It is definitely very good provided we do few things right. What is required is dentistry should become ‘organized’ in the country. We must have a system in place where every practicing dentist is registered with Dental council. This will help in identifying the quacks and stopping them from practicing substandard dentistry.

Every practicing dentist must become member of professional organization i.e. Indian Dental Association. This would also help in professional body having better say in policy making related to this field.

We should have standard protocols for standardization of dental clinics as well as quality of every dental procedure carried by dentists. This would help in reducing malpractices and substandard dentistry which ultimately enhance our image as professionals.

The long pending issue of dental insurance should be in effect as soon as possible. This would facilitate addressing the above issues at a rapid pace.

• What kind of CE should a dentist take?

Every dentist should focus a lot on continuing education programs. One commonest mistake dentists make while doing this is they concentrate only on clinical subjects. One must remember that your clinical expertise would be useful ONLY if you have patients in your clinic and moreover if they accept your treatment plan. Therefore learning the art of practice management, effective marketing and financial management is a must in order to grow your practice at a faster pace. This simply can’t be ignored. So maintain the balance to get best results.

• Some tips to dentists who are depressed?

There’s no need to get depressed at all. This world is full of opportunity and dentistry is no exception. Just get your basics right and have patience. In my opinion, the best of dentistry is yet to come in India but only for those who are prepared for it. So prepare yourself well and yes – Never give up…no matter what!

• Do you feel that smart phones, laptops, tabs on the dentist’s desk distract the dentist & is a hindrance in effective dentist-patient communication?

Yes. Remember, technology is for us and it is not vice versa. Use it wisely.

• Do you feel discount coupons help in practice growth?

Not too much in our country. It is a standard practice in the western world.

• Your comments on the current Indian dental CE scenario?

It is doing very good. We have few of the finest mentors of the world in every fraternity of dentistry. We are also at par with the world in almost every clinical field of dentistry. Dentists in our country should grab this opportunity to learn from these stalwarts in order to grow at exceptional pace in their practices.

• Every dentist wants to conduct CE courses. Your comments?

Hahaha…this is true, unfortunately! I again want to quote Warren Buffet who says, “It is only after the tide gets over; everyone comes to know who was swimming naked”. In the longer run, only those who have quality will survive and this is it. So while enrolling for any CE program, always go for the best mentors and learn the best, irrespective of the cost you have to pay for that because you pay only once but the skill is useful for lifetime.

Day in and day out I am being asked by dentists all over India regarding stagnating professional receipts. Here are my stary thoughts on the issue.

Do not curse yourself too hard if your professional receipts are stagnating. While stagnating professional receipts is a serious cause of concern, note that the increase in the number of dentists in a particular locality means that the professional receipts are going to stagnate.

So if your professional receipt are stagnating in spite of increase in number of dentists it means that you have defended yourself from competition.

That does not however mean that you just sit in your clinic twiddling your thumb waiting for the professional receipts to increase.

There has to be robust growth year after year, if not quarter after quarter.

 Every situation, every dentist and every locality is different. It requires perseverance, application of mind and the help of a practice mentor to sort out the problem of stagnating professional receipts.

Finally professional receipts must grow year after year at a rate commensurate with inflation. If they are not, dental surgeons must take professional help.

Reagrds,

Dr. Veerendra Darakh