This was sent to me over the weekend and I have to share it with all of you. My thanks to the individual who created it. It is one of those times when fact is funnier than fiction. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuPQu7vnwxY&feature=email
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Would you trust your orthodontist to do your heart surgery?
I recently was paging through the Southern Association of Orthodontists newsletter and saw a great handout. There are two similar handouts with the picture of a woman on one and a little girl on the other. It reads: "You wouldn't want an orthodontist to perform your face lift. So why consider anyone but an orthodontist for your family's orthodontic therapy?" On the back is a checklist of pertinent points on the qualities and qualifications of an AAO member orthodontist. What a great idea! I am going to order a ton of these and give them out in all of my new patient handouts and keep them at the front desk. What I really ought to do is mail them to all those quasi-educated dental professionals (and I know who they are in my area) that are doing their patients an injustice by trying to treat them after taking their morning certification for clear aligners or their weekend motel ortho course.
Speaking of weekend ortho courses, I just received an email about a 2 day orthodontic course for general dentists using passive self-ligation brackets. A two day course to do ortho! I must be an idiot. I had to go through a residency and have spent over 15 years in practice and I am still learning. And you know what is worse? The course is sponsored by a major orthodontic company. That's right. The same company that has spent megabucks promoting its self-ligating brackets to anyone who will listen. I guess a lot of orthodontists are not listening anymore and they have decided that a two day ortho-educated general dentist will. Oh, I could have a field day with this. Is it any reason that this company has lost so much credibility?
Speaking of weekend ortho courses, I just received an email about a 2 day orthodontic course for general dentists using passive self-ligation brackets. A two day course to do ortho! I must be an idiot. I had to go through a residency and have spent over 15 years in practice and I am still learning. And you know what is worse? The course is sponsored by a major orthodontic company. That's right. The same company that has spent megabucks promoting its self-ligating brackets to anyone who will listen. I guess a lot of orthodontists are not listening anymore and they have decided that a two day ortho-educated general dentist will. Oh, I could have a field day with this. Is it any reason that this company has lost so much credibility?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Come Fly with Air Ortho
I recently attended a meeting and had the unfortunate experience of having to get there and back via the airlines. How things have changed over the years with them and other services.
What if we ran our orthodontic offices like some of the companies that are “pledged” to customer satisfaction?
“Hello, Mrs. Jones…oh, you want to change Jimmy’s appointment? Sure, I’ll be glad to help you with that. We can change that from tomorrow to next Tuesday at 3:30. Fine, I have made that change. Would you like to pay for that with a credit card now or just put it on your account? The fee for that is $100.”
“Tricia, we are going to have you wear elastics to correct your bite. Here are two packs of elastics to last you till your next appointment. Don’t lose them because they are $5 per package. We’ll just add these to your balance.”
“Magazines? Yes, we are still happy to provide our patients with them while they are waiting in the reception area. They are $4 per hour or any part thereof. Exact change or credit card would really be appreciated.”
“Yes, Mrs. Smith, the $16 charge for telephone support is correct. We know that you needed help in how your son was supposed to wear his elastics and we are more than happy to provide that information to you over the phone. I would suggest he pay closer attention during his appointment when instructions are given. If you think this will occur again in the future we can sign you up for our yearly support program. It’s only $27.50 per month.”
“The fresh baked cookies? Yes, we still have them. We just don’t put them out for general consumption anymore. They are $1.50 a piece. Would you like two or three? Do you need bottled water with that?”
“The doctor is usually not in on Fridays but we could schedule you an appointment to see him. We can plan that from 8-12 and hopefully he will stop in sometime during that time frame. If he does not show, we can reschedule it for another time. The usual rates apply.”
“Toothbrushes? They are located in the patient bathroom in the vending machine. Do you need change?”
"The wires and instruments are over there. Help yourself. If you'd like an assistant to help you with that she can for a nominal fee."
“Our new motto? Well, with many of the changes we have made, we decided that “gentle”, “caring” or “warm” really are not indicative of who we are. We now say “we get your teeth straight”. Much more direct, to the point and we don’t have to worry about living up to the niceties.”
What if we ran our orthodontic offices like some of the companies that are “pledged” to customer satisfaction?
“Hello, Mrs. Jones…oh, you want to change Jimmy’s appointment? Sure, I’ll be glad to help you with that. We can change that from tomorrow to next Tuesday at 3:30. Fine, I have made that change. Would you like to pay for that with a credit card now or just put it on your account? The fee for that is $100.”
“Tricia, we are going to have you wear elastics to correct your bite. Here are two packs of elastics to last you till your next appointment. Don’t lose them because they are $5 per package. We’ll just add these to your balance.”
“Magazines? Yes, we are still happy to provide our patients with them while they are waiting in the reception area. They are $4 per hour or any part thereof. Exact change or credit card would really be appreciated.”
“Yes, Mrs. Smith, the $16 charge for telephone support is correct. We know that you needed help in how your son was supposed to wear his elastics and we are more than happy to provide that information to you over the phone. I would suggest he pay closer attention during his appointment when instructions are given. If you think this will occur again in the future we can sign you up for our yearly support program. It’s only $27.50 per month.”
“The fresh baked cookies? Yes, we still have them. We just don’t put them out for general consumption anymore. They are $1.50 a piece. Would you like two or three? Do you need bottled water with that?”
“The doctor is usually not in on Fridays but we could schedule you an appointment to see him. We can plan that from 8-12 and hopefully he will stop in sometime during that time frame. If he does not show, we can reschedule it for another time. The usual rates apply.”
“Toothbrushes? They are located in the patient bathroom in the vending machine. Do you need change?”
"The wires and instruments are over there. Help yourself. If you'd like an assistant to help you with that she can for a nominal fee."
“Our new motto? Well, with many of the changes we have made, we decided that “gentle”, “caring” or “warm” really are not indicative of who we are. We now say “we get your teeth straight”. Much more direct, to the point and we don’t have to worry about living up to the niceties.”
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Orthodontic Vendors Beware-Patients Pay Attention!
I view myself as your typical, "in the trenches" wet fingered orthodontist. I am certainly not an academician, a lecturer or brilliant by any stretch of the imagination. I am a practitioner that is trying to provide the best treatment for my patients that I possibly can using the techniques that I have been trained in or have learned through continuing education and employing my years of clinical experience as guidance. I have worked hand in hand, with a great deal of trust I might add, with my orthodontic companies and their reps to provide the best materials and proven techniques for my patients.
Lately, I have notice a real paradigm shift in the role that some orthodontic companies are taking. They are marketing directly to my patients and trying to influence their decision making process rather than continuing the time honored and successful method of the orthodontist deciding with the patient what the best course of treatment is and what technique or appliance to use to attain the desired results.
Maybe I shouldn't say trying. They are! I have patients come in demanding a certain bracket because they have seen an ad espousing the benefits of said bracket. I have had patients come in saying that they want a certain clear aligner and that is what is going to work for them. (Check out some of the comments in previous columns on this site. You will see what I mean.)
Well, you know what? This average, "in the trenches" orthodontist is starting to resent some of these orthodontic vendors. Attention orthodontic patients! Make no mistake about it, they are vendors. They are selling a product and if they can't sell it to the orthodontist they are going to sell it to you. I have real issues with these policies and the way they do business. I am not in agreement with trying to cut the orthodontist out of the treatment planning and treatment of patients by directly marketing to patients. I look at them as threats to the well being of my patients. I think it should be remembered that these vendors exist because of the needs of the patient and the orthodontist and not the opposite. We are the decision makers and treatment planners/coordinators for our patients, not them. I will not deal with a company that tells the general public that their product is better, faster, more comfortable, etc when there is no scientific evidence to back it and that if your orthodontist is not using it then he is not technologically savvy or up to date. We are the ones to decide what the Standard of Care is and not the vendors. By supporting them with my business I feel that I am, in the very least, condoning their practices. I won't do it.
Orthodontic vendors beware. If this one average orthodontist is thinking this way, what does that say about the rest of the orthodontic community? You may find your business policies backfiring. We are still the ones that ultimately buy the brackets and appliances. We are still the ones that know what is best for our patients!
Lately, I have notice a real paradigm shift in the role that some orthodontic companies are taking. They are marketing directly to my patients and trying to influence their decision making process rather than continuing the time honored and successful method of the orthodontist deciding with the patient what the best course of treatment is and what technique or appliance to use to attain the desired results.
Maybe I shouldn't say trying. They are! I have patients come in demanding a certain bracket because they have seen an ad espousing the benefits of said bracket. I have had patients come in saying that they want a certain clear aligner and that is what is going to work for them. (Check out some of the comments in previous columns on this site. You will see what I mean.)
Well, you know what? This average, "in the trenches" orthodontist is starting to resent some of these orthodontic vendors. Attention orthodontic patients! Make no mistake about it, they are vendors. They are selling a product and if they can't sell it to the orthodontist they are going to sell it to you. I have real issues with these policies and the way they do business. I am not in agreement with trying to cut the orthodontist out of the treatment planning and treatment of patients by directly marketing to patients. I look at them as threats to the well being of my patients. I think it should be remembered that these vendors exist because of the needs of the patient and the orthodontist and not the opposite. We are the decision makers and treatment planners/coordinators for our patients, not them. I will not deal with a company that tells the general public that their product is better, faster, more comfortable, etc when there is no scientific evidence to back it and that if your orthodontist is not using it then he is not technologically savvy or up to date. We are the ones to decide what the Standard of Care is and not the vendors. By supporting them with my business I feel that I am, in the very least, condoning their practices. I won't do it.
Orthodontic vendors beware. If this one average orthodontist is thinking this way, what does that say about the rest of the orthodontic community? You may find your business policies backfiring. We are still the ones that ultimately buy the brackets and appliances. We are still the ones that know what is best for our patients!
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