Dr. Lorne Lavine Dental Technology Consultants Printer Friendly Version

Life on the Cutting Edge
by Lorne Lavine, Dental Technology Consultants

Few people will argue that this is an exciting time for dentistry. Technology has moved the profession forward in ways that were unimaginable even 10 years ago. It’s impossible to open a dental journal and not see ads for the latest and greatest devices such as 3D cone-beam systems and CAD-CAM. One technology that has started to grow in popularity, but doesn’t seem to receive the same amount of press as the newer systems, is lasers. I firmly believe that lasers are poised for a huge growth spurt in the next few years, as they make a lot of sense for many practices.

1. First and foremost, unlike many of the newest high-tech systems out there, lasers have what is probably the easiest learning curve of any newer technology. Sure, hands-on training is recommended as it would be for any high-tech system, but these systems can be mastered by any dental professional in a short period of time. The laser, like a dental handpiece, is just an extension of the operator’s hands, and even low-tech practices can become proficient with a laser and start using them right away. In my experience, if you have the skills to make it through dental school, then you are more than qualified to learn how to use and master the use of a laser.

2. While many high-tech systems only have limited applications, lasers truly fit the bill for dentists and dental practices that do what I like to call “everyday dentistry.” This would apply to procedures that most clinicians see on a regular basis, such as frenectomies, treating subgingival decay, class I-VI restorations, etc. While some dentists will benefit from combination hard and soft tissue lasers like the Waterlase, with its enamel cutting abilities via a new Turbo handpiece, others who want to limit their work to soft-tissue procedures only would be well-served with a portable handheld laser like the new iLase. The point is, there’s a laser out there for every dentist, limited only by your imagination and your willingness to find a better way to do great dentistry.

3. Another area where lasers make a lot of sense is in control of bleeding. Most dentists will admit that bleeding can be the bane of their existence: it makes it hard to see, hard to work, and hard to take accurate impressions. This is one area where lasers truly shine, as bleeding can be stopped literally within a few seconds and allow dentists to do their best possible work. Many dentists who use lasers tell me that they have stopped using retraction cord to take impressions, as lasers can do everything retraction cord did, but more efficiently and with less pain.

4. Many practice management gurus preach the importance of “same-day dentistry” - the ability to start and complete procedures for patients so that we don’t require them to return. In our still-down economy, there’s little doubt that anything we can do to maximize our efficiency will help the bottom line. By using lasers properly, it allows practitioners to do more procedures in a shorter period of time. Our patients are busy and coming to the dentist isn’t always the highest priority for them. If we can accomplish in one visit what often took 3-4 visits, we can be more profitable, and just as importantly, complete work that might have been difficult to complete if the patient did not return. On top of all that, practices with lasers are seen as high-tech and cutting edge, and the promise of painless dentistry will attract many new patients to your office.

5. Staying on the topic of profitability, one of the best things that dentists can do is keep more of their procedures in-house. While some complex treatments like molar endo, implants and orthodontics are often best treated by specialists, there are numerous other treatments that can easily be accomplished by general dentists. Many dentists are uncomfortable treating certain types of procedures, but in my opinion, this is simply related to the fact that they don’t realize that with a great tool like a laser, many of these are quite simple to perform. This would include many routine procedures such as biopsies, creating access to tooth margins, clinical crown lengthening, bleeding control, implant uncovering, and a host of others that can easily be accomplished.

Dentists are constantly looking for the latest and greatest technology to improve their lives, their practice, and the lives of their patients. What many may not realize is that the technology - lasers - already exists and offers great solutions for almost any practice.

Lorne Lavine, DMD is the Founder and President of Dental Technology Consultants. Dr.Lavine holds two prestigious certifications, the A+ Certified Technician designation and the Network+ Certified Professional. These designations demonstrate proficiency in computer repair, operating systems, network design and installation. Dental Technology Consultants provides dentists a full range of services relating to the implementation of technology.

Interested in having Dr. Lavine speak to your dental society or study club? Click here. Dr. Lavine can be reached at drlavine@thedentistsnetwork.net.

Hear Dr. Lavine’s FREE podcasts at The Dentist’s Network - HERE

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Sally McKenzie, CEO McKenzie Management Printer Friendly Version

Renew Your Practice Goals Starting Now
by Sally McKenzie, CEO

I have a guarantee for you. The sun will come up tomorrow. You will start another day. What you do with that day, however, will be wholly and completely up to you. I want you to consider the following questions: Will you trudge into the office dreading what the day has to offer? Or will you charge in eager to embrace the challenges and the opportunities that are yours for the taking? Yes, it may sound cliché but the reality is that your attitude as well as your actions create or derail your personal and career satisfaction.

You don’t need a new year to create a new mindset. Each day offers the opportunity to renew your commitment to making the most of your career, your relationships, your strengths, your team, and your practice. I recommend you start with the following:

#1 - If You Can See It, You Can Create It
It’s called creating your vision and goals. In terms of the growth and success of your practice, as well as your own professional satisfaction, where do you want to be by year’s end? Share this with your entire staff and involve them directly in spelling out the plan to ensure that everyone is aiming for the same target, namely total practice success. Over the next several weeks during your monthly two-hour team meetings, you and your team work through various aspects, including:

• Improving communication skills and establishing dialogue.
• Providing a non-threatening forum for the team to evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
• Clearly defining jobs and responsibilities of the members.
• Assessing individual roles in the group and understanding how each contributes to the overall practice objectives.
• Developing specific team processes such as decision-making and conflict management.
• Improving problem-solving strategies.
• Creating a culture of accountability.

#2 - Specific Priorities
Take the broad goals and objectives and translate them into specific priorities that are individualized for each person. For example, define the priorities of the business team. Spell out how each person’s responsibilities and objectives, and help to achieve those priorities and how they fit into the larger practice goals. Discuss the efficiency of the clinical team and key systems such as production, scheduling, and treatment acceptance.

#3 - Open The Lines Of Communication Wide
Feedback, celebrating progress, group problem solving and troubleshooting all involve ongoing constructive communication. But it is more than keeping everyone informed. Open and effective communication is the cornerstone of a culture of respect, trust, and shared accountability. Encourage staff to offer ongoing constructive suggestions, input, and insights aimed at moving the practice forward.

# 4 - Set The Example For Your Team
Pay close attention to your own actions, behaviors, and decisions daily to ensure they are consistent with practice values and priority. Do not expect your team to follow you if you are not willing to live by the same principles and uphold the same standards that you require of others.

#5 - Cut The Deadwood And Enjoy Smooth Sailing
Deal with the problem performers on your team. These are the people that you and your star performers have been carrying for far too long and at far too great an expense. There are few things more demoralizing to top-flight employees than a boss who looks the other way when one or more members of the team consistently disregard office policies, bring poor attitudes to work, generate conflict, make excuse after excuse for why they were late, why they were sick, why they simply cannot get their jobs done. Yet the deadwood workers that everyone is stepping over and forced to just “deal with” get the same pay raises, same vacation time, and the same perks as top performers on your team. Understandably, your capable staff will only tolerate this for so long.

As Vince Lombardi once said, "There is nothing more unequal that the equal treatment of unequals." You want a team of people eager to help you and your practice reach the pinnacle - not derail your efforts.

Now, what are you waiting for? Take action.

Sally McKenzie is CEO of McKenzie Management, a nationwide dental management, practice development and educational consulting firm. Working on-site with dentists since 1980, McKenzie Management provides knowledge, guidance and personalized solutions that have propelled thousands of general and specialty practices to realize their potential.

Interested in speaking to Sally about your practice concerns? Email her at sally@thedentistsnetwork.net or call 1.877.777.6151.

Interested in having Sally speak to your dental society or study club? Click here.

Hear Sally’s FREE podcasts at The Dentist’s Network - HERE

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Thomas L. Snyder, DMD, MBA Managing Partner The Snyder Group, LLC Printer Friendly Version

Should You Employ An Associate As A Sole Proprietor?
by Thomas L. Snyder, DMD, MBA, Managing Partner

When you are ready to hire your first associate and if you have been a sole proprietor your entire career, you need to consider changing your business structure. The reason is quite simple in that you need to protect yourself in the event of a malpractice action on behalf of your associate. We also recommend that the host doctor require the associate to maintain the same malpractice insurance carrier as well. You actually have two choices to consider in choosing a new business and here are the choices:

1. LLC/LLP
A Limited Liability Company or Limited Liability Partnership is the business entity that we typically recommend for sole proprietors who have hired their first associate. The LLC or LLP is also called a PLLC or PLLP in several states. The LLC is not a separate taxpaying entity as is the case with a Professional Corporation (PC). If you are a sole proprietor it will not change the way you file your tax returns. You will continue to file a Schedule C with your Form 1040. The protection that you receive from a LLC is invaluable. For example, if an employee were to run an errand and become injured, there is liability if you are a sole proprietor. So the single entity LLC makes a lot of sense for more than the reason of just hiring an associate. The single member LLC affords you the same protection provided by a Professional Corporation, yet is less expensive since you only file one tax return.

In the event that your associate eventually becomes your partner and if you wish to retain the LLC format, you will need to form a new LLC to include multiple members. The multiple members LLC usually files a Form 1065 with income flowing through to each member. The legal protection provided is, of course, the same.

One of the major benefits of adopting a LLC format is that you continue to pay your self-employment taxes on a quarterly basis. If you have been doing this for your entire career, the LLC is a very attractive alternative from a cash-management point of view. Unlike Professional Corporations whereby you pay taxes when you receive your salary, this can be a big advantage for cash-management purposes.

Another feature of a LLC is that you do not have to return a Corporate Minute Book as in a Professional Corporation. Speak to a dentist who is audited and does not have an updated Corporate Minute Book for the IRS agent to review!

2. Professional Corporation
Another option in lieu of the single member LLC is to form a Professional Corporation when you hire your associate. There are two forms of corporations for you to consider; “C Corp” or “S Corp.” The original Professional Services Corporations were structured as a “C Corp.” In a “C Corp” you are not required to have a calendar year-end, but can select any month and day of the year as your fiscal year-end. One of the big disadvantages of the “C” format of Professional Corporations is facing the issue of double taxation when engaging in a buy-in or sale. You must consider personal goodwill and corporate goodwill as well as personal restrictive covenant and corporation restrictive covenant. For the most part, “C Corps” are not commonly used in today’s world.

“S” Corporation, of course, is the most popular form of Professional Corporation used today. In this case, unlike a single member LLC, you are establishing a taxable business entity and will be filing a Form 1120S tax return. The PC provides you benefits such as shielding you from any personal liability with only the limitation of the assets contained within the corporation. A big difference with the “S” Corporation is the requirement to pay yourself a salary. So, cash-flow management can be a key reason why you may not wish to form an “S Corp,” particularly if you have high overhead and cash-flow is typically tight. In an “S Corp” any profits have been taxed at ordinary income rates. However, as of January 1, 2011 that status will change as Congress has closed a big loop hole now requiring that all income from an “S Corp,” whether it is salary or profit, be subject to FICA and Medicare tax.

The most important thing to consider when hiring your first associate is to structure a business entity that will protect your personal assets from any actions of the new associate.

Dr. Thomas L. Snyder, Director, Practice Transitions for The Snyder Group, a division of Henry Schein Professional Practice Transitions.  With over 75 years of experience in the field, The Snyder Group can provide you a full range of services relating to practice transition matters.  They can also be reached directly at 1-800-988-5674.

If you would like additional help, email Dr. Snyder at drsnyder@thedentistsnetwork.net.

Interested in having Dr. Snyder speak to your dental society or study club? Click here.

Hear Dr. Snyder’s FREE podcasts at The Dentist’s Network - HERE

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