If you’re a dentist, one of the most important things to consider is your productivity. Fortunately for you, there are several ways that dentists can increase their productivity and thus hopefully reduce their wait times. From delegating tasks to your office staff to investing in a second operator chair, these tips can help.
Interested? Read on for more details.
1: Use Your Staff Wisely
One of the best ways to increase your dental practice efficiency is by making better use of your staff members. Dental assistants and hygienists often have shifts that work well with early morning or late evening hours that might go otherwise unused under regular circumstances.
One of the most important things for dentists is to have one dental assistant for every dentist in their practice. While this may sound like an obvious conclusion, many dentists hardly utilize these rules. By having one dental assistant for every dentist, you can increase the efficiency of your office and reduce downtimes as well.
2: Develop Your Staff
Another important thing to consider is the development of your staffs’ skills and training requirements. This can also significantly increase your productivity levels. As a dentist, you should keep track of all of your staff members, noting any issues or outstanding concerns you may have for each of them.
For example, if one dental assistant has a difficult time with insurance companies and is often busy on the phone dealing with them, then it’s probably not the best idea to have that particular person working in your practice on their own. Instead, consider delegating other tasks to that individual, such as inventory management and so on.
3: Streamline Your Practice
While not all dental practices are alike, there are several ways that you can streamline your dental practice. In other words, it’s a good idea to completely re-evaluate your office and look for ways to improve efficiency. After all, a streamlined dental office can reduce wait times and make it more likely that your patients will be dealt with efficiently and effectively.
One of the best things to consider as a way to streamline your office is the use of second operator chairs in your practice. This may seem like an expensive move on the surface, but most dentists can attest that they’re well worth the cost thanks to their ability to significantly reduce wait times for patients.
4: Invest in a good maintenance schedule
If you’re going to invest in the foundation, such as second operator chairs, then you need to realize that ensuring you protect your equipment from mechanical breakdowns and wear and tear is essential.
One of the best things you can do is to invest in a good maintenance schedule. By investing in a professional cleaning and repair schedule, you can ensure that your equipment will last longer and require less downtime. While this may be more expensive than doing it yourself or letting the dental assistant handle it, the benefits to your practice from having your equipment last longer and operate more efficiently will be worth it.