Released on: April 25, 2008, 6:20 pm

Press Release Author: The Wealthy Dentist

Industry: Financial

Press Release Summary: Approximately 40% of dentists are using dental consultants in
their practices, according to a Wealthy Dentist survey. Other dentists do not use a
dental marketing consultant or practice management consultant, either because they
have never tried or because they have been unimpressed with the results of
consultants they have used in the past.

Press Release Body: Most dentists are not currently using a dental consultant in
their practices. In a recent dental survey by The Wealthy Dentist, 41% of dentists
reported that their practices are currently using consultants for marketing and/or
practice management. Of the remaining 59% not using consultants, some have never
tried, whereas others have tried consultants in the past and been disappointed with
the results.

Rural dentists are distinctly more likely to use a consultant than suburban
dentists, who in turn are more likely to use one than urban dentists. The reasons
for this are unclear, but it may be that urban dentists are more able to rely on
high-visibility locations to attract new patients than their rural counterparts.
This could leave rural dentists more likely to seek the assistance of dental
marketing consultants.

A general dentist from North Carolina summed up what a dental consultant should
offer a practice: \"The consultant must design the program for me and coach me and my
office, not just pull something out of a can and say \'Here it is, I hope it fits,\' -
or worse yet, \'I did my part, you just wouldn\'t make the recommended changes.\' Each
practice is different and to work with a practice or an athlete, both parties
(doctor and consultant) must think outside of the box.\"

\"I have in the past used consultants, but not a one has ever been able to get me
more patients,\" complained a Connecticut dentist. An Iowa doctor echoed the feeling:
\"I have tried, but have not been satisfied as of yet.\"

Specialists were particularly likely to feel that consultants did not understand the
nature of their practices, a fact that may explain why specialists are less likely
to employ a dental consultant in their practice. \"I have tried using consultants,
but none came through for me,\" commented a pediatric dentist from Florida. \"Most do
not understand pediatric dentistry, and it was a waste of money.\"

A number of dentists like to shop around, employing a variety of resources to meet
their marketing and practice management needs. For example, one general dentist from
Alaska uses a combination of resources, including two CPA firms and a continuing
education group.

In addition to sponsoring weekly surveys, The Wealthy Dentist also offers dental
marketing consultant services. This left at least one doctor suspicious of the
motivations behind this survey question. \"Yawn,\" wrote a Michigan orthodontist.
\"Isn\'t this a subversive marketing ploy disguised as a question/survey? Pah-leeeze!\"

In response to that comment, Wealthy Dentist founder Jim Du Molin chuckled. \"Over
the years, I\'ve seen more marketing ploys than most dentists could imagine. Yes, I
have experience as a dental management consultant, but I find all the new clients I
need without using surveys as direct marketing. I\'m just fascinated to learn more
about what dentists think and how they run their businesses. I mean, dentists see 30
million Americans each month! How can you not want to know what they\'re thinking?\"


Web Site: http://www.thewealthydentist.com

Contact Details: Visit http://www.thewealthydentist.com for more surveys in the
areas of dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, edation dentistry, wisdom teeth,
braces, and dentures. Jim Du Molin offers a free weekly newsletter and dental
practice management advice.

Jim Du Molin
The Wealthy Dentist
415-435-3375