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.

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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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!

“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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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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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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