The first day on a new job for any employee can seem like trying to get on a moving train so have them "board" on a gradient. Get them apprenticed. Apprenticing is a VITAL missing ingredient in most practices. Don't just throw them in the water to see if they sink or swim. Ideally you have written materials of what is expected. The new employee should be given some time each day to study those materials. The key is to not overwhelm the employee with too much information. Daily and weekly checklists help as well.   Kevin Tighe, Cambridge Dental Consultants, Senior...

Discounts can be destructive if not used with proper judgement. There is always the danger of having people focus on price instead of the value of your services. However, keep in mind that "Discount Dentistry" is very different than offering targeted discounts to accomplish a specific goal. The key is to have a good reason to offer the discount to accomplish the targeted need. You just have to be smart about it. Kevin Tighe, Cambridge Dental Consultants, Senior Consultant, got bitten hard by the business and marketing bug during long summer days working at his dad's Madison Avenue ad agency. After joining...

In a general practice, a hygienist can see 8 to 10 patients per day, with operative also seeing 8 to 10 patients plus consultations, impressions, etc. Variables can include the type of dentistry being done (including SRPs), number of chairs, and whether there is some form of assisted hygiene in use. A well-trained front desk person can handle 18 - 20 patients per day. Kevin Tighe, Cambridge Dental Consultants, Senior Consultant, got bitten hard by the business and marketing bug during long summer days working at his dad's Madison Avenue ad agency. After joining Cambridge as a speaker in the mid-1990s, Kevin...

1. Hire for attitude. Train for the rest. Attitude = proud of and likes to work.  2. For the front desk, make sure to test for basic math skills. It's amazing how many prospective employees can't do arithmetic on their own.  2. Do background checks if someone will be handling money.  3. Group interviews help show how candidates interact in a group situation.  4. Some practice owners like to have their staff take the best candidate out to lunch and then have the staff give a thumbs up or down. There is a lot to be said for this method as the staff will take...