Google-proof Your Website

Caffeine, Places, Farmer, +1, and Pandas* – Oh my!

*The code names of some of the recent Google algorithm projects

(This is going to be a long one.  But, I promise it will be worth it!  Strap in!)

If you’ve owned a website for any amount of time, you’ve likely been “warned” about “big changes” at Google and why you MUST keep up – usually by paying someone to update your website.  This is “part and parcel” for (some of) the website designer and SEO (search engine optimization) industry.  And, no doubt, dentists are susceptible to being alarmed by those things they do not know (at all or very well).

How many times have you heard, “(Oh SHIT!) Google changed their algorithm and EVERYTHING is going to change in the search results!  If you don’t make certain changes, your website will be crippled!  Hurry!” Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Editor's Favorites, Editorial, Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

From High to Low in a Single Day

Today was a great day.  And, then it wasn’t.

First it was great!

I had one patient scheduled for the morning – to deliver six porcelain veneers.  This patient has been with me for a number of years.  And, she had talked to me about her four old veneers and not being happy with them.  They were done nearly 20 years ago.  Finally, she decided to move forward and the treatment plan was for Six Month Smiles short term orthodontics and then six new veneers.  Without turning this into a big case presentation (which I will do at another time), here’s a quick before and after.  The after photo was taken immediately post-cementation. Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Editorial, Practice Management, What Happened Today | 7 Comments

How to save a FORTUNE on medical insurance – with simple math.

Deductibles, deductibles, deductibles.

My entire family is insured for about $250 / month.  How do we do it?  EASY.  High deductible.  $5,000 individual deductible.  $10,000 family deductible.  “Egads,” you say??  Stay with me…

2 + 2 really IS 4!

What is truly STUNNING is how even EDUCATED people refuse… REFUSE to do SIMPLE math.  Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Current Events, Editorial | Tagged | 3 Comments

Isolite Saves the Day

This is just a quick “what happened this week” post.

Earlier this week, I had a patient who is in a wheelchair.  His neck had been broken in a chiropractor’s office.  Ironically, he is a retired chiropractor.  Really nice guy.

He breathes through a stoma in his neck.  He cannot have any fluids go down his throat.  He has an aide that stands by ready to suction him so he doesn’t choke.  His aide told me she would sit facing him, so she could watch his facial expression.  She’d know if she needed to jump in to help him breathe.  Yay!  🙂 Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Clinical Technique, Dental Product Reviews, Tips & Tricks, What Happened Today | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Cluttered Office – Cluttered Mind?

I think we can give Einstein a pass.

Honestly, I don’t know the real purpose of this blog post. But, I’ve come across some photos that I just HAD to play with.  Perhaps it’s a self-congratulatory exercise.  Or maybe there is some lesson we can glean from this.  Feel free to comment and add your own thoughts.

I’ll be the first to admit my private office is NOT a showplace.  It’s a good thing I have a dedicated consultation room to meet with patients, sales reps, or any other visitor to my practice.  I’m not the most organized person you’ll meet.  But, it turns out I’m not even remotely a contender in the most disorganized contest. Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Editorial, Practice Management | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Another Delta Dental State Bites the Dust!

Last April I ranted… I mean blogged… about the 15% cut in fees by the state of Washington’s Delta Dental plan.  In it I said Washington was the beach head of this war.  I predicted that other states would follow suit.  And, I was right.  It was just announced that Idaho’s Delta is doing the same thing… cutting fees by 4 – 13%.  Perhaps it’s coincidence that it was a state bordering Washington.

Dentists DO have a choice.  But, they have largely been brainwashed Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

I’ve Got Your Bounce Rate… Right Here!

If you get into a discussion with other dentists about websites, you may hear, “My website is awesome.  My bounce rate is only 5%.”  (or some such ridiculously low number)  “What’s yours?”  Many dentists love to get into metaphoric dick-measuring contests.  😉

We should all be measuring the results of our marketing efforts.  I believe many dentists pay a lot of money for marketing and have no idea if it’s REALLY working.  Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Marketing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Great Lakes Ortho Ministar – Product Review

Stop “Sucking Down” and get Super-duper Thermo-formed Results

The “suck-down” machine has been a mainstay in the labs of dental offices for many years.  And, they typically get used a lot.  We use thermo-formed materials in our practice in a variety of ways: Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Dental Product Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments

Two Dudes Syndrome – A Dental Disease

My ship: USS Independence CV-62 (now retired)

When I was in the Navy, we had pithy expressions for just about everything.

“That makes as much sense as a screen door on a submarine.”  (self-explanatory)

“I want you guys to make this place shine like a diamond in a goat’s ass.”  (Really clean this place up!)

“That (machine) is tits up.”  (That means a device is broken or “dead.”)

“Are we gonna go ugly-early?  Or are we gonna drink’em pretty tonight?”

Colorful stuff!  🙂

Join the Navy…  See the world… Piss people off… and get your ass kicked

In the dental clinics, we’d occasionally get sailors the day after a night out on the town suffering from “Two Dudes Syndrome.”  Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Case Presentation, What Happened Today | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Why Dentists Should Carry a Knife

Knives (or sharpened objects) are man’s earliest and most common tool.  Archeological excavations often uncover some sort of cutting or chopping tools, no matter how far back in human history we go.  Today, we use them just as much.  We just make them with more sophisticated materials.

Click photo for video of this scene.

I never considered carrying any kind of pocket knife on a regular basis.  Certainly, I’ve owned a few folding pocket knives going back to when I was a kid.  But, I never got into the habit of always having a knife on me…. until about 2 years ago. Continue reading

Digiprove sealCopyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior®
Posted in Guns & Knives | Tagged , , , , | 33 Comments