orthodontic office ideas

March 2023 Dental Office Management, Leadership, and Team Building Ideas
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March 2023 Dental Office Management, Leadership, and Team Building Ideas

Hello Friends,

The month of March will close out your first quarter of the year. I am happy to be sharing some dental practice management tips and ideas with you to be implemented during the month. All designed to help you end your first quarter strong!!

Are you looking for practice growth and marketing tips and ideas for March? You’ll find them here: Dental Marketing Ideas for March 2023

Here are your Dental Managment, Leadership, and Team Building Ideas for March 2023…

This month is full of opportunities to show appreciation for your hard-working employees, for employees to show appreciation for their doctors, and for the team to just have more fun!

Employee Spirit Month – If you want to increase employee trust, creativity, teamwork, engagement, and productivity, then it’s time to have some fun, commend more, and improve communication! See more team-building tips and ideas HERE

Practice Owners, if you would like to learn how coaching can help you better lead your team, and create greatness based on high-performance expectations and principles – Schedule your complimentary no-obligation 30-minute coaching consultation today at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com

National Dentists Day: March 6th   – Spend today celebrating the awesome dentists’ in your life! Be sure to take a picture(s) of your dentist(s) to post on your social media pages and Google My Business listing with a message of appreciation.

Dental Assistants Recognition Week: 5th – 11th – This is the week to celebrate your hard-working and awesome assistants! Be sure to take a picture(s) of your assistant(s) to post on your social media pages with a message of appreciation. Invite your patients to leave a review on Google and or Facebook about their positive experiences with your assistant or assistants at your office.

Employee Appreciation Idea – Starbucks Day: 31st – Bring in Starbucks as a surprise treat for them.

Office Numbers, Systems, & Goals – Are you satisfied with how your numbers are trending? If not, now is the perfect time to review your goals, examine your systems, and make any necessary adjustments.

Appointments – What does your preappointment and reappointment percentages look like? Six months from March is September and for many, it can be a slower month. Your reappointment percentage in March will have a direct impact on what your schedule looks like in September.

Same-Day Schedule Changes – Holes in the schedule are not OK. Encourage your patients to keep their reservations and for the ones that absolutely must break their appt… unless they are a habitual offender of breaking appts, PLEASE reschedule them while you have them on the phone. Refrain from asking – do you want to reschedule? Would you like to schedule? Do you want to call back to reschedule? ETC. Assume that they want to and say: “I know this appointment is important to you so while I have you on the phone let’s go ahead and reserve a more convenient time. I have ___ or ___ which works better for you?”

Daylight Saving Time Begins: 12th   (Turn Ahead 1 Hour)  @2:00 am)

Would you like to see an increase in production and office collections?  Would you like to decrease the amount of time and money being spent on chasing past-due patient and insurance balances?

Here are 3 quick tips for you:

  1. No surprises! – Present the patient’s treatment plan and estimated financial portion before treatment is started. If you accept and/or participate with their insurance, have up-to-date eligibility, a breakdown of benefits, and the insurance fee schedule on file for the patient and enter into your practice management software.
  2. Payment is due before or on the day of service – No billing the patient for co-pays or payment for services. (Hint: Collecting payment at the time of scheduling/reserving the appointment will reduce cancellations and no-shows.
  3. Daily, Weekly, and Monthly monitor your patient and insurance accounts receivable, collection, and credit reports.  (Carefully review write-offs, discounts, credits, charges, and payments.)

For additional tips and ideas visit here: Improve Dental Office Collections and Clean Up Unhealthy Accounts Receivable

Are you receiving my complimentary Practice Management and Marketing Ideas in your email inbox each month? If not, please start following us today. If you prefer, send me your email address at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com and I will send you an invitation to follow my blog. Don’t miss out on any of the ideas that I share each month!

Would you please do something for me? If you enjoy the ideas that I share or if they’ve been of help to you and your practice –  I would love and truly appreciate it if you would please take a second and leave a review/recommendation for me on GOOGLE and/or FACEBOOK. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you!!!

Yours for Greater Success,

~Betty (Dental Coach)

P.S. Please stop by and say hello to me on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest

October National Orthodontic Health Month Ideas
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October National Orthodontic Health Month Ideas

Hello Friends,

October is National Orthodontic Health Month – Here are a few tips and ideas to help you and your team celebrate National Orthodontic Health Month…

Employee Appreciation – Celebrate your orthodontists and orthodontic dental assistants all month long!

When people feel valued, appreciated, heard, supported, acknowledged, and included, they are motivated to bring their best selves forward. ~ Betsy Myers

Practice Growth & Marketing Ideas ~

Theme:  Orthodontic Health Month!  Healthy & Beautiful Smiles!

  • Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment – Well-aligned teeth help to prevent conditions like tooth loss, decay, gum disease, and even jaw issues. Orthodontists create healthy, beautiful smiles!
  • Dental Hygiene with Braces – Share posts, pictures, and videos on your social media platforms and your Google My Business listing all about how to care for your teeth with braces, how to care for your clear aligners, and how to care for your retainers. (October is also National Dental Hygiene month -see more ideas for that HERE)
  • Brace Friendly Candy – Share on your social media platforms what candy to avoid and what snacks/treats are brace friendly.
  • Reviews / Testimonials – Encourage patients to leave a review/testimonial on Google, Facebook, etc.
  • Clear Aligners – Use this as an opportunity to promote clear aligners. This time of year people want to get their smiles camera-ready for their end-of-year parties.
  • Before & Afters – All month-long feature before and after ortho photos on your social media pages.
  • Q & A Video Sessions– Use your social media platforms to post short videos of the doctors and/or team members answering frequently asked questions.
  • Special Pricing – During the month of October offer special pricing or some kind of BOGO offer that will encourage them to tell their friends about you 

Looking for more dental marketing ideas for October? Check these out: Dental Office Marketing and Practice Growth Ideas for October 2022

Community Involvement ~

Candy Buy Back

Ideas:

  •   Collect candy in the office. Open to the Public

Or you can do this,

  • Team up with a local school or schools and set up collection bins in each classroom where the kids can bring in their candy and the classroom with the most candy wins a gift card or get a local pizzeria to donate pizza for a classroom pizza party for the winning classroom.

Gift Ideas for Referring Dentists and their Teams ~

October is Apple Month – Deliver some apple treats to the offices. Such as:

  • Basket Of Apples w/ Caramel Sauce
  • Apple Cider & Donuts
  • Apple Pie

Do you like the ideas that I share each month? If you do, would you kindly leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook, please? Simply click the following links:   GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much! – Looking forward to hearing from you!

Practice Management Ideas ~

Unscheduled Treatment Reminders – Reach out to everyone that came in for a consultation but has yet to schedule to get started on their orthodontic treatment. Stay in touch with them via telephone, email, text, and your social media platforms.

FSA/HSA Reminders – Share reminders on your website and social media pages that orthodontic treatment is an allowable expense for FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account) accounts. Don’t let it go to waste by not using it before the year ends. Use it or Lose it.

Doctors, if you would like to grow and improve your orthodontic practice and have wondered what it might be like to work with me and what coaching is all about… please feel free to reach out to me to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation coaching call at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com.

Wishing you all a productive, happy, and healthy month of October

Have you signed up to receive my complimentary dental marketing and practice management ideas that are sent right to your email inbox each month? If not, take a second and sign up. Or send me your email address (bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com) and I will send you an invite to follow. This way, you won’t miss a single idea!

Yours for Greater Success,

~Betty (Dental Coach)

P.S. Please stop by and say hello to me on  Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest

 Would you kindly leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook, please? Simply click the following links:   GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!

12 Tips To Help You Fill Holes In Your Dental Schedules with Productive Appointments
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12 Tips To Help You Fill Holes In Your Dental Schedules with Productive Appointments

Hello Friends,

Many dental offices are dealing with holes in their schedules and an increase in last-minute schedule changes and broken appointments. Or maybe you have full schedules but they’re chaotic and not very productive.

Unfortunately, when there is that open chair time with no production to collect on, your overhead expenses continue without letup.

This isn’t just about money though – our focus should always be on helping our patients smile healthier and happier. When Your Patients Are Healthy – The Practice Is Healthy. To help make our patients healthier we need them to schedule (and KEEP) appointments. More importantly, we want the schedules to not only be full/busy but productive & healthy.

Here are 12 tips and ideas that won’t require a lot of extra time or expense to help improve your schedules for this fall…

#1. Morning Huddle – At your morning huddle, review schedules for patients coming in without a future hygiene appointment scheduled, any family members due in hygiene, and patients with unscheduled treatment plans.  What is your plan to ensure that these patients leave with their next appointment scheduled?

#2. Broken Appointments – Who is tracking, and how are they tracking your broken appts? More importantly, what proactive steps are taken to reduce or eliminate broken appts in your office?  (One broken appt a day can cost a practice well over $30,000 a year in lost production. Imagine what that number looks like if you have more than one broken appt a day.)

Doctors, if you would like to grow and improve your dental practice and have wondered what it might be like to work with me and what coaching is all about… please feel free to reach out to me to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation coaching call at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com

#3. Telephones – It is imperative that all team members are well-trained to effectively care for the patients and potential patients calling your office.  How many calls end with an appointment scheduled and how many do not? Are your office phones being answered during the times that patients and potential patients are most likely to call? How many times is the phone ringing before being answered? How often are callers being put on hold?

What about the “shopper” callers, the callers with insurance questions, the callers with questions about whether going to the dentist is safe or not, the callers asking if you’re accepting new patients, how do you know that these calls are being handled and cared for effectively? How do you know that your team members are not inadvertently keeping them from scheduling an appointment and Keeping you from welcoming them into the practice as new patients?

This may not seem like a big deal or related to what I am talking about today but how the telephone callers are cared for or not cared for has a big impact on your schedules and the growth of your practice.  

#4. Treatment Plan Presentations and Completions – Pull your unscheduled treatment plan reports. Even if you prefer to leave it to your patients to decide when they’re ready to schedule, you certainly can keep in touch with them and continue to gently plant some treatment reminder seeds of urgency, want, and need.

#5. Welcoming New Patients – What are your plans to successfully welcome more new patients into the practice? What are you willing to do differently in order to reach/exceed your monthly new patient goals?

#6. Community – What are some things you can do to get your name out there in the community?  If you’re not already, now is an awesome time to become the “go-to” dentist in your city/town.

What can you and your team do to give back to the community? Hint: I share ideas with you each month to do just that. Are you following my monthly emails? If not, take a second and sign up. This way, you won’t miss a single idea! Feel free to email me at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com and I will make sure you receive an invitation to follow my monthly ideas.

#7. Reviews & Recommendations – This one is super easy! Let your patients do some of the work, and invite them to do the talking for you. Give them something good to talk about and spread to their friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. How? Consistently deliver excellent experiences via the telephone and in-person at their appointments. Make it easy for them to leave a review on Facebook and Google.

Please do not underestimate the power of “fresh” online reviews and recommendations to grow your practice.

#8. Insured Patients – Mid-September, early October start your end-of-year insurance “use it or lose it” reminders and campaigns.  Patients tend to wait until the last minute to try and squeeze in a dental appointment to use their remaining benefits – encourage them to beat the end of the year rush.

#9. In-Office Savings Plan –   If your office offers an in-office savings plan, create some campaigns to let more uninsured people and local small businesses know about your awesome and affordable in-office savings plan.

#10. Continuing Education and Team Building – The fall season may be the perfect time to schedule some in-office continuing education and training. As well as some fun team-building activities.

#11. Exceed Expectations – Spend more quality time with the patients that do come in for appointments.

#12. Celebrate your Success! –  This will require a team effort to enjoy productive and healthy schedules for the rest of this year and beyond so please be sure to find ways to celebrate your success. Reward the behavior that you want to see more of! 

BONUS TIP! – Take advantage of your social media pages and Google My Business Account to share office happenings, dental health tips, community news, and to feature different dental services/treatments that you offer.

If you appreciate and enjoy the complimentary ideas and content that I share each month  – I would LOVE for you to PLEASE take a quick minute to leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook. Simply click the following links:    GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!!

I am wishing you all the healthiest and happiest schedules for this Fall!

Are you receiving my complimentary dental marketing and practice management ideas that are sent right to your email inbox each month? If not, take a second and sign up. This way, you won’t miss a single idea! Feel free to email me at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com and I will make sure you receive an invitation to follow my monthly ideas.

Doctors, if you would like to grow and improve your dental practice and have wondered what it might be like to work with me and what coaching is all about… please feel free to reach out to me to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation coaching call at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com.

Yours for Greater Success,

~Betty – Dental Coach

Before you go, would you pretty please do something for me? I would LOVE for you to PLEASE leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook. Simply click the following links:    GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!!

July 2022 Dental Marketing And Practice Growth Tips and Ideas
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July 2022 Dental Marketing And Practice Growth Tips and Ideas

Hello Friends,

Happy Summer!

With the dental marketing ideas that I am sharing today along with some planning, enthusiasm and implementation you have the chance to really set yourselves apart from the other offices in the community, welcome more new patients, and exceed your current patients’ expectations (get them talking about how awesome you are!), have less stress and more fun as a team. Sound good to you?

Here are a few ideas to help you enjoy a terrific & productive July!

National Ice Cream Month

Treatment Offer – July is National Ice Cream Month and Close to 50% of Americans suffer from or experience tooth sensitivity from time to time. It’s safe to say that many of your patients may be suffering from tooth sensitivity or they know someone who does.

Your product/service feature during the month of July: Desensitizing Agents to treat tooth sensitivity.

Patient Appreciation – Offer free ice cream cones to your patients. How will offering free ice cream cones not incur any extra cost to you? Contact a local Ice Cream Shop for some cross-marketing. Ask if they would be willing to donate 4 or more FREE Ice Cream Cone Gift Certificates that you will use during the month of July for a weekly drawing that your patients will enter to win. What a fantastic way to exceed your patients’ expectations with no extra cost to you.

National Watermelon Month – Patient Appreciation Idea – Serve your patients’ watermelon slices or cubes as a special treat during their visit.

Get Ready For Kindergarten Month – For family-friendly offices – depending on your schedule, consider setting aside one or two days for “Get Ready for Kindergarten with Healthy Smiles” visits. Make it a fun experience for the children. Promote via your social media sites.

Would you please do something for me? If you appreciate and enjoy the complimentary ideas and content that I share each month  – I would LOVE for you to PLEASE leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook. Simply click the following links.    GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!!

Dental Social Media Content Ideas to Encourage and Boost Engagement during the month of July. (Take some time to create and schedule posts for your Facebook page. As well as for Instagram and Google My Business)

dental social media content ideas from Betty Hayden Consulting

National Blueberries Month

Chocolate Day: 7

National Sour Candy Day: 18

National Lipstick Day: 29

National Avocado Day: 31

Doctors, I would love the opportunity to work along with you and your team to help you set and exceed your practice goals. If you would like to schedule a no-obligation, complimentary consultation to learn how my coaching program works, please email me at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com.

Are you receiving my complimentary dental marketing and practice management ideas that are sent right to your email inbox each month? If not, take a second and sign up. This way, you won’t miss a single idea! Feel free to email me at bhaydenconsulting@gmail.com and I will make sure you receive an invitation to follow my monthly ideas.

Yours for Greater Success,

~Betty – Dental Coach

Before you go, would you please do something for me? If you appreciate and enjoy the complimentary ideas and content that I share each month  – I would LOVE for you to PLEASE leave me a review/recommendation on Google or Facebook. Simply click the following links.    GOOGLE   and/or  FACEBOOK Thank you so much!!