CrossCheck Blog

You have ten seconds to list three male and three female celebrities who wore braces. Go! 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…0 Got ‘em? OK… The correct answers are: David Beckham, Zac Efron, Niall Horan, Cher Lloyd, Cheryl Cole, and Tulisa Contostavlos. How did you do? In other words, how versed are you in the names of contemporary celebrities ranking in your youngest patients’ wired world? If the only examples you can come up with are Tom Cruz and Drew Barrymore, then they probably think you’re so old you have a pet dinosaur.

Nationwide there used to be five buyers for your practice; now there are three. You used to get half your referrals from dentists; now you get a fifth fewer. You used to start 220 patients a year; now you start 200 – the first decline since studies began generating this statistic in 1983.

As attitudes towards dental care evolve, dentists can adopt new technologies to drive demand and to take advantage of changing sources of payment. New challenges from every demographic – children, Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers – require proactive planning in your practice.

Careful, smiles are contagious! And what comes with a smile? Happiness. Seeing those pearly whites through a genuine smile at the end of an appointment is a wonderful feeling. When you take care of your patients’ needs and concerns they notice your patience and personal investment. Who doesn’t like to feel cared about and appreciated? And the more faith your patients have in you, the more likely they will leave in high spirits and return without hesitation. That satisfied smile will spread to others, bringing in more enthusiastic clients and elevating profits.

Don’t you wish fewer of your patients dodged their dental check-ups? In honor of National Dentists’ Day, March 6, focus on helping your patients see you as a champion for teeth and gums. The last thing a champion wants is to scare or hurt his charge. Even though you provide all the little incentives, including a calming ambiance, a friendly smile, and small trinkets for children, many people still try to avoid their visits. Help your patients view you as more than a dentist, the person who invades their mouths twice a year and prescribes advice and procedures that can wrack up alarming costs. Every time you interact with your patients, you have the opportunity to ease their anxiety. Each happy patient is one who is more likely to return another day and recommend you to someone, ultimately increasing your revenue.

February seems an odd choice for celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month. You’d think maybe October, with all that Halloween candy, or even December, with candy canes, chocolate money, and more. Then again, February does come with those chalky conversation hearts, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, and enough sugar for a toothache. We’ve noticed a few other reasons why February makes an interesting National Children’s Dental Health Month. Conspiracy? You decide!

It’s not a birthday invitation people are going to be rushing to RSVP to. But we’re taking a moment to celebrate the innovation of something essential to the dental industry – the dental drill. Patented in 1875, this small medical device has been crossing demographics to instill fear in just about everyone who has ever come in its path. The modern dental drill turns 138 years old on January 26, so read on for advice on how to celebrate, sugar-free of course.

Bill Cosby once joked that "dentists tell you not to pick your teeth with any sharp, metal object... then you sit in their chair, and the first thing they grab is an iron hook."

Whether it's to look good in kids' school pictures, cure an achy molar or shine up those pearly whites, maintaining good oral health is important for everyone. Strong healthy teeth, a pretty smile and fresh breath are just some of the benefits of daily maintenance and routine dental visits. In fact, according to the American Dental Association a person's smile outranked eyes, hair and body as the most important physical feature. Cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics are both vital for good oral health. Cosmetic procedures include crowns, bridges and teeth whitening. With that, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry estimates the following, via DentalPlans.com: - Americans spend $2.75 billion each year for cosmetic procedures - Two-thirds of patients are female, one-third are male

Maintaining good oral health is important to all of us. It improves self-esteem, ensures comfortable eating, and boosts overall health. It's no secret, even if it is a phobia, the dental industry greatly enhances quality of life. With a variety of dental services available including: Braces, retainers, fillings, whitening, removal, implants and crowns; the cost is expensive for consumers. Recent statistics tell us that: The “American dental-service economy generates roughly $60 billion per year in patient fees and practice activity.” Regarding dental implants and prosthetics specifically, MarketsandMarkets.com indicate the “global market was valued at $6,781.7 million in 2011 and is expected to reach $10,562.2 million by 2016.”