Growing up, I often overlooked the significant wisdom my father gave me freely; and oftentimes unintentionally. You see, my father taught lessons through example. If "a person" was not paying attention, these lessons were easily lost. For example my dad did not have a lot of fancy tools. I would see him digging in the garden with a stick, or a hoe that was less than an inch wide in some places. I would ask if he would like a new hoe, or a fancy headlight to navigate in the garden after dusk. He would smile and shrug.
In today's dental world so many products come out, promising to decrease curing time, cut down chair time, and look better aesthetically with fewer steps. I want to be first in line to see this products at work, and test their effectiveness, yet it is also important to take a step back before making a significant investment in new technology. Take a moment to gather opinions from your dental team. How can this technology be implemented? Is training included in the original purchasing fees? Is the team willing to commit to the time involved in implementing the change? Bells and whistles are great, but when the smoke and lights die out, will this investment increase the bottom line or make you feel better about the practice in time? Ask yourself - where do I anticipate this product in my office in 3 months, 6 months, a year? If the answer is in the storage closet collecting dust, then perhaps the investment is better spent in other areas of the practice.
My dad passed away last month, yet I was lucky enough to pay attention (at least part of the time) to what he attempted to teach me. Although I will admit I was not the hardest outdoor worker of the eleven kids my parents had on the farm, the values my father passed on will live on in the way I care for my patients and the manner in which I conduct business. And do I think Dad would be proud? "Oh my gosh, Yes!"
In today's dental world so many products come out, promising to decrease curing time, cut down chair time, and look better aesthetically with fewer steps. I want to be first in line to see this products at work, and test their effectiveness, yet it is also important to take a step back before making a significant investment in new technology. Take a moment to gather opinions from your dental team. How can this technology be implemented? Is training included in the original purchasing fees? Is the team willing to commit to the time involved in implementing the change? Bells and whistles are great, but when the smoke and lights die out, will this investment increase the bottom line or make you feel better about the practice in time? Ask yourself - where do I anticipate this product in my office in 3 months, 6 months, a year? If the answer is in the storage closet collecting dust, then perhaps the investment is better spent in other areas of the practice.
My dad passed away last month, yet I was lucky enough to pay attention (at least part of the time) to what he attempted to teach me. Although I will admit I was not the hardest outdoor worker of the eleven kids my parents had on the farm, the values my father passed on will live on in the way I care for my patients and the manner in which I conduct business. And do I think Dad would be proud? "Oh my gosh, Yes!"
