{"id":11175,"date":"2023-02-06T16:00:29","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T22:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cainwatters.com\/digitalblogs\/?p=11175"},"modified":"2023-02-08T07:52:57","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T13:52:57","slug":"rise-above-dental-challenges-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cainwatters.com\/digitalblogs\/rise-above-dental-challenges-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Rise Above the Challenges in Your Dental Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

You can't just throw marketing dollars at this problem<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Just like 2021 before it, 2022 turned out to be another challenging year for dental practice owners. From a production standpoint, last year\u2019s numbers actually looked pretty solid. Production did tick down slightly from the stimulus-fueled highs of 2021 but was still above 2019 pre-pandemic levels.<\/p>

So why did 2022 feel <\/em>so challenging, overwhelming and exhausting?<\/p>

According to Gary Kadi, Speaker, Author and Founder of Next Level Practice<\/span><\/a>, what the industry felt in 2022 and is still feeling, is something he calls compounding circumstances.<\/p>

Sky-high inflation. Persistent staff scarcity. DSO consolidation confusion. Employee turnover. Lower profitability numbers. Last year had it all, and these issues don\u2019t look to be going away anytime soon.<\/p>

It all adds up to a uniquely challenging environment for dental practice owners to navigate, with no true blueprint for success.<\/p>

\u201cPrior to the pandemic, dentists faced one, maybe two major issues a year,\u201d says Gary. \u201cMost private practice owners could simply throw some marketing against the problem and muddle through.\u201d<\/p>

Things are different now, and Gary says today\u2019s turbulent environment represents a turning point for practice owners. Gone are the days of marketing your way out of a problem, adding more staff or changing a software system.<\/p>

\u201cSo much is out of the dentist\u2019s control right now at the macro level; they have to look inward to solve the problems facing practices today,\u201d says Gary. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy, but dentists need to make the fundamental changes to their business to survive and thrive in this tough environment.\u201d<\/p>

For many practice owners, that\u2019s a daunting proposition.<\/p>

Gary says step one of the process is to admit that changes are necessary. He calls it \u201cavoiding avoidance\u201d and admits it\u2019s one of the hardest things for a private practice owner to do.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cChange typically doesn\u2019t happen until the pain of what you\u2019re going through becomes worse than your hesitation to change,\u201d says Gary. \u201cKnowing when<\/em> is the right time to make a change, is a skill.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A skill that Gary says dentists need to develop quickly in this uncertain environment.<\/p>

\u201cIf there\u2019s ever been a time to embrace change, it\u2019s now,\u201d says Gary. \u201cThis year is not going to be pretty for practice owners who stay stagnant.\u201d<\/p>

Each dental practice requires changes unique to the individual practice, but Gary says a few are common across the industry, like staffing and inflation.<\/span><\/a> Regardless of your pain points, he says dental practice owners should focus on three things:<\/p>