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Survival in the Dental Office: Brain Based Leadership Concepts to Help your Practice

During the 2020 spring shutdown, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself at home with my family looking for ways to entertain ourselves. We planned daily "quarantainment activities" like playing indoor games, outdoor games, cooking competitions, bike rides, ping pong tournaments, movies etc. At some point, we began to watch back seasons of the CBS reality show "Survivor". In this show, a group of very different people get stranded on an island, with just the clothes on their backs. They compete individually and in teams but ultimately have to vote each other off the island until there is one remaining survivor. We did some major binge watching, but it was fun. Watching the drama of such different people put in a stressful environment, competing for food & small comforts, making pacts with each other and ultimately doing anything to survive in the game - including the all too famous "blindside" was just too entertaining to look away!

At the same time, we all found ourselves in a business survival mode. How do we handle our emergency patients? Do we layoff employees? Can we get a PPP loan? Can we get it forgiven? What happens if someone on staff gets sick? How do we pay for sick time? If a staff member gets sick, do we have to shut down the office? What if my family gets sick, can I come to work? How do I handle the hygienist's concerns? How do we manage our team's anxiety about the whole situation? How long will this go on? etc. etc. The threats to our businesses and livelihood were real and we all felt a little "blindsided" by COVID-19.

Survival is what the brain is designed to do. The brain identifies threats and keeps us alert and aware of them at all times. Unfortunately, sometimes this state of arousal can create challenges and problems when it comes to communicating, collaborating, solving problems, setting goals, and leading a team in your office. Modern neuroscience is teaching us many new things about the brain and cutting edge leadership is taking advantage of that new knowledge.

Our upcoming Inner Space Seminar, will discuss how brain based leadership focuses on understanding how the brain works and using that information to our advantage. David Rock, of the Neuroleadership Institute, has described five social domains that the brain treats as primary rewards or threats. Since your office is social system, understanding these concepts can change the way you communicate, lead your team and interact with your patients more effectively.

Our upcoming Inner Space Seminar will be presented by Jason Hales DDS, MS on Thursday, Nov. 11th, 2021, will review these leadership concepts and help you survive as a leader in your practice.

To register please contact Annette at Annette@superendo.com or 480-807-8022. Seating is limited.

from Dental Health http://www.theendoblog.com/2021/11/survival-in-dental-office-brain-based.html via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Case Presentation: Implant Impression for Contoured Soft Tissues

This is a continuation of this case – A single central incisor implant. The patient returned for the final impression after two months of healing.  Since the provisional maintained the soft tissue profile, there was a lot of space around … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/06/25/case-presentation-implant-impression-for-contoured-soft-tissues/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Pay Attention to Things That Just Don’t Seem Right and Save Your Own Life

There was a murder-suicide only a few miles from my home at a grocery store two days ago.  I was in that grocery store just a few days before.  This “hits close to home,” literally. A grandmother and her 2 … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/06/12/pay-attention-to-things-that-just-dont-seem-right-and-save-your-own-life/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Dealing with Cracked and Fractured Teeth - An Inner Space Seminar

  At a recent Inner Space Seminar, Dr. Jason J. Hales discussed dealing with cracked and fractured teeth.

from Dental Health http://www.theendoblog.com/2021/04/dealing-with-cracked-and-fractured.html via http://www.rssmix.com/

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How to Document Screw Access Position Under Cemented Implant Crowns.

While screw-retained implant crowns are favored today, certain clinical situations dictate cemented crowns on custom abutments.  I won’t be going into the different scenarios that favor screw-retained over cemented.  Nor will this article cover the advantages and disadvantages of each … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/04/16/how-to-document-screw-access-position-under-cemented-implant-crowns/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Case Presentation: Immediate implant provisional #9.

Learn how to make exceptionally esthetic provisionals on immediate implants to restore a single anterior tooth. Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/04/12/case-presentation-immediate-implant-provisional-9/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Go tribal with your website marketing!

Over the years (since 1999), I’ve gradually added to my website.  After 22 years, I’ve got over 50 pages on my site. Something I’ve constantly advocated (to other dentists) is to avoid “catch-all” web pages on your website.  For example:  … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/04/11/go-tribal-with-your-website-marketing/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Partner for Success - What Does A Real Partnership Look Like?

At Superstition Springs Endodontics, one of our five core values is "Partner for Success". To us this means, that we are successful when our partners are successful. As we have focused on this value, we have come to more clearly understand who our partners are, and how we can help each other be successful.

At SSE, our partnerships are primarily with our referring dentists, but also include other important providers of supplies, IT services, legal services, accounting services and even janitorial services. While insurance companies are often viewed as an adversary, we should look to build partnerships with them, when possible.

A 2009 study by the L.C. Williams & Associates Research Group details a group of dentists who refer less than 10% of their root canals to endodontists. This group of dentists have a very different perspective about working with endodontists. They tend to believe that they perform the same quality of endodontic treatment as specialists at a lower cost. They are less likely to admit that certain difficult cases should have been referred to an endodontist than their peers who refer more than 10% of their endodontic cases. These dentists are also less likely to describe an endodontist as their partner in delivering quality dental care. As you can imagine, these are not the dentists that we are interested in working with.

Defining this value of partnership has given us the freedom to realize that while most of our patients come from general dentists, there are times when we are forced to choose which dentists are given access and priority of our time, schedule and expertise. As you can imagine, those dentists with whom we have a partnership will get that priority.  While working with this previously described group of dentists typically brings frustration, working in sync with partner dentists, and the relationship with them, is a rewarding and fulfilling part of our work.

A partnership is a relationship that benefits both parties. At SSE, this is what partnership looks like to us:

Our partners know:

We will take care of their patients when in pain.

We will stand behind the work we do for their patients.

We will treat their patients the same way that they do.

We will support their treatment plan.

They can contact our doctors directly at anytime with any question or concern.

Their patients will return more confident in their dentist and appreciative of their referral to SSE.

We will do everything possible to help them be successful.

We know our partners:

Respect our team and their efforts to serve their patients

Respect our time and are patient and flexible in getting their patients in

They know our treatment is worth the cost. They encourage patients to see the value in coming to our practice regardless of insurance benefits or distance traveled.

See us as a valuable part of their dental team - not just an emergency service or someone to call to bail them out when they get in over their head.

See value in the work that we do for their patients. They recognize the expertise that comes with endodontic specialization.

Are comfortable calling our doctors directly to help them deal with any especially difficult case or situation.

We understand that referral patterns in dentistry can change for many reasons. The previous study found that the longer a dentist was in practice, the more positively they perceived their endodontist colleagues. Younger doctors were more likely to say that economics of treatment and their availability are more important factors when deciding whether to perform or refer to an endodontist. As doctors become more experienced, better acquainted, as professional relationships grow stronger through improved communication and experience together and as teams get to know each other and work together partnership improves. Sometimes doctors are discouraged from referring to endodontists because of their employment status as an associate dentist. Sometimes an owner doctor gets busy enough to choose procedures that are more profitable for them (crown & bridge) or they just get tired of searching for the MB#2 and look to build a partnership with an endodontist.

Our mature partners (and by mature I do not mean age) express to us that they feel that relieved sending their patients to SSE because they know the experience their patients will have and how it will move them forward in their treatment plan. While many of these partners may still perform some endodontic treatment, they become experts at diagnosis and case selection. They recognize the cases that will save them time and money by referring rather than treating. If you could ask them, they would explain that they are more successful and profitable by the working partnership they have with SSE.

Because of our value "Partner for Success", our partners are given the highest priority in our schedule. While we try to accommodate everyone who needs to be seen, our partners are given priority over self-referred patients, online referred patients or patients from offices that we don't have an established and working partnership.

We appreciate working with the best dental practices around and are always excited to make new partners. If you are looking for the kind of partnership described above, please let us know so that we can take the steps to build a stronger relationship with you and your team.

from Dental Health http://www.theendoblog.com/2021/03/partner-for-success-what-does-real.html via http://www.rssmix.com/

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They say veneers don’t work!

Veneers don’t last! Over the years, I’ve encountered colleagues that claim veneers are doomed to fail…. Or, that they are less predictable than crowns.  “Veneers pop off.”  “Veneers break,” they say.   Baloney! I’ve been fortunate to have practiced for … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/03/02/they-say-veneers-dont-work/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Social Compliance in the “COVID Era”

I was discussing the current situation with COVID hysteria, (unconstitutional) rules, and social implications with my wife at lunch.  And a nuclear analogy sprung to mind for me…. We have reached a critical mass of willful ignorance and suspension of … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/02/28/social-compliance-in-the-covid-era/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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How to Manage Your Debt So It Doesn't Manage You

At our last Inner Space Seminar, Dr. Danny Masters and attorney Amber Masters discuss financial principles to managing debt so it doesn't manage you.

  from Dental Health http://www.theendoblog.com/2021/02/how-to-manage-your-debt-so-it-doesnt.html via http://www.rssmix.com/

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To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate? Is that a question?

There are some serious potential problems with the COVID vaccines that are not being brought to light by those with the power to do so.  The media and politicians are not discussing this at all.  I’ve been reading the peer … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/01/05/to-vaccinate-or-not-to-vaccinate-is-that-a-question/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Your Fees are high, but…

This will be a short blog post. Today, a long-time patient was in the chair for a crown delivery.  None of these photos are of this particular case. As is usually the case, the crown dropped in with perfect contacts… … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/01/04/your-fees-are-high-but/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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It’s a Plandemic! Do you know where your ammo is?

Over the last several months, I’ve received numerous messages from friends who are desperate for a defensive firearm or ammunition.  If you didn’t already know, the run on guns and ammo has created a major shortage.  My friends are understandably … Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2021/01/02/its-a-plandemic-do-you-know-where-your-ammo-is/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Which came first? Tongue thrust? Or the spaces?

Which came first? Spaces? Or tongue thrust? Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2020/11/22/which-came-first-tongue-thrust-or-the-spaces/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Your Most Valuable Asset: Your Brand

You think you have a good reputation, and maybe you do. But, what is your brand? Continue reading → from Dental Health https://thedentalwarrior.com/2020/10/01/your-most-valuable-asset-your-brand/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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Aerosol Anxiety and COVID-19 Critical Thinking with Dr. Hessam Nowzari

  A big thanks to Dr. Hessam Nowzari, and his presentation, "Aerosol Anxiety and COVID-19 Critical Thinking" presented as an Inner Space Seminar. Hosted by Dr. Jason Hales and Superstition Springs Endodontics.

HIGHLIGHTS

After 8 or 9 months, those who claim we don't have enough data for proper decision making are misguided or naive.

Majority of current complications and deaths are based on decisions made upon flawed mathematical models.  

COVID-19 is not a novel virus.  COVID-19 shares 90% of its genome with other coronaviruses - which we have been exposed to historically.  We already have some amount of cellular immunity to COVID-19 because of our prior exposure to other coronaviruses.  COVID-19 is an RNA virus which, by probability, gets weaker as it is replicated.

The strength of the COVID-19 virus is the speed of contamination - not mortality rate.

The US has ignored many of our scientific colleagues in Taiwan, Japan, Sweden etc. and the information and warnings they gave us early on and the success that they are currently having.

We should expect to see increasing case positives and mortality rate as we move into October due to the regular flu season.

We know that our young people are safe.

We have to protect our elderly population and people with co-morbidities.

COVID-19 is very sensitive to soap & water. Wash your hands with soap and don't touch your face or eyes.  You don't need alcohol or expensive chemicals that destroy your natural biome.

Every person has over 100,000 viral elements in their DNA.  Viruses are part of who we are.

WHAT ARE WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU?  PLEASE COMMENT.

from Dental Health http://www.theendoblog.com/2020/09/aerosol-anxiety-and-covid-19-critical.html via http://www.rssmix.com/