By Dr. Bill Williams
Setting the tone properly for success means great curb appeal, beautiful signage, elegance when walking into the reception area and warmth from the concierge greeting. Our $10,000 A Day Dentist model revolves around the New Patient Experience, their tour of the office before our tour of their mouth, and the viewing of “what’s on our walls” before being seated in the interview room to meet with the doctor.
Because the future belongs to those prepared for change, a facility expansion plan is in place to add multiple operatories as associate dentists are needed. The ideal ratio of operatories per dentist is five to one, with three for the dentist and two for hygiene. As economy of scale becomes one of the major driving factors in practice success, dentists will begin to co-locate in groups more than ever before. That brings the facility question into higher priority in planning and construction. The highly valued practice in the future will have 7-10 ops. Our current practice is 15 ops but started out at five and grew to 10 before settling into its current configuration. And, we do have an expansion plan that can add up to five more, including several surgical suites as needed in the future.
Technology is a big part of the future also with there being a stronger push for each practice to have a cone beam CT, dental lasers, CAD/CAM one-visit crowns, digital impressions, K-7 diagnostics and T-Scan occlusal analysis. When doctors co-locate in a group facility, they can jointly utilize those ultra-expensive gadgets and indispensable equipment as needed. Reducing overhead by increasing group practice makes sense and cents.
Dental practices with great curb appeal and room to expand have a significant advantage over their competition. Plan to succeed when you plan your facility.
Bill Williams, DMD, MAGD, MICCMO
Founder: SuwaneeDental.com
Founder: SolsticeDentalAdvisors.com
Director: 5M Masters Academy
Author: Marketing The Million Dollar Practice