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Trends in Pet Ownership
To those who do not own pets, have you ever walked into a big-box pet store and browsed the aisles lately? It’s really something to behold. I do own a pet — a senior cat — and yet I’m still baffled by what I see in some pet stores. Don’t get me wrong: I have always lov
Collect Now, Not Later
One of the biggest challenges facing today’s dentist is collecting money for services rendered. This process should be simple. The dentist performs dental treatment for a fair and reasonable fee, and the patient pays. Just like at the grocery store, right? Wrong! Unfortunately, in too many in
Creating a Knowledgeable Team
A dental team needs to be knowledgeable about dentistry. At first glance, this statement might seem obvious and simplistic, but take a moment to ponder it further. Ask yourself: “Does each member of my dental team have a solid, general grasp of each procedure I perform? Could every team member
Stand Your Ground
Have you ever referred a patient to a specialist to have a lesion evaluated and/or biopsied for possible cancer, just to have the patient tell you that the specialist said, “Oh, it’s nothing. Just keep an eye on it.” This has happened to me, and while it is extremely frustrating an
Recipes for Success in Cooking and Dentistry
Recently, I was browsing my favorite cooking magazine and stumbled upon a recipe that I knew had my name all over it. Then, when I made the dish, I substituted ingredients for those that I either really love or those that I simply had waiting in the fridge to be used. It turned out delicious. Did it
A Story of Team Triumph
The story I’m about to tell you is true and not exaggerated. It was 7:15 a.m., and I had just walked out of my operatory after injecting for a crown prep on No. 3. My patient care coordinator came running, saying, “Dr. Marzban, there is a man collapsed outside. Our hygienist thinks he is
Pep Talks in Dentistry: Taking Cues from Sports Coaches
I am an avid fan of athletics and have been involved in sports since I was a little girl. One of my favorite sports to play and watch for hours is tennis. If anyone is like me, and you don’t fast-forward the moments when players are sitting on their benches, you too might notice the occasiona
Dental Fee Guides
In 1998, the Alberta Dental Association did something that had not happened before in Canada: They eliminated the Fee Guide, creating a free and open market for dental fees. Over time, there arose a large fee discrepancy between Alberta and other provinces in Canada. It has become a political hot po
The Struggles of Cold and Flu Season in the Dental Practice
Along with pumpkins, leaf peeping, ciders and all things wonderfully fall, comes another seasonal norm — the flu. Some of us eagerly line up to get poked by a dose of antigens every year, and some of us dare not go near it for fear of getting sick. The irony is we all get sick at some point, i
Exercise and the Brain
We accept that our physical health can have ups and downs. Sometimes we’re healthy and robust, and sometimes we come down with an acute problem that requires us to stop and look after ourselves. Sometimes we need medical intervention, and sometimes we have chronic problems that last longer tha
Patient Communication Ideas for the Modern Era
These days it’s the little things that truly separate an average dental practice from a great one. All patients like the idea of a meticulous dentist performing pain-free, minimally invasive dentistry with skill and precision. In the past, satisfying this incredibly challenging form of dentis
Praise For Our Patients Who Travel Far For Their Dental Home
When most of us are considering purchasing a good or service, one of the first things we do is check its price, to base our choice partly on cost and partly on convenience. How we justify cost and convenience depends on multiple factors and is unique to each individual. The distance or time to obtai
Five Fun Ideas on How to Give Back
Giving back to society is what I consider food for the soul. If you want to give back but are not sure where to start, here are some options we've done at our office and truly enjoyed. Charity races: One of my office’s favorites is picking at least two 5K or 10K races a year in which the en
The AGD Fellowship Examination
I grew up in Toronto. Even though I, as of recently, have lived in Calgary for more years than I lived in Toronto, if you cut me I still bleed blue (for the Toronto Maple Leafs … and the Blue Jays, Argonauts, and even the non-blue Raptors). Back then, Ontario still had a grade 13. And since I
What Does the Appearance of Your Office Convey About the Cleanliness and Organization of Your Business?
We should always strive to create a positive first impression so every patient is comfortable and believes that they are in a state-of-the-art dental office. Dental office design and décor have evolved dramatically over the past two decades, so patients have come to expect conveniences like a
Early Retirement From Dentistry: A Distant Wish or an Achievable Goal?
Last week, I had the privilege of attending a lecture by a respected AGD dentist and Warren Buffett disciple Dr. Kevin Anderson, who retired from dentistry by 43. Most of us would gasp at that number — I don’t even own my practice yet, and I’m dangerously close to 43. He now runs
Make a 2018 Resolution for Both Yourself and Your Practice
New Year’s Eve causes each of us to reflect on the previous year and look forward to the uncharted waters of the next. Personal life coaches have long touted this to be a very healthy habit if done correctly. I wholeheartedly agree and recommend we take it a step further to include our profess
Relationships Matter above Everything Else
As we know, dentistry has entered a new economic reality — a reality that is reshaping the way in which we do business, as part of an industry whose foundation is built upon the appreciation and realization that relationships matter, above everything else. Yes, everything! Stated another way,
Extinguishing Fires — Literally
“Doctor, the radio keeps turning off!” So began my morning. Little did I know that within the hour, an electrician, my dental equipment repair team and an electrician would be in my office. My staff also would be cancelling all of my appointments for the day. “Why does the radi
Online Dental Information: Marvel or Myth?
No doubt we’ve all used or heard the phrase, “I read it on the internet.” But what this exactly means is unknown, not to mention risky. I’m certain that countless health care providers hear it all the time from their patients and clients. I gather information from the interne
Love What You Do
His name was Percy Faith. The eldest of eight children, born to Abraham and Minnie Faith in Toronto, he was a gifted violinist. Greatness was within him, and a vibrant future was his to command until one day he used his hands to put out a fire that was engulfing his youngest sister. She was badly bu
Put on Your Thinking Caps!
One of the biggest struggles most dentists have is hiring the right people to be on their teams. For me, the ability to think through, understand and resolve tasks is a must-have trait for an applicant to be considered. I have found that the struggle is that people are not used to thinking anymore.
Cross-Train for Dental Success
Cross-training is a way of life for the modern athlete, and no one in Chicago’s professional sports scene more illustrates that than Jake Arrieta, pitcher for the World Champion Chicago Cubs. His training regimen received quite a bit of press over the past baseball season for being so multidim
Lend an Ear to a Fellow Dentist
It’s midweek, and you have a schedule that somehow just went way south. A staff member just informed you of a situation that will affect your schedule. An insurance claim denial waits on your desk to be appealed. Oh, and you just remembered you’re up for CPR renewal, and darn it, that mo