sign up to receive emails from thenew dentist

    • Home
    • Featured Profiles
    • Clinical
    • Business
    • Culture
    • The Best

    Sign up to receive emails from thenew.dentist

    content

    You have Successfully Subscribed!

    • Home
    • Featured Profiles
    • Clinical
    • Business
    • Culture
    • The Best
    Image
    “If we shift our focus, perhaps we can reveal the ‘silver lining’ that often comes during times of great upheaval. Let’s talk about what good news has emerged this year.”
     
    2020 Vision: The Silver Lining
    by Dr. Travis Campbell

    Share this Post

    Did you have 2020 vision?  Back in January, most of us had a pretty clear vision for what 2020 would bring, and what we wanted to accomplish. How quickly we all learned that our vision was nowhere close to “2020.”

    To say this year has had its share of crisis’s would be an understatement. A microscopic virus wreaked havoc across the globe. Fear spread just as rapidly, continually fed by an ever-present media stream. The country shut down most of its economy.  Supplies were depleted rapidly and stockpiled by some.  Anger against the disease of racism erupted. Now, schools are in the limelight and the nation is holding its breath to see what will unfold in the weeks ahead.

    Dentistry has been unexpectedly hit hard. Not only were we rapidly shut down for months, purely because of limited PPE supplies; but we also had entities attacking the safety of the profession with zero evidence. Dentists and team members across the country lost jobs and offices due to fear and panic.  Other team members became too afraid to continue serving in our profession. Recovery over the summer has been a sometimes-confusing process.

    It is easy during a crisis to focus on the negative, that is all we seem to hear in the media. However, is that the reality we face, or is our actual experience something different than what you see on the news and social media? Is there any good news happening around the world? It must exist too, right?

    If we shift our focus, perhaps we can reveal the “silver lining” that often comes during times of great upheaval. Let’s talk about what good news has emerged this year:

    • People's lives have for the most part slowed down.
    • Families are spending more time together, whether in person, by phone, Zoom, Skype. Etc.
    • Even the mature generation who previously did not touch a computer are now becoming at least proficient in online “live” communication. This is bringing everyone closer together, even if we must try to physically stay apart.
    • Neighbors are helping each other, shopping for each other, checking on one another.
    • The entire world is in the same boat. We are learning to work together to solve a global crisis.
    • People are now treating fevers like they probably should have always done, by staying at home.
    • New innovations are here or coming as a direct result of the forced shift in the world. Healthcare has forged ahead with many new remote monitoring technologies, to better care for patients.
    • Many people have started cooking and eating at home more, leading to healthier diets.
    • More jobs than ever have bridged the link to be able to work from home.

    Perhaps most importantly, during our time of fear, our time of loss, our time of sacrifice we are learning to value what is truly important in our lives… Our families, our neighbors, our first responders, our grocery store workers, restaurant servers, housekeepers, hairdressers, teachers… they are the real “celebrities.”  We’ve learned that handshakes, hugs, smiles and simply sitting together for a meal are the priceless moments in life. The moments we have all taken for granted.

    Within our treasured dental profession:

    • The CDC and other organizations have reaffirmed that dental offices have NO evidence of viral spread anywhere. Covid-19 may be spreading in many types of healthcare, but not dentistry.
    • Even so, we have implemented even more stringent infection control procedures. Our dental offices are second only to operating rooms in terms of safety for our patients and for our dental team members as well.
    • We have successfully returned to serving our patients, for months now, without incident!
    • Patients still have teeth and still need to see us. Even more so now with the linkages revealed between periodontal disease and Covid-19 severity.  We have competently handled more emergencies and periodontal treatments this year than ever before.
    • We have become even more inventive in our services, adding tele-dentistry options, new patient education and communication avenues.
    • Through our government intervention and stimulation packages, along with our own team efforts to improve efficiencies of operation we are for the most part surviving and continuing to serve our local communities.

    On a personal note, I admit that I miss having a great “away” vacation, I miss going to our church, I miss going to meetings and lunches with my colleagues, and I miss movies and large events. However, I can certainly account for several very positive experiences as well:

    • During the shutdown, I had time to get a strong start in writing an insurance textbook that I hope will greatly impact dental offices across the country.
    • My daughter still LOVES school, even with all the new procedures, masks and controls. She lost her first tooth!
    • My son has started walking and is all over the house.
    • I’ve played more family games, laughed more, and gotten more well wishes than ever before.
    • Both our kids and the rest of our family are safe and healthy.

    So, while the news and many people will likely continue to discuss and focus on the negative, why don’t we start a movement to focus on the positive?  We can prop each other up and maybe even learn from each other!

    The dental industry has forever changed, but many changes may be for the better. Offices have developed many new techniques or learnings to improve the office.  Times of crisis often breed amazing advancements. Many dental meetings are going virtual, like Chicago Midwinter.  Are in-person dental shows now a thing of the past, or will they come back?  Or could virtual end up being better for everyone involved?

    About the Author

    Dr. Travis Campbell is a full-time practicing dentist. He started his practice from scratch after graduating from Baylor College of Dentistry in 2009 and has grown his single-dentist practice to be in the top 1% in the country. Dr. Campbell has become well known for his knowledge/experience in dental business management and efficiency. He is an author, speaker, contributor to various online dental communities and a dental coach/consultant. His book on dental office management was released in 2019, and another book for new dentists is scheduled for release in 2020.

    Image
    Follow us

    You have Successfully Subscribed!

    Business

    The Sculptor of Your Career

    By Dr. Devin Hall

    Work-life balance. A great income. The ability to own a business. The desire to work with your hands. The opportunity to change lives. Whatever your inspiration for pursuing dentistry as your career, you find yourself here, in the midst of the...

    Read More →
    Business

    DENTSPLY Sirona: Byte a WAMGR Play, We Like Deal on First Pass

    Jeff D. Johnson, O.D., CFA

    DENTSPLY Sirona (XRAY) announced it has acquired Byte, a leading direct-to-consumer clear aligner company, for $1.04B (all-cash deal). With this deal, management expects its clear aligner business (Byte+SureSmile) to exceed a $300M run-rate by...

    Read More →
    Business

    Surviving and Thriving After COVID Shutdowns

    By Dr. Travis Campbell

    How emergency patients can help you grow your practice during these challenging times....

    Read More →
    Profile

    Rob Woolley, Straumann Group Executive Vice President, Head of North America

    The former medical executive is making his mark on the dental industry, with a focus on the digital technologies and services that bring innovation to the industry....

    Read More →
    Business

    General Is The New Special

    Dr. Joe McEnhill

    GPs don’t just focus on one area; they bring it all together to provide patients with holistic care....

    Read More →
    Business

    2020 Vision: The Silver Lining

    by Dr. Travis Campbell

    Did you have 2020 vision? Back in January, most of us had a pretty clear vision for what 2020 would bring, and what we wanted to accomplish. How quickly we all learned that our vision was nowhere close to “2020.”...

    Read More →
    Business

    Achieve Post-Pandemic Cost Savings With These 6 Tips

    by Dr. Travis Campbell

    Focusing on key business areas and making a few adjustments will result in a more profitable practice....

    Read More →
    Business

    The Light at the End of the COVID Tunnel

    by Dr. Robin Bethell

    The last six months have made many dentists feel afraid, doubtful and overwhelmed. Many will fail or even give up, but for those dreaming of group practice ownership, there may be opportunities in the near future....

    Read More →
    Business

    Adding New Services: A Tale of Two Practices

    by Dr. Michael Grossman

    A side-by-side comparison of what it takes to add orthodontics and implants to a practice, and the different benefits these disciplines offer....

    Read More →
    Clinical

    Advancing Adhesives

    by Dr. Jonathan Bell

    A look at where adhesives are today, and the progress being made toward suture-less surgery....

    Read More →
    Profile

    Chuck Cohen

    Benco’s Managing Director discusses the importance of putting the customer first and the role full-service distributors play in the dental industry....

    Read More →
    Clinical

    DIY Dentistry: How It Can Actually Benefit Your Practice

    by Dr. Alexandra Holst

    As dental professionals, it is our responsibility to guide our patients through this maze of promises, social media postings, and subtle, but aggressive, marketing psychology....

    Read More →
    • terms of use
    • privacy

    Image
    Image
    2020 Vision: The Silver Lining
    by Dr. Travis Campbell

    Did you have 2020 vision?  Back in January, most of us had a pretty clear vision for what 2020 would bring, and what we wanted to accomplish. How quickly we all learned that our vision was nowhere close to “2020.”

    To say this year has had its share of crisis’s would be an understatement. A microscopic virus wreaked havoc across the globe. Fear spread just as rapidly, continually fed by an ever-present media stream. The country shut down most of its economy.  Supplies were depleted rapidly and stockpiled by some.  Anger against the disease of racism erupted. Now, schools are in the limelight and the nation is holding its breath to see what will unfold in the weeks ahead.

    Dentistry has been unexpectedly hit hard. Not only were we rapidly shut down for months, purely because of limited PPE supplies; but we also had entities attacking the safety of the profession with zero evidence. Dentists and team members across the country lost jobs and offices due to fear and panic.  Other team members became too afraid to continue serving in our profession. Recovery over the summer has been a sometimes-confusing process.

    It is easy during a crisis to focus on the negative, that is all we seem to hear in the media. However, is that the reality we face, or is our actual experience something different than what you see on the news and social media? Is there any good news happening around the world? It must exist too, right?

    If we shift our focus, perhaps we can reveal the “silver lining” that often comes during times of great upheaval. Let’s talk about what good news has emerged this year:

    • People's lives have for the most part slowed down.
    • Families are spending more time together, whether in person, by phone, Zoom, Skype. Etc.
    • Even the mature generation who previously did not touch a computer are now becoming at least proficient in online “live” communication. This is bringing everyone closer together, even if we must try to physically stay apart.
    • Neighbors are helping each other, shopping for each other, checking on one another.
    • The entire world is in the same boat. We are learning to work together to solve a global crisis.
    • People are now treating fevers like they probably should have always done, by staying at home.
    • New innovations are here or coming as a direct result of the forced shift in the world. Healthcare has forged ahead with many new remote monitoring technologies, to better care for patients.
    • Many people have started cooking and eating at home more, leading to healthier diets.
    • More jobs than ever have bridged the link to be able to work from home.

    Perhaps most importantly, during our time of fear, our time of loss, our time of sacrifice we are learning to value what is truly important in our lives… Our families, our neighbors, our first responders, our grocery store workers, restaurant servers, housekeepers, hairdressers, teachers… they are the real “celebrities.”  We’ve learned that handshakes, hugs, smiles and simply sitting together for a meal are the priceless moments in life. The moments we have all taken for granted.

    Within our treasured dental profession:

    • The CDC and other organizations have reaffirmed that dental offices have NO evidence of viral spread anywhere. Covid-19 may be spreading in many types of healthcare, but not dentistry.
    • Even so, we have implemented even more stringent infection control procedures. Our dental offices are second only to operating rooms in terms of safety for our patients and for our dental team members as well.
    • We have successfully returned to serving our patients, for months now, without incident!
    • Patients still have teeth and still need to see us. Even more so now with the linkages revealed between periodontal disease and Covid-19 severity.  We have competently handled more emergencies and periodontal treatments this year than ever before.
    • We have become even more inventive in our services, adding tele-dentistry options, new patient education and communication avenues.
    • Through our government intervention and stimulation packages, along with our own team efforts to improve efficiencies of operation we are for the most part surviving and continuing to serve our local communities.

    On a personal note, I admit that I miss having a great “away” vacation, I miss going to our church, I miss going to meetings and lunches with my colleagues, and I miss movies and large events. However, I can certainly account for several very positive experiences as well:

    • During the shutdown, I had time to get a strong start in writing an insurance textbook that I hope will greatly impact dental offices across the country.
    • My daughter still LOVES school, even with all the new procedures, masks and controls. She lost her first tooth!
    • My son has started walking and is all over the house.
    • I’ve played more family games, laughed more, and gotten more well wishes than ever before.
    • Both our kids and the rest of our family are safe and healthy.

    So, while the news and many people will likely continue to discuss and focus on the negative, why don’t we start a movement to focus on the positive?  We can prop each other up and maybe even learn from each other!

    The dental industry has forever changed, but many changes may be for the better. Offices have developed many new techniques or learnings to improve the office.  Times of crisis often breed amazing advancements. Many dental meetings are going virtual, like Chicago Midwinter.  Are in-person dental shows now a thing of the past, or will they come back?  Or could virtual end up being better for everyone involved?

    About the Author

    Dr. Travis Campbell is a full-time practicing dentist. He started his practice from scratch after graduating from Baylor College of Dentistry in 2009 and has grown his single-dentist practice to be in the top 1% in the country. Dr. Campbell has become well known for his knowledge/experience in dental business management and efficiency. He is an author, speaker, contributor to various online dental communities and a dental coach/consultant. His book on dental office management was released in 2019, and another book for new dentists is scheduled for release in 2020.

     

    You have Successfully Subscribed!

    Follow us

    Business

    The Sculptor of Your Career

    By Dr. Devin Hall

    Work-life balance. A great income. The ability to own a business. The desire to work with your hands. The opportunity to change lives. Whatever your inspiration for pursuing dentistry as your career, you find yourself here, in the midst of the...

    Read More →
    Business

    DENTSPLY Sirona: Byte a WAMGR Play, We Like Deal on First Pass

    Jeff D. Johnson, O.D., CFA

    DENTSPLY Sirona (XRAY) announced it has acquired Byte, a leading direct-to-consumer clear aligner company, for $1.04B (all-cash deal). With this deal, management expects its clear aligner business...

    Read More →
    Business

    Surviving and Thriving After COVID Shutdowns

    By Dr. Travis Campbell

    How emergency patients can help you grow your practice during these challenging times....

    Read More →
    Sponsored Advertisement

    Save more with Berman Instruments!

    Shop Berman’s sale page! Items rotate weekly. Checkback often to see how you can save....

    Shop Now →
    Image
    • terms of use
    • privacy
    • terms of use
    • privacy
    Image
    • Home
    • Featured Profiles
    • Clinical
    • Business
    • Culture
    • The Best