Dentists face many challenges, and with each passing year, they don’t get any easier. Escalating supply prices, staffing woes, and non-compliant patients can make running a dental practice seem like a juggling act. How can you balance these challenges to make sure your practice runs smoothly and turns a profit?
Let's explore the five toughest challenges in dentistry today and how to combat them at your practice. You’ll also learn how software solutions from Dental Intelligence can make it easier to meet your dental office goals.
Soaring Costs for Your Practice
One of the challenges dentists face is a challenge every business faces: Operational costs. If your rent and supply costs have gone up this year, you’re far from alone. Inflation can send prices skyrocketing for nearly every good and service imaginable, and that includes dental equipment and technology too.
You can’t directly control these costs, and that can feel frustrating. Here’s how to manage:
- Shop around for new suppliers to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
- Talk to your landlord and try to negotiate your rent. You might be able to lower your rent costs in exchange for signing a longer lease.
- Consider practice management software, such as Dental Intelligence, which can help you automate tasks and cut down on employee expenses.
Staying Up-to-Date With New Technology
Today’s technology isn’t the same as it was when you were in dental school. If you’ve been in business for a while, it can be tempting to ignore new tech and keep on doing things the way you always have. Burying your head in the sand can be a big mistake, though.
A savvy dentist learns how to make technology work for them. If you’re out of the loop, you can catch up by attending conventions and watching tech-focused webinars (many of which are free).
Competing With Corporate Dental Chains
If you run a small practice, going up against corporate dental chains can feel impossible. These giants have deep pockets that allow them to invest in marketing channels that smaller practices can’t afford.
One way to circumvent this is to lean into the small practice vibe. Bill yourself as the friendly neighborhood dentist who truly cares about and gets to know patients. You’ll stand out over the corporate chains.
You could also consider joining or forming a network with other small practices to share resources and reach new audiences.
Staffing Challenges
Good help is hard to find, and that’s definitely true for dental practices. If you’re losing staff or getting complaints about your employees, patients are likely to bail for the competition no matter how good your services are.
Tackling staffing issues needs a multi-pronged approach. Happy dental staff are likely to stay with your practice, so make sure that they have a good work-life balance. Offer incentives to attract new employees, such as paid time off, a stipend for continuing education, health benefits, and a 401(k) plan.
To nip complaints in the bud, you’ll need to invest in training. Set aside some time to train staff on good communication, such as what to say when customers call or walk through the door.
Grappling With Patients’ Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety is one of the biggest challenges in dentistry. It’s far more common than you might think and can be a major problem for your practice. According to a study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene, about 10% to 20% of people worldwide struggle with dental anxiety to some degree1.
Anxious patients may be too fearful to visit your practice even as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down. And even if they do come in, they might delay their next appointment once they find out they need potentially painful dental work.
To ease fears, make sure your website uses supportive and friendly language. Explain that your staff will make patients’ visits as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
You may want to suggest sedation for fearful patients. Some practices also let patients watch TV in the chair or give them virtual reality headsets with soothing imagery to wear while the dentist works.
Streamline Practice Management With Dental Intelligence
Some challenges in dentistry can seem insurmountable, but Dental Intelligence’s software solutions can make those challenges a little easier to bear. Our software offers online appointment scheduling, patient financing, and communication tools that can streamline the way your practice works.
Schedule a demo of Dental Intelligence today to learn more about our digital solutions for dental practices today.
.jpeg)
