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Inside Dentistry
October 2009
Volume 5, Issue 9

From the Editor

Gerard Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD

Dear Readers,
It is with a tremendous sense of pride and excitement that we unveil Inside Dentistry’s new look this month, kicking off the beginning of our fifth year of publication. The same excellent clinical content you’ve come to rely on over these last four years is now presented in a more organized, systematic, connected—and dare we say, attractive—approach that we feel much better exemplifies Inside Dentistry’s mission to be the primary source for credible, peer-reviewed, practice-building content.

This month, we reflect on all we’ve accomplished thus far. Among the relevant topics we’ve addressed since our inaugural issue have been the state of dental education, defining the standard of care, raising awareness of oral cancer, and reviewing dental caries.

Along the way, we’ve invited you to participate in the editorial process by encouraging your feedback about our coverage of the issues that affect you. We’ve also solicited your ideas for upcoming presentations. In fact, this month’s cover article results from a reader survey conducted earlier this year. Based on popular demand—perhaps a demand based on today’s challenging times—we provide more ideas and solutions to help you build your practice and maintain your patient base.

It’s About People. Marketing dentistry and your practice is about giving people the care they need in ways they want. This involves establishing relationships, addressing patients’ needs, and creating a positive experience in which they know the practice, what it can do, and what it has done for them—personally. We have opportunities to guide our patients toward optimum oral health by satisfying their needs—even if those needs are more a matter of convenience.

Always Offer What’s Needed. When patients need a comprehensive treatment plan, that’s what should be presented because it’s good oral healthcare. While it’s true that most people today are leery of falling prey to someone trying to sell them a bill of goods, it is our responsibility to present the treatment plan that we believe is in the patient’s best interest, as well as to explain the consequences of no treatment. For this reason it’s important that we always strive to do our best work, market ourselves appropriately, and keep up-to-date with the standards of care.

Sharing Inward then Outward. Remember that your dental team is a significant contributor to the success of your practice and a living, breathing component of any and all marketing that you undertake. Share your vision and your passion with them first. But before doing so, be sure you know what you want to do so that your plans and methods of achieving your goals is clear. You’ll be better able to motivate, engage, and empower your staff in the marketing process. As a result, the practice will function as a productive environment in which all team members can feel personally and financially fulfilled when patients benefit from the type of care you’re offering.

We hope you enjoy this issue and encourage you to send us your feedback to letters@insidedentistry.net . As always, your thoughts, opinions, and reactions motivate us to continually enhance our clinical content and coverage of the issues that most interest you. Thank you for reading and, most of all, thank you for your continued support.

With warm regards,

About the Author

Gerard Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD
Associate Dean for Research
School of Dental Medicine
Tufts University
Boston, Massachusetts
gkugel@aegiscomm.com

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