Australasian Dentist Issue 92

46 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST TOOTH WHITENING Discover how teeth whitening can smooth out your ‘Lumpy Cash Flow’ T he global teeth whitening market will almost double by 2026 to close on *USD 8 billion. According to the **ADA, in Australia, one in five of your patients (the adult public) are considering whitening their teeth. For many practices, that is probably around 20%! And yet, most dental practices I speak with are still waiting for patients to ask them. Firstly, let us look at revenue streams. Froma principal dentist’s perspective, teeth whitening should not be seen as seasonal. If it is, it will only add to a practices' lumpy cash flow', which is not ideal for planning financial road maps. The demand for whitening is huge, and patients need more of your help. They are constantly bombarded with perfect images of celebrities with flawless smiles. Combine this with peer pressure, the selfie phenomena and now Zoom meetings, patients are even more motivated to whiten their teeth and improve their smiles. In doing so, they can look more attractive have more confidence and greater self-esteem. Improving a person's smile is not just because they have a big event coming up; they have an emotional problem. Secondly, the dental industry takes fantastic care of patients' oral health day after day. But, by not discussing their teeth whitening needs with their dentist, patients are risking their oral health. The ADA reported in 2020 that less than half of those considering whitening choose to seek the help of their dentist and a staggering 65% of them have no idea about the associated risks involved. With the hundreds of teeth whitening options available from numerous sources, many less than desirable for patients – or even illegal – it is essential that we can protect patients from the chance of swollen lips, burnt gums or worse. People seeking to whiten their teeth are unfortunately allowed to buy teeth whitening products online from retailers like Amazon, eBay, Alibaba andmanymore. Alternatively, they can physically walk in and purchase fromchemists, supermarkets, pharmacies, hairdressers, or beauticians. Who is checking their oral health or suitability for whitening, managing their sensitivities, manufacturing high-quality whitening trays, or even booking a recall? This is the value and the role of a dental clinician. It is why only dental clinicians are allowed to whiten people's teeth. To make matters worse, with the plethora of gimmicky whitening products (LED lights and other so-called wonder gadgets available), many that don’t work, we owe it to patients to ask them if they consider whitening their teeth. This will help themstopwastingmoney, and they will probably thank you later! Of course, teeth whitening is not clinically taught, and is not part of a dental degree. So how do dentists learn? Most are generally left to their own devices or follow manufacturers guidelines. Meanwhile, some constantly search for a secret ingredient that will magically transform their whitening results; they hop from product to product which can also build mistrust amongst patients. Whilst it's no one's fault, I have also discovered that many dental practices advertise teeth whitening and promote it on their social media channels. However, they still wait to be asked by their patients. I understand why this happens and have been told by over 2,500 dental practices during the last three years that these are the main reasons why: u there is a general lack of confidence in the results u inconsistencies with shade improve­ ment u increased sensitivities u not knowing what whitening gel to offer and why u how long to whiten the teeth for? u what strength of gel to prescribe? u teeth whitening isn't profitable If this sounds familiar, don't worry. I can share proven teeth whitening strategies to help you easily create a whitening centre of excellence in your dental practice in less than a week. Regardless of the whitening product of your choice, one whitening patient a day can be identified and then converted into a paying customer. If discussed correctly with patients, this can be mainly passive income with little clinical time. By following a set of proven whitening protocols, you can quickly learn how to provide your patients with more effective whitening, superior results, and less sensitivity, ensuring that you meet their expectations. As a dental practice, if you are not discussing whitening with your patients, you are probably leaving close to $100,000 per year if not more, on the treatment table. Would that help your lumpy cash flow? For more information on how you can easily build a highly effective and profitable teeth whitening centre of excellence in less than a week, click here to book a FREE 15 minute discovery call with me, Stephen Douglas https://www.expertwhiteningsecrets.com/ whitening-discovery-call , or call me direct on 0416 629015 and I will be there to help you. References *Mordor Intelligence Market Intelligence & Advisory ** Australian Dental Association By Stephen Douglas – Founder of The Whitening Project Stephen Douglas