Engineering Smiles in Medellín: Dr. Robert Stanley's Groundbreaking Implantology Course

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In the heart of Medellín, Colombia, a city known for innovation and transformation, dental professionals gathered on July 31 and August 1, 2025, for a world-class continuing education experience led by none other than Dr. Robert Stanley, "The Smile Engineer." With his signature blend of precision, engineering expertise, and clinical excellence, Dr. Stanley delivered a two-day educational journey that challenged conventions and raised the bar for implant dentistry in Latin America.

Day 1: Redefining Success in the Esthetic Zone

The event opened with a lecture that could best be described as both technically sophisticated and immediately practical. Dr. Stanley captivated the audience by demystifying the challenges of implant placement in the esthetic zone—an area where beauty, biology, and biomechanics all converge.

Rather than offering abstract theory, Dr. Stanley walked attendees through his real-world digital workflows—revealing how engineering principles can help dentists not only place implants accurately but also design treatment plans that account for long-term esthetics, bone stability, and patient satisfaction. His approach wasn’t about taking shortcuts; it was about making smart, data-driven decisions at every stage of treatment.

What made this session especially powerful was the way Dr. Stanley connected the digital and the human. He showed how leveraging 3D imaging, guided surgery, and virtual planning doesn’t replace clinical judgment—it amplifies it. Attendees left with a new lens through which to view immediate placement and esthetic zone management, grounded in technology but focused on outcomes.

Day 2: Hands-On Mastery in the Operatory

While Day 1 set the conceptual foundation, Day 2 brought the theory to life through a fully immersive hands-on workshop. Participants rolled up their sleeves and got to work, practicing both anterior and posterior implant placements under Dr. Stanley’s close guidance.

More than just drilling models or following steps, the workshop encouraged participants to think critically. Every exercise came with context—Why choose this angulation? How will this impact emergence profile? What happens if the soft tissue behaves differently than expected? Dr. Stanley pushed attendees to move beyond textbook answers and develop adaptable, real-world skills.

The energy in the room was focused, collaborative, and elevated. Whether refining flap design techniques, troubleshooting complications, or exploring alternative approaches to bone management, participants were engaged in deep learning—and many commented on how the hands-on format gave them the confidence to immediately apply new techniques in their own practices.

A Standout Event in Latin American Dentistry

What made this Medellín event truly exceptional was the fusion of education, mentorship, and innovation. Dr. Stanley didn’t just teach how to place implants—he showed how to approach implant dentistry like an engineer, with precision, systems thinking, and a relentless pursuit of better outcomes.

For those in attendance, it wasn’t just a course—it was a shift in mindset. A reminder that excellence in implant dentistry requires more than skill with a handpiece. It takes planning, technology, experience, and a willingness to embrace the digital tools that are reshaping the profession.

Looking Ahead

Dr. Stanley’s visit to Medellín left a lasting impact on the Colombian dental community and all who traveled to be part of this transformative experience. As implant dentistry continues to evolve, events like this are a reminder of the power of education to inspire change—and of the leaders who are shaping the future, one implant at a time.

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This past weekend, Dr. Robert Stanley and the Britegums team were thrilled to attend the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Annual Meeting in Montreal, where they introduced the world of esthetic gingival depigmentation to dental professionals from around the globe.

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The AGD event provided a prime platform for continuing education and networking, and Dr. Stanley’s presentation on "Revolutionizing the World of Esthetic Gingival Procedures" captivated attendees with insights into this growing area of cosmetic dentistry. His session covered key topics, including:

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• Emerging Trends in Gingival Depigmentation: Attendees learned about the growing demand for gum depigmentation and its impact on patient satisfaction.
• Gingival Depigmentation Techniques: Dr. Stanley discussed various procedures, from traditional to advanced methods, and how each can enhance clinical practice.
• Patient Demand & Market Opportunity: The increasing desire for cosmetic gum treatments is clear, making it crucial for dentists to stay informed about the latest innovations.
• Differential Diagnoses for Gingival Pigmentation: Dr. Stanley addressed how to differentiate between benign and more serious conditions.
• Real Results: The presentation showcased case studies, with results from three weeks to eight years post-op, highlighting the long-term success of Britegums' procedures.

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At the Britegums booth, the excitement continued. The team, led by Shane and Nick, engaged with attendees through interactive experiences, including the popular Spin the Wheel activity. Visitors were eager to learn about the benefits of gingival depigmentation and how it could complement their practice or personal aesthetic goals.

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Dr. Stanley and the team connected with dental professionals from around the world, discussing the significant demand for this procedure and the potential it holds for transforming smiles. The booth was a great success, with many new connections made and a clear excitement for what Britegums offers.Looking ahead, Britegums is excited to continue its mission of educating dental professionals on gingival depigmentation and helping practices incorporate this innovative service. As demand for cosmetic procedures grows, Britegums is proud to be leading the charge in enhancing patient smiles and confidence.

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For more information on how Britegums can revolutionize your practice or improve your smile, visit Britegums.com.

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Thank you to everyone who visited us at AGD Montreal! We look forward to connecting with more dental professionals and helping patients achieve brighter, more confident smiles.

Dr. Robert Stanley, also known as The Smile Engineer, traveled to London this past weekend to deliver the Cornerstones of Implantology Masterclass as part of the Global Education Tour 2025.

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Hosted at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in partnership with BioHorizons Camlog, the course welcomed a sold-out audience of dentists and specialists from across Europe and around the globe. Over the two-day course, participants gained hands-on exposure to a fully guided, science-based approach to full-arch reconstruction - with a key focus on how to complete a full-arch case in just one hour. The curriculum covered essential protocols in:

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• Fully digital workflows
• CBCT-based case planning
• All-On-4® and All-On-More™ concepts
• Biomechanics behind immediate load
• Prosthetically-driven implant placement
• Material selection and engineering considerations

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From immediate load techniques to material selection, the Cornerstones course equips doctors to work smarter, not harder. Clinicians were guided through each phase of treatment—from diagnosis and planning to surgical execution and even long-term maintenance.The event also included interactive case reviews, live planning demonstrations, and opportunities for clinicians to network with like-minded professionals who share a commitment to excellence in implant dentistry.

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The London masterclass is part of Stanley Institute’s broader mission to redefine implant education, shifting from intuition-based treatment to data-backed execution.

At Stanley Institute, clinical success is rooted in a commitment to ongoing education and engineering principles. This commitment was exemplified at the first stop of our Global Education Tour 2025, where Dr. Robert Stanley introduced his newest course: The Four Cornerstones to Implant Success. Hosted in vibrant Tokyo, Japan, this immersive experience brought together dental professionals from around the world to advance implantology by providing precise, science-backed tools designed to elevate patient outcomes and refine treatment workflows.

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Built for Predictability

The Four Cornerstones course combines years of Dr.Stanley’s engineering insights and clinical expertise into four key concepts that help dentists maximize outcomes:

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• Guidelines for Ideal Implant Location
• The Importance of Implant Design
• Predicting Stability in Fresh Extraction Sites
• Achieving Predictability in the Esthetic Zone

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Each topic was supported by real-world strategies that can be implemented immediately to reduce uncertainty and streamline treatment. The course emphasized the value of structured protocols, digital planning, and engineering-informed workflows that elevate both clinician confidence and patient satisfaction.

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Interactive Learning

The course also included hands-on workshops focused on digital workflow and guided surgery—core pillars of Stanley Institute's curriculum. Participants had the opportunity to deepen their technical skills and leave with actionable takeaways they could immediately implement in their practices. Whether it was refining techniques in guided surgery or learning how implant design influences long-term outcomes, the Tokyo session delivered practical insights in a collaborative environment.

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Looking Ahead

Stanley Institute extends a thank-you to BioHorizons and all the attendees who made this event possible. As we continue our global journey, we look forward to sharing more innovations, insights, and learning opportunities in the months to come.

Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley presented their latest continuing education dental course through Stanley Institute earlier this month. The course was called “Take Your Dental Implant Business to the Next Level” and had attendees from all over the country eager to learn about fully-guided dental implants.

Dr. Robert Stanley and Dr. Bobbi Stanley instructed the course with additional presentations from Nurse Anesthetist Zebulon Tomeczek and Certified Dental Assistant Gayle Banic. The two-day course provided the most up-to-date information on guided dental implant surgery through classroom lectures and live patient surgery. Attendees also placed multiple implants with hands-on clinical exercises.

The course was a huge success and the doctors can’t wait to offer it again in November! One attendee said, “It was truly the best CE course I’ve ever attended. I was lukewarm about implants and now I am on fire and ready to go!”

What Dr. Bobbi Stanley had to say: “The great thing about the classes at Stanley Institute is that they are small and intimate. This course proved to be another success including the hands-on portion and the live patient surgery. The information shared was incredible but one of the highlights was the evening get-together for dinner and socializing. That’s when you get to know who your doctors are and what they really want to learn.”

What Dr. Robert Stanley had to say: “It is an honor to be able to share my passion of dentistry by teaching. As an engineer and dentist, dental implants are quite simple. I want to share that simplicity with others so they can experience the joy and success of dental implants in their office.”

If you are interested in joining us for our next continuing education course, take a look at our course offerings or contact us to get more information.

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On Thursday, August 11, Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley traveled to BioHorizons corporate headquarters in Birmingham, AL as guests of Vice President of Research and Development, Fred Molz.

BioHorizons provides an extensive portfolio of dental implants and biologics products (used for gum grafts, tissue and bone grafts and resorbable wound dressings) in 85 markets worldwide. Their focus is on a comprehensive combination of science, innovation, and service. They are currently the 5^th largest implant company in the world and a global leader for biologic based solutions such as Alloderm.

The visit included meetings with team leaders from several departments including prosthetics, biologics, implants and practice development. “I knew the BioHorizons products were phenomenal before our trip to their Alabama office; but seeing their behind-the-scenes attention to detail was incredible. It reaffirmed my commitment to our partnership,” said Dr. Bobbi Stanley

Dr. Robert Stanley left a successful career as a Ph.D. Biomechanical Engineer to attend UNC School of Dentistry and join his wife Dr. Bobbi at the family dental practice. His focus at Stanley Dentistry in Cary NC is dental implants, tissue, and bone grafting as well as sedation dentistry. “Placing Dental Implants is essentially an engineering project of the utmost importance,” commented Dr. Rob. He continued, “You are placing a screw millimeters from vital tissues, nerves, blood vessels and sinus cavities. There is no room for error. It must be precise. I’m proud to partner with BioHorizons to give patients a beautiful, quality smile that will last a lifetime.”

Both dentists agreed that the highlight of the trip was meeting with senior members from each department as they shared plans for future projects. Drs. Stanley were honored to be asked for their feedback on products and services slated for future release. “As practicing dentists, we are using their products and placing dental implants daily. For BioHorizons to solicit our feedback really underscores their diligence and commitment to delivering quality,” noted Dr. Robert Stanley.

Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley are both Diplomates in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and place fully guided implants at Stanley Dentistry in Cary NC and are Founders and Senior Instructors at Stanley Institute for Comprehensive Dentistry, a dental continuing education institute. Drs. Stanley are Adjunct Professors at UNC School of Dentistry in the department of prosthodontics.

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Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley hosted 10 dentists from around North Carolina for another session of “Take Your Dental Implant Business to the Next Level”. The course focus is fully-guided dental implants and was held in Cary NC on November 4-5.

In addition to the primary technical lecture and hands-on clinical exercises, Dr. Robert Stanley —the Smile Engineer—performed a live patient surgery where students were led through the process of placing a fully-guided implant. Stanley Dentistry Nurse Anesthetist Zeb Thomeczek gave a presentation on pharmacology and sedation and Certified Dental Assistant Gayle Banic reviewed workflow and CEREC same day crown integration for implant restoration.

The two-day dental implant continuing education course was last offered in June in Cary NC and again received rave reviews for its small class size, depth of material and practical curriculum. Students and lecturers were treated to a beautiful dinner at Cary NC āN Cuisines restaurant where dentists and instructors could collaborate outside the classroom. Dr. Robert Stanley said, “Our course is unique because it offers the intimate, small class sizes and offers practical information that can be implemented on the first day back in the office. As a life-long learner, engineer and dentist, teaching the fully guided dental implant course is the culmination of several passions. Being able to share my knowledge and experience with others is a true honor.”

If you are interested in joining us for our next continuing education course, review our course offerings or contact us to get more information.

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On February 10-11, Dr. Robert Stanley presented Stanley Institute’s introductory Dental Implant course, Take Your Dental Implant Business to the Next Level. The course was held in Cary NC and instruction centered on fully guided dental implants. This course has proven to be the most popular among Stanley Institute’s classes. Dr. Robert Stanley said, “There are so many dental CE courses available. We wanted to provide concise, practical information that dentists can employ on their first day back in the office and achieve predictable, aesthetically pleasing results that leave both doctor and patient thrilled.”

Course Objectives include:

TREATMENT PLANNING

• Risk Mitigation
• Health History
• Patient Communication
• When to Treat and When to Refer
• Treatment Planning with the End in Mind
• Immediate vs. Delayed Implant Placement
• Immediate vs. Delayed Implant Loading
• Treatment Planning for Ideal Esthetics
• CBCT and Other Radiographic Assessment
• Implant Size, Type, Position, Depth
• Screw Retained vs. Cement Retained
• Custom vs. Stock Abutments
• When to Load

DIGITAL WORKFLOW

• Digital Processing
• Cerec Implant Integration
• Lab Communication Protocol

GUIDED SURGERY

• Rationale for Guided Surgery
• Hands-on Implant Placement
• Real-time Patient Surgery
• Dr. Stanley’s 5 Thread Rule
• Implant Occlusion

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

• The Financial Cents of Implants
• Pricing Dental Implants
• Medical Billing

MARKETING

• Digital Photography
• Implant Presentation Case Acceptance
• Internally & Externally Marketing

PHARMACOLOGY

• Pre-meds
• Sedation
• Pain Management

Stanley Dentistry Nurse Anesthetist Zeb Thomeczek delivered the pharmacology/sedation dentistry lecture while Certified Dental Assistant Gayle Banic discussed workflow and CEREC same day crown integration for implant restoration.

Each session at Stanley Institute includes a dinner reception for attendees. Dr. Bobbi Stanley said “The Friday night dinner is one of my favorite parts of the course. It really is one of the components that sets Stanley Institute apart from other Dental CE courses. We can enjoy professional collaboration in an intimate, casual setting. That’s where some of the best conversations occur!”

Day 2 is action packed with more hands-on clinical exercises that show the difference between placing guided and non-guided implants. Students are able to observe a live patient surgery. During the procedure, students were led through the process of placing a fully-guided implant and were able to interactively discuss the process with Dr. Rob in real time.

If you are interested in joining us for our next continuing education course, review our course offerings or contact us to get more information.

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Dr. Robert Stanley was honored to be asked to lecture for members of the FacialArt Forum in Bethesda Maryland on St. Patrick’s Day 2017.

Dr. Ryan Kazemi, an oral surgeon and implant specialist hosts lectures several times per year for general dentists that refer to his oral surgery practice. This lecture focused on full arch reconstruction, also known as All-on-4 or Teeth XPress. “This type of procedure is ideal for someone that needs a full set of teeth because of tooth loss due to injury, accident or decay. Full arch reconstruction allows dentists to completely restore a smile in as little as one day.” said Dr. Robert Stanley, a Cary NC dentist and dental continuing education instructor.

The course specifically focused on ways to reduce chair time for the patient and make dental implants more predictable, thus increasing dental implant bone integration and overall success. Dr. Rob lectured for more than four hours and was delighted to be asked to make an unplanned return to the podium after a brief lunch break. Highlights from the course included case presentations and videos from his Cary NC dental implant practice.

Dr. Rob reflected, “It was very rewarding to help other dentists be better able to serve their patient base. That is time well spent.”

Stanley Dentistry is a state-of-the-art, comprehensive dental practice located in Cary, NC. The practice focuses on general, cosmetic and implant dentistry, as well as braces, Invisalign and treating TMJ disorders and sleep apnea. If you or someone you know is looking for a dental home, Stanley Dentistry is now accepting new patients. Please contact Stanley Dentistry for a complimentary consultation. We are also pleased to offer complimentary second opinions.

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On Saturday, May 13, Dr. Dania Tamimi presented CBCT Bootcamp: Implants Edition in partnership with Stanley Institute.

Dr. Tamimi currently works with Beamreaders and has published several books on dental radiology for the clinician. She has a dental degree from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1999 and trained at Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine where she earned a doctorate of medical science (DMSc) and certificate of fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in 2005. She is board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (ABOMR).

The one-day continuing education course provided an in-depth review of important concepts in implant imaging, including:

• To navigate and extract clinically correct images from a CBCT data set
• To establish a systematic review method to avoid overlooking important diagnostic information
• In understanding radiographic anatomy as it relates to implant dentistry
• To identify pathology and how it may affect the implant treatment plan
• To identify when to seek help with CBCT evaluation

Dr. Robert Stanley commented, “Dr. Tamimi has a very personal teaching style, which immediately relaxes the students and facilitates an interactive learning environment. She took a topic that some would argue is less interesting and presented practical information to help a clinician provide better patient care. Simply put, being able to harness the full capabilities of the Conebeam CT machine translates into better dentistry.”

At Stanley Institute, we are passionate about learning and sharing our expertise with others. Our focus is on equipping general dentists with a deeper breadth of knowledge thus enabling them to continue to grow and excel in their field expand their practices and provide more comprehensive care to their patients.

If you are interested in joining us for our next continuing education course, review our course offerings or contact us to get more information or join the waitlist for our next CBCT Bootcamp.

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Friday and Saturday, August 11-12, Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley hosted the Integrating Implants course at their Cary NC facility. Dr. Robert Stanley—the Smile Engineer—was pleased with the weekend of dental continuing education. He stated, “We have delivered this course many times and it keeps getting better.” At Stanley Institute, continuing education does not end when you leave the classroom. Students feel free to contact our instructors directly with specific questions about cases they encounter. “It’s such an honor to be able to partner with students when they return to their practice. I greatly value their commentary and use it to tailor my courses for an optimal experience,” continued Dr. Stanley.

Dr. Robert Stanley is a PhD engineer and integrates his engineering background for a straightforward approach to placing implants with predictable results. In addition to Dr. Stanley’s lectures on implant design and treatment planning, Zeb Thomeczek lectures on pharmacology in the dental setting and Gayle Banic discusses digital work flow from an Auxiliary perpective to round out the first day.  

Dr. Stanley noted that an intimate class size is one of the many things that sets Stanley Institute apart from other dental continuing education. “When you go to a large dental conference, the lecturers are often not available to speak to students one-on-one. As a lifelong learner, I find this is a shortcoming of large scale continuing education. No two cases are identical and it’s nice to be able to site specifics with the instructor.” said Dr. Robert Stanley. In offline conversations, he notes, “It’s not a one-way street. Everyone benefits from these types of dialogues. The courses become more value rich based on student feedback and the attendees are able to be mentored on actual patients scenarios.”

In addition to the smaller class sizes, and vigorous course structure, students are invited to Drs. Stanley’s home for a cocktail reception and later the group dines together at a local restaurant.  The informal setting evokes a family feel for participants and allows students to interact casually with instructors and other attendees. Dr. Melissa Morrison of Oak Park Dental in Madison Wisconsin said, “As a young dentist I was excited to be a guest in the presenter’s home. Drs. Stanley’s hospitality made everyone feel relaxed. Being able to network with other doctors that were further along in their dental career was invaluable and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know everyone outside the classroom.”

Day 2 includes two live surgeries and four hands on exercises. We’re fortunate to have great support from Biohorizons. They afford us instrumentation and send a representative to ensure ideal use of the equipment, as well as answer technical questions in real time. During the live surgeries, Dr. Rob and his Implant Coordinator are narrating every aspect of the procedure, from technique to tools, including practical best practice tips.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley speaks to students about the business side of dentistry. “At the end of the day, we are small business owners and our service is dentistry,” said Dr. Bobbi, “Being savvy entrepreneurs is the best way to provide consistent care to our patients through the highest technology, materials and best team members.” Her lecture includes sections on dental financing, marketing, human resources, and case presentation.

Visit our course page for more information about upcoming courses at Stanley Institute.

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On September 28, Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley traveled to Los Angeles on behalf of Stanley Institute for Comprehensive Dentistry to speak at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry.  In attendance were students, faculty, industry leaders and distinguished guests. Among those attending, many were postgraduate students in the specialty programs of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, prosthodontics, periodontics and the dental implant residents. UCLA is arguably one of the top dental schools in the nation with their prestigious implant residency only accepting two students per school year into the program.

The purpose of the trip was to attend the 3^rd annual Welcome Reception for incoming Oral Surgery residents sponsored by Biohorizons and featuring Dr. Robert Stanley—the Smile Engineer, as the keynote speaker.  In years prior, Dr. Andrew Farrier of Teeth Xpress and Santa Monica based Oral Surgeon Dr. Howard Park were guest speakers; Dr. Stanley is the first non-UCLA alumnus to speak at the event. Biohorizons, a worldwide leader in dental implants, is committed to improving the quality of life for patients with missing teeth by providing clinicians with innovative and evidence-based dental implants and tissue regeneration products.

Drs. Stanley were treated to a lovely cocktail reception at W Hotel in Los Angeles and had the privilege of being able to meet many of the evening’s guests prior to the presentation.

Dr. Robert Stanley spoke about dental implant design. As a PhD Mechanical Engineer, Dr. Rob is uniquely qualified to speak about the intricacies of implant design and how that foundation effects final patient outcomes in implant dentistry.  “I am very passionate about implant design and it’s not a topic that is widely discussed in the industry”, said Dr. Stanley. “As an engineer I am trained to begin with the end in mind. As a dentist, I know the most important factor for patients (and dentists) is flawless delivery. Flawless delivery must start with a solid foundation.,” he continued.

In dentistry, there is a common perception that all implants are the same. Dr. Stanley recalls his advanced engineering training and contends that is simply not the case. While failure rates are not reported, it can be deduced that improved functionality is the reason dental implants are trending towards one similar common look & design. Successful outcomes are dependent upon many factors, such as health condition of the patient, including lifestyle choices and chronic medical conditions, where the implant is placed (location and bone density), healing time and whether or not the implant is placed using guided or non-guided surgical techniques, as well as design.  The contributing factors are complex and multi-faceted yet the outcome is measured simply—success or failure.

It is nearly impossible to gauge the exact impact design has on final delivery but Dr. Stanley hypothesizes that the market shift in dental implant design is because the science behind the common design lends itself to better outcomes. Dr. Robert Stanley stresses that “clinicians should make wise decisions based on evidence and scientific research, not marketing.”

The audience was thoroughly engaged and Dr. Stanley continued his instruction with a lengthy Q & A session. “Dr. Robert Stanley has a unique way of presenting dental implants so that it is easy to understand for anyone. He approaches dental implants from an engineering point of view but presents it in a commonsense way” says Dr. Bobbi Stanley. After the speech concluded, the group was entertained with dinner and live music.

The trip wasn’t all work and no play. Drs. Stanley are training for the Louisville Ironman later this month and were able to enjoy a 4 hour bike ride along the California coast (started in Santa Monica).

Dr. Robert Stanley is a practicing dentist in Cary, North Carolina and founders of Stanley Institute. He and his wife Dr. Bobbi Stanley own one of the largest comprehensive dental offices in the state and are the proud parents of four.

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The first few days of November were busy at Stanley Institute as Dr. Robert Stanley and Dr. Bobbi Stanley hosted dentists and their auxiliaries from around the United States at their courses, Full Mouth Immediate Implant Reconstruction – Fully Guided and the accompanying Developing a Dental Implant Coordinator-Exclusively for Dental Auxiliaries.

On Friday, November 3, Dr. Robert Stanley’s opening lecture for dentists centered around initial consultation and treatment planning for full mouth candidates. Dr. Stanley, the Smile Engineer, exclusively performs fully guided surgeries and stressed the importance of CBCT in patient commitment, case planning and ultimately case acceptance, as well as predictable outcomes.  Dr. Bobbi Stanley joined the conversation with guidance on financing options and insurance coding. “Dentists really have two full time jobs– business owner and practicing dentist. To continue practicing dentistry, they must be successful business owners. After almost 25 years in practice, we’ve learned what to implement and what to avoid. We’re passionate about sharing our love of dentistry and business with colleagues,” said Dr. Bobbi Stanley.

Both Drs. Stanley are proponents of educating the doctor and team for complete mastery. Additionally, a fully trained staff promotes synergy between dentist and implant coordinator.  To that end, Dr. Bobbi Stanley led the Auxiliary course with Certified Dental Assistant, Gayle Banic. Lectures included best practices for digital technology for placing implants and digital workflow using CBCT. There were hands-on demonstrations on how to take digital impressions with CEREC and Trios Digital Scan. The group reviewed standard implant packaging and optimal surgical set-ups.  “Stanley Institute is about simplifying the process of placing dental implants. We practice, and teach, fully guided dental implant placement because it is reliable and predictable. We are also very focused on practical tips such as how to unpack the implant kit and set up the surgical tools for better work flow,” said Dental Assistant Gayle Banic.

On Friday evening, the group enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant for a time of professional collaboration and camaraderie.

On Day 2, dentists in attendance watched as Dr. Robert Stanley detailed the importance of instrumentation in fully guided fully mouth procedures. Relying on his extensive background in engineering, he also shared tips and tricks with attendees on extraction and bone reduction techniques. After walking through the process of fully guided implant placement, the dentists were able to engage hands-on, using cases provided by NDX n-Sequence. The kits simulated placing implants on a patient, with full mouth models available to each practitioner. This allowed for the doctors to ask important questions, and for Dr. Robert Stanley to continue to offer guidance, tips, and share his extensive knowledge of full mouth immediate implant reconstruction.

In the afternoon session on Day 2, Dr. Bobbi Stanley discussed the importance of appropriate continuing care for Full Mouth Implants and how providing comprehensive dental services is truly a focus on patient well-being.  Biohorizons Director of Full Arch Solutions, Marcus Hines, presented doctors with information on effectively marketing full arch solutions.

Day 3 kicked off with Certified Nurse Anesthetist Zeb Thomeczek presenting about the role of anesthesia and the anesthesia professional in the general dental practice. His lecture included a discussion of the importance of preoperative medical clearance and PRF Spin Protocols. He ended with a hands-on IV blood draw experiment. Dr. Bobbi Stanley reviewed post-operative pain management protocols with an apt dialogue regarding the growing opioid abuse epidemic and responsible narcotics prescribing.

Industry leaders Biohorizons, i-Cat, Benco, nSequence and Salvin, sponsored the three-day course. Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley rely on the equipment, implants, and supplies from these companies for successful dental implant placement at their Cary NC comprehensive, family dental practice Stanley Dentistry.

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Stanley Institute for Comprehensive Dentistry is pleased to announce that Dr. Bobbi Stanley has been named a 2018 leader in Continuing Education by DentistryToday!

She and her husband Dr. Robert Stanley are co-founders and lead instructors at Stanley Institute and owners of one of the largest comprehensive dental practices in the Southeast.

Additionally they are both Adjunct Professors in the Department of Prosthodontics at their alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.

In tandem with her duties at Stanley Institute, Dr. Bobbi is a Senior Instructor at the International Association of Orthodontics (IAO) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and The Facial Beauty Institute in Memphis, Tennessee.

“I love dentistry and I love teaching. With the opportunities at Stanley Institute and IAO, I am able to do both while helping my colleagues be more successful! It is very fulfulling,” Dr. Bobbi said. “I am looking forward to the new courses we are adding for 2018, especially the business courses that will help dentists better navigate the unique challenges of being a business owner and dentist,” she continued.

Stanley is a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD), Diplomate in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (DICOI) and a Fellow at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI). In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Stanley’s greatest joy is her husband and four children. She recently completed her first Ironman competition and is a licensed sport pilot.

Congratulations Dr. Bobbi Stanley!

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Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley and Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Gayle Banic traveled to Orlando, FL on January 11 to attend the 2018 International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI) Winter Symposium where the focus was Maxillary Arch Reconstruction: Single Tooth to Full Arch.  ICOI is recognized as the world’s largest implant association and is the leading provider of dental implant continuing education in the world. In addition to continuing education opportunities, attendees were introduced to the latest innovations in dentistry by the preeminent authorities in dental equipment, tools and materials.

On the main podium speakers ranged from Dr. Michael Pikos who delivered a lecture about Fully Guided Full Arch Immediate Implant Reconstruction to Dr. Michael Tischler whose presentation centered around avoiding complications with Full Arch screw retained zirconia bridges. Additionally there were a myriad of presentations geared to dental auxiliaries that Gayle Banic attended.

Drs. Stanley are both diplomates with ICOI. The fully guided full arch immediate implant reconstruction protocol is one that is very familiar as it is the approach they use in delivering dental implant solutions in their Cary NC family dental practice and the standard being taught in the dental implant continuing education courses at Stanley Institute. “The ICOI experiences are always top notch. From the speakers to the facilities, the symposium is always a well-coordinated event”, said Dr. Robert Stanley. “We appreciate the caliber of speakers they bring to the stage because their philosophy and methodology is the same as ours at both our practice and Stanley Institute,” he continued.

By far, the highlight of the event was being able to recognize and celebrate Stanley Institute alumni Dr. Christopher Durusky, Dr. Jana Gyurina and Dr. Julia Mulnick as they received ICOI Fellowship status. “As partners with ICOI, it is an honor to see these dentists’ hard work and dedication come to fruition in such a significant way. They have earned a substantial achievement and we couldn’t be more proud. It’s a privilege to come alongside them as they accomplish this career milestone,” said Dr. Bobbi Stanley

Stanley Institute offers a variety of continuing education courses geared to all skill levels, from beginner to advanced placement of dental implants. In addition to clinical skills related to implantology like bone grafting, pharmacology and sinus lifts, the institute offers courses on a range of dental related topics such as the business of dentistry, including dental marketing, team incentives and dental financing, as well as,  dental photography classes. In 2018 Dr. Bobbi Stanley will begin offering orthodontic courses.

For more information about upcoming classes and to register, contact Continuing Education Director Catherine Shireman.

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Dr. Bobbi Stanley was honored to speak at the International Association of Orthodontics annual meeting in Kauai, Hawaii. She lectured on the topic of “Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of TMJ Disorder”.

The International Association for Orthodontics (IAO) was founded in 1961 to promote international cooperation in the orthodontic field of dentistry. The IAO is comprised of general dentists, pediatric dentists and other dentists that provide orthodontic care to patients.

The International Association for Orthodontics is the oldest and largest of the national and international non-specialty orthodontic groups and exists to provide training and support to over 4000 dentists in more than 50 countries. Additionally the IAO studies and promotes awareness of the cause, treatment and prevention of malocclusion of the teeth and the resulting dysfunction, such as dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Dr. Stanley will be discussing how headaches and sleep apnea may be lesser-known indicators of temperomandibular disorder (TMD). Her presentation will be part of a larger speaker series at the meeting that will focus on common signs and symptoms of morbidity for difficult TMD, airway and class II orthodontic cases. Following the presentations, the group will be publishing an article in a scientific journal.

In addition to spotting signs of TMD, the dentists will focus on using orthodontics and managing the airway for better systemic health through improved oral health.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley is a Fellow with the International Association of Orthodontics, as well as a Senior Instructor at their Milwaukee Wisconsin headquarters.

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Stanley Institute for Comprehensive Dentistry is pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Stanley, co-founder and Lead Implant Continuing Education Instructor has earned the distinction of Diplomate with the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI). He joins an elite group of fewer than 500 dentists bearing this honor.

The ABOI was founded in 1969 by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) with the goal of elevating and standardizing the metrics, skills and abilities of Dental Implantologists in the United States through a rigorous certification and ongoing certification maintenance for qualified dentists. It is considered the premier implantology certifying body and is recognized by the American Board of Dental Specialties (ABDS).

ABOI Diplomate status is the highest level of achievement in implant dentistry. Diplomate certification requires:

• Active dental license in the US/Canada
• 7 or more years of implant dentistry experience
• completion of 75 implant cases
• successful completion of Part 1 and Part II of ABOI examination

Dr. Stanley began his professional career as a mechanical engineer and later returned to school to study dentistry and join his wife, Dr. Bobbi Stanley, in private practice in Cary NC. Their comprehensive approach to family dentistry allows him to focus on dental implants and oral surgery while she practices cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics. His uncommon perspective on dentistry combines his training in engineering with his knowledge of dentistry and dental implants. Together Drs. Stanley are able to plan and execute dental implants from start to beautiful finish for patients. In the classroom, they are able to teach other dentists how to provide the same standard of care for their patients.

In addition to placing implants for more than a decade, Dr. Stanley attended a yearlong course continuum at the Dental College of Georgia in 2017 to prepare for the written exam and oral case defense in March of 2018. The ABOI/ID exam assesses the knowledge, acumen and proficiency in implant placement with a rigorous exam—both written and oral—that tests all facets of implant dentistry. Students must prove competency in both surgical and restorative implant dentistry, as well as dental implant maintenance, to successfully complete the examinations, even if they do not practice in each of these areas of focus.

Dr. Robert Stanley is a lifelong learner. ABOI Diplomate status is the latest accolade Dr. Stanley has earned in his ongoing commitment to excellence in dentistry. He is also a Diplomate with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, certified by the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation (DOCS) and an Adjunct Professor of Prosthodontics at his alma mater, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.

Dr. Rob said, “I look forward to continuing to share my passion for dentistry and engineering with Stanley Institute students looking for world class dental implant continuing education (CE). I absolutely subscribe to the ABOI motto, ‘Simply the Best, Forget the Rest’.”

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It is really easy to focus on getting new patients. Isn’t that the metric all dentists should care about most? Short answer, not necessarily. While renewing your practice with a steady stream of new patients is vital to your success, keeping your current patients is equally, if not more important. Statistics show that it is six to eight times more expensive to attract new patients than to keep existing patients.

Realize that patient retention is your #1 marketing strategy

As dentists it is easy to get sucked into one scheme after the other to get dozens of new patients every month. Of course you need to be adding new patients to the roster to balance the number of patients you will lose due to unavoidable reasons (moving, death, etc). What about the patients that could be saved? Is there anything you can do? YES! There are many small steps you can take to make a BIG difference; and your efforts should begin well before patients are asking you to transfer their records.

Why do patients choose you (and continue to choose you) for their dental care?

Let’s face it—dentistry is expensive.  No one wants to spend money on dental work.

Experience tells us that people choose to spend based on two things: how we make them feel and/or a viable solution to their issue. For dental concerns, we can definitely solve problems, but do we make them feel content and valued in the process? The patient experience is everything—make a great impression from Day 1!

From their first contact, make their experience astonishingly great!  

Six tips for keeping patients for life:

1. Make your website professional- It’s 2019, there really is no excuse.
2. Have a live person answer the phone–how many times have you hung up on a voicemail vortex?
3. Know your patient’s names–use whatever trick is necessary. From software that includes patient pictures to the old school version of having an assistant prep you before you enter the operatory, there is no excuse and the effort is definitely noticed by the patient.
4. Be prompt. Patients should not have to wait to see the doctor—run your schedule efficiently.
5. No surprises at checkout- always inform before you perform.
6. Care enough to call– take a few minutes everyday to check in on patients that have had a procedure requiring anesthetic or sedation dentistry.

Try these pro tips for patient retention and let us know what you would add! Comment on our Facebook page or shoot us an email with your best ideas for keeping patients for life!

Looking for more? Try one of our business courses for dentists or consider inviting our doctors to speak to your dental study club.

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We have all been there. You have called on your training, delivered amazing patient care in your state of the art office and given a brilliant treatment plan that will produce a beautiful solution to your patient’s problem. After all, you are a trained dentist and your ultimate goal is to help this person look and feel better. All that remains is for the patient to say yes to your advice. Sounds easy right?  And yet, you are getting more “I’ll think about it” than “Yes, doctor. Sign me up!”

No one has 100% case acceptance and that is ok. You must realize that you cannot win them all. There are people who will choose to do nothing, some will price shop and go with the cheapest fix in town and there are folks that are just not ready to move forward right now. You must recognize this and adjust what you can influence—your delivery.

Know your patient

Listen to your patient’s reasons for the visit. Is it utility? Cosmetic concerns?  Something else? It is easy to project your own thoughts into the conversation—and they may be irrelevant to your patient. When you understand your patient’s motivations, you can address them specifically in your treatment plan.

Be the authority your patient thinks you are

Whatever the reason— an advertisement, a referral or your fancy website, this patient chose you because you are an authority. Do not make them question their decision to find a dental solution by being wishy-washy. Even if the ink is not yet dry on your dental school diploma, BE THE AUTHORITY! Deliver your plan with confidence. You are a doctor giving your best recommendation for treatment. Whether cosmetic or restorative, the patient is seeking a resolution—show them the way!

Be succinct

No one wants a data dump. In our dental practice, we limit plans to three options—good, better, best. This provides clear direction for the patient to make a decision and helps to avoid analysis paralysis.  Use the “Just the facts ma’am” approach. Very few patients care about the science behind the solution—get to the point.

Do not “sell”, be FABulous!

In the same way no one wants an information overload, no one appreciates being “sold” on something. When purchasing real estate, the buyer wants a lifestyle; they do not want to be sold brick and mortar.  Patients want to know the end result and how it will benefit them, not necessarily how you will achieve these results. Instead of “selling”, focus on:

Feature:  Fully Guided Dental Implants

Advantage: Predictable, tooth replacement that can last for a lifetime

Benefit: It looks, feels and functions like natural teeth.

Buying decisions are made with emotion and justified with logic

People buy based on emotion and dentists are the only ones that get excited about dental technology. When presenting treatment, you want your patient to imagine a happier life free of dental pain, missing teeth or a displeasing smile. Paint that picture vividly for them. Use your words, visual aids such as patient portraits displayed around your dental clinic and a smiling, well-groomed team to underscore the value of the smile you can deliver.

Stop talking.

Many people are uncomfortable with silence but you must stop speaking so the patient can digest the information you have just given. It does not matter how concise your presentation, most patients will need a minute to think about your discussion and form an opinion.

Listen up!

It seems illogical to embrace objections but that is exactly what you must do. When someone objects or raises a question, you are on your way to acceptance. You read that right—objections represent interest.  When a patient objects:

Listen.

Empathize.

Validate the concern.

Overcome the obstacle.

You are not alone. Many new dentists and seasoned clinicians find it difficult to discuss expensive dentistry with patients. Adopting these simple tips can help you confidently deliver treatment plans that accomplish your ultimate goal—helping people live pain-free, happy lives.

Are you ready to take your dental business to the next level? Join nationally renowned speaker Dr. Bobbi Stanley at her next Business for Dentists course

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It can be maddening; you are all set up for your next hygiene patient and the hour comes and goes with no sign of your patient.  Your highly trained, well-paid hygienist is now stocking supplies instead of helping someone improve their oral (and systemic) health.  It happens more often than any of us care to admit.  Lost opportunities can really add up over the course of a week or month.  Some estimate it could be more than $6 million in lost revenue throughout a dental career. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Take the time to implement a few extra steps to help your dental practice run like a finely tuned machine.

Appointment Reminders

Are you taking a one and done approach to reminding patients? Although it takes time to implement a multifaceted appointment reminder system, it will be worth it in the long run.  There are many options available in the marketplace but practice management software like YAPI  (and there are many) can help keep dental appointments top of mind for patients and offer their proven, best practice approach to communicating upcoming visits on various platforms. The purpose is not to annoy your patient but to recognize that life is busy and you are here to help patients get the care they need.

Run a tight ship

On the same note, no one has time to wait on a dental office that is running behind. Not only does this irritate patients, it can position your practice for a bad online review.  In the mind of the patient, it also discredits you as a doctor. Be a wo/man of your word.

• Keep regular hours that patients can consistently rely on. It frustrates patients to call an office that says it is open and yet they cannot get anyone on the phone.
• Do not reschedule patients unless absolutely necessary and do not overbook.
• Consider a prepayment discount–it is a service for patients and gives them a greater sense of commitment to honoring the appointment

Patients are following your lead, be certain you are setting the right example.

Be nice

This may seem obvious but people do business with people they like.  And you are running a business, the service you offer is dentistry. We suggest the four-minute rule in our dental practice. Clinicians spend about 4 minutes discussing anything other than teeth. We always try to keep conversation light and positive but take a genuine interest in the lives of our patients. This type of rapport can go a long way if your schedule gets derailed and a patient is not seen at their appointment time. As a general rule, people will try not to disappoint people they like. Be likeable and ensure that your team is doing the same.

Be kind but firm

When patients continue to disrespect your time, you have to show them that you are serious about respecting their time, the well-being of your team and time of your other patients with a set cancellation policy and subsequent fee. This is often enough to stop them from becoming repeat offenders.

As hard as you work to attract patients, sometimes you have to let go. It is a difficult decision to dismiss a patient. However, you must ask yourself- are you actually benefitting from a repeat no show offender? Work with your partner, a business consultant or your office manager to determine the threshold for dismissal.

Want more information on how to be the master of your dental practice schedule? Join Dr. Bobbi Stanley at her next Dental Entrepreneur Summit!

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After more than 20 years of practicing dentistry, two goals have remained; for my patients to be happy and healthy after being in my care. My ideal “dental world” is to save all teeth and help my patients be disease free while providing the highest level of service I can offer. But alas, over the years I have found that the impact of real-world issues such as fear and money tend to stand in the way on a daily basis. Fears some patients experience can be minimized with positive communication, advanced technology, & sedation dentistry, but the issue of money still lingers for many. Let’s face it, advances in technology have allowed us to perform better dentistry, but our discussions on the cost of treatment have remained the same for decades. The cost of treatment can be challenging because while most dentists look at comprehensive dentistry as an investment in yourself, patients often view the treatment presented as an added and unaffordable expense. Asking patients for thousands of dollars for an issue that may not be hurting or seemingly pressing to them can be frustrating and stressful. What options does that leave the dedicated healthcare provider with to help our patients? I have come to realize that patients don’t say no to treatment because of the cost, they say no to treatment because of the amount they are asked to pay at once. (Same idea as buying a car!) We as dentist have intuitively understood this and have been trying to get patients to say yes by offering a treatment plan that is spread out over time. A better solution is offering financial options to help with the amount patients are asked to come up with, but not all financing options are created equal. My practice struggled in the past with choosing a financial option that worked best for our patients and team alike because a number of issues arose.

THE ISSUE

When offering traditional dental financing, I found that many of my patients did not qualify and were left more frustrated than before. I began looking into why this might be happening and found that it’s not that our patients did not have cash flow to make payments but often times, it was that they simply had high debt to income ratio (Well, who does not in today’s society?) Divorce often leads to credit hiccups or perhaps they experienced a foreclosure in the down-turn of the housing market, like 5 million other Americans. In some cases, it had been years since there had been negative credit activity but they were still being penalized with a low credit score which lead to low or no approvals. All of that said, a low credit score does not deem someone as not being unable to pay their bills, it just means that they cannot get financing for their dental needs. Another financial option is to offer payment specials or split the total and offer in-office financing. In-office financing can help patients get much needed and wanted dental services, however, dentists have been warned by financial advisors for years not to lend money to our patients. We have been told that we will be the last paid and maybe not even paid at all and would have to rely on a team member to track down payments whilst accounting for them. Overcoming the issue of money has proved challenging but I finally found an option that worked wonders for my practice.

THE SOLUTION

Two years ago at an annual cosmetic meeting I discovered Comprehensive Finance Inc., an in-house financing company, that changed the way I viewed patient financing. I slipped into one of their seminars and was instantly intrigued by their unique patient financing service. The in-house financing company provides all the information needed to decide who qualifies for financing and what the terms are in order to get a monthly payment that fits comfortably into every patient’s budget. Additionally, I do not have to pay a percentage of my fee to provide the financing for my patients. Here’s how it works. When a patient needs financing for a pro- cedure we collect their information and input the data into their cloud-based system. A quick credit and banking check is run on the patient in order to determine if they are payment worthy by scoring their banking and credit history. Based on the information received, we decide if the patient should have credit extended and what interest rate the patient will be charged. The patient signs the paperwork and Comprehensive Finance takes care of everything else. The payments are automatically withdrawn from the patient’s account and directly deposited into our account every month with interest. This is not an interest free financial option but trust me, the patient is okay with that considering they are not only approved but able to get all their treatment done and fit it into their monthly budget. Now, I know what you are thinking; “What if the patient doesn’t pay? We can’t afford to lose money while trying to help our patients”. This concern is taken care of by collecting a down payment. We always ask our patients for a down payment that covers the “hard costs” of the treatment, meaning any lab fee or large supply fee like with the cost of dental implants. Rarely is a down payment an issue for the patient and can often be taken care of with their dental insurance payments. Remember, these are people who have good paying jobs, they just don’t have big bank accounts. A natural concern is that a patient will forfeit their obligation. We try really hard to lend to A+ patients (remember the credit check will grade the patients for you) but occasionally we will bend the rules and lend to a lesser scored applicant if we feel the patient sees the value in their dental treatment. Comprehensive Finance works diligently to make sure all payments are paid and there are no late payments. If a payment is late, communication is sent to the patient to work out the issues. Luckily, we don’t have to worry with that which allows my team members to focus on the patients within our office instead of spending their time on any financial issues. Our hard costs are covered so the only thing we lose is our time which would have been lost anyway on an empty schedule.

IN CONCLUSION

There are a few reasons why I decided to implement Comprehensive Finance and now have begun offering as the primary patient financing option in my practice. It’s simple really. I wanted to help my patients overcome the money issue and I had the time and space. I was not at 100% capacity in my dental office and had many patients who needed and wanted dental treatment but did not have all of the cash up front. I knew they were good Americans who paid all of their bills on time but didn’t have a viable option to help them. Since I had the capacity to accommodate these patients and knew they were employed and could make payments, I thought, “This could work!” And sure enough, it does. Now we have our empty chair time filled with patients who can and will pay. As an added benefit, we have constant revenue streaming in month after month as patients are paying down their loans and we continue to process more of them which allows my cash flow to be more predictable and helps to compensate for slow months throughout the year or vacation time I wish to take. Not only do I have more financial freedom in my office, my patients who need and want treatment no longer have to fear being denied the dentistry they deserve. With Comprehensive Finance, we can take the money issue out of dentistry and get back to what we went into dentistry to do…. help people!

Article by Dr. Bobbi Stanley; Originally published in DENTISTRY TODAY, MARCH 2016

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On Friday, July 13 Dr. Bobbi Stanley presented a course on Small Business Ownership for Dentists to clinicians from across North Carolina. The event was hosted by Live Oak Bank and supported by industry partners.

The course centered on a subject not focused on in dental school—how to run a dental business. While most clinicians are fully confident in their technical abilities, the responsibilities of running a business can be overwhelming. Dr. Bobbi Stanley and her husband and business partner Dr. Robert Stanley have successfully owned one of the North Carolina’s oldest and largest comprehensive dental practices for more than 25 years. “Over the years, I’ve simply had to learn along the way because there were very few business courses for dentists,” said Dr. Bobbi Stanley.

At Stanley Institute, we prompt students to shift their mindset. Dentists must realize they are small business owners offering a service of dentistry. Every dentist owns a small business—associate, partner or sole proprietor. This often means clinicians have two full time jobs and it’s easy to be consumed by your practice. Stanley Institute provides straightforward, sound business information that doctors can use immediately upon return to the office.

Small Business Ownership for Dentists concentrates on:

• Building better teams
• How to financially integrate new technology & techniques into your dental practice
• New patient financing solutions
• More profit & less stress
• Marketing that gets results
• More new patients for your dental practice
• Making the most of tax time and more

Dr. Stanley discussed using tools like Practice Analysis from Henry Schein to honestly evaluate and control overhead and operating expenses to improve net profit. She also reviewed patient financing alternatives with more favorable terms than traditional lenders like Care Credit.

“I love dentistry and I love to see my colleagues succeed. We all became dentists to help as many people as possible. By providing my insight and expertise, I can give back to the field that has given me so much,” stated Dr. Bobbi.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley has been practicing dentistry since graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in 1993. She is now an Adjunct Professor of Prosthodontics at her alma mater and was elected a 2017 Leader in Continuing Education by Dentistry Today. Ready to take your dental business to the next level? Join us at our next business course for dental entrepreneurs.

Thinking about implants? Take a look at our distinctly unique implant continuum from Stanley Institute is the global leader in guided dental implant continuing education.

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In this modern age of dentistry, you are a business owner that offers the service of dentistry. Statistics show that as many as 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Therefore, you are subject to the same applause and objections as the hamburger joint down the street.

Here are some time-tested tactics for managing your online reputation-the good, the bad and the ugly.  

Step 1: Claim your business

Whether you love it or hate it, Google is captain of the search game—so you better know the rules and play by them. When your patient searches for you and finds an unclaimed Google listing, it really doesn’t matter that you graduated top of your dental class or how high tech your office is—you will look outdated. It’s a simple matter to claim your business. If you need help, here’s a quick guide.  While Google is the main player, be sure to claim your business on sites like Yelp and LinkedIn too.

Step 2: Start asking for reviews

Even if you just opened your dental chair for business, it is easy to build your online standing—and most patients are eager to help.  Every day you receive some type of compliment. Simply wait for the kind remark and ask the patient to please leave a review to help you grow your online reputation.  You can have the patients leave a review from their smart phone while they are in the chair.  Additionally, there are myriad software companies marketing to dentists. At our dental practice, we use YAPI for patient management and they have recently added a review feature for a nominal fee. In addition to on demand reviews, it will automatically interface with your dental software and contact the patient after an appointment to solicit feedback.

Be sure to make it part of your office standard operating procedure. It isn’t only the dentist that should focus on reviews. In the same way that your hygiene department offers oral cancer screenings, your team should be actively soliciting reviews—their job may depend on it. As mentioned in Step 2, it’s easy to ask for a review in the chair or at the front desk when given a compliment. And, it should be second nature.

Step 3: Don’t be afraid of your negative review(s)

If you’ve recently received a less than flattering review, take heart, it isn’t the end of the world. Remember, you must act and not “react”.  This is definitely the time to take a “less is more” approach. While you must respond to the review, you are still under legal obligation to protect your patient’s privacy. Respond with compassion and offer an invitation to discuss the matter in person. It is ok to site HIPAA and leave your office number as a reminder of the best way to reach you.  This signals a level head to anyone that comes across the online analysis.

If you do receive a negative review, kill it with kindness. Generally people are more apt to leave a negative review versus a positive one. After all, people are busy and expect everything to go well. When you receive a bad review (and you eventually will), remind your team to double down on asking happy patients to leave their feedback.  In your morning huddle, ask each team member to identify three patients they will ask to leave a review. Although well meaning, your employees will get busy as the day goes–help them be intentional.

Without fail,  we all want to take great care of our patients but remember there are cell phones recording and keyboard warriors everywhere waiting to document even the smallest perceived slight. As we navigate dentistry in the 21^st century, don’t fear the World Wide Web, have a strategy to mold your online reputation to correspond with your real world character.

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Q: Where is best place to bury a dead body?

A: Page 2 of Google.

That’s right, it is literally page 1 or bust when it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO). But, what is that secret sauce that makes you stand out from the other dozen dentists in your town—at least online? In the interest of full disclosure, only 3 people know the real answer to that. All 3 of them work at Google and they have more security clearance than the FBI director.  But, all is not lost.  Many really talented people make their best guesses as we all jockey for the coveted #1 slot. Here are some tactics to move on up the rankings and get those new patients calling your office.

Keywords

Think of internet searches as a conversation. Searchers are asking questions and you want to be the answer. For instance, someone looking for dental implants will search “dental implants”. In the past, the SEO trend was to stuff as many keywords in your site as possible. If you could include the name of the town where you are located right next to the key word, over and over again, you hit the SEO jackpot (example: dental implants in Cary NC X 100). As Google does, they changed the rules of the game. To be clear, no one knows exactly what those rules are but experts agree that the current algorithm may penalize sites for “keyword stuffing”.  However, there is an appropriate balance with relative content.  You can use your subject matter/keywords in the service category page, in the clinicians’ bios and on blogs. These are all legitimate places to use your keywords and will accomplish the desired amount of redundancy.

PRO TIP: When using keywords, be certain to use both your clinical terms (i.e. periodontal disease) and the colloquial term (gum disease).

Internet currency

Forget about bitcoin—links are the currency of the internet. The more you have, the richer (in position) you are.  As with keywords, there is a balance. You want to focus on high quality sites with good domain authority. What this means is that you do not want to link to any site that will have you—focus on well established sites with a good reputation. One way to do this in a shorter amount of time is to be a dental authority. Everyday, hundreds of reporters are searching for quotes for their articles. HARO.com (short for Help A Reporter Out) offers a free service that compiles dozens of requests and emails those queries to their mailing list. It’s a quick scan for you, your office manager or marketing director a few times a day. You can send your response to the email of the requester. Many times you can see what outlet the reporter is writing for and can decide if you want to respond (i.e. nbcnews.com vs a largely unknown group).

PRO TIP: If you are easy to work with, you can make a solid contact at the publication and they will just contact you directly for future commentary which means longer turn around times and easier communications.

Fresh Content

Finally, a great way to be found in internet searches is to have new, relevant content. Blogging is an excellent conduit for relatable information focused on your business (dentistry). When writing a blog for your dental website there are a couple of points to ponder:

Who do you want to read it?

This is an easy answer—or is it? You are a dentist and you think like a clinician. Your patients are not clinicians; they are lay people looking for a solution.  Be that solution with relatable content.

Example search term: replace missing tooth

This person needs an implant but may not know or search the clinical term. As mentioned before, you want to speak in language and terms your potential patients will understand, not your colleagues.

How are they searching?

In addition to the common names for dental treatment, you want to write with the thought of how information is searched. In this era of voice to text queries, many times the “search” is in the form of a question, “Siri, how do I replace a missing tooth?” Again, you want to be the answer—very specifically. Perhaps the title of your blog post reads ‘How to replace a missing tooth’—known as a long tail key word. The article will give a high level overview of the implant process and your practice’s ability to take great care of their dental need and thus solve the searcher’s issue.

Are you interested in learning more about how to attract new patients to your dental practice? Discover this valuable information and more in Dr. Bobbi Stanley’s Small Business for Dentists courses

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Stanley Institute is pleased to announce that Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley have successfully performed live surgery at the 154^th Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting.

On Thursday, February 21, 2019 the 154^th Annual event opened with an auditorium full of dentists, industry leaders and spectators present for the immediate extraction of #3 and subsequent placement of dental implants for teeth #3, #4 and #5.

Prior to the surgery, Dr. Robert Stanley used video and visual aids to illustrate prosthetically driven digital workflows for fully guided implant placement. Relying on his background in mechanical engineering, he further addressed implant design and other factors that can be used as predictors of successful outcomes. Dr. Bobbi Stanley completed the three-hour presentation with a lecture on temporization options for patient satisfaction, including the use of Snap-On Smiles for short-term solutions.

Today’s presentation was the culmination of months of preparation and input from Drs. Stanley, their clinical and administrative teams, many corporate partners and their dedicated employees.  “We appreciate the opportunity to present for attendees at Chicago Midwinter and absolutely could not have provided this caliber of presentation without the collaboration from so many. We are looking forward to our next lecture”, said Dr. Robert Stanley

In addition to Thursday’s dental implant continuing education, the Stanley Institute team will be at Booth 5119 with a variety of tabletop clinics and available to speak with dentists that have further questions about the material presented and implant courses through Stanley Institute.

Stanley Institute would like to thank our presenting partners, Henry Schein, BioHorizons, i-Cat 3D Dental Imaging and NDX/nSequence, as well as the representatives from all the major dental associations in the United States.

For more information or partnership inquiries, contact our Continuing Education Director.

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In recent years, it may seem as if every one of your dental colleagues is buying a fancy Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) machine and it can leave you with a bit of tech envy. And, for good reason—it is a serious investment. If you are wondering whether or not a purchase of this magnitude is necessary for you, here are some of the top reasons to consider.

First, let’s explore the machine itself. What is CBCT?

It is essentially another x-ray machine. However, unlike traditional scanners, CBCT provides three-dimensional images of teeth, soft tissues, bone and nerves in one image. Why is this important for dentists and their patients?

Liability

In a hyper-litigious society, liability may not be the driving force for your practice of dentistry, but it certainly is top of mind. While striving to see every possible oral issue in patients, doctors are limited not by dental acumen, but the tools available. Two-dimensional panoramic x-rays do not show the level of detail and accuracy of their 3D counterparts. On top of the possible negatives of misdiagnosis, there is myriad of unrealized production opportunity.  A clinician needs all the information to ensure accuracy of diagnosis, and that includes seeing patient anatomy in 3D.

Accuracy

Regardless of the potential lawsuits, what about accuracy? Two-dimensional panoramic x-rays are shown to be erroneous 30% of the time. That is to say nearly one-third of your patients not receiving the highest level of care. What is an acceptable percentage of clinical error? Does that number remain satisfactory if you are treating a loved one?

Everyday dentists struggle to impart the systemic importance of proper oral care. Yet, dentistry is the last medical art to still do procedures relying on 2D technology. We live and treat in 3D, therefore we need to analyze in 3D.

Dose

In this age of vaccination opposition and homeopathic medicine, some patients may be concerned about the ill effects of radiation as a result of x-ray exposure.  In reality, a 2D panoramic x-ray delivers twice the exposure dose of a CBCT and the 3D image has thousands more data points. In fact, a banana in your cereal, everyday for a year, can impart nearly three times the radiation of a CBCT machine. This is pertinent information to relay to your patients to soothe fears of overdose.

There are countless advantages of CT images vs. traditional two-dimensional x-rays. Take the time to research the different features, support and reliability of available machines and manufacturers. Consider this as you would any other large investment—with time and due diligence—your patient’s lives and your livelihood, depend on it.

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Stanley Institute is pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Stanley has earned Fellow status with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). This prestigious honor places Dr. Stanley in an elite group of dentists who have earned AAID Fellowship. The honor recognizes dentists displaying excellence in implant dentistry, both surgical and restorative, as well as ongoing implant maintenance.

AAID was founded in 1951 and was the first professional group dedicated to excellence in the field of implant dentistry. Current membership boasts nearly 6,000 dentists, specialists and dental team members throughout the United States and beyond.

Dr. Stanley began his professional career as a mechanical engineer and later completed dental school. He and his wife Dr. Bobbi Stanley own Stanley Dentistry in Cary NC, a comprehensive dental practice. The practice’s encompassing approach to family dentistry allows him to focus on dental implants and oral surgery while she practices cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics. His unique perspective on dentistry combines his training in engineering with his knowledge of dentistry and dental implants.

The AAID Fellowship is one of many accolades Dr. Stanley has earned during his dental career. In addition to the most recent Fellowship, Dr. Stanley has been recognized as a Diplomate with both the American Board of Oral Implantologists and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He is also a Fellow with the Academy of General Dentistry.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley commented on the honor, “Dr. Rob has challenged himself as long as I’ve known him. His commitment to excellence is limitless. Obviously, we are thrilled with his achievements.”

In keeping with the mission of the AAID, “To advance the science and practice of implant dentistry through education,” Drs. Stanley founded Stanley Institute to provide straightforward continuing education that dentists can use immediately upon returning to the office. Both Dr. Rob and Dr. Bobbi have structured their course offerings to include didactic and hands-on learning as well as a live surgical component to really underscore and implement the classroom instruction.

Dr. Rob Stanley commented, saying “What an honor to be recognized by a group as distinguished as AAID. We are living in the greatest time in dental history. The technology and advances in implant dentistry are incredible and I am excited to be on the forefront of implantology in my practice and at the institute.”

For press inquiries, contact Catherine Shireman at 919-415-0061.

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Dr. Robert Stanley has always pursued the process of continuous improvement. Long before the scions of industry popularized the buzz words, Dr. Stanley followed every achievement with, “how can I do it better next time?”

Implant dentistry is no different. As a PhD mechanical engineer, Dr. Rob applies engineering principles to implant dentistry. From thorough 3D imaging to prosthetically driven implants, he is creating beautiful smiles.

Dr. Stanley fosters a culture of never-ending improvement in his Cary NC dental practice and cultivates the intellectual curiosity of his dentists and auxiliaries at Stanley Institute. He applies some basic guidelines to his approach to both placing and teaching dental implants:

• Begin with a well-designed implant system that embraces the concepts of engineering
• Practice CT-driven, guided surgery
• Begin with the end in mind or prosthetically driven implant placement
• Save the patient and practice money when possible by using stock vs. custom
• Improve patient care and satisfaction through efficiency

Through his education and years of experience, Dr. Stanley has been a student of his own work by meticulously analyzing the process of implant planning, placement, restoration and healing.

As a result of his careful study of process, instrumentation, hand skills and human anatomy, combined with state-of-the-art dental technology, he has reduced the implant process including extraction and bone grafting to under four minutes.

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Local Dentist Earns Credential from American Academy of Implant Dentistry

CHICAGO, IL. — Robert James Stanley IIII, DDS,PhD, MS, of Cary, NC, was recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry’s (AAID) at its 2019 Annual Meeting, which was held in Las Vegas, NV, October 23 – 26.  As one of 380 dentists who hold this distinguished membership, Dr. Robert Stanley is one of the leading experts in implant care. Dr. Stanley maintains a private practice at Stanley Dentistry in Cary NC.

To qualify for Fellowship, an expert panel of implant dentists reviewed Dr. Stanley’s professional and leadership credentials as well as commitment to excellence in implant dental practice and to the Academy’s standards for ethics and patient welfare. Dr. Stanley was required to document for review that he was a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI), the certifying board that the Academy sponsors.

Established in 1951, the AAID is the only dental implant organization that offers credentials recognized by US state and federal courts as being bona fide.  Its membership, which exceeds 5,500, includes general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists and prosthodontists from across the United States and in more than 60 other countries. For more information about the AAID and its credentialed members, please visit www.aaid.com or www.aaid-implant.org or call the AAID at 312-335-1550.

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Dr. Robert Stanley, Smile Engineer® was granted early access to the new Osstell Beacon and offers this quick overview of the product.

The Osstell Beacon is a new standard in helping objectively determine implant stability in a matter of seconds.

The beacon helps,

• Determine implant stability
• Reduce treatment time and better manage risk patients
• Optimal ease of use and intuitive ISQ measurements
• Colour-coded for easy interpretation of ISQ values.

Enjoy his review and let us know your thoughts.

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Stanley Institute for Comprehensive Dentistry is pleased to announce that Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley have been named leaders in Continuing Education by DentistryToday for the 3^rd year in a row!

Drs. Stanley are co-founders and lead instructors at Stanley Institute and partners at Stanley Dentistry, a comprehensive dental practice in Cary NC. As their practice grew and they expanded their dental acumen through vigorous participation in local, state, national and international study clubs and courses, they were urged by colleagues to share their expertise with other dentists. In 2015, they began offering courses at Stanley Institute that included implant classes with a focus on prosthetic planning protocol, and business courses geared toward a dental small business owner.

In tandem with duties at their Cary NC dental clinic and instructing at Stanley Institute, Dr. Bobbi is a Senior Instructor at the International Association of Orthodontics (IAO) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and The Facial Beauty Institute in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Robert Stanley is a Key Opinion Leader and consultant for leaders in the dental industry including, Hu-Friedy, BioHorizons, ndXNsequence and Acteon.

Additionally they are both Adjunct Professors in the Department of Prosthodontics at their alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.

“It is an honor to be selected again by Dentistry Today”, said Dr. Robert Stanley. “Dr. Bobbi and I are passionate about dentistry and we find it very rewarding to help others raise their standard of (dental) care”, he continued.

Dr. Robert Stanley is a Diplomate in the American Board of Oral Implantology (ABOI) and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID).Dr. Bobbi Stanley is a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD), Diplomate in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (DICOI) and a Fellow at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI).

In addition to their professional accomplishments, Drs. Stanley are parents of four children and are fitness enthusiasts.

Congratulations to both Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley on your achievements!

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Will you be headed to the Thomas P. Hinman meeting March 19-21? If so, we want to say hello!

Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley have been invited to present throughout the event and Stanley Institute will also have a booth! Stop by Booth # 2116 for some Stanley swag and learn more about our unique course offerings.

Check out the class schedule below and register on the Hinman website:

Dr. Robert Stanley

Th311 9-11a: Choosing an Implant System for Predictable Aesthetics

Th233 1-3p: Implant Design: Does It Really Matter?

Fr256 10:30-11:30a – Pigmented Gum Solutions

Fr145 1:30-3:30p – Rationale for Guided Implant Surgery: Hands-On

Sa365 9-10a: The Five-Thread Rule: A New Guideline for Predicting Primary Stability With Dental Implants

Sa160 12:30-2:30p – Rationale for Guided Implant Surgery: Hands-On

Dr. Bobbi Stanley

Th215 10a-12p: Streamline Your Business: Creating a Cash Flow Mindset

Th 200 1:30-3p: Business Office Bonanza : Grow Your Dental Practice With the Best Marketing Secrets

Fr 129 9-11:30a: Hands-On Record Gathering for Traditional Orthodontics

Fr137 1-3:30p: Band and Brackets

Sa 384 10-11:30a: Grow Your Dental Practice With the Best Marketing Secrets

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At this point, everyone is familiar with the following statement from the American Dental Association (ADA) about dentists and their suggested precautions in the face of the global pandemic of COVID-19 and Coronavirus.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes the unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances dentists and all health care professionals face related to growing concern about COVID-19. The ADA is deeply concerned for the health and well-being of the public and the dental team.

In order for dentistry to do its part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the ADA recommends dentists nationwide postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks. Concentrating on emergency dental care will allow us to care for our emergency patients and alleviate the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments.

As health care professionals, it is up to dentists to make well-informed decisions about their patients and practices. The ADA is committed to providing the latest information to the profession in a useful and timely manner.

The ADA is continually evaluating and will update its recommendation on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available.

As clinicians, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care for our patients. As small business owners, we of course worry about staying afloat and caring for our team and family. During these uncertain times, it can be easy to panic. However, it is important to remain calm. This is what your patients and employees see. They are looking to you for leadership as their doctor and their manager. Rise to the occasion. Dr. Robert Stanley reminds his staff, “Calm is contagious.” So, how should you proceed? “Cautiously”, says Dr. Bobbi Stanley, “This is an evolving situation that you must navigate in real time.”

As your continuing education partner, we want to come alongside you in this journey. After all, we are in this together. Here are a few best practices for the coming days and weeks.

Plan:

Decide before your team meeting what you will do as a practice owner. Here are some thoughts to ponder:

• Will you close?
• If you remain open, what additional precautions will you take to ensure the health and safety of you, your team and patients? In our Cary NC practice, the following has been implemented:
  • in reception, patient temperatures are taken
  • patients are escorted from reception immediately upon arrival to a hand wash station and then to an operatory
  • all areas are sanitized between patients, including door handles and light switches
  • hand sanitizer is located in many places throughout the clinic and referred to en route to treatment rooms
  • all team members continue diligently using universal precautions
  • disposable supplies are used responsibly to avoid waste and maximize sanitation
• If you close, what are your plans for payroll and benefits?
• Where can you cutback without compromise? (example: staff meals)

Communicate:

If you have not already, have an unhurried huddle with your team. This is when you will address payroll and benefit concerns. While a crisis, it is also an opportunity for you to cement your role as leader. During this difficult time, your team will mirror your response. While you may understandably be worried, you can inspire confident resilience that will be passed along to your patients.

Additionally, let your patients know what extra precautions your office is taking and/or your modified hours. Here is sample verbiage to use on your website, email communications and social media platforms (courtesy of California Dental Association). Be certain to reiterate that sick people should not come to the office and there will be no cancellation fee.

In order to ensure the continued health of our patients, we are suspending nonessential or non-urgent dental care for the next 14 days. The health and welfare of our patients and our staff are the utmost priority and we want to do our part to limit the spread of the coronavirus, to reduce patient hospitalizations and lessen the strain on resources needed to treat patients. I value your assistance in making this a smooth transition. I appreciate your commitment to working together to get through this difficult time.

Be Nimble & Utilize all available resources:

This is an unprecedented circumstance. No one has seen a situation like this in our modern times and there is no roadmap. You need to do what is best for your practice, employees, patients and family. As the situation evolves (hourly), adjust your plans as needed. This is not frivolous, it is responsible.

What does your practice insurance cover? Do you have loss of use insurance or key person insurance that might help you meet payroll?

In addition to insurance, research other resources as well. Federal and state governments are putting economic support in place to assist private citizens and business owners—stay abreast of these options and use when possible.

While borrowing money should not be a first resort, we are in survival mode. If you do not already have one, consider opening a line of credit. On the plus side, interest rates are at historic lows.

Contact creditors to see if there are options for delayed payment in order to conserve cash reserves in the near term. This may assist you in caring for your employees.

Whatever your circumstance, be well.

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These are uncertain times, to put it mildly. Never before have we been faced with decisions that are changing so quickly and drastically. Many dentists are unsure of what to do for their patients, their team and their office. Should you close your office as recommended or should you remain open?

It has been suggested that non-essential/elective treatment be stopped. What does that mean? In dentistry, we feel that all treatment is essential. Decay, periodontal disease, even cosmetic dentistry, can be deemed essential. The physical health of the patient (decay and periodontal disease) or mental health (cosmetic dentistry) is important. We do not want to diminish any of this. At the same time, the spread of the COVID-19 virus must be slowed for the sake of our healthcare system, and economy.

The question remains, should dentists open the practice or not? Dr. Bobbi Stanley, co-owner of Stanley Dentistry suggests putting a temporary strategy in place to take care of patients, while also protecting your team and their families. What does this look like?

Phones should stay open

Your phone team can answer any calls as well as make calls to inactive patients. This is the time to implement your reactivation protocol and reach out to all patient who have not been in the office for 18 months or greater. If you are uncertain on this protocol, contact us and we can assist.

Consider opening for limited hours

Consider opening with limited team members (one doctor, one assistant and one administrator). Schedule all emergencies, decay, broken teeth, etc. that are already on the schedule. You may want to consider scheduling hygiene for any periodontal patients during this limited time. In addition to the standard universal healthcare precautions, add more intense health and safety measures.

Your marketing team should be working full time. Marketing team members normally have isolated areas where they can work in the office away from patients and other team members. This is the perfect time to strategize about positioning yourself as the dental leader in your community.

Fluid approach

Dr. Stanley suggests the possibility of the aforementioned limited schedule for one week and a re-evaluation of the evolving situation at the end of the week. It has been suggested that dental offices close for three weeks. This limited schedule may be needed for three weeks. However, prudence suggests a wait and assess as events unfold.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley has more advice to offer based on her 25+ years as a dentist and business owner and will be addressing subjects like, virtual consults, best use for the doctor’s free time and how to continue paying the team, in the coming days.

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As small business owners, we are faced with financial decisions on a regular basis. Now, more than ever, it is important to take action on some strong financial decisions. If you have bank loans, outstanding bills, credit card balances, etc., you need to put together a 6 –12 month action plan.

Analyze current obligations

The first step is to look at your loans. Banks are now giving three months of payment deferral. That means no payment AND no interest. If your bank has not offered that, you need to call and ask them. Some banks are not offering until they are asked. Your relationship with your banker is more important than ever. Reach out to them and let them know your situation. My banker at Pinnacle Financial reached out to me two weeks ago to let me know that she is here for me if I needed her. She and I have texted and emailed every day this week. Your banker is here to assist and now is the time to ask for help.

If you have credit card balances, your credit card company will work with you. Lenders are deferring late fees for 2-3 months. Call them right away and make payment arrangements if needed.

Establish a line of credit

It is also important to have a substantial line of credit available. Your line of credit should support your business for 3-6 months. If you have not established a good line of credit, call your bank on Monday morning and get the process going. Once the line of credit has been given, you should use your best judgement regarding drawing the cash and having it available in your checking account versus relying on the bank to have it when you need it.

Finally, call all of your suppliers and see if they will work with you on payments for outstanding bills. Ask for deferrals or payment options.

Everyone is in this together right now. We need to remember that CASH IS KING. We need to keep as much cash liquid as possible. This is not going to simply be a two to four week slow-down of our businesses. We need be ready for the long haul.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley has more advice to offer based on her 25+ years as a dentist and business owner and will be addressing subjects like, virtual consults, best use for the doctor’s free time and how to continue paying the team, in the coming days.

*This information should not be substituted for banking and legal advice from trained, financial and legal counselors.

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Thank you to Lira Johnson, Employment & Labor Attorney & Partner at Dinsmore, as well as, Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley for a webinar plus question and answer session to help dentists navigate the coming weeks as business owners and clinicians. The following questions and more were addressed:

• What do I tell my team?
• How can I pay my team?
• What should I do with retirement while closed?
• What are my rights as an associate?
• What are options for team health insurance during closure?
• Do I pay out PTO?
• Can my employees get unemployment benefits?
• What is the difference between furlough, layoff and terminating employees?

In the midst of uncertainty, we must collect our thoughts and continue to move forward as healthcare providers and team leaders.  In our previous webinar, we spoke with an employment attorney (link to webinar). Now, we are faced with navigating this evolving landscape. Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley have been in dentistry and small business ownership for more than 25 years. Although they, and many others have weathered employment issues, recessions, natural disasters and more, the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. We must press ahead together and not be paralyzed with the fear of what may lie ahead.Join Drs. Stanley for a peer-to-peer forum and open discussion about navigating the unique challenges we face as dentists, business owners and Americans. The dental community has the opportunity to unite and persevere through this difficult landscape by continuing this collaborative conversation.

• Employment Law compliance—which one do I follow, Federal, state, local?
• Workplace Safety
• Anti-Discrimination-what does that mean for health screenings?
• Exempt vs Non-Exempt employees-what are my obligations?
• Paid sick leave
• FFCRA Sick Leave
• Workers Compensation
• Unemployment
• Top 5 practices for crisis response
• Small business loan-is that the right decision?
• How to create an action plan-for business-will I pay sick leave or vacation
• Action plan covid19 infection of patient or employee
• Emergency paid sick leave-who qualifies?

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Whether you’re a novice investor or have your broker on speed dial, all eyes are watching the market’s recent ebbs and flows.

Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley host their personal and business asset advisor, Joey Miller as he discusses the current state of the economy and how that affects healthcare, your business and your personal portfolio. He gives his oft-anticipated State of the Economy assessment and address other timely questions such as:

• What does this stimulus package mean in layman’s terms?
• Is the news helping or hurting Americans?
• What will the market recovery look like?
• How long will recovery take?
• Is the current economic climate merely cyclical?
• Where is the smart money?
• How does this financial event compare to historical crises?

In addition to being a nationally renowned speaker and published author, Mr. Joey Miller is an Investment Advisor and Parter at John Galt Wealth Solutions.

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Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley have harnessed their experience and expertise gained from more than 25 years as small business owners to forge ahead in these unfamiliar times. In the midst of providing answers for their large dental team, they have worked tirelessly consulting banks and attorneys to understand what this means for their own practice and dentists across America.

In this update, Drs. Stanley review what is known about the CARES act so far and how experts are predicting it can impact dental small business owners. Topics include:

• Is my business eligible for relief?
• How much can I qualify for?
• How do I apply?
• How much will I need?
• WILL THIS LOAN BE 100% FORGIVEN?
• What are approved ways to use the money?

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For years, dentists have recommended combining ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) to safely enjoy the complementary pain relief benefits of both drugs. Earlier this year pharmaceutical maker, Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved their exclusive drug, Advil Dual Action with Acetaminophen for over-the-counter (OTC) use. This is the first ever, all-in-one product on the OTC market and the dental community is enthusiastic about the ease of use for patients.

Simplified medication protocol will hopefully yield more compliant patients and a reduced need to prescribe opioids. Based on data from multiple clinical studies, the new medication has been shown to achieve more thorough pain relief compared to the individual components taken separately. Additionally, studies show the advil + acetaminophen combination manages pain as effectively as narcotics.

Dr. Robert Stanley, a dentist in Cary NC and co-founder of Stanley Institute says, “The combination of the two medications is very effective. Advil Dual Action will help eliminate confusing directions for managing postoperative discomfort and makes discharge directions easier to follow. By complying more closely with doctor’s orders for pain relief, patients have a better overall dental experience. This is a great, safe addition to the dental arsenal.”

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The current climate has changed the way we operate as clinicians. In most states, dentists are now only seeing emergency patients. Many times, emergencies can result in the need for extractions. If you haven’t performed an extraction since dental school, now it the time to review. Join Dr. Robert Stanley, the Smile Engineer®, as he offers a complimentary one-hour session on extraction technique best practices, loaded with numerous dental pearls you’ll be able to use immediately. Although he normally delivers this course in 8 hours, Dr. Stanley has consolidated the content into a two-hour action-packed, must see webinar. He will review a streamlined, practical protocol for implementing, or improving efficiencies for dental extractions in your practice and discuss topics such as:

• Instrumentation: Just the Necessities
• Biomechanics of Extractions
• Socket Grafting: Materials and Tools
• Flap Design
• Patient Pain Management

In the midst of constant changes, many alumni and industry partners have consulted the experts at Stanley Institute to discuss next steps, both clinically and as small business owners.

After 25 years in dentistry and more than a decade mentoring colleagues, Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley are perfectly positioned to offer guidance during these uncertain times.

In addition to both practical and business webinars related to the current pandemic, Dr. Bobbi Stanley has partnered with Henry Schein to discuss COVID-19 & Dentistry, A Guide for Dentists.

On Friday April 17 at Dr. Stanley offered a complimentary presentation with a live Q & A session.

If you missed the live broadcast, please see the replay below:

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A Henry Schein Practice Analysis can help practices leverage downtime during the pandemic and recovery period to gain a clear understanding of their practice performance and uncover opportunities to recover lost production, improve patient experience and boost income when it’s time to re-open.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley, dentist and owner of Stanley Dentistry and cofounder of Stanley Institute, offers an in-depth discussion about the Henry Schein Practice Analysis and how she leverages this tool every year to assess her practice’s performance and opportunities with regard to the big five indicators of a practice’s ability to thrive:

1. Fee schedule — see how your practice stacks up to national and area averages

2. Coding opportunities — can your coding practices be adjusted to claim additional reimbursements?

3. Procedure mix — should you consider adding new procedures that your patients may be looking for from their GP?

4. Hygiene recall — are you missing income because you don’t have enough availability for hygiene appointments?

5. Insurance network — how can you adjust the insurance programs that you accept to boost your income?

The Henry Schein Practice Analysis is a tool that delivers a custom report based on your practice’s performance, your local peers, and national averages — and provides a snapshot of your current status as well as proven strategies to improve that are specific to your practice.

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As a female, pressure comes from every angle. Career pressure, combined with the desire to be present for your family, can leave even the most poised feeling burdened.

In this roundtable discussion, the Female Implantology Team convened to discuss how their lives have changed during COVID-19 and how those changes will carry into their post-pandemic days.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley is part of a think-tank style mastermind group helping to shape implantology with industry leader BioHorizons. She is joined by Dr. Jumoke Adedoyin, Dr. Jennifer Doobrow and Dr. Tara Aghaloo for a candid conversation on how the pandemic has brought a forced slow down, with the advantage of time to self-reflect and a glimpse of how to move forward with greater intention and purpose.

The doctors discuss work-life balance, successfully leading a team through reopening and how to best care for their patients and themselves in this new era.

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Dr. Robert Stanley, professionally known as Smile Engineer®, was pleased to present the Case of the Week for the American Academy of Implant Dentists (AAID). The topic was implants in fresh extraction sites.

Dr. Stanley discussed success factors including,

• Atraumatic extraction
• Prosthodontic-driven surgical protocol
• CBCT planned implant surgery
• Fully guided surgical method
• Location of placement
• Gap grafting
• Temporary provisionalization
• primary stability

Dr. Stanley is a Diplomate with the American Board of Oral Implantologists and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Additionally, he is Co-Founder and Senior Implant Instructor at Stanley Institute. He teaches a fully-guided single implant and full arch protocol with a prosthetic-driven focus on implant placement.

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Dr. Robert Stanley, Smile Engineer® placed a fully guided implant on a patient with a previously root canal treated #8 site. ⁠

He extracted the root tip of the previously root canal treated #8, placed a BioHorizons tapered pro 4.2 X 15 and grafted the gap using mineross.
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After placement and grafting, he immediately temporized the patient with a custom abutment and temporary crown from Vulcan Custom Dental lab. ⁠
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Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how Dr. Stanley performs this delicate procedure with precision and speed.

If you would like to receive ½ hour CEU, please complete the survey & quiz.

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Stanley Institute is pleased to announce Dr. Robert Stanley‘s recent publication in the Journal of Oral Implantology.⁠
His paper “The Five Thread Guideline: A New Guideline in Predicting Primary Stability with Dental Implants” was featured in the February 2020 issue. ⁠
As the name indicates, Dr. Stanley’s research shows a direct correlation between number of implant threads integrated in bone and the implant’s primary stability.⁠

The magazine content is subscription-only but has been unlocked for your convenience. Please let us know what you think.

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The Evolution of Piezo: Engineered for Ease & Efficiency⁠
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Dr. Robert Stanley is a dentist and mechanical engineer, professionally known as the Smile Engineer®. Dr. Stanley’s unique background combines principles of mechanical engineering with state-of-the-art implant dentistry, providing world-class aesthetics solutions with maximum patient comfort. His surgical approach relies on measured, proven and reliable principles and products. As a long-time user of piezoelectric technology, Dr. Stanley is intimately familiar with the growth of piezoelectricity and its surgical applications in dentistry. ⁠
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In this one hour presentation, Dr. Stanley’s discussion points will include:⁠
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•atraumatic extractions in the esthetic zone⁠
•implant retrievals⁠
•lateral sinus grafting⁠
•ridge reductions and bone removal ⁠

Achieve Optimal Esthetics in Implantology with Prosthetic Planning Protocol

Posted In: Clinical on July 27, 2020

Dr. Robert Stanley, the Smile Engineer®, utilizes his PhD in mechanical engineering and DDS to bring a unique perspective to the dental implant process. Dr. Stanley begins implant procedures with an ideal aesthetic in mind. Utilizing CBCT technology and principles of engineering, he ensures predictable aesthetics and lasting, functional results. Regardless of whether you are referring out your implant surgeries, or doing them yourself, these crucial concepts are paramount for successful treatment outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the three to achieve cosmetic and functionally successful dental implants
• Learn about the Digital Prosthetic Planning Protocol (DPPP) for dental implants
• Review the technology needed to get started with digital planning protocol

Have questions? Contact us. Ready to add implants to your practice, don’t miss our start to finish implant continuum.

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Necessity is the mother of invention. ~English proverb⁠

This year has certainly been a roller coaster! Between nationwide dental clinic closures, scrambling for PPE and dissecting the CARES Act, it was anything but business as usual for dentists and their teams. While many components of dentistry pressed pause, continuing education took center stage!

In the uncertainty of the pandemic, Stanley Institute made an immediate pivot to help our dental colleagues. Through a series of complementary webinars, Drs. Robert & Bobbi Stanley came alongside fellow dentists to navigate the changing landscape of business ownership and clinician. It soon became clear that this new normal was here to stay. Therefore we have transitioned our implant continuum to a virtual learning platform.⁠ In addition to our on-demand webinars and presentations, our implant curriculum is now available digitally.

Our start to finish single implant curriculum consists of Essentials 1 PLAN, Essentials 2 PREP and Essentials 3 PROS. Since we were unable to host Essentials 2 in person this Spring, the virtual course was given live and it was also entirely recorded while being optimized for the virtual learner.  It is available on-demand.

We will be hosting Essentials 1 both in-person and virtually August 21-22. Essentials 3 will be presented in-person, virtually and recorded August 28-29.

Additionally, Stanley Institute has partnered with the International Congress of Oral Implantology to provide a path to ICOI Fellowship. Upon completion of these courses, you will qualify for Fellowship.

Don’t miss out out on this unparalleled opportunity to add implants to your practice and letters to your name from the comfort and safety of your own home! Contact Stanley Institute today to learn more about our on-line courses.

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“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.”⁠ ⁠ ― Greg Reid ⁠ ⁠

The dentist cannot do it alone. You must assemble a winning team. Everyone loves to succeed! Motivate your team with goals and rewards.

Establish your goals

At your annual kickoff meeting or end-of-year clarity retreat, work with your team to decide where you need improvement in the coming year and set realistic goals with everyone from hygienists to front desk staff.

Create an action plan

If you do not clearly outline how you will succeed, your team becomes a ship without a sail. Develop small steps that move the needle and assign tasks to individuals. Don’t forget to record who is responsible for what and circle back at the agreed upon time!

Decide on a reward

Whether large or small, give your team something to anticipate! It doesn’t always have to be a grand prize. Rewards can be as small as a pizza lunch for the team or a Starbucks gift card for an individual!

Keep the goal top of mind

The old adage out of sight (or hearing), out of mind. At your morning huddle, discuss your goals and how you will achieve them that day! During the day, have a designated “cheerleader” that will remind the team of the goal and give a progress update several times. At the end of day meeting, report the strides that have been made or decide what needs improvement.

Keep the rewards in sight as well. Are you planning a nice dinner on the town if the team hits a certain goal? Pin up a copy of their menu in the break room to get everyone excited! Another idea is to talk about what you might eat or how you might dress that night!

Celebrate everything

Large or small, be certain to point out the wins as the leader of the team. And enjoy your reward!

Dr. Bobbi Stanley has practiced dentistry for over 25 years. She has established best practices for setting daily, monthly and annual goals and the team incentives to encourage her staff to meet them. In her Dental Entrepreneur Summit, she details the methods she has used to build one of the oldest and largest comprehensive dental practices in the Southeast.

In 2020, the course will be offered in-person and virtually for dentists that are serious about making 2021 their best year yet!

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Use your team to grow your team

“So, how do we put together a great team in our office? We know that today, in these times, it’s really challenging to find really good help because unemployment is at an all-time low. It’s challenging to find people to come into our office and work for us.

Obviously, we can put out an ad on Indeed or Craigslist or wherever you feel it’s important to advertise. Just make sure that ad talks about how great your office is, and how fun it is. Talk about the team culture that you have — not just about the qualifications you’re looking for because people with qualifications can go anywhere.

Here’s another idea: why don’t you get your team involved? Offer your team an incentive if they can find a great person and you end up hiring that great person. You’d be surprised how many other team members your team members know. And they hear people say, “I’m not happy in my office and I would love to move.”

Allow your team member to invite another team member to join the team and then incentivize them — give them a few dollars to bring someone in who’s a quality person who fits your culture. Allow your team to build your team. It’ll grow and the culture will continue to develop.”

Understanding your team

At a dental office, you need a variety of people with different talents in order to make the business a success. When looking for new employees to hire, make sure to first take a look at your own team.

What are their individual strengths and weaknesses? And we’re not talking clinical skills (though you should look at that too). Do they like to keep the office organized? Are they good at remembering patient names and charts? Do they excel at getting new callers to convert? How is their bedside manner? If your team is struggling in one of those (or other) categories, make it a point to look for someone who can fill that void. In interviews, ask the person about those specific skills and, in working interviews, make sure they demonstrate them. You can also try giving potential employees a personality test to see where exactly their strengths lie.

Every person comes equipped with their own strengths and weaknesses. Understanding those, and hiring people who fill the gaps, is the best way to create a well-rounded team.

Learn more about the business of dentistry

Master the business of dentistry by joining us for our Dental Entrepreneur Summit. In the course, Dr. Bobbi covers a variety of business-related topics including:

• Decreasing stress while increasing profit
• Hiring a top-notch team
• Developing team leaders
• Incentivizing your team
• Putting together a quality personnel manual
• Increasing your new patient numbers
• Increasing profits in your hygiene department
• Controlling cash flow in your dental practice
• Telephone etiquette to get calling patients on the schedule
• Effective marketing
• Planning for retirement now

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Let your office work for you

“Hi, Dr. Bobbi Stanley here with Stanley Institute. Let’s talk about an office tour. Do you offer an office tour to your new patients? Why would you do that? Why are they interested in seeing your office?

Well, let’s start here. This is our wall of history. This wall of history talks about the history of the doctors here and how the doctor’s grandfather was a dentist. These are his tools and the degrees that the doctors got here.

And then you can walk through your office and you can show the new patients what you have to offer. ‘This is our sterilization.’ ‘This is our cone-beam x-ray machine, not everyone has one of these.’ ‘This machine over here is for you, if you need a same-day crown, we have it for you.’

But also, you may want to put up some photos of before and afters or the beautiful smiles of your patients so that your patient, who is new to your office, can see that you do make beautiful smiles.

It’s also very important that your new patients know where the bathroom is. Because, one thing we know is when people know where the bathroom is, they start to feel more comfortable, they start to feel more at home. And the purpose of the office tour is to help your new patients feel at home because now they have a new dental home. So, make sure you’re taking your new patients on an office tour.”

Make your office personal

Your dental office is special because it’s yours. Make sure your patients see that right off the bat. Use blank walls to showcase things like your diplomas, certificates, and even your hobbies.

In our office, we’ve hung some of Dr. Robert Stanley’s photography work. We did this not only because they’re aesthetically pleasing but also because the photos show our patients that we’re more than just doctors — we’re people. Showing a more personal side of yourself in your office will help make your patients more comfortable which, in dentistry, is incredibly important. Uncomfortable patients don’t come back.

Don’t be afraid to brag

No one likes a narcissist but everyone likes a doctor’s office that goes beyond your everyday competency. If you have extra CE certifications, make sure to mention those on your office tour. Set them out where they’re easily visible so new and returning patients can see them. Showcasing new technology or cutting-edge procedures is also a great thing to do on your tour to help your patients feel more at ease. They want to feel that you, as their dental provider, are going above and beyond in terms of education and services. Your tour is an easy and efficient way of getting that point across.

Who should give the tour?

This is a big decision you’ll have to make before implementing your new patient tour. In our office, the front desk greeter gives the tour but if you have a smaller practice, the doctor or a hygienist may want to give the tour. Whoever you decide on, just make sure they have the tour memorized perfectly. Write the lines of the tour down and have them work through it a few times. Once they can do the tour well, in front of an audience, begin offering the tour to all your new patients.

Dr. Bobbi Stanley had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Dr. Danny Domingue about dental implant workflow for the AAID podcast. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript below!

Dr. Domingue:  Welcome to another episode of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry — this is the one and only podcast of the AAID. I am here with Bobbi Stanley. Bobbi, thanks for joining us today. Tell me a little about your practice and your affiliation with the AAID. Recently, you did a webinar for the AAID. Tell me about yourself and your practice.

Dr. Stanley: Sure, I’d love to. I practice in Cary, North Carolina. I’ve been practicing for twenty-five plus years. I absolutely love dentistry. I’ve been placing implants for a really long time.

My husband, Dr. Robert Stanley, also practices with me and when I met my husband, when I was in dental school, he was finishing a degree in Engineering and went on to get a PhD in Engineering. I went on to become a dentist and open a practice. The whole time, he kept saying “I’d love to be a dentist” and finally he quit his job in engineering and went to dental school. When he joined the practice, he wanted to do all of the implants and I wanted to do all the implants! So, we came to a mutual understanding that he would do the surgical part and I would do the restorative part. It’s a really great partnership — doing it that way.

We’ve been members of the AAID for many years. We really enjoy the organization and being able to learn and meet with colleagues who are on the cutting edge of dental implants.

Dr. Domingue: You’re not your average general dentist, right?  You have a diplomate from the ICOI, a fellow from the LVI, a masters from the AGD, correct?

Dr. Stanley: Correct. So, I absolutely love learning. Being able to be accredited in different organizations is a real challenge to me because I know when you take yourself to that next level it only makes you a better dentist and if you’re a better dentist, you’re better for your patients. I really enjoy that part of it. Taking it to the next level is what I always wanted to do and it’s what I continue to strive to do.

Dr. Domingue: So, you’re an adjunct professor at UNC Chapel Hill, right?

Dr. Stanley: Correct. So, at UNC Dental School, I’m an adjunct in the department of prosthodontics. We also have our own learning institute, my husband and myself, Stanley Institute. We teach dental implants. We teach dental implants not only for new doctors but we also teach full-mouth dental implants. One of the things that makes us unique in our full-mouth course is that we can teach you how to do full-mouth implants and have the patient leave with the prosthetic in place — no transition with a denture — in three to four hours. That’s what our students love about our full-mouth class.

Dr. Domingue: Tell me more about that.

Dr. Stanley: I’d love to! So, one of the things we do when we do full-mouth is…so, obviously, we use sedation dentistry. We have a CNRA who comes in and sedates the patient. And then we go in and we take the teeth out. We use the nSequence protocol where we use a guide for everything. Everything is guided. We place the implants and we place the prosthesis in the mouth. The patient wakes up with a full set of teeth and they go home happily ever after.

Dr. Domingue: Is it a four-course curriculum? Is that how it works?

Dr. Stanley: The full-mouth is one course. So, we have a three-part curriculum for implants that starts with integration of implants and then the prosth, and then we go from that into full-mouth. And you can go straight to full-mouth if you’ve been placing implants. There are no prerequisites.

Dr. Domingue: What are the backgrounds of people who want to take this course? Mostly entry-level people? Or people who’ve been placing implants for a long time?

Dr. Stanley: What we find is that our integrating implants course, which is our one, two, and three course, is a high level of many different doctors, including specialists. Periodontists and oral surgeons will go through that course. But, we also get beginners because we start teaching with the rationale of guided surgery and then we walk through how to restore and things of that nature. It works really well for anyone who’s been placing dental implants as well as for people who have not.

And then we find that our full-mouth course is mostly made up of people who have been placing dental implants and are ready to move on to the next level — or are students who’ve gone through [the previous courses].

In addition to dental implants, we also teach the business of dentistry. That’s what I’m really passionate about and that I teach because I love being a business owner. I find that a lot of dentists don’t know how to manage people, they don’t know about tax deductions, they don’t know about making a profit. I love that part of dentistry.  

Dr. Domingue: What’s the Smile Engineer? What’s that all about?

Dr. Stanley: So, the Smile Engineer is my husband’s trade name. He has a PhD in Engineering and he loves the engineering side of building smiles. So, he’s tagged himself the title Smile Engineer and he’s trademarked that name.

Dr. Domingue: Okay. So, tell me about the workflow. A new patient comes in, they’ve heard about you from a friend, they go into your office for a new patient consult. On your website, you guys talk about sleep apnea therapy, TMJ, TMD therapy, sedation dentistry, full-mouth rehab. They have several different treatment options.

How does that look, when they walk in and sit down? They get a CT scan and you walk into the room. Are you all taking full-mouth photos? Do you get them to come back in for a treatment plan presentation visit? Smile simulation? How does that look in your office?

Dr. Stanley: We like to offer free consultations because we want our patients to come in and get to know us. All of our new patients — whether they’re coming in for a cleaning, or a smile makeover, or dental implants — every single new patient gets an office tour. We want them to feel what Stanley Dentistry is all about.

They get a tour, they come back to the conference room and they meet with the doctor who will be working with them. If they’re here for dental implants, they’ll meet with Dr. Rob first and he’ll answer their questions. His speech is four minutes. He says, “If I could take all your teeth out, give you new teeth while you’re sleeping, and you wake up three hours later with a new smile, would you like that?” Who wouldn’t? If we could make it affordable for you would you like that? Who wouldn’t? The first thing we need to do is take a Cone Beam X-Ray to make sure you’re a candidate. The cost of that is this. Do you want to move forward today? Everybody wants to move forward today.

So, we’ll get a Cone Beam and we’ll get the patient back for another visit and sit down with them and do a full consultation. We’ll cover costs, financing, and any other questions they may have about sedation. Then we schedule them to move forward.

In the background, what’s happening is we’re planning the surgery using the x-ray. We do a Trios Scan and we merge the two together. So, we have the mouth with a 3-D x-ray and we’re able to see everything we need to see. How much bone reduction we need, how many implants we need to place, where we want to place the teeth. We have a full set of photos so we can literally place the teeth into the patient’s mouth when they’re smiling on a photograph. We can see exactly what that will look like.

So, when the patient comes in for surgery and the implants go in, they leave with a long-term provisional which is a PMMA.

Dr. Domingue: You’re not designing your guides? You’re outsourcing guides?

Dr. Stanley: We are designing our guides. Every guide is designed during a go-to-meeting between the lab and the doctor. The doctor is saying “place it here, do this, move it here.” Everything is dictated by the doctor.

Dr. Domingue: So, you’re restoring everything on multi-unit abutments? All your prostheses, upper and lower, would be FP3. Would you say that’s correct?

Dr. Stanley: Correct.

Dr. Domingue: Okay, so are you using full-arch zirconia? Or bar substructure?

Dr. Stanley: We’re only doing full-mouth zirconia. The reason we do that — we used to do hybrids — but when you have a patient who has such high expectations and they’re so excited and they’ve been saving forever to get this done and they do a hybrid and a few years down the road something breaks or a tooth pops out, it’s devastating to the patient. That’s not the endgame I want for my patients. I want them to be happy. I want them to feel like they got their money’s worth. The only way I felt like I could do that is by giving them something that would not break.

The technique we use in our office is called Omega Teeth. We named it Omega Teeth because it’s the last teeth you’ll ever need. We know we’re going to place these implants in the proper position and if you follow our guidelines,

Dr. Domingue: So, they leave with PMMA, right? And, assuming aesthetics and perfect and ideal, you come into play, correct? Rob places implants. Am I right?

Dr. Stanley: Correct. Rob does the implants. I help design the smile in the beginning. So, the smile has been determined. 9.9 times out 10, the patient loves their PMMA. Because they love their PMMA, we’re doing a second pick-up of their PMMA on the day of surgery.

So, we can move forward to the lab to give us a final without even having the patient come back in. Now, normally, we’ll do a second PMMA just to make sure everything looks good. Then, we’ll move to the final.  

Dr. Domingue: You’re taking final impressions on the day of surgery, mounting the case. How’re you mounting the case in the lab if you’re taking a PVS impression?

Dr. Stanley: Correct. We’re not taking a PVS impression. We have two PMMAs. One is a dupe for the lab to move forward with their finals.

Dr. Domingue: Got it. So, when do they get the final prosthesis?

Dr. Stanley: We don’t do anything for six months. We let the patient sit in their PMMA for six months so everything can heal. We ISQ test everything before we do a final restoration so we know everything is integrated.

Dr. Domingue: What about final impressions on the backend? Let’s say you have some tissue shrink-back around the PMMA, then some biotite, maybe some bone reabsorption. At six months, when you remove those things, you can expect some food entrapment on the prosthesis’ intaglio surface. What’s the restorative process look like then?

Dr. Stanley: I will tell you, we do get some shrinkage of gum tissue. We rarely get bone reabsorption because we do use BioHorizons implants and they have the laser lock.

But, if we ever feel like there’s a gap along the temporary PMMA and the gingiva, and we want to fill that in, we’ll do a wash with light flow poly-vinyl underneath it, pick that up, send it to the lab, and take the backup PMMA and put it in their mouth. Now, the lab has the PMMA that looks great aesthetically and they have a wash against the gum line. They can finalize the prosthetic.

Dr. Domingue: Do you guys have an in-house lab or are you outsourcing?

Dr. Stanley: We’re outsourcing them.

Dr. Domingue: Got it. You all have a big office, right? Four doctors?

Dr. Stanley: We do.

Dr. Domingue: So, the other two, they do mostly general dentistry? How does that look?

Dr. Stanley: That is correct, they do a lot of the general dentistry. Dr. David does a lot of our single implants because Dr. Rob is so busy with the full-mouths.

He does single implants unless they’re in the front because I like to play around with those. Dr. Rob and I work on those together.

Dr. Domingue: So then you have two hygienists and the rest are dental assistants. You all have an enormous thing going on there! It’s unbelievable.

Dr. Stanley: We have a rather large team. We have a full-time videographer. We have a full-time marketing person. There’s also a call center — which is in our building but not at the front desk so the phones are being answered in a different room. This means that, when a person calls, the person speaking to them is dedicated to that conversation. They’re not seeing people coming in and out.

At the same, people who are coming in and out have dedicated people at the front desk who aren’t on the phone. It takes extra people to fill in these extra spots but it makes the flow of the office so much better and the patient care so much better.

Dr. Domingue: Just curious — where did you learn that setup from?

Dr. Stanley: A lot of what I learned came from the Scheduling Institute. It’s part of what I teach in my business course. I’ve taken so many CE’s and they all teach a little bit about how to make your life in the dental office better. You just take what you learned in the course of 25+ years and put it all together. There have been trials and errors but it all works in the end.

Dr. Domingue: What does your lecture schedule look like for the rest of the year? At Stanley Institute?

Dr. Stanley: We’re doing a hybrid of virtual and in-person lectures from here till the end of the year. And we’re finding that people love virtual learning. They love to sit at home and learn and they’re really getting it at home! The hard part is hands-on. We want people to do hands-on. So, we have our E3 coming up in a couple of weeks and we have a whole day of students who want to come in and place implants on patients in-office. Then we do the teaching.

We do have some students who don’t want to come face-to-face because of COVID so they’re just watching from home. The ones who want to come in, we’re bringing them into the office and following guidelines. Our full-mouth at the end of the year is going to be virtual and in-person. The in-person, for me, is better because you get the hands-on but virtual learning is fine if that’s your thing.

We also have a business of dentistry course in November that will be virtual so if you want to learn it virtual or in-person — whatever works for you.

Dr. Domingue: One of the most stressful things is…if you’re not planning your case properly and you want to just take out teeth and put in a denture, you’re going to have to go in and uncover those implants…that’s a stressful appointment. Then you got to work out the aesthetics. Hopefully, you get the aesthetics right. Then you have to take out the upper and lower and convert them to dentures that probably look like crap. After that, you have to take a final impression and then somehow mount that case in your lab. And then try to get those aesthetics right to your lab.

I mean, that’s just a super stressful appointment. It’s a time-wasting disaster for you and the patient. The idea to have two provisionals, chairside, is brilliant. Especially if the aesthetics are on-point. Let’s say the patient isn’t happy with the initial aesthetics and you’re trying to stay as digital as possible. Or, here’s another scenario, let’s say one of the implants failed. You really need another implant back there. Obviously, Rob is going to take out that provisional and put another implant in and bury it and eventually come back in and…then start restoring again. But on your end, what’s your workflow to keep things as seamless as possible?

Dr. Stanley: Yep, absolutely. Let’s start with if an implant fails. We’ve all heard All-on-4, None-on-3…  

Dr. Domingue: Are you all big proponents of All-on-4?

Dr. Stanley: So, as I said, Dr. Rob has a PhD in Engineering. He will over-engineer a case always. That doesn’t mean you’re walking out with twenty implants in your mouth.

Dr. Domingue: Right, so, Erin Elliot was on this podcast a while back and she’s into implant dentistry and she’s placing BioHorizons. She’s been in sleep dentistry for a long time and she screens for patients who have sleep apnea.

In your workup, you know if someone has sleep apnea. That is going to play into the biomechanics of the implants and the way you design your prosthetics, the way you fill out the buccal corridors, the anterior, the AP spread, PBA angles, and all that kind of stuff. Are you looking for intermolar dimension? Those telltale signs of “this is where I’m going to lay out the teeth”?

Dr. Stanley: You always have to screen for TMD and sleep apnea because both of those can factor into the success of the prosthesis. You screen those and then determine what your AP spread is going to be, where your primary and secondary implants are going for load.

We hate cantilevers because Dr. Rob understands how cantilevers work and the forces that they put on the substructures. You have to take all of that into consideration. If, for some reason, you do everything right and you get a failure — and we know that can happen — then you have to start thinking “okay, how can I salvage what I have by replacing the implant?”

Dr. Rob has perfected a technique where he can pick up his guide and if the implant fails, he can place the guide back on the other implants and use the original guide to go back into the original place. He can still use the same PMMA and move forward with the same prosthesis. That’s one of the things we hear about from people with full-mouth.

What if I get to the zirconia and somewhere, along the way, something fails. We say, “fine,” — unscrew the zirconia, take out the failure, temporize the patient. Put the PMMA back in place. Sometimes we’ll put their zirconia back in place. We’ll allow the site to heal — whether we have to do some grafting or not. Then we’ll come back with the original guide and use it to place the implant. That’s part of what he teaches in his full-mouth course.

Dr. Domingue: Wow, that’s definitely a work-flow. So, you’re not taking any impressions? Or digital impressions?

Dr. Stanley: If we do anything, we do a scan. We’ll do a poly-vinyl as if we have to do a wash under a PMMA to send to the lab.

Dr. Domingue: That’s incredible. Wow. I mean…going back to what I said, one of the hardest things is taking a full-arch, final impression of multi-unit abutments because you have to splint all those fixture mounts together. You have to use a tray that you drilled out or use a mirror tray. That’s a long, intensive procedure. You guys have really simplified it a good bit.

Dr. Stanley: Not only that, Danny, but, let’s face it, it’s 2020. I mean, we did that stuff years ago. It’s time to move past that. There’s no need to be cutting your patient more than once. There is no reason. Once you get past that surgery day, everything should be above the tissue. You should never have to go in there again unless you get a failure. Failures are few and far between if you do it right and plan it correctly.

Dr. Domingue: A good question for you: let’s say the patient has a high smile line. Female, broad, tall high smile line. To tuck that transition zone above her lip…impossible. The only way to do that — you’d have to obliterate so much bone and then you don’t have any bone left. You’re gonna have to go to FP1.

Dr. Stanley: We’ve never had a case like that. We’ve had lots of high smile lines. We’ve never had a case where we had to tuck it up that high. Now, have we had to do sinus lifts? Occasionally. We’ve never had it up so high that we didn’t have enough bone.

Remember that with the protocol that we use, we level the bone — we are removing bone. We have a bone guide that tells us exactly how much bone to reduce. It’s like connecting the dots. Then we stack the implant guide on top of that, so the implants are guided too. This is a no-pucker technique. You walk in the room, everything is laid out for you. It’s so easy.

Dr. Domingue: I mean, maybe if you’re doing that many cases it’s a no-pucker technique. But for the guy who does one a month…there might be a pucker factor.

Dr. Stanley: I’ll take that challenge! I bet you if you use this technique, you’ll be like “Oh my god, it’s so easy!” If you have a guide and you can’t go deeper than what the guide tells you, and you can’t go buccal lingual…it limits you. So, there’s no way for you to make a mistake.

It may take you a little longer than three hours to do a full-mouth if it’s your first case but I guarantee you — four or five at the most. It’s a simple technique. Come to our full-mouth class. It’s the first week of November in Raleigh. You’ll love it.

Dr. Domingue: I might take you up on that offer. In Raleigh, North Carolina?

Dr. Stanley: In Raleigh, yes. And, again, if you don’t want to do it in person, it will be virtual.

Dr. Domingue: Oh wow! The whole course will be virtual?

Dr. Stanley: Correct.

Dr. Domingue: Gimme those dates again.

Dr. Stanley: The first weekend in November. And you can go to stanleyinstitute.com to see all of our courses.

Dr. Domingue: Wow. That place is huge. That’s where you teach?

Dr. Stanley: You’re probably looking at our dental building. We have the whole second floor. When the elevator opens, it opens into our lobby. The call center is actually on the first floor.  

Dr. Domingue: Goodness. So, implant placement, fully-guided. You guys are using the keys from BioHorizons? The key system.

Dr. Stanley: Correct.

Dr. Domingue: Is BioHorizons…the keys are in some of the drills for some systems? Have you talked to the sales rep? I’m sure you all are pretty good friends if you’re placing that many. Are they heading to a keyless system?

Dr. Stanley: My husband is a key opinion leader for BioHorizons. We do go to Alabama to visit their facility quite often. Because he has a PhD in Engineering, he can give feedback on their systems. I know that has been mentioned but I don’t know where they stand.

He’s always giving feedback on how they can improve because he uses them a lot and he’s an engineer. He thinks from a dentist’s point-of-mind and an engineering point-of-view. That works well for an engineering company like BioHorizons.

Dr. Domingue: That’s how they started out — by an engineer. You know a lot so I’m going to hit you with a hard question. You have a patient — full-arch rehab — and everything goes perfect. Implants integrate, you’re happy, the multi-abutments are beautiful. The aesthetics are right. You’re loving life.

You’re ready for finals but you notice the mucogingival line is around your implant. You don’t have enough keratinized tissue around the abutment. It’s been six months. The patient has healed. What do you do?

Dr. Stanley: That would never happen because we plan for that too. But, let’s just say that happened. We always want to have keratinized tissue around the implant because if you don’t, it’ll always be an area of irritation. So, we’ll graft that.

Dr. Domingue: Is it pellicle or free-gingival graft?

Dr. Stanley: Honestly, I don’t know because it depends on the patient and Dr. Rob does all of those. We look at those from case to case to decide which way we want to do that. He does AlloDerm, obviously, but he also does pellicle grafts, free-gingival grafts…he does it all.

Dr. Domingue: Would he do an AlloDerm graft for one of those as well?

Dr. Stanley: That’s a question for him.

Dr. Domingue: I would love to poke his brain on that. Could you answer this question? What are the techniques he uses to get thicker tissue around the implant in a thin biotype patient? Don’t hate me — I’m going to hit you hard.

Dr. Stanley: I can tell you, one of the things he teaches in his implant class is something called “gumdrop.” Sometimes, you just don’t have enough keratinized tissue on the buccal surface, especially if you have a lot of single implants in the posterior area.

So, what he’ll do is he’ll cheat and place the incision line a little more palatally and he’ll tease that tissue over to the buccal. Now you have the keratinized tissue that was across the ridge — and a little on the lingual surface — pushed over to the buccal. That will heal and that tissue will become a lot fuller and more keratinized. He uses that technique quite often.

Dr. Domingue: What about PRF? Big proponents? Sticky-bone?

Dr. Stanley: He uses it almost every single surgery. Draw some blood, spin it down. Almost every surgery. He normally just tucks it underneath the tissue itself. For instance, in full-mouth, if he lays a flap he’ll tuck it underneath the tissue before he sutures it back up.

Dr. Domingue: Unbelievable. You guys sound incredible. I’d love to see what you guys have going on at the Institute. Obviously you’ve taken a lot of courses. I can tell by the way you talk — and you have a real passion for it. Especially if you’re teaching it. I mean, that’s…kudos to you for putting so much energy into your practice. Four docs, two hygienists, and all the other staff and call center…my gosh. You guys are taking it to the next level.

Dr. Stanley: Thank you. We’d love to have you at the Institute. Come join us.

Dr. Domingue: I may have to get Dr. Rob on the podcast in the future. Talk to him about the surgical aspect as well. I can really appreciate how you’re restoring these cases. If you’re wacking out FP3s, you have plenty of zirconia to withstand those forces and you’re not worrying about fracture. Incredible.

So, last question before I let you go. Are you going zirconia direct to multi-unit abutment? Or, do you have a titanium abutment interface?

Dr. Stanley: We have a titanium substructure with zirconia on it. Is that what you’re asking me?

Dr. Domingue: Yes.

Dr. Stanley: That’s what we do.

Dr. Domingue: What lab are you using?

Dr. Stanley: Sculpture Studios Lab, Lee Culp’s lab, is upstairs in our building.

Dr. Domingue: Lee Culp is the godfather. He is incredible.

Dr. Stanley: Yes. We use him for all of our zirconias. We’re lucky enough that he’s in our building. That’s the grace of God.

Dr. Domingue: Exactly! This is great. Thanks so much for being on this!

At Stanley Institute for Comprehensive Dentistry, our mission is to not only provide comprehensive dental education but also to continually learn and grow. This commitment to lifelong learning is embodied by our founders, Dr. Robert Stanley and Dr. Bobbi Stanley. They are always in pursuit of the latest advancements in dentistry, regularly attending continuing education courses and events to stay at the forefront of their field.

This weekend, they are thrilled to be attending the renowned Chicago Mid Winter meeting and the exclusive, invitation-only American Academy of Restorative Dentistry’s annual meeting. These prestigious events gather the brightest minds in dentistry, offering a wealth of opportunities for learning, collaboration and growth.

As dental educators, Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley understand the importance of staying updated with the latest research and trends in dentistry. Their constant pursuit of knowledge ensures that they can provide the most relevant and up-to-date education to their students at Stanley Institute for Comprehensive Dentistry.

But why is this so important? Companies and institutions thrive when they transform their customers—or in our case, our students—into better versions of themselves. By continually expanding their knowledge, Dr. Bobbi and Dr. Robert Stanley ensure they can guide their students on this transformative journey.

Just as they are committed to their own growth, they encourage their students to demonstrate the same consistency in their learning journey. So, as they head off to these meetings, we celebrate not only their dedication but also the profound impact it has on our students. Their relentless pursuit of knowledge empowers our student community, equipping them with the tools and expertise to excel in their dental careers.

Stay tuned for updates from their journey and the insights they’ll bring back to Stanley Institute!