By Roger P. Levin, DDS

Orthodontics is under competitive pressures unlike anything we’ve seen in the past. Emerging trends are making it more challenging for orthodontic practice production and practices that don’t understand these trends will fall victim to them.

Emerging Trends
The rise of the following emerging trends is rapidly affecting orthodontic practice production:

• DSOs or corporate dentistry
• Aligner dentistry
• Direct-to-consumer orthodontic care
• Patients shopping for orthodontic services
• More orthodontists

By Roger P. Levin, DDS

When I lecture to orthodontic teams throughout the country, I often hear them express frustration about the fact that more referring doctors are doing their own orthodontic treatment. Understandably, this frustration can cause them to abandon focusing on general dentists as referrals sources. Why court the very people that you’re in competition with? However orthodontists must think of their referral marketing efforts in this way: The more things change, the more they stay the same. While it’s true that general dentists are increasing the amount of orthodontics that they provide, most orthodontic treatment is still supplied by orthodontic practices and referrals from general dentists are still very strong. So turning away from general dentists can be detrimental to maintaining a high-level of practice revenue.

By Roger P. Levin, DDS

Orthodontics has seen many changes throughout the past years. From changes in how referrals are made, to changes in technology, and marketing. Keeping on top of all of these trends is Dr. Roger P. Levin of the Levin Group. The Levin Group and Ortho2 have worked together since 2009 to ensure orthodontists are up to speed not only in the technology they use, but also in the trends and markets.

By Roger P. Levin, DDS

Orthodontists are experiencing increased competition and it’s not just coming from other orthodontists. More and more aligner treatments are being offered from general dentists and direct-to-consumer companies. This is having an effect on many orthodontic practices, but there are specific ways to protect the practice and maintain a highly successful future. Consider these five strategies to help protect your practice:

By Roger P. Levin, DDS

After you’ve been a practice leader for a number of years, it becomes clear that your best referral source is your patients. Getting patient referrals is an inexpensive and relatively easy way to ensure that your practice has a steady stream of new patients. So what will get patients raving about your practice? From the time a patient walks in the door until they leave, you have the opportunity to impress them and make them feel great. Dentistry is a service industry and how you treat patients is crucial to your success. But providing great customer service isn’t just simply about being nice. In fact, you should start to view customer service as a management system that has a process with clear objectives, which include increasing referrals from current patients.

By Nancy Hyman

Patient referrals come from a myriad of sources in today’s unique promotional climate: your business Facebook page, Facebook post boosts and advertising, Google advertising, and family, friend, and dental referrals all vie for attention in planning your marketing budget.

Practices formerly reliant on dental and internal referrals may discover that as patterns change referrals from Internet sources may not be completely sold on you and require a different approach. This blog will discuss three key points to wow the new (potential) patient and is applicable to all initial exams, including consumers unfamiliar with your wonderful benefits and services.

By Roger P. Levin, DDS

To ensure greater practice success in 2017, initiate a multi-faceted referral-generating program now—one that not only reinforces strategies already in place for bringing patients into your practice but also explores new opportunities for growth.

by Nancy Hyman

As an increasing number of practices opt to not reward for patient referrals, consider maintaining an active referral outreach and incorporating other areas in which patients may be rewarded.

By Nancy Hyman

Patient referral patterns continue to vex practices as professional referrals decline and Internet referrals become increasingly important, leaving direct-to-the-public promotions as an afterthought. Don’t take this important segment of practice growth for granted! In addition to a strong patient-to-patient and sibling program, consider increasing name identification by going directly to the source of school-aged children and adolescents.