​Whether it’s asking for a second opinion, mentorship, patient reviews or referrals, requesting help is an important skill to develop. As a new dentist or associate building a career, it’s necessary to learn “the art of the ask” early on as it will help guide the path of your professional career.

We spend years obtaining our undergraduate education, followed by four fantastic years of dental school, potentially more years in residency homing in on a specialty skill set, and many more hours of continuing education to be able to provide patients with the highest standard of care. After an abundance of years and thousands of hours stuffing our noggin with clinical research and the latest advances in technology, many dentists find themselves ready to talk about all the information they have acquired. However, in an ironic twist, the number one thing I have learned in my years in practice is patients just want you to LISTEN.

Dr. Hilton Israelson, a renowned dentist and respected member of the Dallas dental community, passed away on Friday, May 19, 2023. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a practitioner of exceptional skill, a leader in his field, and a compassionate caregiver. With a profound dedication to dental excellence, Hilton made a significant impact on the lives of his patients and colleagues throughout his illustrious career.

As a dentist, you want your patients to look forward to their appointments. So, using social media to share fun events or fun facts about you should make them want to visit you, right? It’s tempting to use your existing social media profile for both business and personal life, but here are several reasons why your brand account should be separate from your personal account.

Visualize the first item you reach for upon waking up. I'll give you a hint; this object is normally touched before the crust is out of your eyes.

Historically, dentists have had one of the highest suicide rates amongst any profession. Recent studies have reported that dentists are 17 times more likely to commit suicide than non-dentists. I repeat, SEVENTEEN times more likely. That’s a staggering statistic and it’s time for us to make a change.

As we approach the end of another year, it’s natural for all of us to reflect on the events that took place for the past 365 days. Whether our intention was to eat healthier, live a more active lifestyle, spend more time with loved ones, or read that book that’s been on our list for months, it seems that this time of year routinely brings about a season of reflection.

The holidays are officially upon us and if you need to add a little fuel to your anxiety, there are only 37 days until Christmas (but who’s counting?) Halloween ended and I immediately began to feel the pressure of the holiday hustle.

The importance of giving back to your community can have positive benefits as not only a practice builder, but can also achieve a level of self-fulfillment not often recognized.

Summer has come and gone. Pumpkin spice latte season has begun. School is back in session and our clinics seem a bit calmer than usual. We have our seasons in this profession and it seems to me that September along with March are some of our not-so-chaotic months. Could back-to-school be the main culprit? Or would that be too easy of an explanation? Whether the lull is good or bad, there are many ways we can practice resiliency through the times ahead and find ways to improve.

‘Tis the season… back to school season that is. “Meet the Teacher” night traditionally marks the end of summer break and commences the new semester. To celebrate the upcoming school year, I interviewed my good friend and colleague, Dr. Emily Eggart, a clinical professor at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry. Follow along for her perspective on current dental education trends, why she decided to teach and her thoughts about the future of our profession.

Continuing education is a must for all dental professionals. Not only is it required for relicensing, lifelong learning is essential for staff to keep up with changes in science, technology and state regulations. Providing financial support for continuing education shows staff that their practice office leaders see their value. In turn practice owners receive a hefty return:

Today’s business owners know that social media helps drive awareness. Having a strong social media presence can help your practice stay in contact with patients and create new interest with prospective patients. Creating interesting content and sharing it regularly on your practice’s site shows your knowledge of dentistry and helps your website rank higher on Google, which in turn increases your chances of being found by those in need. Starting a text blog or video blog can provide answers to health questions to current and prospective patients, presenting you as a content expert and helping to drive business your way. DCDS member Stephanie R. Ganter, DDS, MS describes the video blog she started on YouTube with her co-host Robert G. McNeill, DDS, MD.

Are you hiring a new associate? I can only imagine that this can be a scary process for most practice owners, but I can assure you that it can also be a scary and stressful time for the dentist coming in. Having been an associate and a temporary dentist at several offices over the last eight years, I would like to offer my insight from the perspective of the associate to hopefully help the transition be positive and smooth for both parties.

The dental world is not as we have known it! We are experiencing a staffing crisis, and it is difficult to find the right employee. The big question is: where do I to find the applicants for the position I need to fill?

​It was once commonly thought that as a person reaches old age, he or she will become totally edentulous and a denture wearer. Several things have since changed society’s attitude and thought towards dentistry and the elderly. People are now living longer and desire to keep their natural teeth.

Juggling the demands of career and personal life is an ongoing challenge in dentistry. As DCDS member Stephanie Ganter, DDS, MS explains in this vlog, setting limits and looking after yourself can help you achieve the work-life balance that's best for you.

Well my fellow Texans, let’s face it, the word is out — Texas has no income tax and a relatively low cost of living. What does this mean for us locals? On one hand, an inflow of residents means increasing traffic and housing costs; on the positive side, it also means an increase in business. As practitioners of the oral cavity, these new patients from other states may bring with them new oral and systemic health concerns to look out for — so let’s talk marijuana.

It feels like yesterday being in the simulation lab where professors told you what you get use to now will be how you practice in the future. I vividly remember saying to myself, “This is just for the exam, I won’t work like this on a patient in the future.” However, they were right! Dentistry is one of the hardest professions on your body, and you need to be consciously aware of your body all the time to preserve it.

Building and maintaining a successful dental team is somewhat like conducting a symphony with many sections of musicians playing different instruments. A good conductor sets the tempo while directing and shaping the way the musical piece comes together. In order to do so, he or she must have an understanding of how sounds from each instrument blend best and complement each other. Likewise, a lead dentist or practice owner must understand his or her team members’ personality styles in order to create and foster a healthy working environment.