MOO.COM

We have started using this fantastic web based company to generate ‘minature’ business cards for all the team. Everyone now has their own personalised set with which theycan promote their own role in the practice.  These have proved very useful with one of the staff handing 6 out on her recent trip to  the hairdressers, this promotes ‘ownership’ of their job.

Routinely now we are presenting these to clients who have finsihed a course of treatment simply asking them for a testimonial (which we display in our reception area) and that if they are happy hand my card to their friends and family. It is amazing how so far clients have loved this idea and the whole packaging that moo.com present.  The most popular is the small card holder which goes on their car key ring (see photo).

Internal bleaching

Do you have dark tooth at the front that makes you embarrassed to smile, affects your confidence or simply annoys you…… well a simple procedure requiring no injections may solve your problem and improve your confidence making you look good and feel good again.

Childrens dentistry

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8112603.stm

Came across this interestinig article debating the need for Childrens dentistry. This is all well and good and I understand the difficult balance in treating children between creating a fear through a possible ‘bad experience’  and  helping get them out of pain. Of course there are many techniques used to reduce the element of stress for the child which work very well gaining their confidence and often making them excellent future dental patients.

BUT there is an issue here. that is nnot mentionned at all in article….. DENTAL DECAY IS A PREVENTABLE DISEASE, children do not just get it by choice or by ‘nature’ it is brought upon them by poor diet (high in sugar content and frequency) and neglect of toothbrushing (fluoride and removal of plaque).

So although we maybe  debating what dentists should be  doing or not doing we have to remember that parents need to step up to the plate and take responsibility for the care and prevention of their childrens teeth.

Charity cycle

As current Chairman of Enniskillen Round Table I am taking part along with 4 other members a 420 mile cycle challenge in aid of the  Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association (www.nichsa.com). We hope to raise £25,000 for this worthwhile charity and hope you can help. Donations can be made via the practice 02866386111 or website www.enniskillenroundtable.com . All help is greatly appreciated.

charity cycle

Dentist saves girls life

Thought this was an interesting story:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090602/r_t_skynews_uk/tuk-teenager-s-life-saved-by-trip-to-den-45dbed5_1.html?printer=1

Business Club

Ending a very busy week in Blueapple we had on thursday night the latest installment of our growing study club. This was an evening invitation to fellow colleagues to come and listen to our coach, Chris Barrow (www.coachbarrow.com) talking passionately about web marketing. time management and finances. The evening was a great success with several sharp intakes of breath from those listening and a few dawning realities that the world of dentistry from the business perspective is changing hugely. We realised this 3.5 yrs ago hence our coaching relationship with Chris and looking back I am so glad that we took that blind jump into a situation where most around us thought we were mad. I think last night that everyone attending could see the necessity of not only clinical advise which as dentists is widely available, but the absolute need as business owners to just pop the head up and stop clinically beavering away, pause and actually think ‘what am I doing this for?’……. I hope a door was opened to some…..

Yesterday we followed this with a 1/2 day team training slot on communication within what is a growing business. We identified the correct language to use, systems to follow when having straightforward and difficult discussions and the need for individual responsibility for these conversations. It was a great morning.

Following this we had a management 1/2 day working on the business, how to cope with the growth, new and exciting services (which I cant wait to launch) and a review of our plan moving forward. As always Chris made everything seem clear, concise and possible…. thanks. A mad dash up the road to Belfast city airport and I am now in Manchester about to start a business development day with 6 other dentists / business people… what is in store I don’t really know but having had some conversation last night over a nice meal and bottle of wine I am excited by what could happen in the meeting room today…. lets see.

ADI congress

The end of a short but frantic week in ‘blueapple’ where we have seen our staff numbers increase and when the new surgery goes in in 2 weeks we will be bursting at the seams. Its great to see the practice growing and continuing to offer high quality care to a growing number of clients.

Myself and Sonya are heading to Birmingham tonight to catch the final day of the ADI implant congress

www.adi.org.uk

Our friend Ron Presswood from America is speaking and we look forward to a good night out on the Friday at the American Pie party.

All ceramic crowns

Below is a recent article published in the dental press with my technician Mr Larry Browne

ls-brown1

Referral relationships

 

As you may know ‘blueapple’ is a referral practice ie: it accepts clients from other dentists throughout Ireland on a daily basis. The relationship between us (the referral base) and the referring dentist is something that we work hard on nurturing through high levels of communication and careful thought on how we can offer a high level of patient care for those clients of other dentists that we are entrusted to see.

We have recently along with Straumann ran 2 articles in the Irish Dental press about how such a relationship can be set up for the benefit of all parties involved…. and that includes the client.

irish-dentist-article-12

ir-may-blueapple-new-pic

Teamwork

I am having a quiet sit down (a rarity for me) looking out at the sun trying desperately hard to stay out at the end of another busy and exciting week in ‘blueapple.’ Today I have had the pleasure of some time to myself for personal space, time with the kids without mum and a small bit of admin to keep up to date. It has been lovely, yes the phone was busy with the queries you expect and the annoyance of a new supplier letting us down for the last time BUT, I have enjoyed it.

The highlight in terms of work is wondering about the excitement a client of ours is going through in the run up to her wedding tomorrow. Considering we took the risk of fitting 4 new upper crowns for her on tuesday of this week with no time to change them if they were not right, we in ‘blueapple’ have breathed a sigh of relief and are glowing a little in our small contribution to making her day the success I am sure that it will be. The hidden story is that of the efforts that went on to get this blushing bride to the aisle with a beaming smile……

On monday I received a call from my porcelain technician Cathy (I always get a female to make crowns for our female clients) to say that she was not overly happy with the result… PANIC and that given the wedding was so close she had woken in the middle of the night at the weekend personally upset that she had not produced her best work. To correct this she had given up her time and worked into the early hours of the morning over the weekend to remake the crowns so as to have them in the post to me by monday morning. So what I actually received was 2 sets of crowns (at the financial expense of the technician) to try in the clients mouth allowing me to choose the best combination.

I am delighted to say that everyone was delighted with the result and I and the client were overcome by the dedication that Cathy had shown and the pride she had taken in her job. Too often it goes the other way.

So thats true treamwork at work, individual sacrifice and pride being shown in getting the job done and done to the highest standards we can.

THANKS CATHY.