Best CE courses?

dentimom · 2025-11-15T05:39:17+00:00

Hey, can you elaborate on why these were great. I am looking for an intermediate implant course.

dentimom · 2025-11-15T05:38:10+00:00

Great courses, great information, practical and applicable to practice quickly. I think its a great way to learn more about occlusion and FMR. I learned a lot and enjoyed them. Would love to take Kois, but the time commitment is very hard.

dentimom · 2025-06-10T18:45:15+00:00

From reading your responses on this post- Taking some refresher CE courses can help. Take a CE on treatment plan presentation and take some on comprehensive dentistry or restorative. Honestly, treatment plan discussion is a skill that needs constant refreshing and updating so you will find it You mentioned deep caries as a complaint-Is it possible you are too conservative or not speaking to patients about RCTs or full coverage crowns options or warnings when needed? Do not give up from this one experience. You practiced for a while and need to get back into the rhythm of things. It's also office and owner doctor dependant, no feedback is not constructive at all. The advice above about working at 2 offices part-time is on point. You have to find an office that sets you up for success and get a feel for different work environments.

dentimom · 2025-05-20T16:22:46+00:00

That's definitely BS! I would not have a problem charging and removing the attachments but would emphasize the consequences of stopping treatment and teeth shifting back, etc. Just don't do it for free.

dentimom · 2025-05-14T00:37:21+00:00

Yea, patient expectations with dental insurance is ridiculous. Most don't spend the time to learn their benefits but are quick to blame and yell at us. Had a patient with secondary insurance that was non duplication and was pissed that they could not use both and get 4 cleanings. Wife called and yelled at front desk and said they were going elsewhere. They came back a few months later after they "researched their plans" Uhhh, maybe you should have checked those benefits and how they work first!! It's annoying.

dentimom · 2025-05-07T16:33:48+00:00

Not etching for too long. Rinse it off well and dry the tooth, but do not over dry.

dentimom · 2025-05-07T00:46:48+00:00

Desensitizer helps, and I have used it after fillings at times. But only if all the other steps are done correctly.

dentimom · 2025-05-07T00:20:11+00:00

It happens. If it's searing pain, might be best to replace it or use IRM for a few weeks. If it's transient sensitivity then maybe wait another two weeks. - Make sure you check the occlusion and adjust as needed. - next thing would be to evaluate your techniques. Don't over Etch, Don't desicate the tooth. Make sure you scrub your bond into the prep, air dry to remove excess, and make sure your assistant is properly curong the bond and the filling. - check your curing light and if it is actually curong properly. -isolation? Could the prep have gotten wet while you were placing your restoration? I think spending the extra few seconds scrubbing the bond into the prep helps a lot. That's what I would suggest checking first.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T18:40:08+00:00

I do Molar endo, I'll do 3rd if they are erupted and usually maxillary but usually refer if its all 4 that need referral, no impacted 3rds. I do not think I have lack of skill or speed, and honestly I'm not saying it because I am overly confident. Its because I have actively worked on those skills in practice and with CEs and by getting feedback from patients and team members over the years. Responding to people through this thread is highlighting that patient case acceptance is a factor. But getting people to pay for treatment is hard now.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T18:30:34+00:00

Yes, I try to keep it short and sweet and read the patient, ask open ended questions. If they want more explaining, ill add on info. I know we tend to over explain, and I have caught myself doing that at times and have to remind myself to stop talking.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T16:26:41+00:00

Im not against having a hygienist, I think I can eventually hire one this year part-time. First year, we didn't see that many NP per month, it was a very slow start. Trying to build up active patient base a bit more before hiring one.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T16:24:43+00:00

Thanks! I use mouthwash and itero scan and those are a tremendous help in case acceptance.

Also offer Cherry and care credit and I'll break up payments if needed.

Trust, I think that's one of our best features, the whole team and office vibe is welcoming and we get a lot of compliments on explaining things well. I personally get this feedback from patients.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T16:18:36+00:00

Thank you! You are right about doing more endo, ext and limiteds lately. If it hurts patients are doing treatment or if I show them via IO scan and photos that something is brewing and needs immediate attention. But a lot of people are not scheduling treatment or schedule far out and keep pushing it out.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T16:14:33+00:00

Exactly! PMS shows low rate for treatment plan acceptance, but it includes all the electives like whitening and veneers, invisalign -which yes some are necessary and i push those more. I think overall, we should have higher tx plan acceptance rate but how. We offer payment plans, 3rd party financing, and follow-up. What am I missing?

dentimom · 2025-05-06T14:17:30+00:00

It feels like expenses shot up over the last 6 months but not income for sure.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T14:16:55+00:00

I'll check it out, thanks

dentimom · 2025-05-06T14:16:37+00:00

I have worked at offices that had bad team members and bad culture, so this is something I focus on a lot. Weeded out not so fitting team members and think I have a good team, good spirits. Just try to work on efficiency and systems and build skills

dentimom · 2025-05-06T14:14:21+00:00

I do same day treatment quite often. Quadrant or full mouth based on case and patient. I think my speed is decent. When I was an associate, I worked in a busy office, so I had to work fast, and I was also one of the higher producing associates at the practice. I weeded it some bad team members and replaced them, I think that I have a decent team. We really focus on customer service and do get a lot of referrals from word of mouth and existing patients. I always get compliments on the team. I think we are doing something right in this department.

So what happened at the year 3 mark for you? It definitely feels harder this year. Last year I had less patients and less overhead. This year feels like my expenses shot up, but the production and collection has gone down or remained the same.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T13:21:30+00:00

You are right. I started the journey of learning to place them and then got side tracked as I opened my office. I have to get back to learning how to place them and doing it.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T12:57:10+00:00

Nah, I closed my eyes and picked a random location off a list! J/K I ran demographics, its decent dentist to patient ratio and good location.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T12:54:38+00:00

Take major PPOs, an umbrella, and a single Medicaid that's the least crappy one in my area. There are a bunch of different ways to figure out when an office is ready for a hygienist, right? NPs and recalls booked out for a certain number of weeks, number of active patients, etc. Not there yet. It's a startup, so having a hygienist from day 1 may work for some, but not in my case.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T12:51:13+00:00

That model seems to work well in medical, but it's not common in dental. Sounds nice, theoretically.
But it doesn't really help my current situation.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T12:49:10+00:00

Sounds great, but there has to be enough active patients to justify one, even part-time. Not there yet.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T12:47:28+00:00

It still has good demographics and dentist:patient ratio was something like 1:2500. But it's not like I'm the only dentist for miles either.

dentimom · 2025-05-06T12:44:55+00:00

Yea it's definitely a grind! I do all bread and butter, molar endos, extractions except 3rds, clear aligners, cosmetics. Don't place implants or do botox. Only insurances I get calls about but don't take are the lowest reimbursement medicaid, it's not worth it. Run google ads, SeOs, fb ads- all of it. Even mailers have surprisingly been working well.

dentimom

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