Solstice Provider Blog

As a dentist, you’re always keeping your ear to the ground for the latest industry news and trends. A popular topic lately is dentists who don’t recommend participating in dental insurance networks - meaning they wouldn’t accept Dental HMO (DHMO) or in-network Dental PPO (DPPO) benefits. The mindset for not participating in these networks has gained traction in the dental community with the recent increase in holistic dentistry practices. Per the Holistic Dental Association’s (HDA) website, around 30% of their registered dentists who disclosed don’t accept dental insurance[1]. Whether you are a holistic dentist or not, this statistic shows that some dentists feel disconnected from traditional insurance provider networks. So, what exactly is the value of being a part of an insurance network? Here are a few of the benefits, and why you should be a part of a dental insurance network.

You can have state-of-the-art equipment, a beautiful office and waiting room, and the best professional staff, but if patients aren't coming back, you've got a real problem! Barring a personnel problem (e.g., an impolite receptionist), the problem might very well reside in your practice's patient recall rate. How important is your patient recall rate to the success of your dental practice?

Does your dental office still use amalgam fillings? There’s a new federal rule governing amalgam disposal that went into effect on July 14, 2017, with an expected compliance date of July 14, 2020. Is your dental office in compliance?   

It’s hard to keep up with all the different ways to contact patients and how you should use each method to communicate with them.

The famous ‘word of mouth’ business approach has existed for centuries. Whether you were a bread maker, dressmaker, tailor, or dentist, having satisfied customers who told others about your quality products and excellent service was the best way to get people in the door. As we fast-forward to the present, we understand that a shift in how we do business has occurred. The digital age is in full swing!

From optometrists to ophthalmologists, all eye doctors are aware that a routine examination of the retina allows them to view problems with blood vessels and nerves that may be indicative of overall chronic health issues. However, most patients do not expect to hear about other health conditions when they get their eyes examined.

If you’re a dentist or a dental office manager, you’ve probably wrestled with the question, “Does accepting insurance help your dental practice?” There is no simple answer, but your choice will have a major impact on your practice for years to come.

Opening your own dental practice is one of the hardest things you’ve ever done. Whether you took over an existing practice or you started from scratch, taking this leap took determination, grit, faith and a tenacity to succeed. And it requires that, because opening and maintaining a successful business is downright hard. Per the SBA Office of Advocacy, only 50 percent of businesses that are opened survive beyond five years. And after 10 years, the survival rate drops to one-third. But chances are, you already knew this before you started, and the fact that you opened your practice anyway is likely proof that you have what it takes to succeed.