1. Adopting and adding new procedures, protocols and campaigns to reach those wanting safe treatment.
2. Adjusting economics for uncertainty.
3. Providing a safe environment for patients and team members.

Personally, I have had to work harder than ever, sacrificing passion projects and salary to invest heavily in our team. These are the primary changes I’ve made:

1. I’m now focusing on virtual patient communication platforms (virtual consults, virtually monitoring Invisalign cases and online pay portals, for example) and have worked with our team on campaigns to demonstrate office safety protocols to patients.
2. I forfeited my salary for two months, reduced family spending, and condensed my team to survive the unpredictable winter.
3. I’ve followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and advice from experts such as Drs. Leslie Fang and Lisa Germain. I’ve invested thousands of dollars to keep myself and my team members healthy. This includes air purification, CDC compliant PPE, clear barriers, spaced out workstations for admin, and fogging machines. (Please notice I have chosen “safety” as the third change. If we cannot come back strong, why even come back at all if it is unsafe?)

There is light at the end of this tunnel. As the economy recovers in the coming years, opportunities will emerge for those who prepared. Inventory of offices for sale will increase. Populations will shift to more rural markets requiring new dentists, and dental insurance will take new forms. For hungry dentists looking to grow, opportunities in digital platforms will flourish.

As with the great recession of 2007, dentistry will recover from this crisis, and my indicators say it will actually recover more than most industries. If we examine just the last six months, major dental companies have seen a sharp “V” shaped return. Though the worst may still be yet to come, dentistry will bounce back.

What are the keys to optimizing? Invest in your skills and preserve your money. Stay mobile and ready to pivot when opportunities present. As for me, I’ll be looking for ways dentists can grow, collaborate, evolve and become more efficient and productive in the post-COVID years to come.