Running your own dental practice can be very rewarding and fruitful on a personal level. But there are many hidden costs and overheads that can often detract from the value of the work. Because of this, one thing almost all dental practices have in common is the desire to reduce expenses.

Whether you work in a dedicated pediatric dental practice that exclusively treats children or you work at a family dental office which only has a few child patients, it’s impossible to avoid working with children when you’re a dentist, dental hygienist or dental assistant. If you don’t welcome children into your practice, not only will you lose your youngest patients, but you’ll also likely lose their parents and other family members, too. If your dental practice is going to be successful, it’s important you learn how to manage children and their parents in the dental practice from the beginning. 

Infection control in dentistry has particular standards. Learn how to protect yourself, your patients, and the reputation of your practice.

Everyone who works in healthcare is at risk of infection, especially dentists and dental hygienists who spend most of their day in very close proximity to the oral and nasal cavities of multiple patients. To prevent the transmission of diseases between dental healthcare workers and their patients, it’s vital everyone in your practice takes the proper precautions and follows adequate infection control procedures. 

When a treatment results in severe oral pain, some dentists prescribe opioids for pain relief. However, this seemingly innocent act of medical care can lead to opioid abuse, a growing problem throughout our nation which poses a significant risk to the economy and public health. 

Improving your patients’ quality of life by helping them create and maintain bright healthy smiles makes a huge difference to your local community. But in addition to your daily work as a dentist, dental hygienist or dental assistant, there are plenty of other ways you can enhance the lives of others in your area. If you’re ready to summon your energy, resources, compassion and skills you really can make a difference outside your dental practice as well as inside it. 

When the time comes for you to expand your dental office, the experience can be both exciting and terrifying. You’ve followed all the steps to build a successful dental practice, but turning your modest office into something bigger, better and more profitable is a major next step with lots of important things to consider along the way.

It’s very common for women to work during their pregnancy. Depending on their professional role, some women are even happy to work up until their due date. However, some occupations present more challenges than others for pregnant women. For example, dental hygienists are often required to work with radiation and chemicals on a daily basis, two things which can potentially harm an unborn child.   

While the majority of dental hygienists enjoy their career and the incredible flexibility it provides, there are some dental hygienists who have grown tired of working for someone else and want to move in a different direction. If you want to take control of your professional life and become more independent, consider opening up your own dental practice and being your own boss. 

With the new respiratory virus outbreak rapidly working its way across the world, it’s wise to take preventative measures to protect yourself as a dental professional. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 2,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported globally, with 56 of those cases resulting in death. While there are only two confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US to date, so little is known about this advancing infection that it’s likely many more people across the globe are infected.