While outstanding patient care may be the most important facet of running a flourishing dental practice, it’s only one part of the puzzle. Top-of-the-line dental practice management is crucial for the experience of old and new patients, as well as your productivity, credibility, and reputation.
Whether you’re putting the final touches on your private practice before your grand opening, or have been in practice for years and want to revamp your business, quality dental practice management should hover near the top of your list of priorities.
Keep reading for three effective ways to implement contemporary dental practice management.
What is dental practice management?
Dental practice management goes beyond clinical dental care and encompasses the entirety of a dental practice. Typically, it consists of:
- Patient communication and relations
- Scheduling procedures
- Spearheading and handling marketing efforts
- Managing staff, including hiring and training
- Complying with HIPAA and other regulations required of any dental practitioner
With holistic dental practice management, as a business owner, you’ll also want to consider the necessary third parties that support your efforts—think vendors, supply chains, and importantly, insurance companies.
Tips for how to manage a successful dental practice
The success of your dental practice relies upon a seamless experience, from proper phone etiquette at your front desk to timely payment recuperation post-procedure. To that end, here are three simple tips to elevate your private practice.
#1 Engage with your staff
An engaged, dedicated staff is key to a successful business operation. Especially when the costs involved in hiring a new employee—including resources invested in recruiting, training, dental software training, and employee benefits—require months to gain a return on investment. Further, British Dental Journal indicates that patients have increased trust and confidence in a practice when they see a dental team working together.
Yet, according to a survey conducted by DentalPost:
- 82% of dental staff members—such as dental hygienists, front office employees, and dental assistants—had not discussed their professional progress with their higher-ups in the past six months.
- 65% claimed they didn’t think their employers cared for them as a person.
When employees aren’t engaged, productivity and patient experience suffer. With simple initiatives—think bi-weekly meetings, individual discussions, setting realistic dental KPIs, continuing education, celebrations, and incentives for your staff members—you can ensure your staff feels valued, bolstering trust and loyalty.
#2 Streamline operations with a digital dental lab
For any dental practice owner, the prosperity of the practice also rests on three critical elements: time efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and patient comfort. Through a digital dental lab, you and your patients can experience end-to-end digital solutions with new dental technology that enhances workflow and streamlines operations. Specifically with Dandy, your team receives:
- Intraoral scanners – An intraoral scanner will curb the amount of time your patients spend for oral impressions. This handheld device allows you to make precise digital scans for crowns, dentures, types of nightguards, aligners, and more.
- Patient portal – A mobile patient portal—which is part of Dandy’s digital dental technology offering—enables you to track and manage lab cases, whether you’re at your patient’s chairside or prepping for your day over coffee at home.
#3 Modernize communications
Results from a survey performed by McKinsey & Company demonstrate that people prefer digital solutions throughout every phase of their healthcare journey, including receiving appointment reminders via text.
Expanding your patient communication channels will simplify relationships—and may improve patient satisfaction (and a calmer, happier staff).
Why does dental office management matter?
The patient experience begins the moment individuals become aware of your services and extends well past the time they spend in your chair for treatment. This means all the day-to-day operations that happen between those two moments need to be efficient, headache-free, and seamless, including efficient scheduling, billing, workflow, and patient communication—all of which fall under daily dental office management.
What do dental managers do?
A dental practice manager is fundamental to a thriving dentist office. Typical dental office manager duties run the gamut from filling you in on your appointments and procedures for the day to ensuring you have enough dental hygienists on staff to cater to your patients.
In addition to the primary duties of dental practice management outlined above, a dental office manager’s tasks may also include:
- Leading your staff on a daily basis
- Problem solving when issues arise
- Keeping your dental clinic stocked with the supplies you need
- Ensuring the cleanliness and aesthetics of your waiting room and facility
To support their efforts and ensure a smooth operation, your team can utilize a digital dental lab with Dandy.
Refine dental practice management with Dandy’s Chairside
Expert management is the lubricant needed to ensure your dental practice operates like a well-oiled machine. From managing billing to guaranteeing your practice is HIPAA-compliant, a top-notch dental practice manager is the golden ticket to a profitable, booming business.
With Dandy by your side, you can take a digital-first approach to your dental clinic. We provide expert, timely support and a range of innovative tools and technology to save you time and resources—ensuring you can focus on what you do best.
Schedule a call with our team today and join the legion of dentists who focus on pristine patient experiences.
Sources:
Forbes Advisor. Office manager job description. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/office-manager-job-description/
DentalPost. Dental job satisfaction poll reveals how to boost retention & engagement. https://www.dentalpost.net/dental-jobs/content/dental-job-satisfaction-poll-reveals-employee-engagement-retention-opportunities/
Investopedia. The cost of hiring a new employee. https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0711/the-cost-of-hiring-a-new-employee.aspx
British Dental Journal Open. “Difficult” dental patients: a grounded theory of study of dental staff’s experiences.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9359978/
American Dental Association. Managing effective team meetings. https://www.ada.org/resources/practice/practice-management/managing-effective-team-meetings
Phreesia. Appointment reminders: Which methods do patients prefer? https://www.phreesia.com/2018/10/01/blog-appointment-reminders-which-methods-do-patient-prefer/
