Seb Evans

Within the restorative part of implant dentistry there is a lot of new terminology with which one has to become familiarised. Abutments, impression copings, analogues (or replicas), bridge and abutment screws are the most common items that will be encountered. Abutments can be broadly classified into two types: 1. Healing abutments 2. Restorative abutments. Healing … Continued

In April, change was forced upon us all. For some it was a time of great uncertainty and worry, while for others it was a time of excitement and opportunity. One opportunity I hope many took advantage of was the chance to start delivering great periodontal and preventative care to your patients. After April, many … Continued

This article is powerful and could make you about £55,000 better off. It focuses on the psychological principle of reciprocity, whereby you give something to someone and they then feel obliged to return the favour. The power of reciprocity can be used to get your patients to write testimonials about what great care and service … Continued

Every month I spend a full day on the telephone with my clients – that’s 15 minutes with each of them – asking ‘how can I help?’ and coaching them live. I listen for trends during each of these days, and in July there were noticeable examples of the appointment book becoming a bit ‘gappy’ … Continued

What is the difference between an organisation’s mission and its vision? When asked this, many business professionals, including dentists, find it hard to come up with an answer. Some believe that mission and vision are interchangeable terms. However, the distinction between the two is quite pronounced. A mission is what you want the dental practice … Continued

Successful relationships between dentists and patients depend on trust and goodwill. Preserving the rapport is crucial, but the balance within that relationship is shifting. The time-honoured approach, where the patient would receive the amount of information a ‘reasonable dentist’ would give in the circumstances, has changed. The dentist should now give the facts that a … Continued

‘I work in a very confined environment,’ I said while explaining my stress to a non-dental friend. ‘Have they given you the smallest room?’ she asked. ‘Well, yes they have, but I was actually referring to the mouth.’ We all know that working in the mouth has its difficulties, but some patients make it unnecessarily … Continued

You can manage your revenue and costs effectively by using key ratios to monitor them. But to carry out a ratio analysis you need the basic financial data, including the level of activity. If you have already calculated your breakeven level then you already have this data. The ratios to use include the following: • … Continued

With so many demands made on a practice budget, it is important that any expenditure you make will benefit your business, pay for itself and boost profits too. Many dentists that we speak to are surprised that their investments often seem to have no impact on their patients, and consequently are not a huge financial … Continued

Being a manager means keeping morale high to increase productivity and job satisfaction. When a manager has been with a team for a long time, a routine will develop that can easily lead to a lack of motivation and a steep decline in performance. Keeping your colleagues stimulated and focused is key to successful management. … Continued

Most receptionists place great value on offering excellent customer care, whilst working in a busy, high-pressure dental reception. However, your efforts can sometimes be seen as little more than good intentions. I have spoken to people from time to time who believe that good customer care means having a range of costly gimmicky systems in … Continued

Bristol is home to one of the smallest dental schools in the UK, a fact its staff and students are very proud of. This is because it allows the school to retain a friendly and intimate feel, while its staff can focus on each student’s individual needs. The set-up seems to suit the school as … Continued

Dr David Hornbrook is one of dentistry’s most talented clinicians and has helped thousands of dentists fall back in love with their profession. He shares his knowledge and expertise with others and helps them discover the passion they need to improve the quality of patient care. All this is done through the work his company, … Continued

Dentistry is a fast-paced, challenging industry and, as managers, we are faced with different obstacles each day. How we deal with these challenges reflects not only on our professionalism but the general well-being and running of our organisation. Successful management requires a mixture of good communication and organisational skills, but more importantly it also requires … Continued

Admit it, when sales representatives come into your dental practice, they are often not given easy access to you, are they? Sometimes, when you are extremely busy and stressed, you may encourage your receptionists to keep the schedule profitable by running efficiently, and that might include turning away a salesperson and preventing them from taking … Continued

It is vital to have access to up-to-date financial data, know your practice’s cost structure and the basics of business analysis. But how do you work out your breakeven level and, in practical terms, what are its implications? You need to know your costs – the fixed and variable overheads – and your practice income. … Continued

For many years now patients have been familiar with the dental mantra ‘visit your dentist every six months’. Many practices still send patients six-monthly recalls, a service many have come to rely on. In some cases, where practices have decided to discontinue this service because they are too busy to offer appointments on such a … Continued

I don’t want to give readers the impression I have all the answers, because that is far from the truth. There are many things I struggle with in the surgery – and one of them is the foot pedal on the dental chair. I am, as they say, vertically challenged, with short arms and legs. … Continued

Taking on a new associate happens regularly in many dental practices, and each and every time it occurs, it presents the same challenges. The first, of course, is that of recruiting the right associate – one who will fit in well with the ethos of the practice and not move on a year or so … Continued

1. Child Trust Fund The Child Trust Fund allowance has been increased for all children born after 1 September 2002. This means that parents will now receive a further payment of £250, or £500 for families on lower incomes, when their child turns seven. 2. Inheritance Tax The Inheritance Tax threshold has been raised to … Continued