Posted on July 29, 2022
Welcoming change to a dental practice can be a great opportunity. After all, you will likely never run out of people who need dental or orthodontic care. According to Humana, more than four million people in the United States wear braces, and around 25% of them are adults. During orthodontic treatment, patients usually have to book appointments every month or two to track their progress or to make adjustments. This, as well as the routine cleanings patients expect from their regular doctor, may be affected by a change in personnel. Before transitioning a dental practice, there are a few questions that should be addressed regarding the new dentist in town.
This is a question that helps give you an idea of what you may be dealing with on a day-to-day basis when transitioning a dental practice. It engages the practice to talk about the demographics of their community, their values, and how the business operations will not change drastically upon bringing in a new dentist. Open communication about retaining patients and making treatments more affordable is usually welcome. From the conversation, you can get a general idea of why the previous dentist is stepping away from the practice. If a dentist is relocating, retiring, or taking further schooling, that may explain their departure.
Despite the education dentists receive, some may have never run a practice before and are, therefore, entering a space with new responsibilities. If you’re meeting with your dentist for the last time before a new one takes over, ask about what other changes this could bring about. This could keep you informed about whether more than one doctor will run the practice and whether prices will change to reflect the new personnel. This opportunity can also be a great way for the new dentist to warm up to patients who may be initially on the fence about receiving a new care provider.
The dentist’s office is a space that not everyone looks forward to visiting twice a year. It takes some patients years of visits and home oral care to become confident about their teeth and, in turn, consulting with the dentist. A practice’s values can help make people feel safe, welcome, and part of a judgment-free space no matter what condition their teeth are in. The safer people feel during cleaning, the more likely they may be to replicate that level of oral care at home, maybe even to the point of brushing three times a day. Welcoming values may include affordability, acceptance, humor, and inspiring lifelong oral health. In general, pitch to your customers anything that shows your commitment to their comfort.
These are some of the questions you need to ask when transitioning to a dental practice. Are you looking to open new dental offices but not sure where to start? Get in touch with us today and we will assist.
