a credit card? 

“Nope!  No charge.”

I got the parts in a couple of days and got it installed by the nice folks next door.  Hooray!  (I have a pair of 2.5x telescopes that I used in the meantime.)

AMD Lasers

I have their Picasso Lite diode laser and love it.  I use the disposable tips for mine (rather than cleaving a continuous fiber).  But, recently, about half the time, I’d click a tip onto the handpiece and it just wouldn’t transmit the laser beam.  I figured the tip was defective, tossed it, and put on another one.  Half the time it worked.  Half the time it didn’t.

So, I  called to complain about the “defective” tips.  The AMD rep on the other end took me through some diagnostics.  It wasn’t the tips.  It was the handpiece.  Rut-roh… that’s gonna cost me, eh?  NOPE!  They sent me a new one along with a return label for the old one.  No charge!  New handpiece and tips work perfectly now!

Kudos to Designs for Vision and AMD Lasers!

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I Wouldn’t Take Medicaid, If They Paid Double My Fees – Here’s Why

Posted on May 11, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

Dr. Morse - photo courtesy NY Daily News

I remember this case from many years ago.  Dr. Leonard Morse of Brooklyn, NY was wrongfully accused of Medicaid fraud by then Attorney General (and now disgraced on multiple levels) Elliot Spitzer.  It took nearly seven years for Dr. Morse to vindicate himself.  He won his lawsuit and was awarded $7.7M, but he lost his practice and his reputation.  $7.7 million isn’t enough in my opinion.  But, I’m glad that Dr. Morse feels vindicated.  He was offered $100,000 to drop his lawsuit against the state.  $100k in exchange for losing his practice, his name, and his honor???   Good on Dr. Morse for standing up for what’s right!

But, That’s Not All!  There’s More!

I’m familiar with a couple of similar cases Continue reading →

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