Australasian Dentist Issue 89

Category AustrAlAsiAn Dentist 119 say “to help take the guesswork out of some of the cases and to allow you feel confident with your diagnosis, here are some guidelines on when we refer work to the periodontist”. Once you’re confident that everyone respects your standards, you can now bring all the dentists together for mutual support. Get everyone to bring cases they want feedback on, or have one or two people present their cases at each meeting. You can make it as formal or informal as fits with your practice culture. i think this is one of the most satisfying bits of being in a practice with other dentists; the thrill that comes from non- judgemental discussion of cases and the mutually supportive culture that arises. Anyone who is right for your practice long-term will thrive, and you’ll find far fewer clinical inconsistencies within the practice. D ear Dr Toni, My OHT has got adult scope and is keen do more than “just cleaning teeth”. How do I know when they’re ready to work on my patients? Dr QN, SA. OHts can provide so many benefits to the practice, and it’s worth making sure that your systems support you getting the best out of them. Your question is a good one because it shows me that you’re committed to your own clinical standards and the best interests of your patients. My default recommendation is to always have them working for you for three months to give you the opportunity to check their work before they do adult Best praCtI es Q&a fillings etc. You can vary this a bit, but you need to know from their work history how much of this work they’ve done in the past, and also how recently they’ve done that type of work. some have done the training at uni, but haven’t had the chance to put their skills into practice and they’re not always aware how different private practice is from university courses. in short, only hand them patients once you have seen their work in real life and know that they have the ability to treat your patients consistently with your own standards. Give them small fillings to start with, and keep an eye on them until you’re confident in their work. i also have a rule when new OHts start with me: i get them to nurse for me for two days so that they can see how i do dentistry and how i communicate with patients. if you’ve hired well, they should be open to show you how keen they are to pick up your way of treating patients, and to learn from you. they should also be comfortable showing you their own skill so that you can start to hand more patients over to them. We have systems for mentoring OHts if you want to discuss them with me, and we also have courses on hiring if you need help with that. u For further information on Momentum Management, visit www.momentummanagement.com.au or call 1300 510 000 for details on short courses, Momentum’s Management Program, coaching packages, in-practice visits, or other ways in which Momentum can assist you. Dr Toni Surace the Managing Director of Momentum Management. Momentum is the premier dental practice management consultancy and training firm in Australia. Momentum has been empowering dentists in Australia and New Zealand to reach their professional, personal and financial goals for over 16 years. On average, Momentum clients increase production by 30-40% and achieve a 579% return on investment from the Momentum Practice Management Program. If you would like to learn more about Momentum Management programs, call 1300 519 000, and request a free 1-hour consultation with an experienced coach. “