In an article featured at DrBicuspid, Roger Levin, DDS, of the Levin Group tells us that “most” dental practices “are very flat” compared to last year. He goes on to say that we are in the worst economic downturn in 40 years, but “dentistry is so resilient.” The lack of traffic in dental offices may be related more to a psychological response – fear – rather than an actual lack of jobs and money. Patients neglect things that aren’t urgent during times such as these.
On the same thread, TheWealthyDentist.com published a survey stating 38 percent of polled dentists are boosting their marketing efforts in direct response to the economic downturn. However, 33 percent are tightening their marketing budget, and 21 percent plan to take action one way or another soon. One survey respondent says, “No dental practice is recession-proof.” Here, here.
Advice from dental experts and respected sources, both online and in print, seems to be about the same:
Spend your downtime refocusing on admin, marketing, and training
- Make sure your customer service is top-notch – answer phones with a smile
- Tighten all loose ends for an efficient business
- Use technology and part-time or home-based workers to save money and time
- Invest in a great website that can be found by patients shopping for dentists
- If possible, cut back your hours of operation to save on overhead
- Accommodate patients with late or early appointments upon request
SOURCES: DrBicuspid.com; TheWealthyDentist