Six dental leaders shared with Becker's what their No. 1 priority is for this spring.
Tim Torbenson. President of evo820 (Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif.): I represent dental laboratories and there is a concern that DSOs will incorporate additional requirements adding expenses to the laboratory restorations and appliances. These additional requirements would be to list the origin of manufacturing and contents of the restoration or appliance.
Every DSO is looking for quality at reasonable fees from the laboratories. If these additional laboratory activities are required, there will be an increase in the costs to the DSOs. Dental laboratories have maintained a high-quality device and see no reason for such additional requirements.
John Button. Cofounder and CEO of CollectiveCare Dental (Moorestown, N.J.): While we have myriad activities underway, our No. 1 priority for spring 2021 is resuming our growth trajectory, and paying careful attention to maintaining our culture by providing a safe, compassionate and communicative environment for patients, doctors and staff. Complacency has no place in the group practice dental industry as we emerge from such a challenging year.
Scott Becker. Cofounder and COO of CollectiveCare Dental (Moorestown, N.J.): Continuing to improve our overall patient experience while building long-term loyalty, especially as we come out of COVID-19. We also want to take this opportunity coming out of COVID-19 to bring new talent into our organization across all elements (doctors, hygiene, treatment planning, dental assistants and front-desk patient interaction).
John Luther, DDS. Chief Dental Officer and Executive Vice President at Western Dental (Orange, Calif.): The top priority is regaining patient volume following the COVID-19 pandemic. Offices were entirely closed initially except for emergency triage, then slowly ramped up with substantial safety protocols, modifications in workflow and staffing adjustments. Although the dental profession has always done a good job with infection control, many of the new protocols and workflow modifications charted new territory for us.
Scott Kalniz, DDS. Founder and board member of Elite Dental Partners (Chicago): Here are a few priorities:
1. Re-engaging existing patients and getting them scheduled.
2. Educating patients on the safety protocols we employ in offices to keep everyone safe.
3. Evaluating and implementing new systems and processes to make it easier for patients to say yes to treatment.
4. Utilizing chair time more efficiently by doing more procedures per appointment and more same-day dentistry.
Mark Lakis. CEO of Southern Dental Alliance (Kennesaw, Ga.): Top line revenue, to drive bottom line results. We need to ensure revenue increases sufficiently to cover the COVID-related increase in costs.
More articles on dental:
'Don't wish that experience I had on anyone': Mississippi dentist talks contracting COVID-19
Utah dental hygienists trained to give COVID-19 vaccines turned away as volunteers
Why dental assistants are instrumental & 2 other notes from Rose Olague, Pacific Dental Services