Need an Extra Hand?

Stephanie Botts, RDH, BSDH, CEAS Picture a hygienist using their power scaler with no assistance, trying to scale and suction themselves. Or an assistant placing fillings alone. Or a dentist prepping a tooth for a crown while their assistant helps answer phones up front. Sound familiar? Most dental clinicians will agree that working in dentistry is challenging. Numerous stressors placed on us have only intensified since the onset of the pandemic. Due to the mass exodus of clinicians out of […] Read More...

Henry Schein Acquired Midway Dental: What This Means for Independent Dental Solutions Members

As many of you are aware, at the end of August, Henry Schein announced it had acquired Midway Dental. The acquisition provides Midway Dental customers with access to an expanded portfolio of products and a larger distribution network. However, the announcement left Independent Dental Solutions (IDS) members wondering: “What does this acquisition mean for us?”   First, we want to start by saying that IDS is not going anywhere. Moving forward, just as we did with Midway Dental, we will […] Read More...

Staying in an Operational Rut Costs More Than You May Think

The six most expensive words a dental owner could say are, “we’ve always done it that way”. As the saying goes, the one thing that’s constant in life is change. Whether it’s shifts in the needs of your community or industry-wide regulatory changes, it’s important that your practice continues to evolve as well. While practice owners know this, putting it into action is not always so straight-forward. Sometimes, you may not know what to do, other times a lack of […] Read More...

How Search & Display Ads Work Together

        While they each have their own uses, search and display ads work best when they complement each other. Here’s how: Display ads can increase the effectiveness of search advertising. How can someone search for your business or confidently click on your ad if they don’t recognize your business in the first place? Display advertising helps drive that awareness and helps the community get to know you. The key metrics you should monitor when running display ads include: […] Read More...

Build Your Practice’s Brand: Part 2

Previously, we talked about how to create your practice’s mission statement and logo and determine your brand voice/personality. Now that these things have been established, let’s talk about how to implement them. Here are 5 ways to incorporate your brand into your marketing: Create a website for your practice Now that you have a logo, established brand colors, fonts, design elements, and a brand voice to guide you, you have all the tools needed to begin building your website.  Website design […] Read More...

Build Your Practice’s Brand: Part 1

No matter what industry you’re in, in order to ensure your business stands out, brand is everything. There are probably many dental offices that offer services similar to yours. So, what makes a potential patient choose one practice over another? What drives patient loyalty? To engage on social media, to wait weeks for an appointment when schedules are full, or choose to pay more for care from a specific provider? A big part of the answer is brand identity. Your […] Read More...

Optimize Your Clinical Workflow in 5 Easy Steps

Your team is the heart and soul of your practice, and right now many of them are taking on additional responsibilities due to the ongoing labor shortages. The added workload likely has some of your staff feeling overwhelmed by their day-to-day responsibilities. As an independent dental practice owner, you’re responsible not only for patient care, but the practice operations and wellbeing of your staff, too. We know that for your practice to grow, you need to identify ways to optimize […] Read More...

Protecting Your Dental Practice from Inflation

Inflation is impacting nearly every aspect of our lives, and your dental practice expenses are no exception. As costs continue to rise, it’s important to have a plan to limit the financial impact on your practice. Here are three ways to minimize the effects of inflation on your bottom line:  1.Controlling your overhead A great way to do this, is to be more proactive about any larger purchases you may need to make. Start by assessing your current equipment (including […] Read More...

IDS is the Preferred Supply Program for the Louisville Dental Society

Independent Dental Solutions (IDS) and the Louisville Dental Society (LDS) are proud to announce their new partnership, and are excited to work together to offer comprehensive support for independent dental practices throughout Louisville and the surrounding communities. The LDS strives to help build connections – connecting Louisville’s dentists to the community and to one another. This includes community service events including free dental clinic day and free dental screenings throughout the year and the Smile Kentucky! Program, which provides free treatment to elementary children without dental […] Read More...

4 Ways to Maximize Your IDS Membership

Whether you’re new to IDS, or it’s been a while since you’ve checked out all Independent Dental Solutions has to offer, we’re sharing tips on how to get the most from your membership:   Read More...

Independent Dental Solutions Is The New Preferred Supply Program for the Maine Dental Association

Independent Dental Solutions (IDS) and the Maine Dental Association (MDA) are proud to announce their new partnership, formed from a mutual desire to provide comprehensive support for independent dental practices throughout the state of Maine. The MDA strives to serve as a valuable resource and trusted partner for its members, helping dentists stay up-to-date on the latest legislative and industry news, connect with other members, gain access to continuing education programs and save money on supplies and other purchased services needed to operate their […] Read More...

How to Weigh Your Options When Considering Transitioning Your Practice

It’s no secret the dental industry is not currently set up to provide adequate support for private dentist owners as they prepare to transition their practice, unless they’re willing to give something up – typically either their hard-earned equity or clinical autonomy.  Neither trade-off sounds appealing for most independent dentists who have spend their career dedicated to their practice. Many are left wondering how to weigh their options and ensure they receive the maximum financial benefit they’ve earned over the […] Read More...

Positioning Your Practice for a Successful Transition: Why Cost Management & Practice Profitability Matter

As an independent dental owner, you’ve spent your career devoting your time, energy and resources into your practice. While it might be tempting to coast into retirement, it’s more important than ever to focus on cost reduction and efficiency efforts for your practice. This will ensure your practice is best positioned for a transition and that you’ll receive the maximum financial benefit from an eventual sale. Effectively (and sustainably) increasing your practice profitability requires a dual-approach: Maximizing productivity & reimbursement […] Read More...

Ways To Boost Your Profitability Through An Effective Supply Chain Strategy

Brian Heyndrickx, Independent Dental Solutions Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Prior to launching Independent Dental Solutions (IDS), a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) for private dental practices, I worked in medical distribution for more than 20 years. Like many other industries, medical offices, surgery centers and hospitals rely on an effective supply chain and procurement strategy to manage their operating expenses and stay competitive within the market (I define supply chain and procurement as everything a dental practice needs to run […] Read More...

What You Should Know About GPO’s

Although group purchasing organizations (GPOs) have been around for over a century and are common in the medical industry (98% of hospitals in the US are belong to a GPO), they have only begun to gain traction with dentists over the last few years. With many private dental practices looking for ways to reduce overhead costs and stay competitive in an increasingly DSO/corporate dental market, GPO’s can provide significant savings opportunities and practice support. Below are answers to common questions […] Read More...