The story I’m about to tell you is true and not exaggerated. It was 7:15 a.m., and I had just walked out of my operatory after injecting for a crown prep on No. 3. My patient care coordinator came running, saying, “Dr. Marzban, there is a man collapsed outside. Our hygienist thinks he is having a heart attack, and we …
Stand Your Ground
Have you ever referred a patient to a specialist to have a lesion evaluated and/or biopsied for possible cancer, just to have the patient tell you that the specialist said, “Oh, it’s nothing. Just keep an eye on it.” This has happened to me, and while it is extremely frustrating and time-consuming, I have never made light of or dismissed …
Put on Your Thinking Caps!
One of the biggest struggles most dentists have is hiring the right people to be on their teams. For me, the ability to think through, understand and resolve tasks is a must-have trait for an applicant to be considered. I have found that the struggle is that people are not used to thinking anymore. The thinking-process concept is becoming obsolete. …
Four Ways to Boost Your Internal Marketing Efforts
No matter where we run our business, we have to remain relevant in our communities. I believe in branding — creating some type of image or logo that represents you and your office. Once you have established your brand, you can really start to create an image to share with the public, which will communicate what your mission is and …
If You’re Feeling the Burn… It’s Time to Check in
For the past three months, I have been to conference after conference. I have had the opportunity to reconnect with many old friends and have had the pleasure of making many new ones. It’s no surprise that these years have been extremely tough for the small business owner, but some of the stories I have heard have left me dumbfounded …
Three Tips for Establishing Trust in the Workplace
The foundation behind every relationship is based on the principle of trust. Not only am I talking about in personal relationships, but also in our workplaces as well. If people trust you, they believe in you. Even if you make a mistake or act in a negative manner toward them, they won’t hold that action against you because they “know …
Comments on the Growth of Corporate Dentistry
Lately, I am finding that many of my friends and colleagues are starting to feel the breath of corporate dentistry on their backs. They are beginning to believe that the growth of corporate dentistry and group practices may suffocate their small businesses. Allow me to give another perspective. Let me start by saying that I am a solo practitioner who …