We pursue success to attain happiness. But what we truly need is balance. To teach you what it means to have balance and how to achieve it, Kirk Behrendt and Dr. Christian Coachman bring in Dr. Maurice Salama, scientific director of DentalXP, with his advice for improving and preserving your physical, mental, and emotional well-being throughout your career in dentistry. Don't trade your health for success! To learn how to prioritize your overall wellness, listen to Episode 726 of The Best Practices Show!

ACT Dental Team

May 01, 2024

The Kentucky Derby comes around once a year—but, on any given day, your practice can channel an anxious energy that rivals Churchill Downs. When you’re off to the races with a full schedule ahead of you, make sure you’re setting yourself up for success. Running your best race means keeping the triple crown of dentistry top-of-mind: Right Patient: From first-time patients to smiles you have a strong rapport with, get to know who’s on your schedule before the gate opens. You’ll feel more confident walking into the room when you know who’s waiting for you. Right Procedure: Schedule appointments for procedures you excel at and genuinely enjoy. Likewise, block out dedicated slots for complex procedures, leaving ample time for simpler ones. This ensures a smooth flow that’ll keep you relaxed. Right Time of Day: When are you at your peak performance? Are you a morning maestro or an afternoon ace? Schedule demanding procedures for your focus zone, leaving routine checkups for times that might be slightly less intense. By being cognizant of your schedule, you can craft a winning experience for yourself, your team, and your patients. Remember, a good schedule is predictable, profitable, and productive—it feels like a victory lap, not a frantic scramble.

Kirk Behrendt

April 29, 2024

Without a support system, dentistry can be incredibly lonely. What you need are long-term relationships that last your entire career. But where and how do you find people to connect with? To answer that question, Kirk Behrendt brings in three of his favorite people in dentistry, Dr. Bill Robbins, Dr. Jim Otten, and Dr. Gary DeWood, with their wisdom and advice for finding the people you need in your life. Don't wait for them to come to you — seek them out! To learn about the best places where the best people gather, listen to Episode 725 of The Best Practices Show!

ACT Dental Team

April 29, 2024

The hand-off is a simple concept in practice, but it has a huge impact on your practice. At its most basic, it’s just a verbal transfer of information, but it elevates your customer service by making patients feel safe and important. Like Kirk says, you want a practice that’s “relational, not transactional.”

Michelle Wakeman

April 27, 2024

Financial independence is your ultimate goal. But it won't happen if you don't plan for it! To help you achieve financial health as early as possible in your career, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Jim McKee, founder of Chicago Study Club, to share great advice that you didn't hear in dental school. To learn how to make smart investments, be debt-free, and enjoy your life, listen to Episode 723 of The Best Practices Show!

ACT Dental Team

April 24, 2024

Cancellations are a big deal. It lowers morale, profitability, and your overall practice success. So, what can you do to reduce them? Today, Kirk Behrendt and the ACT team share their proven and effective strategies to decrease cancellations and recover lost time. Patients will cancel — it happens. But you can proactively fill your schedule with the right patients and the right tasks. To learn the best ways to handle open time in your day, listen to Episode 724 of The Best Practices Show!

ACT Dental Team

April 24, 2024

You know that tradition right after the new year where people pick a word and resolve to use that word throughout the year to guide them? This is the first year I am participating, and the word I chose was “calm.” Not because I am calm but rather because I often feel and react in a way opposite of calm. In addition, recently I humbly realized that the way in which my youngest daughter deals with stress is partly from watching me handle my own stress. Unfortunately, the model I have given her isn’t ideal. You see, I am improving greatly at staying calm under pressure but historically it hasn’t been my strongest attribute. Parenting is hard!

Dr. Barrett Straub

April 22, 2024

Looking to take your practice to the next level? Many of the best business bookshelves groan under the weight of tomes touting "secrets" and foolproof "systems" to help you manage your practice like a pro.

Kirk Behrendt

April 22, 2024

Today, orthodontics goes beyond just straight teeth. With better technology and better imaging, we can now include joints and airway for more comprehensive care. To highlight the importance of imaging in the future of orthodontics, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Drew McDonald, instructor from the Chicago Study Club, who explains how it leads to better outcomes, especially for Class II patients. Stop going in blind into orthodontic cases! To learn how imaging drives treatment and what you could be missing without it, listen to Episode 722 of The Best Practices Show!

ACT Dental Team

April 22, 2024

There is more than one way to design the “perfect” smile. Recently, two of the best dentists in the world, Dr. Michael Apa and Dr. Christian Coachman, debated these concepts at the Designing Smiles event in Miami. To share some of his key insights and takeaways, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Christian Coachman, founder of Digital Smile Design, who explains how you can achieve great dentistry with digital or analog, and the importance of building a workflow that’s best for you. To hear more about the Designing Smiles event and the debate about great dentistry, listen to Episode 721 of The Best Practices Show!

ACT Dental Team

April 19, 2024