Group Dental Practices - Your Choices?
We all know the world is becoming a more complicated place – technological advancements coupled with increased compliance, not to mention increases in input and materials costs. Furthermore, artificial intelligence does hold promise, but we still need human oversight. These factors have led to the demise of single-operator, boutique practices.
What is the status of group dental (multidentist) practices currently?
Group practices can be largely segmented into health fund-owned clinics, private group practice chains, as well as smaller individual group practices – some single practitioner practices remain.
Most of the group practice chains are modelled around health fund rebates (including the health fund clinics) or the vague concept of "family dentistry". Yes, because of economies of scale, they provide new, modern facilities which are populated by numerous dentists (who frequently do not have the desire to own their own practices), and appointment times are readily available.
However…
Modern equipment and facilities do not necessarily translate into focused, integrated quality dentistry. Yes, these group practices are compliant. However, they frequently lack a disciplined treatment philosophy that integrates all practitioners towards a common goal: DENTAL STABILITY.
You see, if your business model has developed around health fund rebates, which expire each year, I ask the question: Is dental stability a priority when the business model has developed a reliance on the patients renewing their health insurance rebates each year?
Belledental is gradually moving towards a group practice. Our point of difference is that all practitioners follow one treatment methodology, use the same materials, use identical techniques and identical treatment sequencing.
Why?
Because the treatment methodology I've developed over the past 30 years has proven to provide Dental Stability, and this is the most fundamental aspect to patients keeping their teeth for life with the minimum amount of treatment and therefore minimizing expense.
"IN FACT, ALL OF OUR PRACTITIONERS SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PHILOSOPHY AND IMPLEMENT IT DAILY.”
At Belledental – our belief is that the minimum amount of "touches" to your teeth is the best policy. Fewer touches, less cutting and integrated repairability lead to greater dental stability. In other words - teeth for life.
intouch contributor DR ALEX HUSZTI BelleDental
Alex has had a career focused on low-biologic cost reconstructive cosmetic dental care – common sense teeth for life.
