For any dentist, opening a practice is difficult. Today, the young, passionate dental graduates of Pakistan have the confidence to open their own practices. It is, then, imperative for all dentists who have their own clinics to strive to stand out in their clinical practice and their conduct being doctors.

How to Improve the Dental Practise

Here are some of the things I have learnt during my clinical years that may help those who may be clinic owners

1. Focus on the Soft Skills

As a clinician, it is important to make the patient feel comfortable at your clinic. Try to make eye contact and welcome patients with a warm smile when they enter your practice.

In order to diagnose, it is important to interview and take the patient’s history. Make sure that before you begin working on the patient, take a detailed medical and dental and family history of the patient.

To do this effectively, you will have to be an avid listener. Try to stay attentive to the patient; they will most likely give you enough clues as to what the diagnosis could be. If incase, adequate information is not provided by the patient, you can always ask further questions to get a deeper insight.

Be clear in your speech. Most patients are fearful and anxious about their dental visits. Explaining the treatment plan clearly and concisely will help them overcome their fear of the unknown.

2. Reach Out to Existing Patients

The best way to attract new patients to the clinic is by making sure the regular patients are well taken care of.

If you haven’t heard from one of your existing patients in a while, drop in a text from the clinic to check upon them. Invite them in for a discounted six-monthly checkup or a scaling procedure.

If the existing patients are happy, there is a chance they will recommend your practice to others. This will increase the traffic at the clinic.

3. Opt For Treating on the Same Day

Unfortunately, it is a fact that patients are unlikely to return after their consultation appointment if treatment has not been started on the same day. This may be to several reasons. Patients may back out due to fear, or they may even opt for another practice on a relative’s recommendation.

To support this fact, the American Dental Association claims that, on average, new patient retention is about 41 per cent. Therefore, it is best advised for all clinicians to begin treatment post consultation within the same appointment. This will also reduce chairside time and subsequent dental visits for the patient, which is in favour of both parties.

4. Be a Good Team Leader

Being the owner of a successful dental practice is the best time to show your leadership skills. Encourage all members of the clinical team to discuss their concerns with you in order to ensure a healthy work environment.

Weekly meetings will allow all the clinic personnel to gather together and pitch ideas in order to make the practice function more efficiently. Allow for room to make mistakes, as this is how you will gain the loyalty and trust of those that work at the clinic.

Although a sense of discipline and orderly conduct is imperative, a clinic, or any work environment, will foster growth only when even the most junior member of the team feels heard.

To Conclude

All in all, a successful clinic has an efficient clinical team. Every member of the clinic has a necessary role in how the clinic is run. A haphazard environment will make the patient feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed.

Furthermore, a clinician that does not have sufficient communication skills will be unable to successfully retain a patient that enters the clinic. All these skills can be learnt over time. Dentists are advised to adopt these skills in their daily life. These tips will have a large impact on their credibility as dentists and owners of a practice.