Rules for Building a Successful Dental Practice
- Mastering leadership skills helps build a prosperous dental practice.Jacqueline Veissid/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Employment of dentists, health care professionals who treat problems of the teeth and gums, is expected to increase by 16 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median annual wages of dentists in May 2008 were $142,870. Becoming a dentist requires completing four years of dental school that lead to a Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and passing exams to earn a license. There are a few guidelines available to help you to build a successful dental practice. - Choose a business location and setting in which your practice can thrive. For example, select an office space for lease that you can afford rather than constructing a new building for your practice. A less expensive lease will free up money for other business overhead costs. Also, choose a geographic location where little competition for patients exist, which is important when you start building your practice.
- Hire staff members who are knowledgeable in their dental office roles and who are dedicated to the vision of your business. To do this, contact local colleges that train students to become clinical dental assistants, dental receptionists and dental hygienists. By building a relationship with these schools, you can connect with students who need to complete an internship at your office as part of their graduation requirement. An internship is a good opportunity for you to evaluate students' skills and interests in the dental field. In addition, create a manual that explains to new hires your expectations for how patients are treated and how procedures are performed in your practice.
- Compare the prices of your products and procedures with those of competing dentists in your area. You want your prices to be competitive but also fitting for the amount of profit you want to make. Track the number of new patients you receive each month as well. This is important because your new patient base will determine the types of procedures you will do and the revenue you can expect to bring in.
- Look through new patient files to determine where most of your new patients originate. This will help you determine where to focus your advertising efforts. Send out fliers to potential patients in your area, and create a rewards program so that patients who refer their families and friends to your practice receive a discount on future procedures. In addition, place an ad in the phone book, and build a website that advertises your dental services.
- Create a plan that allows your patients to make monthly payments on a dental procedure if they have trouble paying for an entire procedure upfront. In addition, bring patients back as soon as possible after they arrive for an appointment, so they are not waiting for more than 10 minutes in the waiting room. Customer service is a critical part of creating a prosperous dental office.
