The Reward is Doing Quality Work

I remember being a newly minted dentist and getting excited when my work looked great or a procedure worked out just as planned. I also got satisfaction out of overcoming a challenge in the work that I had not anticipated. Heck, in the early days, I got satisfaction out of sending a cosmetic case back to the lab because it was good but not great – I wanted it to be awesome. My patients thought I was too picky – and for me that was a huge compliment.

A lot of dentists lose their “new dentist smell” and the excitement of doing quality work becomes old news. We used to get satisfaction out of the regular, routine work and now it is just Groundhog’s Day. We become stale – the honeymoon is over – the thrill is gone.

The trick to having long-term happiness and satisfaction in your practice is to try to remember why your patients come to you – they come to you because they trust you to use good judgment and deliver quality care. If we are meeting and exceeding our patient’s expectations then we should take great pride in that.

I know a lot of dentist who go build incredible new offices when things get stale and then wind up feeling stale again a few months later. The new office was like a middle age man buying a convertible – we are looking to feel young again (and yes I have a shiny convertible – lol). At the end – the only thing that can make you feel excited again about your work is going back to the mental place you were when you were young in your practice – that is to love doing dentistry and enjoy doing quality work. The joy is in the work being good.

By the way – I am not saying not to build a new office – build your new office and enjoy it, just don’t expect it to make you happy if you weren’t before you built the new office. As for convertibles – I love them J

Dr. Corey Gold

President – advanced Continuing Education Systems
www.aces4ce.com

Themed Offices – Yes or No?

You may be surprised but I am going to give a big thumbs UP to themed office – with the proviso that the theme you choose is something you are passionate about.

If you are a huge Dodger fan, or a golf nut, or a photography expert, or a lover of modern art – it is super to decorate your office around your passion. Your office should be an extension of you. It is fun to let your personality show through at your office.

A themed office opens the door for lots of questions and makes you feel at home in your daily environment. People will like the office as long as your theme is not wacky.

I do not advise creating a themed office around something you are not passionate about. I know a dentist who opened a deep sea fishing themed office and he doesn’t fish. When patients ask questions about fishing he looks bored. The theme does not work because it is not his passion.

I’m a tennis nut – I should have opened a tennis themed office – old rackets on the walls, pictures of past champions, put tennis nets across the walls. It would have been fun and when anyone asked me if I liked tennis – I would light up like a Christmas tree. I love talking tennis. It would have been an authentic theme and would have worked.

Themed offices only work when the theme fits you.

 

Dr. Corey Gold
President – advanced Continuing Education Systems
www.aces4ce.com

Quit Doing Procedures You Hate

I know lots of dentist who don’t like doing endo or oral surgery but continue to do these procedures for decades. My advice to you, for your happiness and your patient’s quality of dentistry, is for you to STOP doing procedures you do not like to do.

If you dislike a procedure I doubt you are taking a lot of continuing education in that area of dentistry. I doubt you recommend that procedure as much as you should when doing treatment planning. In general we do not do our best work when we are not happy or we are resentful.

I know a dentist who still does endo and they openly tell me they are not good at it. As a patient, I would prefer that you send me to another dentist who is good at it – I deserve that referral.

My advice, you have two choices when it comes to dental procedures you do not like to do; (1) get lots of continuing education in that area and get super good at it (you tend to like what you are good at) or (2) refer all procedures you don’t like doing or feel you are not good at to a specialist.

At the end of the day you will be happier and less stressed when you refer out the procedures you truly don’t want to do.

Dr. Corey Gold

President – advanced Continuing Education Systems
www.aces4ce.com