Just For Canadian Dentists 2010-09 September October

inside: Continuing dental eduCation CalendarPubliCations Mail agreeMent #41073506

off the coast of

patagoniawhere wil l you meet? toronto / mykonos / chicago / bermuda / vienna >>

lakeside in

muskoka

DENTISTS life+leisure

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010 J u S T f o r c a N a D I a N

*wina stay in

Vancouver at Carmana

Plaza see page 37

+ 5 tips to boost the value of your practice

+ meet in toronto

+ no more impression trays!

+ spa it in neW meXico

The closer you look the more you’ll want to invest.

*ELIGIBILITY RULES APPLY - DEPENDING ON PROVINCE. INVESTMENT SOLD VIA OFFERING MEMORANDUM ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OF INVESTMENTS. PAST RESULTS NOT A GUARANTEE FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. WHILE NO RESULTS ARE GUARANTEED, AND WE CAN’T PREDICT THE FUTURE WITH CERTAINTY, A LOOK AT THE PAST/OUR TRACK RECORD MIGHT HELP.

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Hard assets that cash flow.

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september/october 2010 JuST for caNaDIaN DENTISTS 3

10

Features

10 make it Muskoka Escape to Ontario’s cottage country

30 Patagonia Take a cruise to the end of the world

ColuMns

14 tales from the trenches Coming to terms with early retirement

15 in the office Who’s right?

17 motoring The last decade

18 practice management Soup up your practice pre-sale

25 living well 5 ways to boost your happiness

26 techworks A magic wand

27 dentist unleashed South Africa sojourn

34 the thirsty dentist Israel wines

35 the hungry dentist Slow-cooked salmon

36 the wealthy dentist Boost your bottom line

sePteMber/oCtober 2010 Contents

dePartMents

5 September/October mix

19 CE calendar

37 sudoku + classifieds

38 side trip in New Mexico

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dentistsJ u S T f o r c a N a D I a N

life + leisure

SEPTEMBEr/OCTOBEr 2010

Editor and Art Director Barb Sligl

Editorial Assistant Adam flint

Contributors Dr. Susan Biali Timothy A. Brown Dr. holly fong Dr. Dilshad hirji Tim Johnson lesley Morris Dr. Neil Pollock Manfred Purtzki kevin revolinski Dr. kelly Silverthorn Cherie Thiessen Dr. Derek Turner Corey van’t haaff Cover photo Elena Elisseeva

Senior Account Executive Monique Mori

Account Executive Teri richardson

Sales, Classifieds and Advertising In Print Circulation Office 710 – 938 howe St. vancouver, BC v6Z 1N9 Canada Phone: 604-681-1811 fax: 604-681-0456 Email: [email protected]

Associate Publisher linh T. huynh

Production Manager Ninh hoang

CE Development Adam flint

Circulation fulfillment kim lam

Just For Canadian Dentists is published 6 times a year by In Print Publications and distributed to Canadian dentists. Publication of advertisements and any opinions expressed do not constitute endorsement or assumption of liability for any claims made. The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright. None of the contents of the magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of In Print Publications.

In Print Publications710 – 938 howe St. vancouver, BC v6Z 1N9 Canada

www.justforcanadiandentists.com

Printed in Canada.

want to reach us? check out our website!

cover photo:Escape lake -side north of Toronto and discover autumn’s vivid colours.

4 JuST for caNaDIaN DENTISTS september/october 2010

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refresh rejuvenate The heat of summer has faded, the air

is crisp with the scent of fallen leaves, and everything seems to be slowing

down…the perfect season for downtime by the lake, at sea, or in the spa…

Escape to the spiritual sanctuary of New Mexico’s high desert. The spa experi-ence here is sweet (page 5 – 6). refresh and rejuvenate amidst stunning scenery.

Another kind of spectacular is found much farther south in Patagonia (page 30). The sweeping arid vistas in shades of rich, fall-like colour change to the cool palette of icy ocean and glacier-clad mountains.

Or there’s South Africa…Get inspired by Dr. Derek Turner’s epic adventure (page 27), from sleek Johannesburg to cycling with rifle-armed guides past giraffes…

An even farther trek: the Aussie outback (page 7), which is made accessible via the

Great Southern rail’s Indian Pacific train. It’s a 65-hour journey through more gorgeous scenery, punctuated by gourmet food.

Much closer to home is Ontario’s beloved cottage country (page 10). Think toasty campfire, rustling red-and-yellow leaves, frosty forest, the call of the loon…it’s quintessential Canadiana and a Group of Seven painting come to life. Stay at one of Muskoka country’s luxurious lodges for the high-end version of roughing it.

Or stay put and travel through a glass of wine from Israel (page 34). Pair with some slow-cooked salmon (page 35), and take some time to pay attention to you—a healthier, happier you is in order this fall (page 25). “fatten up” a little before fall fades and winter’s hibernation is here…

Barb Sligl, BA, [email protected]

f r o m t h e e d i t o r

clockwise from top Remota resort in Chile’s breathtaking

Patagonia; hot-stone treatment at Ojo Caliente in New Mexico;

the brew pub scene in Toronto’s Distillery District; stunning sub-ject matter for Georgia O’Keefe

at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.

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s t y l e | f o o d | s h o w s | f e s t i v a l s | p l a c e s | g e t a w a y s | g e a r …w h a t / w h e n / w h e r e > s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r

Ten Thousand Waves Ten Thousand Waves is like a Japanese onsen—in the high desert of New Mexico. This spa resort, tucked onto 26 acres of mountainside just outside Santa Fe, includes a big and beautiful day spa where you can soak with regulars, and perhaps spot a celebrity (stay zen!). Or indulge in isolation within the gorgeous mix of traditional Japanese design elements and modern concrete, tile, and steel in a Shoji Private Bath. After the sauna, hot tub and cold plunge pool, take it even further with a signature treatment like the Yasuragi (“comfort”) for total relaxation. tenthousandwaves.com Body of Sante Fe In the heart of Santa Fe is this multi-faceted day spa—sample farm-to-table superfoods and “scrumptious” bio-dynamic wines at the café, learn how to create organic chocolate truffles, shop eco and sustainable fashion and homeware, catch a Kundalini yoga or Nia (mix of martial arts and dance) class, and top it all off with a full-body massage. A sign upon entering: “love your body, love your earth.” This restaurant-cum-cooking school-cum-store-cum-yoga studio-cum-spa is a local hot spot…one regular: Santa Fe resident and yoga guru Ali McGraw. bodyofsantafe.com El Monte Sagrado Taos, an hour north of Santa Fe, offers more celebrity spotting (Julia Roberts has a ranch here) with a more rustic vibe…except at El Monte Sagrado. This adobe style resort is a swish getaway (and a great place for CE events)—there’s a varied and extensive art collection displayed throughout the property and the >>

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get-away

clockwise from top left Christianna Uehlein, the chocolatier at Body of Sante Fe; The iron spring pool at Ojo Caliente; Christianna’s cooking class creations— handmade raw organic chocolate truffles sweetened with agave nectar; luxe casita at El Monte Sagrado.

it!spain New Mexico


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>> tranquil grounds include a sacred circle of trees revered by the pueblo people. And there’s the spa. Meander along the path past villa guest suites to this haven of exquisite treatments…then test out the sauna in a charming outdoor hut. elmontesagrado.com

Ojo Caliente Away from civilization, about midway between Santa Fe and Taos, are historic hot springs long used by pueblo people for their healing waters. Named Ojo Caliente, “hot eye,” by the Spanish in the 1500s, the site has been a day-use spa for 140 years. Iron- and lithium-rich water bubbles up into pools surrounded by red-tinged cliffs under the azure sky of the high desert. It’s hard-core relaxation in what seems like the middle of nowhere. And it is. This is Georgia O’Keefe country, where you might share the scenery with a striking but timid tarantula sunning himself nearby…or perhaps an equally striking Charlize Theron, who stayed here while on a Vogue photo shoot…Stay for dinner (there’s a “Dip & Dine” package) then settle into a cliffside suite, start up a fire, fill the private outdoor tub and gaze at the net of stars above. ojocalientesprings.com

—B. Sligl

For more on New Mexico go to newmexico.org.

Strut your stuff in the TOMS wedge. The fun and flattering shoe hits all the high trend notes while also delivering on another level: a chari-

table cause. Buy a pair and a child in need in the developing world gets his or her own pair

of TOMS to run around in (see page 9). It’s the best of both worlds: fashion

and philanthropy. Pick one of the fresh fall colours (like cran-

berry, below, ash or mid-night blue) and start

walking… —B.S. toms.com

get-away

spa it

another must-have from apple? the ipad has been called revolutionary, a game-changing device that does it all—browse the web, read and send email, organize and store photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read e-books, use those apps…with a few finger strokes on apple®’s multi-touch™ display. and all this comes in a sleek package that’s just 1.5 pounds and a half-inch

thick, bringing new meaning to the term “travelling light.” add some key apps—

”currency” for easy conversions on the road, a frommer’s guide for your destination of choice, “traveltracker” to store and update all your travel info—and you’re set to jet. —B.S. apple.ca

style kick it !

m i x s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r

gear/gadget

got one yet?

Hot-stone massage at Ojo Caliente in New Mexico


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riding the rails in the

outback

Doctor

I’m in the Aussie outback ghost town of Cook, population 3, one of the most isolated places

on earth: no roads, 1100 km from Adelaide and 1500 km from Perth.

A sign is all that remains where once stood the Bishop Kirby Memorial Hospital. “The flying medical service provided a backup service and in later years the Royal Flying Doctor Service fulfilled this role until Cook ‘closed’ in 1998,” the plaque reads. The hospital had an operating theatre, two wards, and quarters for the hardy staff, who had to withstand a paucity of water and a surplus of dust storms and flies.

The flies are back today and the heat somewhat fierce, but that’s OK, we can turn on the air conditioning in our sleeper. Great Southern Rail’s Indian Pacific train takes on fuel here, the halfway point across the continent’s expansive girth, from Perth to Melbourne, from one ocean to another.

The journey may be 65 hours, but it passes too quickly. Meals are gourmet, sleepers are comfortable,

cabin stewards exemplary, and fellow travelers, mainly Aussies on this trip, curious and chatty. We choose sea trout with hollandaise sauce and asparagus for our first lunch, accompanied by an excellent Verdehlo that tickles our throats way too seductively.

Outside the windows, the scenery unfolds expansively, rose and white gala birds explode from trees, kangaroos startle, and camels stop munching to stare us down. What are they doing here? The audio programme in our sleeper soon provides the answer. In the 1860s, about 10,000 were brought from Arabia to transport goods across this arid landscape. Once the railway came through, the camels were made redundant, and went walkabout. There are now around 500,000.

From the verdant Avon Valley near Perth, the scenery fades into endless wheat fields, and then to

mallee scrub, a type of dwarf eucalpyt only found down under, according to our luncheon companion, a retired army man.

At midnight we reach Kalgoorlie, taking a “whistle stop” tour that sweeps us into the windy night to stare down into its immense Super Pit, 3.6 km long and 512 metres deep. Operating 24/7, the gold mine has been described as the richest square mile on earth. Thirty thousand people live in the surrounding town.

The next day we awake to endless flat rust limestone, the Nullabor Plain, anticipating our arrival at Cook. Once a school, post office, stores, hotel, tiny jail and the hospital serviced this town in the middle of nowhere. That’s now reduced to the miniscule lockup, and a huddle of buildings.

Back aboard and riding the rails, we notice that the scenery is changing again, becoming lush and hilly as we approach Adelaide and its famous Riesling Trail. We’re taking a day off here to cycle and sip some of the offerings along the trail, reboarding for Melbourne tomorrow. After all, there’s no hurry, and no worries. —Cherie Thiessen

more info The official Australia tourism website: australia.com • Great Southern Rail: greatsouthernrail.com.au

while in perth Don’t miss an opportunity to stay in the exquisite Richardson Hotel. Featuring vibrant art, spacious luxurious suites, gracious personal service and incredible dining. If you’re too tired to visit the dining room, just open your fridge and freezer. Some of the chef ’s entrees, with accompanying wines, are bound to tempt you. therichardson.com.au

while in adelaide Set up a Clare Valley Reisling tour with walkabout tours. (What guide Jeff Easley doesn’t know about wines couldn’t even fill a wine glass.) touraboutadelaide.com.au

get-away

rough it…barely m i xs e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r

A circle of bright-red Buddha-like figures squat in a park in Vancouver’s Coal

Harbour. A massive male torso made of lace-like interconnected words watches over Sunset Beach, where a massive whale-bone shape sits as if stranded

(left). All of these huge outdoor art installations are scattered around Vancouver’s downtown and seawall as part of the 2009 – 2011 VANCOUVEr BiENNAlE. it’s a celebration of art in public spaces; sharing new and international talent in contemporary art with the local community. Whether you love the pieces or not, they stimulate conversation and add another dimen-sion to Vancouver’s great outdoors. vancouverbiennale.com —B. S.

Coast

217.5 Arc X 13 by Bernar Venet

sample vancouver

Voya

The Granville

Room

m i x s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r

VancouVer is a foodie’s delight. Think 100-mile menus, seafood fresh off the boat, and a flare for flavour…VoYa Warm up in the restaurant of the chic loden hotel (which counts Catherine Zeta Jones among its guests) where dishes like seared tuna salad show off local ingredients (voya is a member of the Green Table and Ocean Wise sustainable programs). Try: steamed local mussels with green curry, kaffir lime leaf, cilantro. voya-restaurant.com the granVille rooM Sip a cocktail at this speakeasy-like spot in vancouver’s entertainment district. Try: the “honey bourbon sour”; a mix of Bulleit bourbon, honey syrup, fresh lemon, fresh lime, bitters, egg white, honey-comb. granvilleroom.ca coast Buzzing with conversation and happy noshers (even on a Tuesday night!) this seafood mecca is frequented by those in the know (like Bono). Sit at the showpiece oyster bar with the piled-high seafood platter that lets you try a bit of just about everything…Try: the signature crab cake (divine) and tried-and-true fish-and-chips (Bono’s pick). Sip on the Coast Caesar, complete with spotted prawn. coastrestaurant.ca —B.S.

city-scape

TrOT ThE GlOBE

one for one

looking for your next adventure? give this clas-sic globe a spin, close your eyes and set your fin-ger on a spot…south africa may-be? (see story on page 27.) or just do a little armchair trav-

elling from the comfort of home, where this sleek globe makes

a worldly statement. menu.as; bergo.ca to order in Canada —B.S.

tool


go to page 27 for adventure in south africa…

aim here!

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get your glow ON

Glimpse inside the earth’s interior with the organic shape and glow of this Magma

Stone tealight holder. Designed to resemble coagulated lava, the charcoal exterior contrasts with a burning red, orange or yellow interior—as in nature, when lava

solidifies and darkens while liquid magma is still aglow inside. Place outdoors to light the garden as the days grow shorter (made of frost-proof, glazed dolomite), or make a

bold statement indoors. —B.S. Magma Stone by Menu, menu.as;

bergo.ca to order in Canada.

décor

WHO You might recall Blake Mycoskie as a finalist in The Amazing Race TV show (he finished third in season two).

Post show he returned to his favourite destination, Argentina, and was struck

by the number of children without shoes and, moreover, the poor condition

of their bare feet. WHAT Inspired by the traditional rope-soled espadrille-like

shoes worn in Argentina (called alpargatas) he designed simple slip-ons in a bevy of colours

and patterns. He called them TOMS, short for Shoes for Tomorrow. His goal: Get TOMS on those barefoot kids. And by

this fall, 1,000,000 pairs of TOMS will have shod children around the world. WHY Podoconiosis (Podo) is a debilitating disease that causes

extreme swelling, ulcers and deformity in feet and legs from going barefoot in silica-heavy volcanic soil, a common

practice in rural farming regions of developing countries. BOTTOM LINE Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes. The early stages of

Podoconiosis can be reversed by basic foot hygiene and footwear. SOLUTION Blake (above, with kids

after a Shoe Drop) calls it “one for one.” For every pair purchased, TOMS gives a pair of shoes to a child in need.

Bonus for those buying: the shoes are a fashion fave among the likes of Sienna Miller and Karl Lagerfeld. Check out the

on-trend wedges (page 6). Feet first! TOMSshoes.ca —B. S.

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clockwise from top left Algonquin Park. > The Rosseau. > Evening campfire at The

Rosseau. > Algonquin Park. > The Briars. > Highway through Algonquin Park. opposite

page Yoga lakeside at The Rosseau.

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no cottage? no problem! Get your fix at these three cottage country resorts within driving distance from toronto…story by tim Johnson

a place on the lake

autumn in ontario’s cottage country is a wonderful thing—lakes, hills and charming little towns, all festooned in the wonderfully vivid reds, browns and yellows of fall. And from Algonquin Park to lake Simcoe to Muskoka, all that beauty is within a fairly easy drive from Toronto. But those

who find themselves without the keys to a cottage face a dilemma. How does one experience all that wild and wonderful splendour with-out facing down the prospect of sleeping in a tent (or the awkward-ness of dropping not-too-subtle hints in the presence of friends who do have a place on the lake)? There’s a great alternative—the cottage country resort. Here are three great options, all of which offer comfort, activities and even luxury amenities, right in the heart of the action. >>c

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Killarney LodgeAlgonquin Provincial ParkEncompassing an astounding 7,600 square kilometers of hardcore wilderness, Ontario’s legendary Algonquin Park is a magnet for intrepid adventurers and avid campers. But you can leave the Coleman stove at home and instead book a room at killarney lodge, a resort which sits on a tiny spit of land surrounded on three sides by the beautiful lake of Two rivers, just off the only road (highway 60) through the park. killarney’s cabins are designed for maximum comfort (from the spa-quality soaps and creams in the bathrooms to the sheets on the beds, which match the thread counts provided by five star hotels) and minimal disruption (there are no televisions, phones or radios—just windows looking out to the lake). The cabins are all knotty pine inside and log cabin construction, and that aesthetic extends to the main lodge, where guests hunker down for some fine country dining next to the lodge’s roaring fireplace, which vigilantly fends off the chill of cool autumn nights. rates include three meals a day, and you can either opt to buy your wine there or bring your own (there’s no corkage)—they’ll even keep it cool for you during your stay.

Many come to killarney for the paddling.

All of the guest cabins are on the waterfront and face the lake; most feature their own dock, and all include their own canoe. There are no motorboats or jetskis permitted within the park limits, so you can paddle in quiet solitude. But if you’re more of a summer-weather canoeist or kayaker, killarney still has plenty to offer. Algonquin’s autumn tapestry—straight out of a Tom Thomson painting—is well enjoyed on a mountain bike or on foot, and a number of nearby hiking trails, from Booth’s rock to Centennial ridges, lead up to amazing views of the seasonal colour. Or you can simply take the opportunity to relax and sip a cup of coffee on the dock.

The BriarsJackson’s PointJust a breezy 60 minutes north of Toronto, vacationers have been beating a path to the beautifully manicured ground of the Briars for many decades, seeking recreation and relaxation on the south shores of lake Simcoe. In many ways, the Briars feels like a throwback—in a good way. A bastion of 19th century civility and charm, the resort’s first buildings—all of which still stand—were built way back in 1880 by Dr. frank Sibbald, the grandfather of the current owner. Dr. Sibbald was trained in Edinburgh and spent much of his career as

a surgeon with the royal Navy in Shanghai, and he integrated his experiences overseas into the design of the buildings and grounds, from the octagonal Peacock house, which echoes what he saw in China, to the hedgerows and stables straight out of the Scottish countryside. There’s an on-staff historian who takes guests on tours, and boat cruises on the lady Simcoe provide interesting background facts and marvelous views.

But the Briars certainly isn’t stuck in the past. The original Cottage regency manor house has been carefully renovated and preserved, and new wings have grown out in every direction, like limbs from a tree trunk. A number of amenities have been added, including a gym, indoor solarium pool and whirlpool, full-service spa, billiards room and pub, plus an iconic tower that looks straight out of a fairy tale (all guests are welcome to go up there to take in a lovely view of the grounds and the lake).

room rates generally include meals, and the delicious fare offered in the dining room features many fresh and local ingredients, including vegetables from the on-site chef’s garden, which in the fall brings forth yellow and orange carrots, heirloom tomatoes, baby squash and potatoes. And you will have plenty of opportunities to work off any extra pounds outside on the 18-hole Scottish woodlands golf course, on the kilometers of trails on the property (bikes



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Killarney lodge Driving distance from Toronto: 3 hours • Rates start at: $229 per per-son for a one bedroom cottage, three meals and a canoe • killarneylodge.com; 1-866-473-5551

the Briars Driving distance from Toronto: One hour • Rates start at: $159 per person for a guest room, three meals and most activities • briars.ca; 1-800-465-2376

the rosseau Driving distance from Toronto: Two-and-a-half hours • Rooms start at: $229 for a studio suite, room and most activities • therosseau.com; 1-866-240-8605

are loaned for no charge), or out on the lake in a canoe or kayak.

The Rosseau Muskoka, MinettThis JW Marriott resort—Canada’s first—is the epitome of cottage country chi-chi. located on one of Muskoka’s most beautiful—and expensive—lakes (places on the water routinely sell for millions) The rosseau features organic cuisine, designer interiors and even valet parking. All rooms include their own fireplace, and the resort offers five different dining options, including Teca, an Italian restaurant with an open-concept kitchen that was named one of the top ten new restaurants in Canada in 2009. There’s also a yoga and pilates studio, an indoor-outdoor pool, a 13,000 square foot spa with eleven treatment rooms and indoor hot tubs overlooking the lake, plus a championship golf course across the road.

But all of this luxury doesn’t mean that The rosseau is detached from its surroundings. The resort offers stunning views of the area from its perch high atop a bluff, and employs a staff naturalist who leads guided hikes. Guests can also take advantage of their private beach, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching and sailing. On weekends local artisans swing by to offer workshops, and families are welcome to make s’mores around the bonfire or to take part in their autumn nights astronomy tour. And The rosseau offers a full menu of seasonally-focused special events. This fall’s offerings will include a Thanksgiving feast, a halloween pumpkin carving session, and a day of foraging for wild mushrooms led by the staff naturalist and a mycologist (i.e. a fungus expert), followed by a mushroom-inspired cooking class taught by the resort’s chefs.

Fall hue. Crimson-coloured maple leaves carpet the forest floor in Algonquin Park.

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ta l e s f r o m t h e t r e n c h e s d r . d i l s h a d h i r j i

In a matter of minutes sitting in a lawyer’s boardroom, it was done. I retired and sold my dental office at

the ripe old age of 43. My back had been bothering me on and off for over two years. I had always persevered over the pain. Neck, shoulder, and hand/finger pain was a constant reminder of how much I loved what I did. I loved dentistry, the environment, my patients, chasing the numbers, presenting treatment and closing the deal, and I loved the slight, sheer panic before a difficult procedure.

And with the deft swipe of a hand, some ink, and a lot of planning, it was over.

Now my mind was blank. I made it down the elevator and into my car, where I sat trying to absorb it all—the impact of my decision, the nothingness of what I had to do now.

But then I looked back at the last 30 days, filled with pain, misery and unhappiness.

When I hurt my back two years ago, I knew that I had to change the way I practice or my days would be severely numbered. Change is misunderstood. It only takes a simple, small turn while driving a car to completely change the nature of the destination. likewise, a simple change is all that is needed to make a big impact in life.

So instead of sitting, I stood for three and a half days of dentistry. Not a full schedule, but my staff and I did a lot of dentistry in that time. My team consisted of 12 superb individuals who had been with me for up to 14 years. We discussed, we argued, we had fun. We made decisions jointly and worked well together.

Standing up at work helped my back, but for the last month, I could not even stand or walk. At the end of each day, I came home, iced my feet and cried from

the pain. Standing—and the electrifying, busy pace of the office—had taken its toll on my body. how much more could I handle or tolerate? It was time.

That evening after the papers were signed, I organized a dinner party that was more like a farewell party for myself. I bought each staff member a farewell gift and introduced the new dentist.

It was the most nerve-wracking evening I ever had to face, filled with disbelief, shock and tears. I broke down. It was emotionally tough knowing that I was now going to be apart from all these people with whom I had shared so much over the years.

The new dentist who bought my office was an exceptional young woman. I wanted the transition to be smooth. And I wanted an easy changeover for my staff and patients. I stayed on for a two-week transition in which I hung around the office, talked to the patients, and helped in the office. It sounded good at the time…but was intense. More nerve-wracking emotion.

My philanthropic idea of hanging around and easing the transition was a tough grind. The staff was still in shock and patients’ reactions went from a deep gratitude to anger for leaving them. I was surprised to get so many gifts and farewell cards. I was a dentist for 17 years with many loyal patients. A practice reflects the individuality and personality of the dentist, and I was blessed with excellent patients (of course, there was a lot of selectivity on my part; I learned the hard way that not everyone was going to like me and I wasn’t going to keep patients around to make my days miserable). Each day was filled with tears—patients cried, and I with them.

The main reaction I got over and over again was disbelief. People couldn’t fathom that I had retired. A few friends placed bets on how many months I would last before

coming back. The most common reaction was, “OMG I can’t believe you retired.”

There was some envy in a lot of the reactions. “how can you be retired at such a ‘young’ age?” I sympathized…they were still in the rat race! And I am sure my decision made many reconsider what they were doing and when they were retiring. But within a few weeks, most people had forgotten and were trapped back in their routines.

Most would advise dentists that, despite being wealthy, they cannot afford to retire. But that’s only without planning, hard work and vision. In my second year of dental

school I had already figured out that I would retire after 15 years. life has a way of trapping us in our habits. Change is difficult. We become busy with families, careers, hobbies, desires, and so on, and forget why we entered dentistry to begin with.

When starting a journey, most of us want to know where we’ll end up. yet, how many of us actually plan and work to get to a point where our career journey ends and we start enjoying life? We need a paradigm shift when it comes to the perception of retirement. Why wait until we are old and unhealthy to enjoy life?

My advice? Plan for retirement now. figure out your exit strategy, how much money you want to retire with, how young you want to be, how healthy you want to be…

And the benefit of retiring early is that when the money runs dry, I’ll still be young enough to work again—and I will have thoroughly enjoyed my 40s. After all, aren’t the 40s the new 20s?

Coming to terms with early retirement

my catharsis

Dr. Dilshad Hirji is a graduate of Tufts University. He formulated his “Plan” with the help of Timothy

A. Brown of ROI Corporation (see page 18).

With the deft swipe of a hand, some ink, and a lot of planning, it was over…my mind was blank


T here are a few interpretations of what being right means. Does being right mean having to

discount fees for services because of complaints that dental treatment is too expensive…and just down the street the same work is being done for less? Is it a patient’s right to commence with dental work and then ask for a statement to be sent home instead of paying for services while in the office? Does being right allow a patient to “no show” for prescheduled appointments without penalty? Why does the patient have the right to hold the dental office responsible for their dental benefit coverage and then threaten to leave the practice if the benefit does not pay.

Many dental practices acquiesce to patients’ demands and abandon the office policies and principles out of fear. fear can translate to a loss of patients in the practice, a loss of revenue and even a loss or change of lifestyle.

The definition of a patient being right is to be treated with respect, compassion, understanding and education. An

example of a patient being right is promising to deliver a dental case on a given date and not having to bring them back several times before it is complete. yes, the office should feel bad for all the time the patient has taken off work…the cost of the parking for each unnecessary

visit and the numerous needles.

So, what can be done about what may seem like broken trust? Do you offer to give treatment away for nothing so the patient will not leave the practice? Does money equal trust?

Building a solid relationship with your patient is what is right! Money does not equal trust or value. Discounting fees only becomes a bargaining tool to satisfy one party, leaving the dental office feeling compromised.

And for those chronic complainers that choose to not abide with the office philosophies, policies and principles…well, then leaving your practice is right.

feel confident in knowing there are creative solutions to problematic situations that arise with patients. Issues can be resolved without a discussion of money that will leave you both feeling right.

Is the patient always right?

who’s right?

i n t h e o f f i c e l e s l e y m o r r i s

many dental practices acquiesce to patients’ demands and abandon the office policies and principles out of fear.

Lesley Morris has been a consultant in the dental industry for over 15 years, providing marketing and relationship management to dental practices. You can reach her at [email protected].

Learning that shapes who you are.

(2009 statistic from the Canadian Dental Association)

In British Columbia the number of dentists

per100,000 people is 66 —the highest density in Canada.

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m o t o r i n g d r . K e l ly s i lv e r t h o r n

We’re into the last quarter of 2010 now. Did the dawn of our new decade unfold unnoticed? What

a contrast to the hubbub of the new Millennium in 2000! My reflection upon the last decade is first to the hallmark histori-cal moments…9/11 and An Inconvenient Truth. Next I contemplate how a decade transforms children, and abets the incre-mental decline of middle age. Before long, I also think about how the automobile has changed since 2000.

As circumstance would have it, my wife took delivery of her second Acura MDX (mid-size Suv), nearly a decade after her first. Through the prism of our new Acura the intervening decade looked decidedly evolutionary.

Our new MDX is slightly larger and heavier. With its larger engine, it’s both quicker and faster, with similar fuel econo-my. The transmission has an extra gear, and the wheel diameters an extra inch. This new Suv comes with more electronic features, and more safety features, including more airbags. Engineering developments through the decade have given the consumer more of everything. On a constant dollar basis the new MDX and other models today cost consumers ~13% less than in 2000.

In Canada, sales of new light trucks slowly inched forward from 45% of market share in 2000 to 49% in 2009. All sounding incremental so far? Drill a little deeper and the decade’s trends look more transforma-tional. Buckle up, here goes!

crossovers: The mix within light trucks saw big shifts. “Crossovers” (car mechanical underpinnings with Suv-like ride heights), quadrupled their market share to 21% of new vehicle sales, while minivans and truck-based Suvs market share shrank commensurately.

downsizing: Whether light trucks or cars, Canadians bought more from the smallest sized categories—up from 35% in 2000 to 51% in 2009. Intermediate-sized vehicle market share felt all of this loss. full-sized/luxury/sports vehicles market share stayed steady at 10 – 11% in Canada, versus a steady 18 – 20% market share in the uS.

ditching Detroit: In 2000, 66% of our new purchased vehicles were made by Detroit’s Big Three, which had shrunk by a full third

to 44% by 2009. Given that huge decline, not surpris-ingly, GM and Chrysler were at the bailout trough as the decade closed. This sad saga is far from over.

Asians eat Detroit’s lunch: As we’ve all heard, Toyota overtook GM as the world leader in unit sales late in the decade. Japanese nameplates increased Canadian new vehicle market share from 25% in 2000 to 38% in 2010. korea’s “k2” (hyundai and captive brand kia) had a proportionately even bigger surge from 4 to 10%.

European fortune cookies: The Europeans also increased Canadian new vehicle market share from 5 to 8%, though their mixed fortunes are interesting. With GM’s troubles, volkswagen is arguably now as high as #2 in sales worldwide, but in Canada vW is a distant 9th and falling. Saab is on life support. Opel (GM Europe) is in custody court. volvo, Jaguar, and land rover brands eventually found new South East Asian owners.

So then, what European brands did make gains in Canada? That would be the new (captive) small car brands MINI and Smart, as well as blue chips BMW, Mercedes and Audi. fiat returned to North America as Obama’s anointed Chrysler savior.

leasing languishes: vehicle purchase financing (a.k.a. leasing) by the car compa-nies themselves began the decade in the 25 – 30% of new units range, peaked at 45%, and plummeted as the decade closed to just 7%. Bank loans to finance new car pur-chases ebbed and flowed in mirror image, rebounded to 77% of transactions in 2009. Cash purchases began the decade at 19% and ended the decade at 16%.

black is back: Worldwide the three most popular car colours are silver, white and black. Black is the runaway favourite in Europe at 27% of new car sales, where the yuppies all seem to drive black Audi A6 TDI Avants. The rest of the world is following

Europe with black gaining in popularity, and silver and white falling. (Indeed, our new MDX is black, and the outgoing one silver.)

Value Village visions: As new vehicles have gotten progressively better and cheap-er, so have used cars. Compared to ~700,000 new light vehicles bought in Canada in 2009, Canadians bought 2,800,000 used cars in 2009, up from 2,000,000 used cars purchased in 2000. used-car-only dealers also improved their look and their market penetration. Many of the Canadian new car dealers shuttered by Detroit’s Big Three late in the decade will be reborn as used car superstores, continuing this trend.

China’s Quiet Revolution: China’s new light vehicle sales rose from less than a million in 2000 to more than ~13 million in 2009, and to be the largest market in the world. The uS domestic market peaked at ~17 million new units sold annually mid-decade and skidded to just ~10 million in 2009. In 2009, ~75% of Chinese new car buy-ers had never purchased a car before, versus just 1% in the uS.

If my wife were to buy another Acura MDX in 2019 I expect it will have evolved to offer more of everything than our 2009 at the price of fewer constants. yet, by 2019 China and India will have transformed the world’s automotive marketplace. The fashions, tastes, and needs of Asian consumers will progressively dictate what the rest of the world builds and buys.

2000 – 2009: evolutionary or transformational?

the last decade

Dr. Kelly Silverthorn is Just for Canadian Dentists’ automotive writer. He tries to keep one convertible and/or one track-day car in the family fleet. 2000

AcurA MDX

2010 AcurA MDX


p r a c t i c e m a n a g e m e n t t i m o t h y a . B r o w n

Experts are predicting a dramatic in-crease in the volume of dental practic-es on the market in 2011 and beyond.

If your practice is one of those that will be competing for today’s particular buyer, what can you do to increase its appeal?

Our clients follow a very simple formula, often implemented at the appraisal stage, which easily covers the costs of the appraisal process. This simple plan almost always yields higher sale prices and, with an ever-increasing supply of vendors, your practice must be positioned to yield the highest and best price while appealing to the demands of today’s buyers.

Witness the popularity of the recent trend in home decorating, makeover and home resale Tv shows. homeowners have discovered that a few days of work, typically at minimal cost, can uncover tens of thou-sands of dollars in hidden value. The same can be done for a dental practice.

1. cull your charts The first negative impression to a buyer, that has the greatest impact on value, is the chart review. In many practices there are charts that have been inactive for many years, yet they are stored in the primary, front-desk chart cabinets. I strongly urge our clients to cull their charts, regularly, and most importantly, prior to sale. Charts that are two years old or more should be moved to storage—they can easily be retrieved if needed.

Most buyers prefer to use the criteria of treatment within one year or less to define an “active” chart, so if you really want to impress a buyer, cull your charts down to a term of one year or less. Another option is to use the new 8.5” x 11” charts (the preferred chart type of today’s buyers) and tag them with the last year of treatment sticker. This tag makes it patently obvious exactly how many patients have been in the current calendar year.

I have reviewed privacy legislations, both federal and Provincial, and the

rCDSO guidelines respecting patient data. Accordingly, our company does not perform chart audits (we never have) and I believe that laypersons should not be going through patient charts, at any time, for any reason. however the buyers, being licensed dentists, often wish to inspect charts for obvious reasons. Provided they have signed our con-fidentiality forms, it’s usually permitted.

2. record or recall overdue patients If selling your practice is near, why not catch up on some overdue patients and fill up the appointment book? With the aid of the com-puter, most practices have done a good job of keeping up with patient recall frequen-

cies, but there are always a few patients who have fallen behind. Some of our clients, in their later years, openly admit they are too tired to keep up with hygiene and that they are falling behind further and further as

they cut their hours. Some of our clients are just plain “out of steam” and can’t keep up. Do your best, or book the hygienists as far in advance as reception can accomplish. While you may not get around to seeing these patients, a fully booked and thriving hygiene program is very impressive to the buyer, and will usually increase sale price substantially.

3. prepare your performance data Many dentists do not track the monthly, daily and hourly production figures for each individual producer. your appraisal will uncover and record this essential data, and most purchasers will demand to verify it by means of examining the day sheets, monthly production records and the appointment protocol. If you do not track income hours per producer, you can easily begin to do so by recording the time spent with patients in any given day, week or month by saving your day sheets or by examining the appointment book (if manual). Most of today’s dental software programmes have the capacity to produce reports of this nature. unfortunately, many practices have not maintained the data entry and the reports may not be ac-curate. your appraisal should identify income earned per hour, per producer, by day, by week and by month. If it is not contained in your appraisal, be assured that the buyer, his accountant and his banker will request this

data during their standard “due diligence” exercises.

4. refurbish and repair worn items We often see upholstery on dental chairs, stools and reception furniture that is in need of recovering. There are several companies who specialize in one-weekend upholstery replacements, thus preventing downtime. This is an easy fix that has a huge impact on the important first impressions of the buyer. handpiece tubing is often worn or stained and they are another easy item to fix. Call your dental dealer; they can exchange them in a matter of hours (usually during a lunch hour per operatory). Shampoo the carpets; paint the office if necessary (choose neutral colours). fix cupboard doors that don’t close properly (hinge adjustments are a common problem), and repair any plastic parts that are cracked (curing lights and the front face of the Statim is common).

5. dust, clean and discard Dust the practice, top to bottom. We find it every-where. The tops of dental light arms are one of those places where few cleaning people ever think to reach. Inspect the ventila-tion diffusers (hvAC vents) and the cold air returns; they are often clogged with dust. Clean out the cupboards. Much like your wardrobe at home, the rule is this—If you haven’t used it in one year, discard it! This is not an easy task for some of us, as we like to save things with nostalgic value. however, when selling, nostalgia items should be taken home or stored away—not left in view for the buyer. Old charts, models, x-rays (less than 10 years of age) should be boxed and stored. If you have any out of date supplies—discard them—they can leave the impression that you don’t buy current dated material and subject you to an accidental quality of care issue.

As a commissioned broker, we want to help our clients to obtain the highest price afforded by the market. The appraisal process usually uncovers any deficiencies in a practice. When rectified, most practices sell for significantly more compared to the price they would have obtained if put on the market in its original condition. In the spirit of home-makeover Tv shows, I challenge you to see how much you can increase the value of your practice by following these top five tips.

The top-5 short-term value drivers when preparing your practice for sale

up for sale

Timothy A. Brown specializes in dental practice appraisals, brokerage, consulting, locum placements, associateships and practice financing

across Canada. Reach Timothy at [email protected].

a few days work can uncover tens of thousands of dollars in hidden value


fa l l 2010 + beyond

c ean international guide to COnTInuInG DEnTAl EDuCATIOn

toronto / mykonos / chicago / bermuda / vienna … | c a l e n d a r

Toronto stems from the Huron word, toronton, that means “meeting place,” and, as Canada’s biggest metropolis, it’s that and more. So, yes, meet here—

there are limitless options in accommodations, entertainment, dining, shopping—and then go out on the town, explore the world-class museums and galleries and walk the diverse neighbourhoods—Little Italy, Little Portugal, the Gay Village, the Annex, Koreatown, Chinatown, Kensington, Cabbagetown, the Distillery, Yorkville, West Queen West, India Bazaar, Greektown…there’s a microcosm of just about anywhere right here in Toronto. [sTay] One of the city’s most historic and recognizable hotels is the Fairmont Royal York, the place to stay since 1929. Today there are plenty of super-swish and luxe boutique hotels that have garnered fresh attention with sleek style, but this grand dame remains a stalwart, especially for CE events. With capacity for up to 1,670 guests and a choice of 32 meeting and function rooms, a gourmet restaurant (EPIC), catering, and just about anything else you need, it’s an easy choice. fairmont.com/royalyork [dine] Venture out to sample Toronto’s fabulous food scene. One high (literally)

is Canoe, atop the TD Bank Tower. It’s a hot spot—for the cityscape, the people watching, and, of course, the food. Nosh on dishes like Seared La Ferme Foie Gras, Wellington County Beef Tenderloin, and Borage Honey & Pine Nut Tart…far above the glittering downtown. oliverbonacini.com/canoe.aspx For a more informal bite and some conscientious fast food, grab a hotdog at Buddha Dog (buddhafoodha.com) or sip an “elixir” of Mayan hot chocolate at Soma Chocolatemaker (somachocolate.com). [museum hop] For some serious awe factor, visit two of Toronto’s recently refurbed cultural meccas. First, check out the Ontario Gallery of Art, overhauled by Frank Gehry to stunning effect. Inside, of course, is a world-class collection of art, including an impressive display of Canada’s Group of Seven. ago.net Then there’s the Royal Ontario Museum, also upgraded with a love-it-or-hate-it ultra-modern Michael Lee Chin Crystal extension that protrudes from the original 19th-century original museum structure (love it!). The glass-and-steel protrusions, named one of the seven architectural wonders of the world by Condé Nast Traveler, will, at the very least, inspire plenty of

discussion… rom.on.ca [neighbourhood hop] With more than 100 cultures, Toronto has tasty world cuisine and a vibrant vibe—something is always going on. Stroll down Queen Street West, with its hip galleries and coffee shops. Experience a karaoke bar in Koreatown. Grab a pint in the historic Distillery District, North America’s largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture. Or check out the Annex, where bohemia and academe meet in the lively community surrounding the University of Toronto, next to chic Bloor-Yorkville. On Yorkville’s “Mink Mile” find designer threads (Prada, Gucci, Chanel…) or sit back in a café and celebrity watch during the Toronto International Film Festival in September (this year, its 35th, look for Eastwood, Damon, Redford, De Niro, Kidman…to name a few). tiff.net [shop] Any of Toronto’s neighbourhoods offer unique finds and shops. But for a full-on fashion fix, there’s Holts. Holt Renfrew, the flagship of Canada’s haute couture department store, is fittingly set in the heart of tony Yorkville. Window shopping allowed… holtrenfrew.com —B. Sligl

For more info: seetorontonow.com

cosmopolitan toronto: a city with plenty on its plate (ce events in toronto are highlighted in blue)

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chicagoIllanois

medical Emergencies In The pediatric Dental Office


312-337-2169 aapd.org

Nov20-21


pediatric advanced Life Support (paLS)Herman ostrow School of Dentistry of uSc


Dec03-04

chicagoIllanois

beyond Sugar: contemporary Nutrition In oral and Systemic Health


312-337-2169 aapd.org

Jan142011

muskegonmichigan

pediatric Dentistry review for The General Dentist

michigan Dental association

517-346-9403smilemichigan.com

Jan28-302011


comprehensive review of pediatric Dentistryamerican academy of pediatric Dentistry

312-337-2169 aapd.org

feb13-192011

SteamboatSpringscolorado

Winter Ski meetingSouthWestern Society of pediatric Dentistry

888-840-4500 aapd.org

peri

odon

tics

Nov06

bostonmassachusetts

H-19: Everyday periodontics for The General Dentist and Dental Hygienist Team

Tufts university School of Dental medicine

617-636-3467dental.tufts.edu/ce

Dec01

bostonmassachusetts

H-26: What’s New in Today’s clinical Dentistry: paradigm Shifts In Dental practice-caries management, periodontics, cancer control, risk management

Tufts university School of Dental medicine

617-636-3467dental.tufts.edu/ce

Dec03


a contemporary approach to Diagnosis, Treatment planning and Therapy In periodontics

Herman ostrow School of Dentistry of uSc


phar

mac

olog

y

oct 27-Nov 11

china land tour/Yangtze river cruise

rheumatology, chronic pain & Traditional chinese medicine *accredited for mD’s. Dentists are welcome

Sea courses cruises888-647-7327See ad page 20

seacourses.com

Nov12-13

Las VegasNevada

pharmacology in Dental medicine: a participation course

Las Vegas School of Dental medicine

702-774-2657dentalschool.unlv.edu

Nov13

portlandoregon

Dental analgesics: from Theory To Therapeuticsoregon Health & Science university

503-494-2943 ohsu.edu


c ece when where topic sponsor contact website

prac

tice

man

agem

ent

oct01

SeattleWashington

Second annual Washington Dental Service annual practice management cDE, The modern Dental Office

university of Washington 206-543-5448 uwcde.com

Nov05

New YorkNew York

risk management programHenry Spenadel continuing Education program

212-573-8500nycdentalsoci-ety.org

Nov06

portlandoregon

Incorporating Esthetic Dental procedures Into Your practice

oregon Health & Science university

503-494-2943 ohsu.edu

Nov20


Dental Insurance - overcoming challenges & managing Effectively

Dental Education consulting

[email protected]

Jan20-222011

chesapeakeVirginia

comprehensive Examination and records The Dawson academy 727-823-2047thedawsonacad-emy.com

res

tora

tive

oct01-03

Viennaaustria

Implant restoration - basic restorative casesprogressive orthodontics & Dentistry


Nov03-06

orlandoflorida

40th annual Session of The american college of prosthodontists

american college of prosthodontists

312-573-1260prosthodontics.org

Nov04-05

bermudacruise

Efficient Indirect Anterior & Posterior restorations, Hands on

university of Western ontario

888-281-1428 schulich.uwo.ca

Nov13


current concepts In Dentistry: The Impact of Zirconia and caD/cam Technology on contemporary Dental practice



rD

a /

Den

tal a

ssis

tant

s / D

enta

l Hyg

enis

ts

SepoctNov


Key Elements Of Office Management advanced reception Training - Saturdays - September 25, october 02, 16, November 6

Dental Education consulting

[email protected]

Nov06

St. paulminnesota

Winter Dental assistants’ Seminaruniversity of minnesota School of Dentistry

800-325-8649 kiscodental.com

apr15-172011

calgaryalberta

rocky mountain rhapsody cE Solutions 604-575-4570 conedgroup.ca

apr28-292011

Scottsdalearizona

assistant Sedation/anesthesia courseamerican Dental Society of anesthesiology


Sep16-172011


Pacific Rhapsody cE Solutions 604-575-4570 conedgroup.ca

Sep 30-oct 012011

Torontoontario

Toronto rhapsody cE Solutions 604-575-4570 conedgroup.ca

for feedback, requests or to have your course featured please email [email protected]

6-day Implant Surgery Course“From Treatment Planning to Surgical Implant Placement"

Learn how to PLAN, PLACE Single Implants on your patient in a "Step-by-Step"approach that will allow you to offer Predictable & Consistently Successful Results.

Participants will perform hands-on surgeries under 1:1 supervision Suitable patients have been pre-screened and are available for

dentist participants should they require one

c a l e n d a r


Some of you may be familiar with my story: I used to suffer from clinical depression, reaching my lowest point

10 years ago during the second year of my Emergency Medicine residency. After reach-ing the point of no return and almost taking my own life, I realized that I needed to make some drastic changes. Some of these includ-ed taking up dancing in my late 20s (I now perform flamenco professionally), embarking on a career as a writer, and even commuting from Mexico for a few years. With time, all aspects of my life improved so much that I began analyzing how and why things got so much better, and translated my observations into a book, which came out this year: live a life you love: 7 Steps to a healthier, happier, More Passionate you.

With the release of the book came a media tour of the uS, and I was surprised to find that the topic that the media and public were most interested in was how to improve your mood and mental health through non-pharmaceutical methods. here are five of the most effective, easy ways I have discovered, which I use regularly to protect and boost my mental health (and that of my patients):

1. Ask what’s really behind your moodIn my case, I was in a career that wasn’t suited to my personality, was sleep-deprived and extremely stressed, and my life was myopically focused on medicine and noth-ing but—a recipe for disaster. I also had negative thought patterns and ways of inter-preting life events that I have since changed. Journaling helped, and so did counselling and group work. Studies show that psycho-logical treatments such as cognitive therapy can be as effective as antidepressants, and are more effective at preventing relapse.

2. Get movingA study published in the 1999 Archives of Internal Medicine reported that a brisk 30-minute walk three times a week may be just as effective in relieving symptoms of major depression as prescription medica-tions. Another study from researchers at the university of vermont showed that just 20 minutes of moderate exercise in the morning translated into a sustained elevated mood for an average of 12 hours post-exercise. If

I’m feeling down in the dumps, all I usually need to do is respond to my dog’s perpetu-ally pleading eyes and take him (or rather, he takes me) for an energetic walk around the neighbourhood. I almost always bounce back in through the door, full of energy and feeling immensely better.

3. Eat the right foodsyou’ve probably heard of the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids for mood and brain health, and multiple studies have also shown that a Mediterranean diet pattern protects people from depression. Experts speculate that this way of eating—rich in fish, olive oil, fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains—provides B-vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and anti-inflammatory fibre that protect and heal the brain. Junk foods have the opposite effect: the glycemic highs and lows associated with sweet sugary foods and the inflammation caused by trans-fat-rich processed foods can mean trouble for an already troubled brain.

4. Create opportunities to laughMany of us who experience low moods or depression can rightfully blame it on stress. A good laugh decreases the release of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, and may even turn on your fountain of youth by promoting growth hormone release. I’ve found it immensely helpful to lighten up in general (seizing any opportunity to act silly), spend time with people who make me smile, and watch funny movies and television shows whenever I can.

5. listen to music that you loveSome of the most effective things in life are the simplest. Music can reduce stress and has even been shown to lower systolic blood pressure. Studies which examine the effects of music therapy on depressed patients have found that music can improve a low mood, increase self-esteem, and even reverse depression. The type of music you listen to is important: choose something upbeat that you enjoy, rather than a melancholy sad love song. It’s amazing what one great song can do for your day (especially if you’re alone at home and can sing out loud and dance without anybody catching you!).

healthier and happier 5 drug-free ways to boost a depressed mood

l i v i n g w e l l d r . s u s a n B i a l i

Dr. Susan Biali is a professional speaker and flamenco dancer, and is the author of live a life you love: 7 Steps to a healthier, happier, More Passionate you. Contact: [email protected].


Hard drives and touch screens are nothing new, but what if you could add a magic wand? That’s exactly

what the lava Chairside Oral Scanner (C.O.S.) has done—added a wand to complete the digital impressioning system.

No more impression trays and material; no more goop, says kelly Trott, Marketing Supervisor for 3M Canada Dental Division.

“Now, it’s digital. It takes a 3D video of the teeth and uploads the images electronically, rather than making a stone model,” she says.

Traditional impressions are made with putty. The patient sits with a tray in

her mouth, waiting for the putty to solidify around her teeth to create a mold that perfectly captures the detail in her mouth—except it wasn’t always perfect.

“The patient could move or the material could pull away from the teeth before it sets,” says Trott. “Even the most experienced practitioner, using the best materials, can encounter difficulties when making an impression. Common problems include de-lamination, facial-lingual pulls, tearing at the margin, tray-tooth contact and stone model discrepancies.”

These problems are eliminated with the C.O.S. The dentist places the small, lightweight

wand in the patient’s mouth and passes it over

the teeth. At the tip of the wand is a camera with 192 lED lights and 22 lenses, which capture the images necessary.

“It captures a 3D video. The revolving

optical design uses image processing algorithms and

real-time model reconstruction. As the video captures teeth images, they are transferred to the monitor. Dentists can see them in real time and make sure they have all the information they require. It’s a lot harder to tell if there’s a problem with traditional methods.”

It’s all done right when the patient is in the office, so dentists can be sure they have all the data they need for the restoration work they wish to complete.

“you can view it in 3D,” says Trott. “It uses a touch screen. We’ve removed the extraneous pieces. There’s no mouse or keyboard.”

Staff can input all patient information for the entire day before the first patient even arrives. After using the C.O.S. wand, the prescription for the restoration is complete. using the touch screen, the dentist sends the prescription wirelessly to the lab. And there’s no need to switch labs, she says. Any lab can get involved and dentists can still prescribe any type of restoration and any type of material. labs appreciate the 80 per cent reduction in remake rates.

It isn’t only problems that are eliminated. Several other steps are eliminated: tray selection, dispensing and setting of materials, and disinfecting and shipping impressions.

“The biggest benefit to dentists,” says Trott, “is predictability of the seating appointment—when the patient gets their final restoration cemented in their mouth. It used to be variable and dentists had to do adjustments to make the final product [us-ing traditional molding methods] fit. Now, it’s so accurate, we have a fit-right guaran-tee. We’ve seen a 41 per cent reduction in seating time on average. That takes a lot of

stress out of a dental practice. Consistent predictable seating appointments; they’re booked accurately and there’s less delay for

the patient in the waiting room.”There’s probably a lot less stress in

the waiting room, as well. Trott says that patient comfort increases using the C.O.S. as there’s no impressioning material sitting in their mouths. The first step in creating a new crown or bridge restoration is making a dental impression. C.O.S. replaces that unpleasant procedure, allowing dentists to take extremely accurate digital impressions of teeth. Because the digital scan is so accurate, the result is a precise-fitting restoration.

She says all this is made possible because of 3M’s entirely new scanning technology—3D-in-Motion.

“This technology allows the capturing of 3D data in a video sequence and the model-ing of these data in real time, enabling the user to instantaneously control the scanning process while moving the wand. The lava C.O.S. is able to capture approximately 20 3D data sets per second, or close to 24 million data points per arch, for an accurate and high-speed scan,” she says.

That’s saying a mouthful.

With the lava Chairside Oral Scanner there’s no more goop

magic wand

Corey Van’t Haaff is Just for Canadian Dentists’ technology columnist and the owner of Cohiba Communications. She can be reached at medicalnews@

cohibacommunications.com and welcomes ideas for future columns.

t e c h w o r K s c o r e y v a n ’ t h a a f f


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Dr. Derek M. J. Turner lives in Ottawa where he conducts a private aesthetic dental practice. Derek guest lectures at CE dental institutions in America. He is also the founder and Chairman of TTi/ProDrive Systems, a dental product company.

The big 5 are not necessarily restorative, perio, endo, surgery and ortho. How about lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and cape buffalo?

South African adventure


The republic of South Africa (rSA) offers adventurous Canadian dentists a wonderful and varied opportunity for exciting travel. It’s about as far south of the equa-tor as the Mediterranean

is north. So, just reverse the seasons and you can imagine the weather. The coastline seems endless, and the country is really Africa’s extension into the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

The fIfA World Cup soccer spectacular

had the world focused on the rSA this year and most of us probably have the brain worm of the drone of vuvuzelas still ringing in our ears. (If you miss the irritation you can download the vuvuzela app from iTunes.)

for photographers, the country has a mind-blowing variation in activity, scenery, people and wildlife photo opportunities. The sunsets are amazing and Orion is high in the NW at 10pm in the rSA winter.

your safety and security are assured by guides, tour operators and hoteliers. We found all of the South African people, of every background, to be friendly and hospitable and we felt safe always…even in Johannesburg, despite its reputation. In rural areas the accent sometimes makes understanding English a little difficult. But

it’s part of the charm. And remember to look right first when crossing the streets…South Africans drive on the left.

where to gofrOM CAPETowNbeach > Beach bums will be in tan heaven at any of the resorts and spas of the Western Cape. sip/savour > for wine fans, Cape Winelands offers not only Paarl, Stellenbosch, franschhoek, Wellington and Pniel wines but spectacular mountain scenery and the quaintness of Dutch influences. And you can

use this area as a base to explore Capetown and environs by car or bicycle. for the casual cyclist see sa-venues.com.

frOM JoHANNESBURgfly > It’s easier and faster to fly in to Jo-berg than Capetown from Canada, although it’s still 2 + hours of travel time…fly executive class if you have frequent flyer points or can afford the fare (Cerec users). Check out your options at travelocity.com. My wife, friends and I flew Ottawa/Montreal/Zurich/Johannesburg and loved every minute.

golf > Golfers should fly to Johannesburg and head for Sun City or the Drakensberg areas.

x-treme > If this will be your only visit to South Africa Or you’re an adrenaline junkie

(all the X-treme water and cliff sports) you may want to visit the victoria falls area. for “Z” enthusiasts the falls are on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia on the Zambezi river. Check out vicfallsconnection.com to get you there from all rSA major centres.

stay > In Jo-berg I recommend The Melrose Arch hotel (africanpridehotels.com/mel-rose-arch-hotel.html), an awesome hotel. The area around the hotel has high-end shopping, wine stores and restaurants…you can even buy an Aston Martin nearby!

bike > Now for a specific recommendation for the young and “experienced” among you (that is everybody!): Cycle Mashatu (cycle-mashatu.com). for an absolutely fantastic cycling experience in South Africa, take one of their trips. Greg Bond, all six-feet-seven-inches of him, and his staff will treat you to a cycling safari like no other. (Our trip was a joint venture with Big Mountain Bike Adventures. Check out this Canadian tour company’s adventures at ridebig.com.) With Mashatu, there’s the fly-fishing and mountain biking experience of Mount Anderson ranch, or travel to kruger National Park, east of Jo-berg, and to Botswana to see the big game. We slept on open-air cots with hourly shared campfire vigils in the fantastic accommodations of safari camps with delicious food. And we cycled, with a rifle-armed guide leading and following, off trail through beautiful countryside.

pack > We were advised to take Malaria pills in advance of our June trip, which we did. Our travel physician in Ottawa told us that there was no malaria concern south of francistown, Botswana. he was right. We took the pills, used insect repellent and wore white long-sleeved shirts in the evening. We never saw a mosquito nor had a mosquito bite until we returned to our cot-tage in Ontario! The insects we did see were army ants in a massive and determined trail cross our bike path and “killer” bees that pre-vented access to a doma overnight refuge.

wow factor > On bikes we saw impala, ostrich, vultures, wildebeest (gnu), zebra, giraffe, various reptiles, wild turkey, elephant, monkey and baboon. In the evening in open-air vehicles we came intimately close to hyena, leopard, lion and cape buffalo. But no rhinos. The rhinos are nomadic and free roaming and we weren’t fortunate enough to be in their vicinity. Might have to go back for that…

If you have two weeks and the inclination…GO.

d e n t i s t u n l e a s h e d [ c o n t i n u e d ] d r . d e r e K t u r n e r

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d e n t i s t u n l e a s h e d [ c o n t i n u e d ] d r . d e r e K t u r n e r

above left Fly-fishing ponds at Mount Anderson Ranch (20,000 acres!) in the Drakensberg mountains. above right Riding atop the stunning vistas. below left Dr. Turner’s wife Elaine with Cycle Mashatu guide Greg. below right Dr. Turner at The Melrose Arch Hotel, a luxe spot in Johannesburg.

page 27 Giraffe sighting (bike-side!) in the Timbavati Game Reserve in South Africa. opposite page In Mashatu, Botswana, with Cycle Mashatu. above left Kids in Soweto in Johannesburg. above right Sunset ride with the rifle-armed Mashatu crew.

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30 JuST for caNaDIaN DENTISTS July/august 201030 JuST for caNaDIaN DENTISTS september/october 2010

t r a v e l t h e w o r l d

“Viewing glaciers with

the spotting scope on the top deck

of the ship. below Remota blends with

the landscape and recalls the sheep

farms of the region.



F rom a distance it had looked much smaller, almost quaint the way it lay along the land, nestled between mountains. But as we drew closer across the icy waters in our Zodiac, the Pia Glacier loomed up faster and larger than one might expect until we made landfall and now stand dwarfed by its massive wall of ice. The surface shows patterns of cracks and layered ice and sediment, varying colors—most notably the blues—and several spouts of meltwater cascading into the bay.

The Mare Australis, anchored in this fjord in the northwest arm of Beagle Channel, lies behind us,

now a toy, a mere earthly thing that has stumbled into the hall of the gods. This is the second full day of our expeditionary cruise of the channels and islands at the End of the World, the southernmost reaches of the Americas. This is Patagonia. We set sail from Punta Arenas, Chile and are bound for ushuaia on Argentina’s Tierra del fuego Island. In between lies a remote land of mountains and glaciers, of moody seas and scattered islands, and of creatures and plants tough enough to cling to it all.

What sound like shotgun shots echo off the surrounding rock as the glacier cracks and shifts, and seemingly small fragments tumble from time to time, revealing their hefty size when they plunge dramatically into the sea. I look back across the water, so still on a windless day, to observe the clutter of broken ice chunks. One of them will find its way in pieces into our cocktails tonight.

After a gourmet dinner back on board, we are treated to slideshows, videos and lectures about what we are seeing and are going to see the next day. Thanks to our naturalists, we are engaged with our surroundings and entertained by stories of Darwin and Captain fitz roy and other European ship captains and sailors who first braved these channels only to find that the yámana aborigines were already living here.

As we navigate through the Avenue of the Glaciers the next day, I head to the upper deck to take photos of each of them, many named for nations—Germany, france, Italy, holland glaciers—and to get a closer look at hidden waterfalls using the ship’s mounted spotting scope. We sail from point to point and a variety of creatures make our acquaintance. Imperial cormorants, petrels, and albatrosses seem to hover as they match our speed and fly at eye level. A parcel of penguins pops above the surface for a moment to see us pass, and even a whale comes alongside for a spell.

story + photography by Kevin Revolinski

a cRuise at the end oF the woRldIt is scarcely possible to imagine anything more beautiful than the beryl-like blue of these glaciers, and especially as contrasted with the dead white of the upper expanse of snow.“ ”

Patagonia



Every day we are treated to a shore excursion. The first day in Admiralty fjord we trekked along Ainsworth Bay with the Marinelli Glacier as our backdrop. Now in the distance, the ice sheet once covered the land we hike upon. A colony of elephant seals seemed to take little notice of us but the local birds came close to check us out along the trail among the unexpectedly bright colors of lichens and hardy plant life. An eagle-like caracara lighted in the upper branches of a nearby tree, and high up along the Darwin Peaks four condors rode the air currents. Our guide Eduardo kept a proper balance between lecture and the silence one requires to appreciate the great sweep of wind, chirping birds, babbling streams, and distant waterfalls. Several hikers claimed to have heard a fox bark.

The cruise offers a perfect balance between luxury and adventure, activity and relaxation. Patagonia’s untouched splendor puts it in a must-see category and a small expedition-style excursion makes it all the more memorable. Our last shore excursion is truly the end of the world: Cape horn. We climb to the lighthouse there and I imagine what sort of person might choose a solitary life out here as I look out over a sparkling sea. Invisible beyond the horizon is Antarctica.

There’s no mistaking when the ship has left the relative shelter of the bays and channels. The sea starts to roll a bit and then really picks up steam when we round Cape horn before becoming gentle again when we slip back among the islands for the final stretch north to ushuaia. We disembark the next morning and I can’t help but feel like the child who has left the most amazing carnival ride of his life: I want to get back in line and start all over again.

Patagonian surf and turf?While the cruise offers a few steps along terra firma, a land-based stay before or after is a great way to extend the Patagonian experience. On the Argentinian side is the port city of ushuaia and the nearby Tierra del fuego National Park. hire a guide and trek through the mountains there, or take the End of the World Train to get to the park yourself. Send a postcard from the Post Office at the End of the World.

On the Chilean side lies the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park and its unique set of mountain peaks totally independent from the Andes. Check in for a few days at nearby remota resort. Each evening guests sit down with their personal guides to discuss the next day’s activities. Do you prefer to go hiking? horseback riding? Climbing? Perhaps a boat tour of the inlet?

remota offers a blend of luxury comforts—fine meals, regional wines, hot tubs—along with the rugged adventure excursions. The hotel’s design harmonizes with the terrain. Part of the structure resembles the sheep runs of the local farms, and the grass of the plains grows along the rooftops. Enjoy a view from the dining room of the sun setting behind the park’s three rocky “towers.” Watch documentaries and attend presentations about the land and its people. And most importantly, get out into the wild for some exploring. In the evening you can sip champagne and soak tired muscles in an outdoor hot tub with an impressive view.

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cruceros australis offers all-inclusive cruises between Ushuaia, Argentina and Punta Arenas, Chile for US$1,460 – 3,500 per person based on double occupancy: australis.com

remota offers packages ranging from 3 – 14 days, including meals and excursions. Double occupancy prices are $1080-5220 based on length of stay: remota.cl

Along with the enormity of glaciers and mountains are tiny beautiful details. below Cruise passengers board a Zodiac for a shore excursion. bottom Meals at Remota draw upon locally produced foods.



The ship is dwarfed as it enters bays full of broken ice. below Challenging hikes in Torres del Paine offer grand vistas as a reward. left Hiking along shore brings travellers up close to the glaciers.


In discussions around my dining room table, Israel is most often paired with politics rather than pleasure. But the focus

shifted from matters of politics to those of the palate after sampling several Israeli wines—a pleasurable and modern experience from a country that boasts some of the oldest appellations in the world.

Grapes have been harvested and pressed in Northern Israel in the regions of the upper Galilee and Golan heights for close to a millennium, but there’s been a recent and dramatic rise in the popularity of Israeli wines when the Golan came under Israeli control in the mid-1970s. World-class wines are now exported internationally from close to 200 wineries, competing with premium wine-producing regions around the globe.

Some of the most successful vineyards belong to Golan heights Winery, a subsidiary of which is Galil Mountain. The explanation for the quality of Israeli wine and the success of the Golan heights brands can be traced to the unique nature of Israeli topography—high altitudes (ranging from 1000 to 3600 meters) and mineral-rich volcanic soil combine to create a winning Chardonnay environment. And northern Israel receives an annual snowfall that facilitates the temperatures critical to quality grapes—a fact that startles almost everyone but Israelis! More moderate temperatures are found in the Central Golan for the production of sophisticated reds.

My first sip of Galil Mountain Chardonnay was preceded by a lovely aroma of toasty green apples—the reward for the winery’s choice of blending grapes fermented in new-age stainless steel as well as french Oak. The wine itself is refreshingly crisp; the smoky citrus foundation is overlaid by a pleasing mixture of peach, citrus, and minty flavours. A few more sips of this wine and I was fantasizing about enjoying a second glass with a fillet of grilled halibut, marinated simply with lemon and butter. The 2007 winner of the Medium White category in vancouver Magazine’s Wine Awards, this Chardonnay is a steal at $18 a bottle. Along with all of the Galil’s wines,

it is also kosher for Passover, so for those who have struggled as dinner hosts or guests to escape the traditional Manischewitz, here is an elegant solution.

I then turned to a winner on the international stage—the yiron. A subtle blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and a dash of Petit verdot, this ruby-red vintage took me by surprise. The depth and finish were superb; the tannins were delicately integrated without compromising on firmness or richness of flavour. I savoured the berry aroma that wafted up from my glass. If one were to share a bottle of this wine over a rack of lamb grilled over cherry hardwood, the notes of black cherry, blue and red berries would reach breath-taking decibels. here is a bottle of wine that settles once and for all whether kosher wine can hold its own at any table. It was rightfully described by vancouver Magazine as “a revelation.”

A third pleasure awaited me with the Sauvignon Blanc, a wine whose refreshing flavours attests to the growing skills of the teams that hand harvest these grapes in the Golan. Medium-bodied with scents of pear and passion fruit that float gently on an herbal wave, this wine will keep you cool on a hot late-summer night without making you reach for a sweater.

last, but hardly least, I sampled the Galil’s Pinot

Noir. It meets the challenge of crafting a quality Pinot Noir and exceeds

expectations. raspberry, sour cherry, and chocolate shades with hints of vanilla form a smooth texture that makes each sip a delight. This single varietal Pinot is mysterious; distinctive aromas and flavours emerge gradually over the long finish, and while the tannins are soft, the wine has a dense full flavour.

Given my enjoyment of all these wines I’m pleased to note that they’re all also reasonably priced; you don’t

need to set them aside for special occasions—they’ll

add a splash of desert romance to any meal.

If the revolution of the past 20 years in Israeli winemaking allows for any conclusions and predictions, it’s that Israel and fine wine is a natural pairing, and one that holds great promise in the years to come. “le Chaim,” the hebrew toast that means “to life,” can be made wholeheartedly with a glass of Galil Mountain Chardonnay. And as tastes of Israeli vineyards continue to gain recognition, I imagine many more will raise their glasses to Israeli winemakers.

raise a glass to israel

t h e t h i r s t y d e n t i s t d r . n e i l p o l l o c K

Award-winning, reasonably priced and palate pleasing, Israeli wines are a revelation

Dr. Neil Pollock is a member of the Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada; visit his website on wine at vinovancouver.com

or send feedback to [email protected].


Eating well doesn’t necessarily mean compli-cated. Some of the best meals are nothing more than fresh quality ingredients simply

prepared to enhance their natural flavours. Over the last few years, the proliferation of farmers’ markets have made it easier for home cooks to find quality seasonal produce. Summer meals at my house are often inspired by what’s avail-able at the market and by what’s growing in my small backyard garden.

One of my family’s favourite late-summer meals is tender just picked green beans with slow cooked salmon in a creamy sorrel sauce and some crusty bread to soak up any remaining sauce. Slow cooking the salmon over a very low heat keeps the fish meltingly succulent. It will be bright orange—almost raw looking—but it flakes readily.

The cream and sorrel sauce with its tangy lemon flavour enhances the natural sweetness of the salmon and the just-picked green beans. If you grow your own sorrel, pick young leaves about the size of a large bay leaf. Otherwise you will have to peel off the fibrous middle rib along the leaf before finely cutting the leaves into ribbons.

When choosing a wine, look for a medium body wine with not much oak but good acidity to cut the richness of the salmon and the cream in the sauce, like a Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc. for a change of pace, try an Austrian Grüner veltliner. The Stift Goettweig 2008 Grüner veltliner Messwein has bright acidity with a fragrant honeysuckle nose, tasting of lemon, green apple and a touch of mineral. The finish is long with a hint of pepper. This is a crisp wine with a slight creaminess that pairs well with the salmon and the sorrel sauce.

the hungry dentist dr. holly fongD

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slow-cooked salmon (serves 4)

Dr. Holly Fong is a practising speech-language pathologist with three young children who is always trying, adapting and creating dishes.

slow-cooked salmon

fish.75 kg salmon filet (have fishmonger scale

and cut your fish into 4 servings)salt and white peppercreamy sorrel sauce1 tablespoon chopped chivesextra chopped chives for garnish, optional4 oz. sorrel leaves, rinsed, removing any

fibrous middle stems1 cup whipping creamsalt and white pepper

tender green Beans225g or ½ pound slender green beans,

rinsed, ends trimmedsalt5 cloves of garlic, peeled

Pat salmon dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring filets to room temperature.

Heat your gas barbecue to high. Scrub grill clean. Carefully oil grill with an olive-oil-soaked wad of paper towel. Place filets skin side down on the grill and close cover. Turn the heat down to low for 1 ½ minutes. Turn off grill. Do not lift cover! let salmon cook for 23 minutes.

if you do not have a gas barbeque, preheat oven to 200°F (100°C). Place salmon skin side down on a baking dish. Bake on middle rack of the oven for 10 minutes. Turn oven off and let salmon rest 15 minutes with a gas oven, 10 minutes with an electric oven. Do not open oven door.

While the salmon is cooking, fill a large saucepan with 2 inches of water. Add enough salt so that the water is similar to sea water. Smash garlic cloves with the flat blade of a large kitchen knife on a cutting board. Add to water mixture. Bring to a roaring boil over high heat. Add the beans. Stir to lightly submerge all the beans. Add more water if needed to just cover the beans. Cook for approximately 5 minutes, uncovered until al dente. Using a slotted spoon, remove beans from the pan onto a large plate or serving bowl. Set aside.

Cut the sorrel by stacking leaves and lightly rolling into a cylinder. Using a sharp knife, cut into thin ribbons. in a medium saucepan, bring cream to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn off and remove from heat. Stir in the chopped chives. Season with salt and pepper. Add sorrel. it will wilt very quickly. immediately blend until smooth with a handheld blender. Adjust seasoning.

Serve a piece of salmon with beans, generously covered in sauce. Garnish with extra chives. Enjoy.

Succulent yet flaky, it’s the perfect late-summer dish


Manfred Purtzki is the principal of Purtzki & Associates Chartered Accountants. You can

reach him at [email protected].

T he profitability of your practice does not just depend on your clinical expertise, or how many hours you

spend in the practice. Based on an informal survey of our dental clients, it is interesting to note, that often the dentists who work more than the standard 32 hours per week, do not generate more revenues. It is not a question of how much time you put in, but how much you bill per hour.

here are my suggestions of how to boost profitability in your dental practice.

1. Consider all elements to increase hourly production, such as charging more than the fee guide, adding more profitable procedures and eliminating fee discounts. In most practices, the hygiene department

is not operating at its full potential. hygiene revenues are typically between 15% and 25% of total billings, when the goal should be more like 33%. fine-tuning the recare program to increase the hygiene volume not only adds 60 cents of every hygiene dollar to the bottom line, but it also generates more dental treatments.

2. use the 80-20 rule. you may be familiar with the Pareto Principle, which states that 20% of something is always re-sponsible for 80% of the results. It is a great daily reminder to focus on the 20% that matters. figure out how you can apply the 80-20 rule to your practice. Maybe you should be dropping the high-maintenance, low-revenue patients, the ones who seem to suck all the energy and enthusiasm out of the dentist and staff. focus on the 20% of the dental procedures that produce 80% of the practice income. Increase production, by you spending more time on profitable procedures, and adding an associate on a part time basis to look after the less lucrative treatments, and pro-cedures that are normally referred out.

3. Effective delegation is a key ingredi-ent for an efficiently run office. Delegation in your office is only possible if you employ talented and highly motivated staff. Dentists often tolerate underperformers or employ-ees with a bad attitude, because many don’t want to fire a staff member out of fear of a large severance payment.

Applying the Pareto Principle, 20% of the employees produce 80% of the results. It means that you should focus your management time on nurturing the good employees so that they become excellent, rather than spending valuable time on bringing weak staff members up to speed.

4. Embrace new technology. What successful dental practices have in common

is the need to introduce new technology and procedures. New equipment increases the office efficiency, as well as referrals from patients.

5. Control the den-tal supply expense, by preparing an annual budget for dental supplies, and work with your staff and your dental supplier to make sure you stay within that budget. Cut down the inventory so that the amount of supplies on hand does not exceed your average monthly dental supply cost.

6. Put monitors in place so that you can measure the impact of your strategies on practice

productivity and cash flow. It allows you to take remedial action immediately, rather than when you meet with your accountant for the annual visit. here are some common practice monitors:

a. Production by provider (dentist, hygien-ist and associate).

b. Production per hour of each provider. This is a key measurement of productiv-ity.

c. New patients.d. Monthly statement of revenues and

expenses, and comparison to the prior period and budget.

e. fee adjustments. fee adjustments can be symptomatic of embezzlement, where the patient is being billed, but the money is actually collected by the employee. To cover up the tracks, the employee subsequently makes an ad-justment to the fee in order to keep the records balanced.

If you are looking at setting up practice monitors, feel free to contact us ([email protected]) and we will send you a sample spreadsheet to get you started.

boost your bottom lineyour profitability depends on more than your clinical expertise

it is not a question of how much time you put in, but how much you bill per hour

t h e w e a lt h y d e n t i s t m a n f r e d p u r t z K i


positions available practice for sale

solve puzzle #2 for a chance to win a night’s stay in an executive one-bedroom suite at the carmana plaza in downtown vancouver!

Each Sudoku puzzle has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 through 9.

gooD luck! last issue’s Winner:Dr. lionel Jinks of vancouver, Bc

sudoku

15

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749

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ue entry form (please print clearly):

name: __________________________________________________________________address: _______________________________________________________________city, province, postal code: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________e-mail: ________________________________________________________________tel: ______________________________ fax: _________________________________

sudoKu puzzle contest rules: 1. entry form must be accompanied with solved puzzle. only correctly solved puzzles will be entered into random draw. 2. Send puzzle & entry form to Just For Cana-dian Dentists, 710 – 938 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1N9 or by fax to 604-681-0456. entries must be received by october 18, 2010. 3. prize: one night’s stay in an executive one-bedroom suite at carmana plaza in vancouver, Bc. odds of winning dependent upon number of entries. winner will be contacted by telephone and announced in the november/december 2010 issue. 4. contest can be changed and/or cancelled without prior notice. 5. all entries become property of in print publications. employees of in print publications and its affiliates not eligible to participate.

d i v e r s i o n

boost your bottom lineyour profitability depends on more than your clinical expertise

KElOWNA, BC – This is an unbelievable opportunity in Kelowna B.C. We have incredible snow for skiing, large and beautiful lakes for the long hot summers, stunning golf courses and many to choose from as well as an international airport. lifestyle that is second to none. We have an opening for a hard working associate with two years plus experience in a group practice environment. This is a well rounded practice that encompasses all aspects of dentistry including i.V sedation and implants. Experienced staff is in place and the patients are waiting. if this interests you please contact me by email: [email protected].

WEST KOOTENAYS, BC – Full-time associate required for a busy general practice. Well established patient base, new patients daily, two hygienists, long term staff, six operatories. We enjoy all the seasons have to offer. Just go outside your back door to travel less than 1 hour to all activities. red Mountain and White Water Ski areas for skiing in the winter and bike trails in the summer. The Arrow/Kootenay and Christina lakes are right here for your summer swimming, sailing or water skiing. There are many golf courses for all skill levels. Come and join our practice. if this is the place for you, owner would like to arrange a future buy-in or purchase of practice. Email: [email protected].

practice for saleiNVErMErE, BC – Practice for sale in beautiful invermere, B.C. 4 operatories. Strong hygiene department. Superb staff. Grosses $700+/year. Fantastic lake and mountain lifestyle.

Vendor willing to stay on part time if desired by purchaser. interested parties please contact ron MacKenzie CA, at: [email protected] or: (604) 685-9227.

NANAiMO, BC – For sale…estate property/home/dental practice. This unique opportunity offers exceptional living combined with a relaxed and professional working environment. To view this rare “gem” located in Pleasant Valley, only minutes from North Nanaimo’s uptown, call Dr. ron Watson at: (250) 390-3774 or visit the website: http://drronwatson.com.

vacation properties

SilVEr SANDS, JAMAiCA – EbbTide 4bd/4bth Beachfront Villa. large, airy, comfortable, tastefully furnished. Weekly/nightly rate includes services of Cook & Housekeeper and free airport transfers. Silver Sands resort boasts arguably the most magnificent white sand beach on the island. Great swimming, snorkeling, coral reef exploration, golf, dolphin encounters, horseback riding, river rafting, excellent shopping & dining close by. For contact details visit www.homeaway.com/265865

Classifieds: fax 604-681-8149 • tel 604-681-1811 • email [email protected]

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Reach out through Just For Canadian Dentists magazine

complimentary classified ads to practising dentists in these categories:

positions available, locums wanted, practice/equipment for sale/rent and

office space. all other classifieds:

1 inch - $95 | 2 inch - $120 | 3 inch - $145 (15% discount for practising dentists)

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v i s i t g h o s t r a n c h

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People come back from New Mexico changed. This may be in large part due to the stellar spas in and around Santa fe and Taos (see page 5), but even when not soaked and slathered you’re likely to be stimulated by the high desert light and landscape, long revered by artists like Ansel Adams and Georgia O’keefe. The scene here is straight out of an O’keefe painting. This is Ghost ranch, with a wild west history and jaw-dropping scenery, ripe for artistic expression. Today, Ghost ranch is a secluded getaway for groups searching for inspiration. Take one of the many workshops going on year-round or plan your own CE event here. you’ll come back renewed… Ghost Ranch: ghostranch.org; New Mexico: newmexico.org. —B. Sligl

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Documents

Just For Canadian Dentists 2010-09 September October