Dentaltown December 2015 - (Page 16)

professional courtesy column What Grinds My Gears December is a busy month for many reasons. This is the time of year we rush to finish treatment so our patients can use their remaining insurance benefits, the time of year that we start setting goals for the next year, and preparations for "Festivus" are in full swing. Festivus was first introduced in an episode of Seinfeld in 1987, and my favorite tradition from Festivus is the "airing of grievances." In the spirit of the season, I will air some of mine. Festivus was first introduced parlor hates Domino's Pizza or the independent sandwich-shop owner hates Subway. The owners of mom-andpop restaurants put their heart and soul into the food they make every day and they see the franchise restaurants as factories producing the same meal in Cleveland, Atlanta and Phoenix. A Fest ivus For the Rest of Us in an episode of Seinfeld in 1987, and my favorite tradition from Festivus is the "airing of grievances." Big box docs Large group practices have been a hot topic in dentistry for more than 20 years. Also referred to as dental service organizations (DSOs), these large groups have many different business models. The underlying similarities include multiple locations, a unifying corporate structure and the promise of competitive fees. The attraction for creating these organizations is obvious-group buying power, better insurance reimbursements in some cases, and good profit margins. Sounds reasonable, but they are disliked by a high percentage of independent dentist business owners. Why? For many of the same reasons the owner of your local pizza This mass production can drive prices down, which consumers initially love, but the dilution of quality ultimately sends them looking for something new. McDonald's has always been the golden example of the burger on a large scale delivered consistently around the world. Today, we have Shake Shack, Five Guys and In-N-Out-all originally mom-and-pop establishments that are going nationwide. While some people have estimated that DSOs will represent 70 percent of dental offices by 2030, I maintain that there will always be room for the independent practices. In fact, you may one day thank these establishments for creating an environment where our patients crave the kind of service that can only be found in an owner-operated establishment. by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine 16 DECEMBER 2015 // dentaltown.com Continued on p. 18 http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown December 2015

On Dentaltown.com
HOWARD SPEAKS: What Your Offi ce Manager Needs to Do Right Now
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY: What Grinds My Gears
Continuing Education Update
Industry News
Restoring Deep Cavity Preparations
How Do You Separate the Teeth for Band Fitting of Space Maintainer?
Oral Systemic Health and the Big Three
HR Compliance for Dentists: Three Costly Assumptions
Oral Ulcerations: A Brief Review
Debunking the Bleaching Myths
Practice Solutions: DentiMax
Are You Scared of Being Your Best? How to Face Your Fears and Grow Your Business
Planting Your Practice: How to Find the Ideal Spot
When the Patient Refuses Orthodontic Treatment
Pass It On: Generosity in the Business of Dentistry
Handling the Gagging Population
TOWNIE CHOICE AWARDS 2015 Townies Have Spoken!
Ad Index
You Should Know: Dental Fix Rx
Poll
CE: Radix Entomolaris: Treatment of a Mandibular First Molar with Distolingual Root
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown December 2015