Solstice Provider Blog

Want to stay current, but not sure where to look for news and trending topics? There is a great importance now more than ever in continuing education. Not only does it allow you to stay up to date and informed, thus bettering yourself and your practice, but it affirms your patients that you are looking for what best suits their needs. Here are five top dental websites to stay current, and one general information site, to stay on top of the industry. By reading these five sites, you stay informed and on top of the industry.

Domestic violence exists everywhere. It is a crime that transcends boundary lines and economic status. One in four women and one in seven men will be abused in her/his lifetime. Victims live in a whirlwind cycle of physical, emotional and verbal abuse that leaves them feeling helpless and afraid to seek out assistance. Identifying the signs of domestic violence saves lives. Dental providers are in a unique position to play a pivotal role in stopping the vicious cycle of domestic abuse. Can you and your dental staff spot the signs of domestic violence?

There's no time like the New Year to take a moment to reflect on what you can do during the year to improve your patients' experiences both inside and outside your dental office. Here are 5 things you can do in 2015 to enhance your dental practice:

Recently, my mom had a negative experience at a dental office. She left feeling cheated and insulted. Needless to say, her plan is never to return to that office. Feeling horrible for her, I made plans the next week to visit the office with her and get a copy of her treatment plan and claim form. We arrived at the office and soon after, one of the ladies at the front desk started preparing the documents. While she did that, my mom started to tell her about her experience and why she was displeased.The dental assistant started off listening and then it disintegrated into defending. As the conversation progressed, I watched her make three mistakes dental offices should never make with an angry dental patient:

Business experts agree that rewarding and motivating employees can lead to greater retention and better employee performance, ultimately boosting a company’s bottom line. A serious concern among today’s employers is the ageing of the workforce, requiring greater efforts by businesses to keep, and motivate, their current talent. Incentive programs are a great way to accomplish these goals.

You may have hundreds of patients – but what good is it if each of them are unhappy or on the search for a new dentist? Performing dental cleanings and other procedures effectively doesn’t make a dentist “great.”  In today’s competitive dental world, it’s all about separating yourself from the rest and making your office a place patients look forward to visiting. Make your patients feel appreciated. So how do you create this atmosphere? Allow us to elaborate.

Dental office appearance is extremely important because what your patients see the minute they enter your waiting room helps shape their first impressions. And, first impressions are hard to change. Studies show that people do not take long to make up their minds!

Whether you are just starting out, or business has slowed down, getting more dental patients is a top priority for most dental practices. Even if business is great, it's vital to continually promote your services because patients move or stop making appointments for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, there are several ways to promote and market your services that are fairly inexpensive.

As a dental service provider, you have a website with your contact information and a basic explanation of your services. However, you may be wondering should I be using social media? And how do I promote and expand my dental practice using social media? If you don't engage your current patients and potential customers using social media, you are missing a key piece of the puzzle.

Dental offices can be seen as anxiety-provoking environments for patients who have an extreme fear of the dentist. These patients can be challenging for dentists and office staff. The following tips for handling difficult patients can help improve overall patient care.