volume 1 issue 2

North Texas

Dentistrya business and lifestyle magazine for north texas dentists

Dr. MelissaRozasGrowing Great Smiles by Shaping Great Attitudes New BCD Dean

Dr. Lawrence E. Wolinsky

Cornerstones of SEO

Dispelling the TaxDeferral Myth

Estimating Betweenthe LinesDesigning and Building a New Practice

VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 2

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ON THE COVER

Melissa Rozas, D.D.S.Growing Great Smiles by Shaping Great Attitudes

5

14

North Texas

Dentistry

FEATURESBAYLOR COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY

Dr. Lawrence E. Wolinsky moves from California coast bringing leadership, research skills in tow

MONEY MATTERSDispelling the Tax Deferral Myth

One of the most common investment myths centers around tax deferral

ESTIMATING BETWEEN THE LINESDesigning and Building a New Practice

Keep obstacles commonly encountered while designing and constructing

a new practice from becoming problems

PRACTICE MARKETINGCornerstones of SEO

A look at some of the best SEO practices to ensure that your website is

optimized for maximum visibility to the search engines

COMMUNITY NEWSNorth Texas Give Kids a Smile

A collaborative partnership approach to improving access to dental care

for underserved children

SMILES IN THE SPOTLIGHTA Case Presentation

In North Texas Dentistry’s inaugural case presentation, Dr. Luis Pérez

presents a full fixed porcelain implant case

PRACTICE MANAGEMENTOne Plus One Equals Three

Good communication could be the best medicine for your practice

THE WINE CELLARA Primer on Sauvignon Blanc

White wine lovers would be well-served to try one of the many wines made

from the Sauvignon Blanc grape

16

19

6 COVER STORY:Growing Great Smiles by

Shaping Great Attitudes

Dr. Melissa Rozas believes that a great

smile begins with a positive impression,

great customer service, and a fun day at

the beach.

20

www.northtexasdentistry.com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 3

22

COVER Photo: Ray Bryant, Bryant Studios

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30

North Texans have endured soaring tem-

peratures, drought conditions and destruc-

tive fires this summer. The beginning of fall

has never been more welcomed. Cooler

temperatures, mums, pumpkins and foot-

ball make this a wonderful time of the year.

This issue of North Texas Dentistry is

packed with lots of great stories and infor-

mation. Dr. Melissa Rozas’ pediatric den-

tal practice is this issue’s featured cover

story. Dr. Rozas and her team are ener-

getic and fun and have perfected making

a trip to the dentist a great experience for

our youngest patients.

I am excited to introduce a new feature

for North Texas Dentistry, Smiles in

the Spotlight. These case presentations

will highlight challenging cases presented

by leading dentists in North Texas.

Prosthodontist Dr. Luis Pérez presents

our inaugural case. Contact North Texas

Dentistry if you are interested in con-

tributing to Smiles in the Spotlight.

In a continuing effort to highlight “giving

back” to the underserved dental popula-

tion of North Texas, Community News

spotlights The North Texas Give Kids a

Smile program. This program is serving

the needs and improving the lives of

many young children.

It is time to turn our thoughts to the

Southwest Dental Conference being held

January 12-14 at the Dallas Convention

Center. North Texas Dentistry is already

working on the production of the

Convention Issue for the 2012 SWDC.

Make your plans NOW to promote your

business or service to the North Texas

Dental Community through print adver-

tising, custom profiles and special fea-

tures. Our team can make your marketing

dreams a reality!

If you have not already done so, visit the

new website of North Texas Dentistry

www.northtexasdentistry.com. Created

and maintained by Bullseye Media, the

site features the Digital Editions of North

Texas Dentistry, highlights its sponsors

and offers marketing information. Let me

know your feedback on North Texas

Dentistry by leaving a comment.

Thanks to all of you who support North

Texas Dentistry and make its publication

possible!

Keep smiling and have a great day!

LuLu Stavinoha, RDH

Publisher

[email protected]

(214) 629-7110

from the publisher

Publisher | LuLu Stavinoha

Photographer | Ray Bryant, Bryant Studios

Contributing Writers | Jenny Fuentes, Tina Cauller,

Steven M. Lugar, Brian Hale and Stephen Lease,

Josh Lomonaco, Dr. Luis R. Pérez, Dr. Richard V.

Lyschik, Kim Clarke

Although every effort is made to ensure the

accuracy of editorial materials published in North

Texas Dentistry, the publisher cannot be held respon-

sible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its

contributing authors. Copyright 2011. All rights

reserved. Reproduction in part or in whole without

written permission is prohibited.

Advertise in North Texas Dentistry

For more information on advertising in North Texas

Dentistry, call LuLu Stavinoha at (214) 629-7110 or

email [email protected]. Send written

correspondence to North Texas Dentistry, P.O. Box

12623 Dallas, TX 75225.

North Texas

Dentistry

NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com4

North Texas Dentistry Retraction

In Volume 1, Issue 1, North Texas Den-

tistry mistakenly indicated that Dr. David

Canfield is the Coordinator of Pain and

Anxiety Control at Baylor College of Den-

tistry. He was formerly the Coordinator of

Pain and Anxiety Control at Baylor Col-

lege of Dentistry but is not currently asso-

ciated with the College, nor is he on the

faculty. We apologize for any misunder-

standing.

For 30 years, Dr. Lawrence E. Wolinsky

has contributed knowledge and leader-

ship to academic dentistry. On the one

hand, he’s delved into research — leading

projects that explore plant compounds’

plaque-inhibiting effects and helping

develop the antimicrobial gel known as

Atridox®, which aids in periodontal dis-

ease management.

On the other, his leadership roles within

academic administration have positively

impacted dental students and faculty.

From 2008 to 2011 he served the UCLA

School of Dentistry as associate dean of

academic programs and personnel. He

was interim chair of the school’s oral

biology and medicine division from 2005

to 2007.

It’s a career that, until now, has tran-

spired almost exclusively on the west

coast. Now, after a move 1,400 miles

across the country, Wolinsky seems

poised for what lies ahead as he settles in

as dean at Texas A&M Health Science

Center Baylor College of Dentistry.

“I am looking forward to continuing the tra-

dition of excellence that the Baylor College

of Dentistry and the Texas A&M Health

Science Center share,” Wolinsky says.

Dr. Nancy Dickey, president of Texas

A&M Health Science Center and vice

chancellor for health affairs for the A&M

System, offers her own vote of confidence.

“Dr. Wolinsky brings years of experience

across a variety of roles — roles which led

him to seek the position of dean,” Dickey

says. “He is committed to excellence in

research and innovation in education;

both goals are consistent with the

TAMHSC’s overarching goals.”

This August, after more than a decade as

dean, Dr. James S. Cole stepped down

from his post. Wolinsky began his duties

as TAMHSC-BCD dean Sept. 1. In his

new role, it’s likely he’ll draw from those

years of academic experience, which

began with his role as professor of oral

biology, having joined UCLA’s dental

faculty in 1980.

Through many years in various roles,

Wolinsky helped lead UCLA’s dental

school through a successful reaccredita-

tion and created a mentorship program

for junior faculty. On the research front,

he also assisted with the creation of

Enamelon®, a remineralizing toothpaste

designed to reverse early tooth decay.

Wolinsky attended Tufts University

School of Dental Medicine, where he

earned his dental degree. He obtained

his certificate in periodontology from

UCLA and a doctorate in synthetic

organic chemistry from the University of

California, San Diego.

Founded in 1905, Baylor College of Dentistry

in Dallas is a college of the Texas A&M Health

Science Center. TAMHSC-BCD is a nationally

recognized center for oral health sciences

education, research, specialized patient care

and continuing dental education. The

TAMHSC serves the state as a distributed,

statewide health science center that is present

in communities throughout Texas.

Eastward BoundWolinsky moves from California coast bringing leadership, research skills in tow

by Jenny Fuentes


Melissa Rozas, D.D.S.Growing Great Smiles by Shaping Great Attitudesby Tina Cauller


Comfort and fun are the underlying goals of the design of Dr. Melissa Rozas’ Coppell office. The reception area feels more like a home than an office,

with cozy seating and an interactive play table for tots. Palm trees and orchids give the office a tropical feel.

cover feature

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A Day at the Beach

Who says going to the dentist is no day at the beach? For

Melissa Rozas, D.D.S. and her pediatric dental patients, it is!

Dr. Rozas, originally from Galveston, has transformed her new

office with beach and surf themed accessories, ocean colors,

murals and artwork, and even the surfboard she used as a young

teen. “I love the ocean and I’d choose the beach over nearly any

other vacation place,” she notes. “I’ve always found the beach

to be relaxing, and I wanted to bring some of the fun and sooth-

ing qualities that I associate with the beach to my office.” Not

only is the office beautiful, but her beach theme is appealing to

all, including tots, teens, and adults.

The concept for this unique office actually began more than four

years before construction, according to Priscila Swearingen,

office manager. “I began working with Dr. Rozas when she first

opened the original office in Coppell in 1998. While we were

there, we continually collected ideas and refined our vision for

the new office, which opened in 2006. By the time she was ready

to begin construction, we knew exactly how we wanted the office

to be designed in terms of its look, feel, and patient flow. All the

planning paid off, and the office is virtually perfect.”

Beach may be what you see, but comfort and fun are the under-

lying goals of this design, and it is right on the mark. Palm trees

and orchids give the office a tropical and spa ambiance. The

reception area feels more like a home than a dental office, with

cozy seating and an interactive play table for tots. Family mem-

bers can watch a movie on the flat screen television, or enjoy a

cool drink of bottled water at the “tiki hut”, surrounded by a

handpainted mural of a beach scene complete with a vintage

Woody. Seating in the “hut” can be used for kids to do home-

work or for parents to work on their computer. Dr. Rozas even

put a wireless internet connection in this area for working par-

ents to catch up on emails while their children are in treatment.

In the “Brush Up” area, a large mirror encircled by seashells is

mounted over three sinks, each at a different height to accom-

modate patients of all ages. The adjoining “Shark Shack”

houses arcade games and serves as a “hang out” for tweens and

teens. A saltwater tank sparkling with brilliantly colored fish

stands in the center of the area. Every corner of the office,

including the treatment rooms, is brimming with beach para-

phernalia, signage, and souvenirs.

Designing an Experience

The treatment rooms are each separated from the hygiene bay

by glass, making the entire area open and bright. “Patients and

parents alike appreciate being able to see their surroundings,

and the feeling of openness generates a sense of security,”

explains Dr. Rozas.

In the center of the hygiene bay stands an enormous sand castle

sculpture created by a local artist. The ocean-blue floors and

ceilings both feature liquid-like curves evocative of the sea.

Dr. Rozas came to appreciate the potential to create a richer

experience through great customer service while working at her

family’s Galveston seafood restaurant as a teenager. Not only

did she learn managerial skills and employee management —

she also absorbed the invaluable lesson that there is no one

more important than your customer. Her grandmother’s devo-

tion to excellent customer service and making guests feel wel-

come and valued made a lasting impression, which is apparent

in her approach to patient care.

In the brush-up area, a large mirror encircled by seashells is mounted over three sinks, each at a different height to accommodate patients of all ages.


Dr. Rozas’ team’s goal is to make each patient feel welcome and valued at

every appointment.

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It helps that Dr. Rozas herself has a childlike sense of fun. And,

at just 4’ 11”, she is nearly indistinguishable from her patients

at first glance. Dr. Rozas finds that her diminutive stature has

another advantage — she is not at all imposing or threatening

to her young patients.

A visit to Dr. Rozas is like an educational birthday party, with

festive goodie bags, stickers and tooth-friendly toys

that are dispensed through a “treasure tower” that

takes only Dr. Rozas’ gold coins. Rewards can be

powerful modifiers of behavior. Dr. Rozas finds that

fun, positive incentive programs can often effectively

curb unhealthy habits like thumb-sucking without

the need for an appliance. Even surrendering a paci-

fier can earn a reward. Children and teens with good

oral hygiene and no cavities, earn admission into the

No-Cavity Club, and receive a chance to win a gift

certificate to a store or movie theater.

Seasonal contests and fun games are abundant at

Dr. Rozas’ office. Kids may win tickets to Hawaiian

Falls or Main Event for guessing the weight of a

pumpkin, or estimating the number of seashells in a

jar. Priscila notes, “Instead of dreading a visit to the

dentist, our patients look forward to their visits,

and actually get jealous if a sibling gets to come and

they don’t.”

Sammy the Shark is not only a good friend of Dr.

Rozas, he is also the office mascot. When Sammy is

not swimming in the sea, he enjoys teaching children

how to take care of their teeth. His favorite pastime

is working with Dr. Rozas’ hygienists and assistants,

The Smileguards, as they visit local preschools and

elementary schools, putting on a fun-filled edu-

cational program year-round. Dr. Rozas is proud

to say that more than 1,200 children take the

“Smileguard Pledge” each year, promising to

have good oral hygiene habits and make healthy

food choices. Sammy also enjoys putting on

drawing contests and “Sammy sightings”

throughout the year.

As the mother of two children, Bryce and Lauren,

Dr. Rozas is intimately familiar with children’s

need to feel safe and secure, and quickly earns

their trust. None of the rapport she builds is acci-

dental. “We give our patients choices at every

turn, from the color of balloon animal or tooth-

brush they want to the flavor of toothpaste. This

provides a feeling that they are in control of the

situation, which can be very comforting to a child

in an unfamiliar setting.”

Parents are invited to relax in the reception area

while their child is examined, although the treat-

ment area is clearly visible through the windows. Dr. Rozas

explains, “Allowing a child over the age of three years to go back

to the treatment area without being accompanied by Mom or

Dad demonstrates trust, and the child is likely to take their lead.

We always invite the parent back after exams and treatment to

discuss our findings and view radiographs together. If treatment


Dr. Rozas’ staff has been handpicked for their extraordinary skills with parents and children. The front

office staff, led by Office Manager Priscila Swearingen, are skilled in both clinical and business

operations of the practice. Pictured from left: (back row) Kay, Karen, Jamie, and Tammie;

(front row) Roxanne, Priscila, and Lauren.

cover feature

Sammy the Shark, the office mascot, along with the Smileguards (Dr. Rozas’ hygienists

and assistants) visit local preschools and elementary schools putting on a fun-filled

education program.

is needed we will gladly schedule another consultation if

both parents were unable to be present and would like to

return to discuss their child’s care and treatment needs.”

Dr. Rozas and her staff strive to make a positive impression

at every visit. Pediatric dentists recognize that early experi-

ences can influence a child’s attitude toward dentistry for

life, either positively or negatively, and that building a rela-

tionship with very young children makes them comfortable

with later visits for hygiene or dental treatment. Dr. Rozas

explains, “There is a serious purpose behind all the fun and

silliness around here.”

In addition, Dr. Rozas has great relationships with other

dental specialists who are comfortable treating children,

such as oral surgeons, orthodontists, cosmetic dentists, and

periodontists. “I don’t try to be a jack-of-all trades,” she

notes. “I limit my practice to hygiene and restorative den-

tistry. I would rather refer a child to an oral surgeon for a

difficult extraction, so they can have a positive experience

with excellent care.”

Information – the best prevention

Dr. Rozas also believes in motivating parents with informa-

tion and being proactive to prevent decay. “Parents need the

tools to help their children learn good habits. It’s not always

possible to prevent cavities — even a pediatric dentist’s child

can develop a cavity,” she laughs. “But we provide helpful

tips that aid in cavity prevention, and support parents in

their efforts to encourage healthy hygiene.” Following exams and treatment the parent is invited into the treatment area

to discuss findings and view radiographs.


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Dr. Rozas believes in motivating parents with information and by providing helpful tips that aid in cavity prevention. Consultations are held before and after treatment to make

sure all questions are answered and goals achieved.

Everyone knows that brushing is important, but Dr. Rozas

shares many other facts about oral health with her patients and

their families. In North Texas, there is a high incidence of

asthma and allergies. Treating symptoms with certain medica-

tions can cause dry mouth that may contribute to the develop-

ment of cavities, or can lead to dental staining. Prescription

medicines given in a liquid form on a daily basis can also con-

tribute to cavities because of the flavoring and sugar additives.

Dr. Rozas explains that dietary choices play a major role in

cavity prevention. “While parents generally accept that milk

is a healthy choice, some overlook the fact that chocolate milk is

high in sugar. And, while diet sodas may not have sugar, they

are highly acidic. During a hot Texas summer, many children

consume massive quantities of these drinks. For active children

involved in outdoor sports, something like Propel or plain

water is a better choice than Gatorade to avoid excessive

sugar exposure.

She adds, “We like for children to begin making their own

choices, since Mom and Dad can’t be around all the time to

enforce the rules. We encourage our kids to make smart choices

in the lunch line at school or at a friend’s house. White milk and

water are really the ideal choices.”

The office frequently hosts tours and presentations for preschool

groups, early childhood PTAs, and play groups to help introduce

parents and children to the dental environment. Dr. Rozas finds

that this is the perfect opportunity to begin developing a positive

attitude toward dentistry, and to share information about

prevention. “We teach parents of infants and toddlers to avoid

nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water

in their bedtime bottle. We explain the relationship between

bacteria and cavities, and how it can be transmitted from a care-

giver with active caries to the infant through contact like kissing

and sharing food. We emphasize the importance of flossing if

there are teeth that touch. We also provide information about

diet and nutrition.”

Recognizing that children’s dental hygiene isn’t always perfect,

Dr. Rozas recommends sealants and fluoride varnishes to help

prevent cavities from forming. Orthodontic patients with appli-

ances or braces must be especially disciplined about their dental

hygiene to avoid the build-up of plaque that can lead to gum

problems or enamel defects. “We see our orthodontic patients

every three months to help ensure that their smile will be beau-

tiful and healthy after their orthodontic treatment is completed.”

Putting high-tech tools to work

An avid learner who keeps up with the latest advances in den-

tistry, Dr. Rozas has brought technology into her practice that

she believes enhances patient care. “Digital x-rays allow us to

visualize fractures and cavities better with less radiation expo-

sure. With digital radiography, patients and parents can view

the images on a large screen, and we can easily send the images

to a referring dentist or orthodontist, or to the patient’s insur-

ance provider. The intraoral camera allows patients and parents

to see clearly inside the mouth and see any problem areas that

are detected. Often, just the bright lighting in our office reveals

something that the parent may not have noticed under ordinary

home lighting.”

Special people, special care

Dr. Rozas’ gentle manner and ability to appreciate a child’s per-

spective equips her well to calm even the most apprehensive or

anxious child. Some of her young patients have special needs

related to Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, or sensory

integration disorder. The office’s open design and wide door-

ways easily accommodate wheelchairs. She also treats medically-

compromised patients, such as children with cancer, who may

be immunosuppressed and require a special protocol tailored to

their medical condition.

Dr. Rozas has a personality that seems custom-made for pedi-

atric dentistry. Her experience with dentistry began around age

three, when her four upper incisors were extracted due to drink-

ing Coke in a baby bottle. Even though some would say that was

a negative first experience, she loved going to see her dentist for

visits. “I knew very early that I wanted to be a pediatric dentist,”

Dr. Rozas notes. “A cousin of mine opened a pediatric dental

practice in Biloxi, Mississippi when I was in elementary school,

and when I visited him, I was convinced that I would take the

same path.”

In fact, everyone on Dr. Rozas’ staff has been hand-picked for

their extraordinary skills with parents and children. Most of her

staff has been working in pediatrics for at least ten years, and

some of them have been in the field for more than 20 years.

“My staff is the greatest asset to my practice. Each of them has a


cover feature

The use of digital x-rays allows the doctors to visualize fractures and cavities

with greater accuracy and less radiation exposure to the patient.

Dr. Rozas limits her practice to hygiene and restorative dentistry and wants children to view her office as a friendly, fun place. Treatment rooms are each separated from

the hygiene bay by glass, making the entire area open and bright.

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When should I take my child tothe dentist for the first time?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry both

recommend that a child see a pediatric dentist

within six months of the first tooth appearing,

and no later than their first birthday. This should

be the beginning of a positive relationship that

will last through adolescence, between the

dentist, the child, and the parent.

It also allows the dentist to monitor growth and

development as the child grows, and catch any

problems while they are still small and easy to

treat. Dr. Rozas accepts patients from infancy

through adolescence.

passion for working with children and their parents. The

personal care and gentle manner they use make the families feel

at ease at every appointment.” In addition to their dynamic per-

sonalities, each member of the staff is completely cross-trained

and certified in CPR, nitrous oxide sedation, radiology, and

infection control.

This close-knit team views each other as family. Priscila, who

started with Dr. Rozas in 1998, points out, “Most of us have been

with Dr. Rozas for a long time. We have a lot of fun together, and

all of us enjoy what we do immensely.” The team’s enjoyment of

their profession and of their patients is obvious, and their fun,

playful approach to dentistry is truly contagious. What a great

thing for a child to catch! n


As the mother of two children, Dr. Rozas is intimately familiar with a child’s need to

feel safe and secure. Dr. Rozas pictured with her husband, Tim, and children Bryce

and Lauren.

Dr. Melissa Rozas and Dr. Carlla Blanton share a fun, playful approach to dentistry

and have teamed up to provide quality care in a relaxed environment.

Dr. Melissa Rozas

Dr. Rozas graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor

of Science Degree in Biomedical Science, and in 1995, she

received her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University

of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. Following den-

tal school, she completed a two-year residency at the University of

Texas at Houston and Hermann Hospital where she received her

specialty certificate in pediatric dentistry.

Dr. Rozas is board certified by the American Academy of Pediatric

Dentistry. She is currently Vice President of the Texas Academy of

Pediatric Dentistry and has been the Chairman of the Greater

Dallas Pediatric Dental Society for the past three years. She is an

active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry,

American Dental Association, Dallas County Dental Society, and

the Southwest Society of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Rozas enjoys volunteering within the dental community and giv-

ing her time to advance the specialty of pediatric oral health care.

She enjoys coaching softball for her daughter’s team and cheering

on her son at his various sporting events. When she is not in the

office or at home with the kids, Dr. Rozas enjoys running, traveling

with her family and attending Dallas Mavericks games.

Dr. Carlla Blanton

Dr. Blanton joined Dr. Rozas in January of 2011. A transplant from

Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Blanton is now a true Texan. She received

her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1999 from the University

of Louisville School of Dentistry and completed a General

Practice residency in 2000 from the University of Kentucky. After

four years in private practice she returned to school to specialize

in pediatrics. She completed her pediatric residency at Interfaith

Medical Center in New York in 2006. Dr. Blanton is currently a

member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry,

American Dental Association, the Texas Academy of Pediatric

Dentistry, the Texas Dental Association and the Greater Dallas

Pediatric Dental Society. In her free time, Dr. Blanton enjoys trav-

eling with her husband.


Dr. Rozas is located at 632 E. Sandy Lake Road, just

off I-190. For more information, call (972) 393-9779, or

visit www.rozasdds.com.

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Over the years I’ve frequently

heard clients repeat bad advice

that they’ve been told by stock-

brokers and other advisers. It’s always a

bit of a challenge and somewhat akin to

walking a tight rope when you offer

advice that’s in direct contrast to what

they’ve been told by someone else they

trust. Yet, as a fiduciary, I don’t have a

choice in the matter; I have a legal obli-

gation to do what is in their best interest,

even if it ruffles feathers occasionally.

High income earners should pay atten-

tion to their after-tax return, since they

only get to keep what’s left after paying

income taxes. I sometimes refer to our

tax-efficient investment approach as

“tax-engineering.” Just as asset alloca-

tion is a core tenet of investment plan-

ning, so too should be asset location.

Investors need to be educated as to

which asset classes should be held in var-

ious tax-buckets, i.e., regular taxable

accounts, tax-deferred accounts like

IRAs and 401(K)s, and Roth IRAs.

One of the classic investment myths cen-

ters on tax deferral. While tax deferral

can be an incredibly powerful force in the

effort to build net worth, making invest-

ment decisions just to defer taxes can

actually produce a worse outcome over

a lifetime.

We often come across clients whose prior

advisers placed their stock investments

in tax-deferred accounts and then pur-

chased municipal bonds in the taxable

account (most of our clients are in a

very high marginal tax bracket). By all

appearances they have a “tax-efficient”

portfolio. At least they think they do. But

as every municipal bond investor knows,

the municipality simply pays a lower rate

on its bond(s) since the interest is tax-

free. So, one way to look at it is to realize

that the investor essentially pre-pays the

tax by agreeing to accept a lower yield

(tax-free) than a similar taxable bond

would have produced.

This isn’t a criticism. It’s just a reminder

that there really isn’t any magic going on,

and on an after-tax basis, it’s a wash. But

it sheds some light on why we prefer to

buy taxable bonds in our clients’ tax-

Making investment decisions just to defer taxes can actually

result in a worse outcome over a lifetime.

Steve Lugar is a Certified Financial Planner®

practitioner and Managing Director at Beaird

Harris Wealth Management, an independ-

ent, fee-only financial planning and invest-

ment advisory firm in Dallas, Texas. Steve

works with dental practices of all sizes and

specialties to help them maximize their

assets, reduce their financial stress and

realize their personal and financial goals.

Steve was named a “Best Financial Advisor

for Dentists” in the April 2011 issue

of Dental Practice Report and recognized

as one of the “Best Financial Planners in

Dallas” by his peers in the January 2009

issue of D Magazine (these recognitions

should not be construed as an endorse-

ment of Steve or Beaird Harris by any for-

mer or current client, or that a certain level

of performance will be achieved). Steve is

a member of the Financial Planning

Association and the Investment Fiduciary

Leadership Council and he can be reached

at [email protected] or 972-503-1040.


money matters

Dispelling the

Tax Deferral Mythby Steven M. Lugar, CFP ®


deferred accounts, rather than tax-

exempt bonds in their taxable accounts.

From a tax perspective they’re equally

effective, but it gives us the needed flex-

ibility to move equities (stocks) from the

tax-deferred accounts to the taxable

accounts, and with good reason.

There are several significant negatives

associated with holding stocks or stock

funds inside IRAs and/or variable annu-

ities. By placing stocks in tax-deferred

accounts, a client is effectively convert-

ing capital gains into ordinary income. If

held in a taxable account, long-term

gains on the sale of stocks are taxed a

maximum capital gains rate of 15%. It

rarely makes sense to convert tax-

favored capital gain assets to what I call

“tax-nasty” ordinary income treatment.

And yet, we see this being done virtually

every day when investors buy stocks or

stock funds inside their IRAs and other

tax-deferred accounts.

Another real negative that comes with

buying equities in tax-deferred accounts

is that you lose the opportunity to cut

your tax bill during stock market pull-

backs that periodically occur over an

investor’s lifetime. One of the few silver

linings during stock market corrections

and bear markets is the ability to harvest

tax losses by executing “tax swaps.” With

this tax saving strategy you harvest tax

losses by selling the holdings that have

suffered losses and then swapping to

comparable holdings. Done properly, tax

swaps can be performed (in taxable

accounts) in order to lower the income

tax liability in future years.

Not only can these harvested tax losses

be used to offset future capital gains, but

they also reduce $3,000 of ordinary

income per year. Importantly, any

remaining unused losses can be carried

forward to future years, indefinitely. In

short, they have tremendous economic

value to a high income taxpayer, but this

tax strategy is lost when equities are held

in tax deferred accounts, including IRAs

and annuities.

And speaking of annuities, as a general

rule, you’re better off to just say no. They

usually carry very high recurring

expenses (often exceeding 3% per year)

and high surrender charges (penalties

incurred if you change your mind within

the first seven to ten years). Like IRAs,

variable annuities are tax-deferred until

the dollars are withdrawn, at which time

they are taxed at the investor’s highest

marginal tax rate.

To buy a high-cost variable annuity and

then lose the favorable capital gains

treatment is adding insult to injury.

Buying stock funds inside a variable

annuity is an investment mistake of

mammoth proportions. Please get a sec-

ond opinion from an independent advi-

sor or tax professional who is not a

salesman. Just like brushing your teeth;

it’s for your own good! n

“You took the time to listen to what

‘I wanted’ and did your best to meet

those requests. My office stands out

on the lot in which it was built. It is a

grand example of the workmanship

and attention to detail that

Structures & Interiors is capable of.”

– Keely N. Lawson, D.D.S.

Building Stronger SmilesBuilding Stronger SmilesSpecializing in the design, building, and remodeling of dental offices.

The design and construction of your

practice will undoubtedly be met

with obstacles. Whether your facil-

ity is a tenant finish out or a new building,

making the right initial decisions can help

keep small issues from becoming large

headaches. The severity of these hurdles

can be mitigated by taking the right steps

in the right order.

Leasable area. Site selection and lease

negotiations are often completed before a

contractor has been brought in to your

team of professionals. One common

obstacle we see when our interior design

staff is brought on board to help create or

complete the project plans is that the

leasable square footage is based on incor-

rect assumptions. Leasable area is meas-

ured from the center line of shared

partitions to the outside face of a wall. In

most scenarios, a property manager keeps

a floor plan showing the building as it was

constructed. As tenants fill up the build-

ing, the shared “demising” partitions are

added to the floor plan to keep track of

how much area is left to be rented. This

floor plan is usually transmitted to a ten-

ant in a drafting format for their space

planner to work off of. The problem

occurs when the existing “demising” par-

titions in the building are not in the same

location as the existing “demising” parti-

tions on the plan. One important role of

the space planner is to verify the actual

dimensions available to construct. A small

error in leasable area can have big impacts

on the recurring cost of the space.

Layout. Another common obstacle that

we see with lease space selection involves

the layout of the space plan without taking

into account the foundation design, or in

multi-story buildings, the structure loca-

tion below. Many times with older build-

ings, the structural plans are not available.

With a newer building this information is

readily available. The positioning of

plumbing fixtures above foundation

beams or the building supports is typically

not feasible to construct and the extra

costs should be avoided.

Site development. There are many

things to consider when selecting a site for

a new building, but often times the focus

is on land price, surrounding aesthetics

and demographics. One of the largest hur-

dles faced by potential building owners is

the realization that site utilities are not

available for the lot they have already pur-

chased. This is most common in a prop-

erty that is not part of a master planned

development, but even on a “pad site”, the

building owner can be responsible for

completing the utility development for

their lot. The major utility costs to be on

the lookout for are Sanitary Sewer, Water,

Storm Drainage and Onsite Runoff

Detention, Electric Delivery and Natural

Gas Delivery. Another note is that site

development costs will be almost the same

for a 3,000 square foot building as they

would be for a 5,000 square foot build-

ing.There is no price per square foot cor-

relation. A general contractor or civil

engineer can help you walk through your

site selection process to minimize the

potential for unforeseen costs.

Accessibility. Your professional space

planner will be scrutinizing handicapped

accessibility whether you are building

your facility from the ground up or as a

tenant finish out. Common accessibility

problems include the following:


by Brian Hale and Stephen LeaseAssistant Project Managers for Structures and Interiors, Inc.

Estimating Between the Lines


1) Rooms. Closed rooms that will be used

by more than one person but not for a

specific work function will need to have

at least a five-foot circle available for

wheelchair turn around. This includes all

restrooms, offices, walk-in closets, and

waiting and reception areas.

2) Doors. All latching doors need to be

36 in. wide in these areas. On the side of

the door you pull from, accessibility stan-

dards require at least 18 inches from the

edge of the doorknob to the nearest wall.

3) Counters. At your reception counter

for both check-in and check-out, a coun-

tertop 36-inch wide with a maximum

height of 36 inches should be installed for

accessibility. This can replace or be adja-

cent to a higher countertop.

4) Protrusions. Any object protruding

from a wall in an egress area below 80

inches in height cannot protrude further

than 4 inches except under rare circum-

stances. This includes countertops, wall

sconces, televisions and any other fixed

items.

5) Compliance. Any project over

$50,000 in total construction cost is

required to be registered and inspected for

accessibility compliance, but all new work

that is completed in a commercial setting

is required to comply whether inspected

or not.

These are just a few obstacles commonly

encountered while designing and con-

structing your new practice. Diligence by

you, your real estate professional, and

your design and construction team will

keep these obstacles from becoming prob-

lems and ensure a successful project

for all. n

Structures and Interiors, Inc. is a com-

mercial general contractor specializing in

Medical, Optical, Dental and Veterinary Of-

fices. They offer design-build services in-

cluding new building construction, interior

finish out and improvements. Owners Mike

Lease and Grady Herzog emphasize

“Building Relationships” with every client.

If you would like a builder that delivers a

high level of service and quality with every

project, put the capability and experience

of Structures and Interiors to work for you.


Case PresentationsProvided by Leading Doctors

in North Texas

SMILESin theSPOTLIGHT

n High Resolution Photography

n Step by Step Details of Treatment

North Texas

Dentistry

For more information on sharing your expertise

in a future Smiles in the Spotlight contact

[email protected] 214-629-7110

In our previous article, “The Future of Dental Marketing”, we

explained that the internet is the new frontier for external den-

tal marketing. Now we will look at some of the best Search

Engine Optimization (SEO) practices to ensure that your

website is optimized for maximum visibility to the search

engines and therefore to potential new patients.

Page Titles

Your page titles are what display in big, bold, underlined print

that you click on a Google search results page to visit the web-

site. Every page on your site has a title, but to keep things simple

we’re going to talk only about the most important one: your

homepage title. If you think of your website as a book, the

homepage title is the cover of your book. It tells the search

engines what your website is about, and so it’s really the most

important real estate on your website.

Many dental practice websites just have the dentist’s name or

practice name as the title of site, but a major opportunity is

being missed here. If you are Dr. John Enamel, chances are no

other dentist in your market is trying to advertise that they are

Dr. John Enamel, right? If someone Googles “Dr. John

Enamel”, they already know about you and they’ll find you eas-

ily. But will a potential new patient who doesn’t know about you

yet find your website instead of a competitor’s when they Google

“Dallas cosmetic dentist”? Not likely if your homepage title only

says, “Dr. John Enamel” and your competitors’ homepage titles

all say “Cosmetic Dentist in Dallas”.

Blogging

While Google’s ranking algorithm is a mystery, their overall

ranking philosophy is not: “Content is king”. We know that

Google ranks sites higher that have relevant, unique content

added regularly, and this is precisely the function of a blog. A

blog installed on your website allows you to publish articles that

ideally are unique to your website (no copying and pasting from

elsewhere online!) and show search engines and potential new

patients that you are an authority in the dental profession. Since

Google doesn’t like static websites that just sit there unchang-

ing, a blog also serves the purpose of keeping your site fresh and

dynamic. A blog can be the most powerful tool to help your web-

site improve its ranking for relevant search terms. For instance,

an original article about dental implants that you recently wrote

and posted to your blog would improve the likelihood that

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 26) u

New Patient Marketing Online: Part 1

CORNERSTONESof

SEOby Josh Lomonaco

practice marketing


Every child deserves a healthy start in life, but when it comes to oral

health, many children face significant challenges. The oral health of

children is a major concern today in the United States.1 Dental disease

in the primary dentition is currently the most common chronic disease

in childhood 2-3

n Over 40% - 50% of children will be affected

by tooth decay before age 5.

n Oral health issues affect children in poverty

and minorities far more than other groups.

n According to the May 2000 Surgeon

General’s report, Oral Health in America, more

than 51 million school hours are lost each year

to dental-related conditions and poor children

suffer 10 times more restricted-activity days

than children from higher-income families.

n While 9 million children in this nation do

not have medical insurance, more than twice

that number — 23 million — do not have

dental insurance.

Children with untreated dental decay can have difficulty sleeping, eat-

ing, and concentrating in school. Such discomfort may also impact

their emotional well-being. Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) is an annual

event created by the American Dental Association, held each year in

conjunction with the national Children’s Dental Health Month. The

objectives of GKAS are to enhance the oral health of large number of

needy children and to highlight for policy makers the ongoing chal-

lenges that low-income families face in finding dental care. GKAS is

administered locally through the oversight of constituent dental soci-

eties of the ADA.

The North Texas Give Kids a Smile Program

For the last six years the North Texas Dental Society (NTDS) has

administered and overseen the GKAS program in Collin and Denton

counties. Since the implementation of the program a collaborative

partnership was developed between the NTDS and the Dental Hygiene

program from the Collin County Community College (DHCC) to

screen and treat children at the Dental Hygiene Clinic by volunteer

dentists. In 2009, a grant from the ADA foundation was awarded to

the program with the objectives to expand the program. The following

additional partners joined the program; The North Texas Hispanic

Dental Association (NTHDA), the Hispanic Student Dental

Association of Baylor College of Dentistry (HSDA), and the dental

hygiene program from the Texas Women University (TWU).

The goals of this program are to: 1) Screen underserved children 5-12

years of age in North Texas communities 2) Identify and recruit private

dental practitioners to volunteer services to the program in order to

provide free dental treatment for children in need and finding these

kids a permanent ‘Dental Home’, and 3) Foster mentorship and lead-

ership infrastructure between the professional dental associations, den-

tal students and dental hygiene students.

Program Methodology

School nurses from 11 school districts were trained to identify under-

served children. The selection criteria were: (1) Between 5-12 years

of age; (2) Enrolled in a North Texas school district; (3) Demonstrated

inability to receive regular dental care due to financial limitations

(such as parental unemployment; no dental insurance and/or parental

income below poverty line; or qualification for government aid, such

as Medicaid, Head Start, and school lunch programs); (4) Obvious

dental problems which were not being addressed.

Children who met the criteria were assigned to one of the screening

locations (DHCC and TWU). Parental consent was obtained. Every

child received oral health education training, a radiographic exam with

bitewings radiographs, and a clinical evaluation that identified the

North Texas

Give Kids a SmileA Collaborative Partnership Approach to Improve

Access to Dental Care for Underserved Children

community news


children in the following groups: (A) Need to be seen as soon as pos-

sible due to pain or infection, (B) More than 3 quadrants require treat-

ment, (C) Two or less quadrants require treatment (D) No caries, and

(E) Other. Children were assigned to receive free dental treatment pro-

vided by a private general or pediatric dentist who (1) agreed in

advance to treat the program participant patients and (2) indicated

what level of care the dentist is capable of providing. Spanish speaking

parents were identified and a translator was assigned to coordinate the

appointments.

Data from the 2010 and 2011

North Texas Give Kids a Smile

The table shows the number of children that were scheduled and the

number children that showed to the screenings each year. Over 70 per-

cent of the children had caries in both years. All the children that

attended the program received information and education related to

oral health, bitewing radiographs, an oral exam, and fluoride treat-

ment. Each year over 100 volunteers participated in the program.

Children caries free were placed in a six-month recall to be seen at

the Dental Hygiene student clinics. From the children screened who

were in need of treatment, more than two-thirds of the children

referred were treated by a volunteer private practitioner member from

the NTDS. As a pilot project, six children in need of orthodontic treat-

ment are currently undergoing treatment with two NTDS members.

2010 2011

Scheduled for screenings 156 227

Showed to screenings 101 164

Prevalence of Caries 74% 72%

Conclusions and Recommendations

The partnership between professional dental associations, dentists,

dental students, dental hygiene students and faculty members demon-

strated that the North Texas Give Kids a Smile Program can be

expanded into more local communities to join other oral health initia-

tives designed to improve the oral health of underserved children. We

are proud of what we have accomplished by helping children to get

the dental care they so desperately need and raise awareness that our

children deserve a better health care system that addresses their dental

health. We want to make good oral health a priority for all children in

North Texas. We seek to educate policymakers and parents that good

oral health is integral to overall health and that preventive measures

like fluoridation and sealants result in long-term savings.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to wipe out untreated dental disease

until we focus on prevention at an early age. G.V Black, the father of

restorative dentistry taught “extension for prevention” as a means

to treat decay. Today, our motto is “prevention for extension” as

an effort to spread awareness of the need to avoid unnecessary

dental decay in children. In order to do this, our organization seeks

to build public and private partnerships at the state and local level to

help improve access to oral health. n

For more information:

http://www.tda.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=1938

http://www.tda.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=1977

http://www.nthda.com/pages/events/gkas-collin-county-cc.htm

“The energy that comes from the children and families is motivating to me as a

student and the future I hope for in dentistry. It is also refreshing to see the desire

to serve the community and willingness of local dentists who freely fill the needs

of these families”.

Anya Preece, D2 Baylor College of Dentistry, Hispanic Student Dental Association Service Coordinator

“Give Kids a Smile serves as an important reminder to all of us that every child

deserves a chance to have good oral health. Dental decay is truly preventable

with the right information and opportunities to stop dental decay before it adversely

affect the quality of our children’s lives. This is also a wonderful occasion to share

my passion for pediatric dentistry with the community at large.”

Mila Davis, DDS, Co-Chair 2011-2012 North Texas Give Kids a Smile Program

“Basic dental care should be accessible to all kids regardless of their family’s finan-

cial status and finding these kids a permanent ‘Dental Home’ is our goal for

this event.”

Carlos Nurko DDS, MS, Co-Chair 2009-2012 North Texas Give Kids a Smile Program

“This year was my first time to volunteer at Give Kids a Smile. I loved it! So many

families came out to the event and hopefully next year we will be able to increase

the number of children who can benefit from this wonderful program. I cannot wait

to be involved in Give Kids a Smile again next year! “

Gina Becker DH1 TWU

“It is teamwork and mentoring at its best. Co-enrolling with area dentists, dental

professionals and other dental students and hygiene students from area colleges

has been a tremendous learning experience for all.”

Susan Moss RDH, Collin College Dental Hygiene Director

“The 2010 ADA Give Kids a Smile event has once again successfully reached out

to children in need in the communities of the North Texas Dental Society. Due to

the leadership of Dr. Darren Dickson and Dr. Carlos Nurko, we have brought this

program to more schools than ever before. Many thanks to our GKAS partners:

the Collin College Dental Hygiene School; the TWU Dental Hygiene School; the

Hispanic Dental Association; Baylor College of Dentistry; and, Sullivan-Schein

Dental Supply. With their help the North Texas Dental Society has been able to

bring needed treatment to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it.

GKAS is our opportunity to serve others.”

Dr. Timothy P. Shannon, NTDS Past President and founder of North Texas GKAS project

Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General Department of Health andHuman Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NationalInstitutes of Health, Rockville, MD 2000

Cassamasino P: Bright Futures in Practice: Oral Health, Arlington, VA, National Center

for Education and Maternal and Child Health, ed. 1996

Vargas CM, Crall JJ, Schneider DA: Socio-demographic distribution of pediatric dental

caries: NHANES III, 1988-1994. JADA 129: 1229-39, 1998


Before Treatment

Lower implant fixtures placed

Upper customized titanium abutments placed

After treatment – retracted smile

After treatment – normal smile

CASE PRESENTATION

Female patient presented with history of bulimia, neglect and

failed dentistry. She was esthetically and functionally compro-

mised and had severe problems with tissue biotype, periodon-

tal disease and bone integrity.

TREATMENT CHOICES

With a choice between a hybrid - All on 4 or a full fixed porce-

lain case, we determined a full fixed porcelain was required to

handle all of these issues and give the patient an excellent

result in functionality and esthetics.

PROCEDURE

The patient underwent extensive surgical procedures includ-

ing extraction of all remaining teeth, bone regeneration and

implant placement. Sixteen customized titanium implants and

abutments (8 maxillary and 8 mandibular) were required for

this fixed reconstruction. The use of pink ceramics was neces-

sary due to the extent of soft tissue and bone tissue damage.

RESULTS

With the professional collaboration of a great surgical team,

Dr. Perez and an excellent lab, the patient was extremely

pleased with the final result.

SMILESin theSPOTLIGHTLEADERS IN NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY

CREATING UNFORGETTABLE SMILES


For more information concerning this case,

contact Dr. Perez at www.fairwaydental.com

or call 214-731-0558.

Dr. Pérez graduated from Marquette

University School of Dentistry in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was

selected by the Marquette faculty to

receive recognition and was honored

with the prestigious Teledyne Hanau

Prosthodontics Award for having

demonstrated outstanding knowledge

and skills in the study and practice of

prosthodontics during his clinical

requirements. Dr. Pérez received his

specialty degree in Prosthodontics

from the Medical College School of

Dentistry in Augusta, Georgia in 1995.

After his residency, he joined the U.S. Navy Dental

Corps in San Diego, California, where he served as

staff prosthodontist and director of the Removable

Prosthodontics Division at the Naval Dental Center,

the largest Naval dental facility in the world. He

designed and supervised clinical courses for dental

officers, and also trained Advanced Clinical Dentistry

and Advanced Education in General Dentistry resi-

dents there from 1995 to 1998. After completing his

naval commitment, he began private practice in 1998.

Dr. Pérez is a member of several local study clubs

and the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP),

the national professional association representing

prosthodontics, the largest discipline in dentistry

and one of nine dental specialties recognized by the

American Dental Association. He is also a member

of the Academy of Osseintegration.

Dr. Pérez opened his practice in Carrollton,Texas in

2002. He enjoys cycling, soccer, golf and traveling

with his wife Cristina and his two sons, Luis E. and

Javier.

Luis R. Pérez, DDS, PA


There is a growing demand for implants due

to technological advances in modern den-

tistry and the increase in life expectancy.

Average life expectancy for Americans is 78

years and as the American population ages,

so will the incidence of age-related dental

complications. Baby boomers are choosing

implants in lieu of bridges or dentures. Also

relevant are the young Americans interested

in general cosmetic surgery, and a beautiful

smile is a key component of a makeover.

The dental implant market continues to

expand due to the success of implants when

compared to Endodontic treatment. Studies

indicate that a growing population of endo

candidates are choosing to remove the tooth

and place an implant.

In terms of satisfied patients, implants can

replace what nature has taken away with a

synthetic root that becomes stronger than

anything nature provided originally.

Implants produce highly gratifying results

that creates a sense of hope in happy patients

who love what you do for them. Their grati-

tude is motivating to the dental team, and

inspires a sense of excellence among them.

Dental implant treatment is emotionally

rewarding for both the patient and the team.

implants

blooma flower studio

l FRESH FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR RECEPTION AREA

l FLOWERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

[email protected]

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19)

Google will return your website as a

search result if someone Googled “dental

implants YourCity” than a competitor of

yours who doesn’t have a blog and has

had the same page about dental

implants unchanged for five years.

Link Building

Think of the web as a giant popularity con-

test, and Google is the judge. When

Google sees a lot of other websites linking

back to your website (known as linking

domains), they perceive your website as

being popular, and they tend to rank pop-

ular websites higher. Who’s going to win

this popularity contest: your website that

has five linking domains or your competi-

tor’s website that has 50 linking domains?

Not only is the number of linking domains

important, but so is the relevancy of those

links. Two competing dental websites may

each have a similar number of linking

domains, but if Website 1’s linking

domains are almost all dental industry

websites and Website 2’s is primarily non-

dental websites, Website 1 will be given

the ranking advantage by Google.

In Summary

Optimizing your page titles, blogging in a

unique and relevant way, and link build-

ing are some of the most important things

you can do to enhance your web presence.

If your competitors haven’t implemented

any of these factors into their websites yet,

you could be the trailblazer in your mar-

ket. If your competitors are already

aggressively marketing online this way,

you can’t afford not to: they are attracting

new patients from the web that could have

been yours. n

Josh Lomonaco is account manager at Bullseye

Media, LLC, a McKinney, TX based digital mar-

keting agency that specializes in helping dentists

leverage the internet to grow their practices. He

can be reached at 214-509-6935 or by visiting

OnlineDentalMarketing.com.


Make plans NOWto advertise

in the North Texas DentistryConvention Issue

Promote your business and services tothe North Texas Dental Community

with perfect timing and perfect targeting –before the Southwest Dental Conference

Print Advertisement l Custom Profiles l Special Features

Our team can make your marketing dreams a reality!

REQUEST A MEDIA KIT: [email protected]

www.northtexasdentistry.com

Southwest Dental Conference

January 12-14, 2012 www.swdentalconf.org

TO THE DOCTOR

A dental practice is a business. It is a business run by a dentist.

Dentists are doctors. The doctor went to dental school to learn

the skills needed to deliver dental services to the public. He/she

learned to be a doctor. Dental schools do not teach doctors how

to be good business people. They were not taught how to make

a bank deposit, file an insurance claim, order supplies, make

appointments, talk to patients, sell dentistry, collect money and

pay bills. Doctors were supposed to be smart enough to figure

out all that “easy stuff” themselves.

Doctors provide a service, get paid a fee for that service, pay

their bills and what is left over is theirs to keep (if there is any

left). That’s Business 101. The trouble is, most doctors never had

any exposure to Business 101. Yet some think they know it

anyhow, without any such background. The point is, they usu-

ally don’t.

The doctor is the boss, the business owner. The doctor is

responsible for coming up with the money to pay the bills.

Running a practice requires a lot of

decisions. Some doctors are better at

it than others. This may come as a

shock, but doctors don’t know everything there is to know about

running a dental practice. If there is a problem that is clinically

related, the doctor is always right. If it relates to the adminis-

tration of the practice, then maybe the doctor is right… and

maybe not.

Staff members owe it to their doctor to speak up if they think

the doctor is making a bad business decision. In addition, staff

members need to make the doctor aware of any destructive

behavioral problems that the doctor may exhibit in the office

(temper tantrums, depression, irritability, etc). They owe it to

the doctor, the other staff members, and the patients. If the doc-

tor makes too many costly mistakes, it could jeopardize the eco-

nomic welfare of the business and staff members could find

themselves out of work.

TO THE STAFF

There is a time and place for talking to the doctor about an

issue, policy, or incident. It’s often best to do it in private. Don’t

correct or disagree with him/her in front of patients or other

staff members. Don’t talk to him/her about it between patients

or other stressful times of the day. Choose the right time and

place and then speak up. Don’t be argumentative. State your

case clearly and concisely. Tell the doctor you want to help

him/her. That should be your sole purpose – to help the doctor

… and the practice.

Job security comes from doing a good job. If you are doing a

good job, you will have the doctor’s respect. If you are working

for the right person, then your doctor is not going to get angry

because you disagree or point out problems. You should not be

intimidated nor berated for speaking up. The doctor should lis-

ten to your point of view and should always appreciate and

respect your input. The doctor will realize that you are an

important asset to the overall success of the practice when you

help him/her make the right business decision.

However, it’s important to understand that the doctor’s per-

spective may be different than your own. He/she may have

other information that you don’t have access to that will influ-

ence the final decision. Don’t always expect the doctor to agree

with you, but do expect that he/she will appreciate you for

speaking up.

All staff members need to feel free to speak up when it helps the

practice. Again, always at the right time and the right place.

Speak up at the often ignored “morning huddle” or at a time

when you have the doctor’s undivided attention. Everyone

needs to work together and needs to know each others’

strengths and weaknesses. n

Richard V. Lyschik, D.D.S., FAGD is one of AFTCO’s leading innovative

Senior Analysts who has helped over 2,900 dentists in associating, buying,

expanding, or merging and guided older, disabled and/or “burned out” dentists

to sell their practices. Dr Lyschik’s clients have seen the considerable benefits

of incentive programs, pension funding plans and increased productivity

through his guidance. There is no substitute for experience in this business.

Who better could you choose to talk to about your future transition plans than

a seasoned fellow dentist, a recognized premier transition expert, and AFTCO

Analyst of the Year Award winner? Check out the impressive AFTCO website

at www.AFTCO.net, then call for a free appraisal and a no-obligation

consultation with Dr. Lyschik at your office or the AFTCO office in Dallas, TX

at (214) 893-0410 or 1-800-232-3826.

ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS THREEby Richard V. Lyschik, DDS, FAGD

Success doesn’t happen overnight; neither does managing it.


practice management

ADVERTISER’S INDEX

Acclaim Networks....................................................17

AFTCO ............................................inside back cover

Bloom......................................................................26

Bullseye Media .......................................................18

Certified Smiles.........................................................5

Dentallogic ..............................................................17

Destiny Dental Laboratory ......................................26

General Improvement Co...................................24/25

Med Dent Advisors..................................................17

Med+Tech Construction .............................back cover

New Medical Arts ....................................................19

Nexus Dental Alliance......................inside front cover

Ray Bryant Photography.........................................13

Southwest Dental Conference ................................28

Structures and Interiors...........................................15

Thiel & Thiel .......................................................24/25

Tina Cauller.............................................................26

White wine drinkers have a tendency

to gravitate towards chardonnay

because it’s easy, somewhat generic and

highly predictable. There are times, how-

ever, when the old standby gets a little

tiresome and the need to expand your

white wine repertoire kicks in. One in this

situation would be well-served to try one

of the many wines made from the

Sauvignon Blanc grape, a varietal with

origins in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux

regions of France that has been widely-

planted in many of the premier wine-pro-

ducing areas of the world.

French Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc vines like cool climates

that allow the fruit to ripen slowly, impor-

tant in developing a balance between the

grape’s acidity and its sugar content. In

France, the environs of Bordeaux and the

Loire Valley are perfectly suited to grow-

ing Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc

grapes grown in the mostly chalk soils of

the Loire appellation of Sancerre make

wines that are typically bone dry with

intense flavors of peaches and gooseber-

ries. These wines are often fermented and

aged in stainless steel tanks with little or

no time spent in oak barrels. But even

within the villages of the Sancerre appel-

lation there is enough soil variation to

produce distinctly different wines. More

flint in the soil yields a crisp wine with

mineral and steely notes while clay soils

make a more full-bodied, rounded wine.

Some reliable Sancerre producers include

Pascal Cotat, Gerard Boulay,

Hippolyte Reverdy, Patient Cottat

and Lucien Crochet. These wines are

usually priced in the $20 to $30 range.

Pouilly-Fume, another French appellation

using 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, is

located across the Loire River from the

Sancerre appellation. Wines from this

appellation tend to be heavier and citrusy.

The wines of the late Didier Dagueneau

(Domaine Didier Dagueneau) are

widely recognized as the best from this

appellation and, as such, carry a relatively

hefty price tag.

A couple of other well-known Sauvignon

Blanc-based wines come from France.

Usually blended with Semillon and some-

times Muscadelle, White Bordeaux is

fresh and crisp when young but can age to

become creamy, honeyed and rich with

vanilla from the oak barrel. While you can

pay $50 for a great bottle of White

Bordeaux from a big-name winery, a

really good one can be bought for $20.

Top producing chateaus include Haut

Brion, Pape Clement, Carbonnieux,

Clos Floridene and Haut Bergey.

The most famous sweet wine based on the

Sauvignon Blanc grape comes from the

appellation of Sauternes. Blended with

Semillon, these wines contain some resid-

ual sugar and offer tastes of honey, white

peach, orange peel, spice and vanilla. The

most famous Sauternes wine is from

Chateau d’Yquem with other top scor-

ing wines coming from Chateau

Guiraud, Chateau Rieussec,

Chateau Doisy Vedrines and

Chateau Suduiraut. All are relatively

expensive, with bottles ranging from $50

to $500.

New World Sauvignon Blanc

First planted in California in the 1870’s in

the Livermore Valley, wineries didn’t start

getting serious about production of

Sauvignon Blanc until the 1990’s. While

some made wines in the simpler, leaner

style of the French, others made

Sauvignon Blanc the way they made

Chardonnay using secondary fermenta-

tion techniques and some oak aging. Both

styles are popular and most are priced in

the $10-$20 range. Some of the California

producers to look for include Duckhorn,

Voss, Markham, Honig, Dry Creek

and Frog’s Leap. These wines are versa-

tile and will go with a wide range of

seafood, veal, chicken and pasta dishes.

New Zealand versions of Sauvignon Blanc

are intensely tart with flavors of grape-

fruit, lemon, lime and a sort of grassy

herbaceousness. These wines are not shy

and will definitely wake up your taste-

buds. Some of the more popular wineries

include Cloudy Bay, Kim Crawford,

Brancott, Hawkes Bay and Babich.

With so many styles of Sauvignon Blanc

on the market today, you can easily find

one that meshes with your tastes and

pocketbook. n

by Kim Clarke


A Primer on

Sauvignon Blanc

Call 1-800-232-3826 today for a free practice appraisal, a $2,500 value!

AFTCO is the oldest and largest dental practice transition consulting

firm in the United States. AFTCO assists dentists with associateships,

purchasing and selling of practices, and retirement plans. We are

much more than a practice broker, we are there to serve you through

all stages of your career.

Ahmed El-Halaby, D.D.S. has acquired the practice of

Thomas M. Smith, D.D.S. - Longview, Texas

Randell S. Terry, D.M.D. has acquired the practice of

Robert W. Gilbreth, D.D.S. - Wills Point, Texas

AFTCO is pleased to have represented all

parties in these transactions.

Helping dentists buy & sell practices for over 40 years.

WWW.AFTCO.NET

(University of Texas - Houston 1967 )

(Case Western Reserve University 2006)

(Baylor College 1968 )





volume 1 issue 2

Documents

constructinga new practice

new practicevolume

successful solo practices

great attitudes new

new practicekeep obstacles

best seo practices

greater revenues

future survival