Overcoming Obstacles

Pediatric dentistry can be an incredibly rewarding type of dental practice. However, it can come with some unique challenges, including the fact that some children dislike going to the dentist, and the struggle that it can create for parents. This issue, along with other common hurdles, can create conflicts in your practice.

Fortunately, there are some things that pediatric dentists can do to surmount these obstacles. Consider these five common hurdles you may encounter as a pediatric dentist, along with what you can do to overcome them:

1. Keeping Parents Happy

To put children at ease, pediatric dentists go out of their way to learn kid-speak and understand conditions like ADHD, ADD, autism, and hypersensitivity. The problem is that the people who leave the reviews online and who decide whether to bring their children back to your practice are the parents. 

Keeping parents happy is just as important as keeping your patients happy. You want to establish a relationship with the parents. You can do this by keeping the lines of communication open and listening to any concerns they may have.

Building a rapport with the parents can pay off not only in the attitude that the child has in going to the dentist, but also in potential referrals and reviews.

2. Growing Your Business

Pediatric dentists focus on creating a welcoming and child-friendly atmosphere, but the way a business looks is not enough to attract new clients or to grow your business. You need to have clear financial goals, as well as strategies that can help you achieve them, such as introducing additional services. Working with financial experts to set realistic goals can be a great first step.

Growing your business also means having the right people in the right positions. You need to think about your team and consider enhancing the leadership skills you possess to ensure that your business functions efficiently. Many times, this means learning to delegate tasks and allowing others to grow in their positions.

3. Attracting New Patients

You have the Spider-Man glasses, the prize pot, and all the elements that get kids excited about seeing the dentist. But what sells your practice to their parents? If you offer great services and have a beautiful office but are still struggling to attract new clients, consider your online presence.

Pediatric dentists should have some form of social media presence. Parents can feel more confident about turning to you if you have a transparent profile. Social media profiles can make your business and brand more relatable. They also allow you to promote services.

Additionally, you want to rank high in Google search results, preferably in the top five pages. That means taking time to build a quality website that you update regularly. All of these things can allow people in search of pediatric dentists to find you.

4. Adding Crucial Services

If you consistently provide high-quality services, yet still cannot meet your production goals, it may be time to expand your services.

Many pediatric dentists offer crowns, fillings, pulpotomies, and sedation options; however, only a few pediatric dentists offer orthodontic services. Orthodontic services are some of the most common services that parents require for their children, beginning as young as age six.

To grow your patient base and see exponential financial growth, one of the best things you can do is begin to offer orthodontics. You can provide a wide range of options for Phase 1 orthodontics that can help prevent dental issues before the child’s permanent teeth erupt. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a dentist who adds just one or two orthodontic cases per month can see as much as a 37% increase in salary. 

5. Introducing Orthodontics

If you want to add orthodontics to your practice, you may not know where to start. Taking orthodontic CE courses for pediatric dentists can be an excellent option. These courses allow you to learn new skills, including proper occlusion and how it can affect cosmetic dentistry and prosthodontics. 

Orthodontic CE courses for pediatric dentists can help you learn how to diagnose issues more accurately and come up with the best treatment options for each individual patient. They can help prevent oral health issues that can become more complex as the child grows older.

There are many courses that are appropriate for dentists with no prior experience in orthodontics, as well as more advanced options for dentists who treat both children and adults.

Improving Your Practice

Having a dental practice is challenging, but boosting it does not have to be. By building a relationship with the parents of your patients, strengthening your social media presence, focusing on the financial aspects of the practice, and adding new services, you can start seeing the results you want.

At Synergy Orthodontic Seminars, we offer orthodontic CE courses for pediatric dentists to help you get the continuing education you need to be able to offer the latest orthodontic services. To learn more about our orthodontic courses, contact us today.