Dentists Need To Work Smarter Not Harder

Media Release

12th September, 2008

Dentists Need To Work Smarter Not Harder To Keep Up With Patient Demands

New Zealand’s dentists need to work smarter not harder, the profession’s conference meeting in Rotorua was told yesterday.

Visiting US dentist and author, Michael Wahl, told the biennial conference of the New Zealand Dental Association that a shortage of dentists and allied workers meant that the profession needed to simplify and streamline its services if it was to meet patients’expectations.

He said: `We can learn a lot from successful franchise businesses about providing a consistent level of service and systemising our work so that we practise better, smarter and more stress-free dentistry.’

Dr Wahl added: `We need to show that we value our patients’ time, that our practices look good and that we are ready to see patients when they want to be seen. If it’s in the patient’s mind that they have an emergency then it is a dental emergency and it’s no excuse to say you are fully booked.’

Lumino The Dentists’ managing director, Andy Tapper attending the meeting on behalf of New Zealand’s largest dentistry group commented: `Dentistry around the world is going through a revolution. This traditionally fragmented small practice profession is fast turning into an industry where practice groups are the norm. We believe that this is the future of dentistry in New Zealand and more and more practices are joining our network. `When a practice joins us we integrate them into our centralised systems behind the scenes while the practice carries on doing the business as usual.

‘We are also trying to change the negative perception that many New Zealanders have of the dentist’s chair. By providing an exceptional level of personal care and using modern pain relief treatments, we take the stress and the stigma out of going to the dentist. There is now nothing standing in the way of obtaining that perfect smile.’

ENDS

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