Joe Hannan

A new ranking from WalletHub determines which the overall level of oral health in each state, using 23 indicators. The number-crunching gurus looked at the share of adolescents who visited a dentist in the past year, the share of adults who visited a dentist in the past year, and the cost of dental treatments, among other factors. WalletHub collected data to make these determinations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Census Bureau and the American Dental Association. 

Put the latest apps to work for you on your next vacation. GeoSure uses crowd-sourced data to determine whether a location is safe. Localeur will help you find restaurants and activities favored by locals. And Google Translate will help you break down any language barriers you may encounter.

The DMD Check-Up: Dental Therapy Controversies, Taking a Bite out of Crime

Massachusetts and Kansas are considering legislation that would permit dental therapists to work in each state. This news comes on the heels of a similar debate in Arizona. On a lighter note, a robbery suspect in Minnesota left behind a key piece of evidence: a full impression of his teeth.

Marketing to Millennials Requires a Different Strategy

Attracting millennials to your dental practice requires a tech-centric marketing strategy. Naren Arulrajah, founder and CEO of Ekwa Marketing, says that this generation wants instant information, delivered on their terms. Social media, email and text-based marketing are all critical components of a strategy that will reach this group, Arulrajah says.

Hinman Dental Meeting: What You Need To Know This Year

The Hinman Dental Meeting returns to Atlanta, Georgia, this year at the World Congress Center. The annual meeting, hosted by the Hinman Dental Society, will feature about 22,000 dental professionals from across the U.S. The theme of this year’s meeting is “The Changing Face of Dentistry.” It will feature more than 245 continuing education courses. The very first Hinman Dental Meeting took place in 1912.

Articles

Discover which states have the best oral health. Make your next trip a bit easier with handy travel apps. Find out about a bizarre dental crime in Minnesota. Improve your marketing efforts to reach Millennials. And prepare for this year's Hinman Dental Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending Feb. 24

One dentist’s viral video illustrates the power of the medium, and of social media to engage with dental patients. If you found yourself — with much of the rest of the world – wondering how to tap into that marketing ability, read on.

A U.K. based dentist struck social media gold this week with a 

viral YouTube parody of Ed Sheeran’s hit, “Shape of You.”

 As of posting this, Milad Shadrooh, better known as the “Signing Dentist,” had racked up nearly 90,000 views on YouTube with his video. Other than being supremely entertaining, the video underscores some important social media lessons for dentists — ones that have been highlighted in 

Social media is where your patients are, and to be successful on social media, you need to show your human side.

		I can no longer hear the song Shape of You without picturing that damn dentist singing in. If you haven't seen it, google it.

		My dentist better sing to me since I am coming in for an 8 AM appointment! 

Now, I know what you’re thinking: I’m not the best singer. But that’s OK! You don’t have to be. The most important takeaway for you as a dentist from the success of this video is that in order to succeed with your social media and video efforts, you can’t just sell patients dentistry. You need to let people in — let them know who you are, and who your team is. And if you are going to sell them dentistry, like Shadrooh did, you have to be funny!

You can make social media work for you and your practice. Here are some tips we’ve gleaned from experts to make that happen, including Mark Zuckerberg’s father, Ed Zuckerberg, D.D.S.

A celebrity dentist whose claim to fame was appearing on the now defunct Fox reality TV show, “

,” has relinquished her license to practice.

 reports that Sheri Worth, D.D.S., has surrendered her license, as of Feb. 22. Worth faced a disciplinary hearing after six patients accused her of negligence, incompetence, overdiagnosis, fraud and excessive treatment, the 

As of Thursday, a former patient is suing Worth for alleged “dental work (that) was ill-fitting, and that Worth ground (the patient’s) teeth with a dry drill, resulting in her needing root canals on otherwise healthy teeth,” the 

		Newport Beach celebrity dentist surrenders her license after complaints of negligence and fraud: A Newport Beach… https://t.co/1VSzxiLHHB

	— Los Angeles Best Of (@LosAngelesBests) 

 successfully sued Worth for $46,000 in 2010 after surgery to fix a “gummy smile” went wrong.

“According to the complaint, Worth improperly shaved off portions of the woman’s gums with a laser, enabling food and bacteria to lodge around her teeth,” the 

With his new, mobile office, a Plano, Texas dentist is looking to improve access to care.

, D.D.S., has created an office on wheels, capable of providing patients with cleanings, X-rays, extractions and cavity treatment.

		Plano dentist goes on the road: Mobile office offers convenient care https://t.co/QlZ0nOAlWY

	— Plano Star Courier (@planonewspaper) 

Texans, Fooshée says, often face commutes of an hour or more, and are sometimes faced with the dilemma of taking a day off of work, or forgoing dental care altogether. This mobile office allows him to deliver care to patients where and when they need it, the 

The news outlet says that local businesses coordinate with Fooshée, allowing him to park in their lots in order to treat patients. His mobile office can handle up to three patients at a time, the news office says.

A Kentucky dentist is accused of conspiring with another man to fraudulently obtain prescription drugs by stealing another person’s identity.

WPSD Local, an NBC affiliate, reports that Wesley Mills, D.M.D., 55, and David Clymer, 56, have been indicted after turning themselves in.

Mills has been charged with “two counts to obtain a controlled substance by fraud and two counts of tampering with physical evidence.”

Clymer, his alleged accomplice, faces “two counts of conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, six counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and two counts of theft of identity without consent.”

The news of these indictments follows another story reported by 

 last week that one in 48 people who are newly prescribed opioids become long-term users.

A U.K. dentist's viral video of an Ed Sheeran parody takes the internet by storm. What can dentists learn from this? It serves as a guide for tweaking your approach to social media and marketing. Plus, a celebrity dentist surrenders her license, and a Texas dentist has created a mobile dental office to better serve his community. Find out what other dental news stories are the buzz in the industry this week.

DMD Check-Up: What the 'Singing Dentist's' Viral Video Teaches Us

Chicago Midwinter Meeting attendees begin to arrive on Thursday, Feb. 23. Image source: Joe Hannan

Dentists from across the country converged in Chicago on Thursday, Feb. 23 for the Chicago Dental Society’s annual Midwinter Meeting, where they will look to improve their skills as dentists and practice leaders through Saturday, Feb. 25.

Leadership was a major focus of this year’s conference, which is expected to draw about 30,000 dentists and dental professionals. This conference theme is, “Leadership: Cornerstone for Success,” a particularly useful one for the business-minded dentist.

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Chicago Midwinter Meeting: Discover A Rich African American History

Practice leadership comes with its own set of challenges. You can’t just be a clinician. You have to also be a shrewd business person. Those challenges were on the minds of many of the speakers and in the continuing education topics that they covered.

“Leadership being an ability that either a dentist or anybody else is born with is a bit of a misnomer,” 

said Amy Morgan, CEO and owner of the Pride Institute

. Morgan sat down for a separate interview on her continuing education courses with 

 “Certainly, there are personality characteristics that lend themselves to charismatic communication or better influencing,” she said. “The fact of the matter is, no matter what your personality style is, one can and should aspire to higher-level leadership, because all leadership means is getting in front of somebody. Being willing and courageous enough to get in front of a business, a team, an issue, and with authenticity and genuine and understanding.”

Leadership was on the mind of Larry Emmott, D.D.S., as well.

“For years, the biggest challenges facing dentists are not, I believe, clinical challenges,” Emmott said in an interview with 

Emmott is the president of Emmott on Technology

, a company that helps dentists put tech to work for them in their practices.

“It’s not being a good dentist,” Emmot said. “It’s running your business. And that’s something we always find difficult or challenging. What’s made it even more significant in the last couple of years is technology. We’re bombarded by new technology in every way that tells us how to run our businesses in a more affective way, that helps us treat our patients in a more effective way. It’s understanding and using those technologies effectively, spending your money wisely and getting a good return on investment on that high tech. I think that’s a challenge for many dentists.”

The keynote speaker on Thursday, lecturing on the subject of leadership, was John McDonough, president and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks. The team has won three Stanley Cups during McDonough’s tenure.

“The intent of this year’s meeting is to enhance everyone’s leadership skills through a variety of classes that are offered fore each member of the dental team,” said CDS president Phillip Fijal, D.D.S. in a news release. “Our courses will focus on the team approach to the dental delivery system, allowing each member to improve both their clinical and interpersonal skills.” 

This year’s Midwinter Meeting includes more than 220 continuing education courses presented by 140 experts across a variety of fields, according to the CDS. The exhibit hall is hosting more than 700 exhibitors.

Joe Hannan, Dentist’s Money Digest managing editor: 

As dentists and dental professionals from across the country converged in Chicago for the annual Midwinter Meeting, leadership factored prominently in their thoughts on Thursday, Feb. 23. The theme for this year's Midwinter Meeting is Leadership: Cornerstone for Success. Continuing education lecturers provided Meeting-goers with the leadership skills they need for business success.

Chicago Midwinter Meeting: Business-Minded Dentists Focus On Leadership

The 11 Highest-Paying States for Dentists

The dental industry has been awash in good economic news lately. First, U.S. News & World Report named dentistry the best job in America for 2017. Prior to that, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected the dental job market to grow by 18 percent through 2024. Now, Insider Monkey has released its annual overview of the states where dentists are paid the most.

Special Report: The Rise of Dental Service Organizations in America

Dental service organizations — sometimes referred to as dental support organizations – are becoming increasingly common in dentistry today. The American Dental Association estimates that 7.8 percent of dentists now belong to one, contracting with a DSO to handle the business side of operating a practice so that they can focus on the clinical side. DSOs advocates say they allow dentists to focus more on caring for patients. Critics, however, are concerned about corporate interests.

Lichen Molecules Could Shape Future Dental Treatments

Researchers have identified a lichen that thrives in subarctic or arctic regions that contains several molecules that fight bacteria. It’s possible that these molecules could be used to treat dental issues, such as caries and periodontal disease. Two of the compounds the researchers discovered have never been identified on the planet before. One of the researchers said, “Lichens in the North are exposed to unique environmental stresses. We thought that these species might produce special molecules to cope with these very rugged conditions.”

Take Steps to Control Your Dental Practice’s Overhead

There are certain key indicators that your dental practice’s overhead may be out of control. First and foremost, after the bills are paid, and your staff has received payroll, is there any money left over for you? Linda Drevenstedt, R.D.H. and principal of Drevenstedt Consulting, says using a dental-specific CPA and equipping your practice management team with proper software will go a long way.

Security Concerns Will Keep Americans in the States for Vacation, Report Says

Security is the number one concern for U.S. travelers, according to Travelzoo, an online travel deals and booking site. As a result, a majority of travelers plan to vacation closer to home in 2017, according to Travelzoo’s Spring Travel Trends 2017. Popular intended destinations include beaches in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Your weekly roundup of the most popular stories from Dentist's Money Digest. Here, you'll discover the 11 states where dentists make the most money. Get an in-depth look at how dental service organizations are changing the world of dentistry. Find out how a lichen could improve future dental treatments. And understand why Americans will be staying at home for summer vacation this year.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending Feb. 17

For a short month, February has been packed with many dental industry news stories. Controversy over dental therapists is now making national news headlines. A bungled robbery results in a key piece of dental evidence being left behind at the crime scene. A Georgia dentist is headed off to jail for Medicaid fraud. And Ireland is coming to terms with its own set of senior oral health issues.

The role of dental therapists has been garnering a lot of attention within the dental industry lately. Most recently, Dentist’s Money Digest reported on the battle over 

. The issue, however, is now gaining the attention of the national news media.

This week, the Associated Press published a story that appeared with the headline, “

Would you let someone who’s not a dentist pull your teeth?

” The report explains how the debate has now surfaced in 

, where there appears to be a shifting stance toward dental therapists within the state’s dental community.

		Would you let a dental therapist, and not the dentist, fill your cavities? The proposal is out there. 

Christy Jo Fogarty, a dental therapist from Minnesota, explained her take on the issue this way: “We are not a silver bullet for helping access to dental care, but we are a great tool. … We have kids who don’t have to go to an emergency room for a toothache anymore.”

Kansas is considering similar legislation

 that would, supporters say, bring dental care to underserved areas.

Criminals leave fingerprints at crime scenes all the time. But full dental impressions?

		Police: Men rob St. Paul gold grill business, but leave behind mold of teeth 

 reports that a group of men are accused of robbing a Saint Paul store owner of cash. One of the men was being fitted for a grill, or a piece of gold jewelry worn over the teeth. The suspects neglected to take this key piece of evidence with them after leaving the crime scene. They also left behind contact information, as some of the other men had either been fitted for grills there, or were in the process of being fitted for them.

A Georgia dentist was sentenced to a year-and-a-half behind bars for defrauding the Medicaid program of nearly $1 million. The Atlanta Journal constitution reports that Oluwatoyin Solarin, D.D.S., filed false Medicaid claims. “The wealth she amassed through her scheme will now be forfeited and paid back to the government,” the AJC quotes U.S. Attorney John Horn as saying.

		Breaking: Atlanta dentist Oluwatoyin Solarin sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for $1 million Medicaid false claims scheme. 

	— AJC Investigations (@AJCInvestigate) 

 says she was born in Nigeria, West Aferica, where she first received her dental education and practiced for three years. She received her D.D.S. at New York University.

Anne Twomey, B.D.S, MSc, vice president of the Irish Dental Association, says that for Irish senior citizens, transitioning to an assisted-living facility can mean the end of their teeth. 

 explains that even seniors with healthy teeth often lose them within three months. The report attributes this to “the unregulated use of fortified high-sugar food supplements in these homes, which is causing ‘untold damage’ to the teeth of many patients.”

		Top dentist claims sugary foods and supplements bad for nursing home patients

The U.S. has its own difficulties to contend with when it comes to meeting the oral health needs of seniors. 

A report in the December issue of Health Affairs

 explored expanding dental coverage under Medicare and changing how care is delivered via the virtual dental home model.

 also found that seniors often skip dental care in assisted-living facilities, even when that care is provided at no cost.

Got a news tip? See something you’d like to have included in the DMD Check-Up? Email Dentist’s Money Digest managing editor Joe Hannan: 

Massachusetts and Kansas are considering legislation that would permit dental therapists to work in each state. This news comes on the heels of a similar debate in Arizona. On a lighter note, a robbery suspect in Minnesota left behind a key piece of evidence: a full impression of his teeth. 

The DMD Check-Up: Dental Therapy Controversies; Taking a Bite out of Crime

A new study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine casts new light on the severity of the opioid abuse crisis in the United States. Nearly one out of 48 people who are newly prescribed an opioid will become long-term users, the study’s lead author said.

 findings seem to indicate that the prescribing habits of doctors are a driver of the opioid epidemic. A patient who sees a doctor that often prescribes opioids is at a higher risk for long-term use than a patient who sees a doctor who shies away from the drugs, the data suggest.

RELATED: More Dentist’s Money Digest Opioid Coverage

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“These are sobering results,” said Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy management at Harvard Chan School, in a 

 from the school of public health. “Our analysis suggests that one out of every 48 people newly prescribed an opioid will become a long-term user. That’s a big risk for such a common therapy.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 

15,000 people in the U.S. overdosed on prescription opioids in 2015

. The most commonly overdosed opioids included methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone, the CDC says. Deaths are most common among people ages 25-54 years.

The study looked at emergency room patients, though there are obvious implications for dentists, too.

The prevalence of wisdom-tooth extraction puts dentists in a position where they're prescribing to adolescents, a demographic that's at-risk for hazardous behavior, says Paul A. Moore (D.M.D, PhD, MPH), professor of pharmacology, dental anesthesiology and dental public health at the University of Pittsburgh. 

"If that's the first time they've experienced an opioid, I think it gives us a responsibility to counsel those patients," Moore said. "We are in fact prescribing to adolescents and they are a special group that are potentially risk takers that are going to potentially misuse an opioid."

Moore also noted that dentists account for 11-12 percent of all prescriptions of immediate-acting opioids.

At the Yankee Dental Congress last month, David A. Keith (B.D.S., F.D.S.R.C.S., D.M.D.) spoke at length about the dentistry’s role in addressing the opioid epidemic

. Keith explained that dentists are the chief opioid prescribers for children and young adults ages 10 to 19. This is troublesome, according to Keith, because 70-80 percent of misused prescription opioids originate as legitimate prescriptions.

In October 2016, the American Dental Association adopted 

 for opioid prescription among dentists. 

"It gives us an opportunity to be a part of the solution," said Moore.

Researchers involved in the study looked at emergency room visits among a group of Medicare patients between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2011, a sample size of 215,678 patients. They identified patients among this group who received an opioid prescription, excluding methadone. From there, the researchers determined which study participants became long-term users. They defined long-term users as patients who received “180 days or more of opioids supplied in the 12 months after an index emergency department visit, excluding prescriptions within 30 days after the index visit.” Scrutiny of the data revealed a positive association of doctors who often prescribed opioids with patients who become long-term opioid users over the subsequent year.

This first-of-its-kind study examined the premise that addiction to opioids often starts with a prescription. The results “provide evidence that this mechanism could drive initiation of long-term opioid use through either increased rates of opioid prescription or prescription of a high, versus a low, dose of opioid. … Although causality cannot be established from this observational study, if our results represent a causal relationship, for every 48 patients prescribed a new opioid in the emergency department who might not otherwise use opioids, one will become a long-term user.”

Discover more Dentist’s Money Digest industry news coverage here

The study on the potential impact of doctors who frequently prescribe opioids was published Wednesday, Feb. 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine. It is believed to be the first of its kind, examining the validity of the assumption that addiction often begins with legitimate prescriptions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 15,000 people in the U.S. overdosed on opioids in 2015.

Study: 1 in 48 Who Are Newly Prescribed Opioids Become Long-Term Users

PHOTOS: An Orthodontic Practice So Cool You’ll Want Braces Again

Miriam T. Furlong, DMD, has created a homey orthodontic practice in Jackson, New Jersey. Many of her patients — she calls them guests in her practice introductory video – ask her where they can find some of the finishes she selected. The comfort and efficiency of her team also factored heavily into her choices.

A New Way to Stick to Your Exercise Routine While Traveling

 Expedia, the online travel site, recently launched Fitness Breaks, custom itineraries crafted by “travel influencers” that combine sightseeing and calorie burning.

6 Destinations Where You'll Find The Best Deals This Year

When planning your spring and summer vacations, consider Travelzoo’s Wow destinations, places where the global travel site says Americans will find the best value. Travelzoo based its picks on three trends that the site believes will influence travelers the most in 2017.

Chicago Midwinter Meeting: Travel Down the Chicago Beer Trail

 Chicago features so many craft breweries that the city hosts brew festivals, but none, alas, during the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting. But don’t worry, Midwinter Meeting attendees. There’s plenty of beer on tap and plenty of taverns to try. Consider these noted breweries and guided pub crawls.

WATCH: Create a Dental Practice your Peers Will Admire

Mayer Levitt, DMD, is president of the dental consulting firm, Jodena Consulting. Here he discusses what dentists should do to create a practice that’s admired by their patients and their peers.

These 5 stories were the most popular on Dentist's Money Digest last week.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending Feb. 10

It’s almost that time of year again. The 

Chicago Dental Society’s 2017 Midwinter Meeting

 is almost upon us. This year’s Meeting is shaping up to be an enlightening event for the business-minded dentist.

The theme for this year’s meeting, now in its 152nd year, will be “Leadership: Cornerstone for Success.” A new meeting feature are three all-day learning tracks. The conference kicks off with a learning track on the Business of Dentistry on Thursday. Friday's learning track will be The Basics Express: Things They Didn't Teach You in Dental School. The meeting will close on Saturday with A Day in the Life of the Female Dental Professional. Conference organizers have brought back live patient demonstrations this year and are offering attendees a virtual trade show bag containing offers from exhibitors. 

 will be on site to bring you continuing education coverage and video interviews with experts.

Since we tend to be more than a little dental-business obsessed, we’ll be covering many practice-management sessions. If you’re still on the fence about which sessions to attend, these might be of interest if you’re looking to elevate your practice.

The Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting

1. Empower Your Practice: Know Your Numbers:

 This session looks to give you a better understanding of what performance indicators to consider when evaluating your practice’s productivity. The lecturers will provide guidance on increasing collections and lowering accounts receivable.

2. Your Image/Your Brand/Your Success: Getting Referrals: 

As you know, dentistry is a referral-driven business. Generating referrals can be a subtle business. It involves not just what you say and do, but how you communicate. This session will offer practical tips on body language in addition to strategies for branding and social media.

3. Drama Queens, Pot Stirrers and Problem Makers: Transform Toxic Attitudes to Tremendous Attitudes: 

It’s a safe bet that every practice has at least one problematic employee. But how do you deal with them? Moreover, how do you transform them into a contributing member of the team? This session looks to offer answers.

Say you just made it out of dental school and you’re thinking about buying your own practice. This session will offer insights regarding what worked for dentists when they decided to make the switch to private practice. Dental school, unfortunately, does not prepare you for being a small-business owner.

5. Dentistry is a Business and You’re the Team Leader:

 This course should be a useful reminder for established, practice-owning dentists. As much as you’d like, you can’t just do dentistry alone. You need to run your business. This means you need to be a leader — not something you can learn overnight. But, this session should offer you a blueprint of where to begin.

6. Visionary Leaders Embrace Art & Science of Inspiring Change: 

Do you see yourself as the CEO, the leader, of your dental practice? You should. It’s up to you to inspire your team members to lead up and down the chain of command. This session will give you the skills “to coach, educate team members in order to inspire self-direction and top performance.”

7. Unlimited New Dental Patients: Marketing to Create a Super General Dental Practice: 

 According to the speaker, Michael Abernathy, DDS, corporate dentistry and increased dentist to population ratios are making finding and retaining dental patients critical to succeed. The session will “help you create a faucet of new patients.”

If you're still on the fence about which continuing education courses to attend at the Chicago Dental Society 2017 Midwinter Meeting, these are some promising-looking options for the business-minded dentist. You'll learn about marketing, new-patient acquisition, keeping your practice drama free, and which performance indicators to monitor for success. Dentist's Money Digest will be covering these Midwinter Meeting sessions if you cannot attend in person.

Chicago Midwinter Meeting: 7 Promising Practice Management Classes

"People tell us that they''ve admired the building from the outside," says Miriam T. Furlong, DMD. "We're often asked about the finishes and decor." All photos by 

Take one step into Miriam T. Furlong’s orthodontics practice and you’re greeted by a familiar feeling — the feeling of home. It’s not so much like stepping into a medical office as it is stepping into a living room, and that’s because the emphasis is where it should be: on the patient experience.

Furlong, DMD, operates her homey practice in Jackson, New Jersey. The open, inviting space — replete with a fireplace, refreshment station and all of the tech her teen and preteen patients could want — will make you want to be back in braces again.

“People tell us that they’ve admired the building from the outside, and that the inside is just as beautiful,” Furlong says. “We’re often asked about the finishes and decor; what type of flooring we have and our paint colors. Those who enter the treatment rooms like the modern technology and how smoothly things run.”

When you watch her practice’s guided video tour, Furlong doesn’t refer to the people who visit for treatment as patients. They are “guests.”

High tech meets high touch: The practice’s waiting area features computers for guests to browse the web while they await treatment. The computers are flanked by a modern gas-fueled, stone fireplace.

“Besides esthetics, comfort and space were important because our patients are usually accompanied by parents, siblings and/or friends,” she says. “All of our (patient) rooms have extra seating, and we have private rooms as well as semi-private chairs in an open-concept treatment area.”

The open-concept treatment area isn’t just a statement of architectural fashion. It also is highly functional. With operatory dividers that end at just about chair height, Furlong and her team can observe the treatment area from any location. Additionally, two-way mirrors that serve to open up the already spacious environment also allow Dr. Furlong and her staff to watch over the treatment area from either the laboratory, where they make some of their own retainers and other orthodontic devices, or the doctor’s private office space.

“Our workflow is out of the patient path so we can operate more efficiently,” she adds.

A second design priority is immediately obvious when you get the behind-the-scenes tour of Furlong’s practice: her team.

“My team is what makes the practice what it is, and I'm glad to provide a comfortable work environment,” she says.

She’s set aside space for a locker room, shower, laundry room, a kitchen and even a conference room, all to keep her team comfortable and operating at its best. The space, she adds, also brings in the dental community, as well as the greater community.

“We host continuing education events for other dental offices, and several local organizations hold their meetings in our conference room when we’re not using it,” she says. “Owning a business that helps serve the community in many ways is a great feeling.”

Cabinets of varying heights, capped with marble countertops, allow patients of all sizes to brush up before or after treatment.

If you’re looking to redesign your practice, Dr. Miriam T. Furlong, DMD, offers the following advice:

· Keep a running “wish list” and discuss it often with your team. Write down the things that you want to change and what you hope the practice to be in five-plus years.

· Learn about dental office design by reading books, newsletters and articles like this. 

· When you’re ready to start, find the necessary professionals (general contractor, office designer, architect, dental equipment supplier, IT specialist) and be sure that your contractor is familiar with local building codes. Hire reputable people and check references. 

· Establish a budget for your project and secure financing if needed. Expect the project to cost more and take longer than estimated. Be practical and plan for durability, easy maintenance, readily available replacement parts, if needed.

· Discuss how you plan to continue working during the remodeling process, and avoid miscommunication by holding meetings with everyone involved.

· Review every detail during the planning stage. Change orders cause extra time and expense.

· Things that hold up projects include waiting on equipment and/or supplies and coordinating work between your professionals. Much of that can be avoided with meetings. Waiting for inspections and permits can often cause delays.

· Stay involved in the process; always be available to answer questions and speak up when something doesn't seem right. 

A selfie station and accompanying prop supply help patients show off their new smiles.  

· Space design by Paul Jovanovski, LPSE, LLC

· General contracting by Joe Arneth, Joelaine Construction, LLC

· Dental technology coordination by Mark Kiefer, SK Tech Group

The open-concept treatment area has aesthetically pleasing clear sightlines that also serve a practical purpose: They allow practice employees to see the entire treatment area. 

Miriam T. Furlong, DMD, has created a homey orthodontic practice in Jackson, New Jersey. Many of her patients she calls them guests in her practice introductory video ask her where they can find some of the finishes she selected. The comfort and efficiency of her team also factored heavily into her choices.

PHOTOS: An Orthodontic Practice So Cool You'll Want Braces Again

 Find out which hotels made the cut in TripAdvisor’s annual ranking of the best places to stay in the U.S.

 Azamara Club Cruises is rolling out a new initiative to target Baby Boomers with deep pockets. The line sails to exclusive ports and provides passengers with extensive experiences on land.

How to Make a Lasting Impression on New Dental Patients

 Key factors to getting new patients through your practice’s door and keeping them coming back include making sure your website is structured appropriately, and training your entire staff to handle phone calls.

Tips for Retaining Your Dental Practice's Staff

 Mayer Levitt, DMD, is president of the dental consulting firm, Jodena Consulting. Here he discusses what dentists should be doing to retain staff members in their practices.

Make Your Dental Equipment Purchases Pay Off