Innovating the Multispecialty Dental Practice

Is the traditional single provider dental practice dying? The answer is ‘no’, but it is evolving.
Now, more than ever, single provider practices find themselves competing for new patients as well as patient loyalty in a marketplace increasingly driven by dental insurance, corporate dental groups and the increasing availability of a wider range of services.
If you are a general dentist in solo practice, you have surely felt pressure to expand upon the services offered in your practice and to offer more services “in-house” instead of referring patients to a specialist. You have probably found yourself utilizing more resources to attract and keep new patients in your practice.

Creating Happy Patients Through Offering More Services

Patients desire and expect to have all their dental needs met within the walls of their home dental office. As their trusted dentist, we want to provide that convenience and security. But is being an expert in every dental procedure from veneers to extractions to implants really what we want to do? Is it a realistic and attainable goal? Is it even what is really best for our patients? An increasing number of general dentists say no, they do not want to personally offer 40 or even 60 different dental procedures themselves. As a result, the multi-specialty dental practice has been born, and is gaining in popularity.

The Advantage of a Multi-Specialty Dental Practice

In the multi-specialty dental practice model, the general dentist works alongside contracted associates specializing in each area of dentistry, from surgery to sedation and orthodontics to periodontics. The result is an improved collaboration between general dentist and specialist, more satisfied patients and the ability for the practice to minimize outside referrals. Because the general dentist and specialist are working together closely with the patient, case acceptance is increased as well as positive outcomes.

A Multi-Specialty Practice is Not Practical for All

The concept of forming a multi-specialty practice is attractive, but for most solo dental practices, the model is impractical. Space constraints, associate contracts, hiring extra staff and spending on equipment and supplies to support specialty services can be obstacles. Fears about not having enough volume to support a specializing doctor one or more days per week, or even per month can be perceived as roadblocks toward offering specialized dental services in an average dental practice.

The VIPS Virtual Associateship Offers a Flexible Solution

The VIPS virtual associateship answers this challenge, and allows the introduction of services such as wisdom teeth extractions, IV sedation and dental implants into the average dental practice. The VIPS practice model provides expanded services on an as-needed basis. Because the mobile dentist provides his own equipment and staff, there is no risk of increased overhead for the hosting general dental practice. In addition, there is no case quota, making it possible as well as profitable to host the VIPS mobile dentist for even a single case at a time.
Hundreds of general dental practices have expanded their services using a VIPS dentist or periodontist to provide services on an as-needed basis for treatment that would otherwise be referred to an outside specialist. This unique practice model makes it possible for dental offices to expand into the multi-specialty practice model without increasing overhead or taking on additional risk.

Create Happier Patients, Increase Office Production

For the average dental practice, a relationship with a VIPS dentist means happier patients, increased case acceptance and increased monthly production for the practice. For a practice that generates just two wisdom teeth cases per month, one can estimate that the increased revenue to the practice would be about $24,000 per year.

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The VIPS virtual associate model offers expanded dental services by general dentists as well as specialists who focus on treatment such as wisdom teeth extractions, dental implants, endodontic treatment, bone grafting, periodontal surgery and IV sedation.
Is it time for your general dental practice to go “multi-specialty”?

Contact VIPS for more detailed information about how a VIPS virtual associate can enhance your practice.