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Letters to the Publisher

Elaborate On Your Endo Method
Could you please elaborate on your endo method. How do you backfil? Do you use Touch ‘N Heat or System B? Do you take a 45.06 and then crown down with .06 files to length, with the largest file to apex as your guide for which gutta percha you use?

I opened a second office from scratch right next door to a grocery store in north KC and we have averaged 55 new patients/month since we opened. Thanks for the advice!
–Howard Shapiro, DDS

Greetings Howard,
I use Dentsply Profile .06 tapered files. I start with #45, and go crown down. If it is a big canal such as an incisor, or the palatal root of a maxillary molar, then a #45 or a #40 goes to apex. As the roots get smaller, and more curved, then I drop to a #35, #30, #25, and even a #20. I then fill the canal with the same exact shaped gutta .06 tapered gutta percha point from Meta Dental Co. You can contact Meta Dental at: (718) 639-7460 or metadentalco.com. I use AH26 sealer from Dentsply. I sear off the .06 tapered gutta percha cone with the Touch ‘N Heat. Microetch out with a Danville microetcher. Use the Kuraray Clearfil or the Parkell Touch & Bond self-etching primer. Inject Heliomolar Flow from Ivoclar. Cure with a Den-Mat Sapphire light which cures 5mm deep of light shaded composite in 9 seconds. Refine my preparation. Pull the Ultradent Ultrapak cord, leaving the zero cord in. Impress with 3M-ESPE Impregum from my Pentamix mixer. Use a sideless Premier triple tray! Send it to an awesome lab like Glidewell, Burbank, MicroDental, Trident, Arrowhead or Bonadent.

I'm so glad you opened up your dental office in a retail location. It is so much more fun to do dentistry in a thriving practice getting 55 new patients a month. Patient flow equals cash flow. If mom cannot see you from her automobile window–you do not exist!

Congratulations on all of your success!
–Howard

With Your Guidance
I know that I have already said thank you, but with your indulgence, I would like to say it again in a different manner.

I have been practicing in the small town (about 18,000) of Yucca Valley (just north of Palm Springs) for the last 20 years. I have actually been in dentistry since I was 20 back in 1970. I started my dental "career" as a chairside assistant in the Navy. When I "got out" of the Navy, I went to college and eventually USC. I have made just about every practice and business mistake that one could possibility make in 20 years. Last year I produced a bit over $700,000 with collections about $670,000, with your guidance, this is some of what was accomplished in 2001:

  • Changed Accountants
  • Incorporated
  • Added easy endodontics (anterior) with LightSpeed
  • Cancelled most PPO
  • Built a convenience center (I sent you a Polaroid earlier in the year)
  • Instead of hiring Marine wives from 29 Palms Marine Base, we now have all local
         assistants
  • Replaced old telephone system
  • Added computers in all treatment rooms
  • Completed Howard's MBA (on the last day of the year)
  • Read Rich Dad, Poor Dad series
  • Attended Den-Mat's 2-day course and bought their products
  • Started posterior adhesive restorations
  • Flowcharted major systems in office with Visio
  • Added "Bad Food" fridge magnets
  • Visited Howard's Office (my wife and I did this last Feb and were well treated by
        your staff)
  • Bought a KCP 1000PAC air abrasion (still have a bit of a challenge getting used to it)
  • Listened and watched Paul Homoly's educations series, and
  • Made an in-depth employee handbook.
    –Sheldon

    Greetings Sheldon,
    Wow! What a beautiful letter! Thanks so much for the kind words.
    –Howard

    Thank You For Your Work
    I just wanted to drop a note to say thank you for your encouraging work. My wife and I purchased a dental office in July of 2001. We have transformed it from a $290,000 per year, 70% overhead, patch-work, non-progressive office to a state-of-the-art facility that offers comprehensive care (and near 90% growth within the first year). DentalTown and your 30-day dental MBA have been our guide to organizing our office, staff and patients.

    Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your outlook), I wish that could be the end of the story. Two years prior to our recent success, we purchased another office from a "retiring" dentist. To make a long story short, we where left with a near seven figure bank loan (damn near) and a selling dentist looking to get right back into establishing a practice (currently practicing two miles away from his old office). The actual current production was more than 10% below what was reported and the practice was not in a state of growth as was reported. Needless to say, having just started our careers and professional lives we were devastated.

    It would have been easy to "give up," but through the advice and help of concerned individuals we were able to undertake legal action to help resolve the matter (I sure am glad I am a dentist and not a lawyer). Our outlook on dentistry was never diminished through this "process," but was strengthened. We feel fortunate to be involved in one of the greatest professions where we have the ability to help others.

    This is where your work has truly helped us in showing us the possibilities and opportunities unique to our profession. You don't offer schemes or easy methods, just honest advice and real world logic. Thanks for your hard work and for sharing it with others that truly needed direction.
    –Matthew and Stephanie Martin

    Greetings Martins,
    It's too bad there always has to always be unethical people. Live and learn! Your attitude determines your altitude and reading your letter over twice, you have the winning attitude! –Howard

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