Over the years I have been in literally thousands of dental practices, big and small, all over the country. I've been in the practices of “dentists to the stars” in New York and L.A., but I've also seen great practices in modest facilities in rural areas.

So what makes a great practice great? It really always boils down to three simple primary conditions:

1. A great practice needs a great dentist. I'm not talking about someone who is especially gifted. A great dentist can be any dentist who is excited and engaged by clinical possibilities, and who truly wants their patients to experience the best dentistry has to offer. They're always learning, always growing, and that spirit of uncompromising commitment sets the philosophical tone for the whole practice. Which leads to my next point ...

2. A great practice needs a great team. A great team believes in the dentist's vision and is inspired by that leadership to provide genuine care and caring. A great team also accepts responsibility for creating trust and value with patients. It's incredible how the right team attitude affects everything in a practice.

3. A great practice needs great patients. But here's the twist. Every truly great practice understands that they already have great patients, and that it's their job to find the greatness in them. They believe in the patients they have; they believe those patients deserve the best care possible and that it's their job – as a team – to show them the possibilities and create the right level of trust and value for every person who comes through the door.

That last one is especially important because practices that don't have this fundamental appreciation for the possibilities that lie within all patients always end up searching for “magic bullet” solutions. And believe me, there aren't enough stars out there for every dentist who wants to be a dentist to the stars.


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