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Relationship Dentistry

Do you practice relationship dentistry and are your patients excited about visiting your practice? Many dentists have believed the answer to this question will never be ‘yes’ and that people just hate visiting the dentist. However, when Dr. Robin Bethel was building his first practice he was determined to build a practice where he would get an answer of ‘yes’ consistently from this question.

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, Dr. Bethel joins the Edwards and Associates team to talk about how he focused on relationship building, relationship dentistry, with his patients and how it has paid off dividends for his practice. Plus he discusses why this focus has helped him build three more successful practices in the Austin area.

Dr. Bethel’s practice has hundreds of Google Reviews with a 5-star average, which is almost unheard of in the dental industry.

He discusses how his goal for his practices isn’t about getting the most number of patients in and out, but it’s about creating the best experience for each patient that walks through his door. He also talks about why focusing on the culture of his practice helped him to expand to 4 practices and over 100 employees.

If you’d like to have your question answered on a future podcast, contact Edwards & Associates. Or contact any one of the excellent ADCPA affiliates across the nation at www.ADCPA.org

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Employees and the COVID Vaccine

Employees and the COVID Vaccine

Can you require your employees to take a COVID shot? This is one of the most frequently asked questions of any business right now, and a very important topic within the dental community.

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, the team at Edwards & Associates welcome back Joe MacGregor, attorney at MacGregor & Oblad. They discuss why although there’s a pretty clear answer to this question now, this is an ever-evolving topic.

They also talk about what happens if an employee is fired for refusing the vaccine and whether or not the laws change in their favor. Will the employer still be held liable? Plus so much more.

If you’re an employer trying to figure out how to best navigate your employees and the COVID vaccine then this is a can’t miss episode.

If you’d like to have your question answered on a future podcast, contact Edwards & Associates. Or contact any one of the excellent ADCPA affiliates across the nation at www.ADCPA.org

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Dental Study Clubs

 

 

One of the hardest parts about running a dental practice can be feeling like you’re doing it all alone, the good news is that there’s an answer to this problem, and that answer is dental study clubs. Once you graduate from dental school, you’re no longer surrounded by peers. Yes, you hire staff, but leaning on them to help you overcome some of the struggles of running your business isn’t a possibility. 

Dental study clubs consist of groups of dentists who meet frequently to discuss best business practices, issues they may be having, plus many other topics that can help them build and grow their practice.

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, the Edwards & Associates Team discusses the different types of dental clubs, the pros and cons of being a part of one, and what you can expect when trying to find the right club for you.

If you’d like to have your question answered on a future podcast, contact Edwards & Associates. Or contact any one of the excellent ADCPA affiliates across the nation at www.ADCPA.org 

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5 Things All Dental Entrepreneurs Should Know

 

5 Things Dentists Should Know

 

Finishing Dental School is only the beginning of a dentist’s journey. Not only do they need to understand their trade, but it’s equally as important to understand how to navigate their way through the world of business once they’re ready to start putting all that they’ve learned to work. In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, the Edwards & Associates team is joined by Joe McGregor, Attorney and host of the Jaw Law Podcast. Joe’s focus is to help dentists become more aware of potential business issues and to help them understand how others have been able to deal with them and today he’s talking about 5 things dentists should know.

Today, Joe discusses why these five things are so important to the success of your practice. You’ll learn about the questions you should be asking, when to ask them, and why it’s crucial to put the right advisors in place for your practice.

If you’d like to learn more about Joe and his Firm, and more than 5 things dentists should know, visit http://www.mcgregorfirm.com/ or email him directly at jmcgregor@mcgregorfirm.com And don’t forget to catch his podcast Jaw Law http://jawlawpodcast.com/ 

If you’d like to have your question answered on a future Beyond Bitewings podcast, contact Edwards & Associates at info@eandassociates.com or 972-267-9191. Or contact any one of the excellent ADCPA affiliates across the nation at www.ADCPA.org

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In-House Patient Plans

 

 

 

Many dental practices look at credentialing with insurance companies as a way to attract patients, but there are other ways that dental practices can increase and grow their patient base. One of those is through in-house patient plans. On today’s episode of Beyond Bitewings, the team welcomes Katie Franklin, Program Director for Smile Advantage.

Smile Advantage helps dental practices implement and run in-house patient plans, and Katie is discussing why every dental practice should consider adding one as a resource for their patients. Not only are these plans attractive to those who may not have insurance, Katie has also found that even those with insurance many times take advantage of these plans.

Katie and the Edwards & Associates team also discuss what type of typical benefits are offered with in-house patient plans, what goes into implementing them and the costs involved, how to get the whole team on board, and why these plans don’t make sense in some cases.

If you’ve been considering implementing an in-house patient plan for your office and would like to talk to Katie, reach out to her at (314) 885-4640, or email her at katie@smileadvantage.com Or learn more by visiting: mysmileadvantage.com

If you’d like to have your question answered on a future podcast, contact Edwards & Associates. Or contact any one of the excellent ADCPA affiliates across the nation at www.ADCPA.org

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Fresh Out of Dental School

So… you’re fresh out of dental school, now what?

You’ve finally accomplished your goal of graduating from dental school. However, just when you thought you’d reached the end, you find yourself at the beginning and there are a lot of different options ahead of you in terms of starting your career.

Should you jump in and start your own practice? Should you work as an employee for one company for a while and learn the ropes? Or should you work as a contractor for several different companies to learn the techniques from several different dentists?

These are questions going through so many graduates’ minds, and ones the team at Edwards and Associates gets asked frequently.

In this episode, they’re covering the different options that new dental school graduates have, and what is important to understand before striking out on your own or being an associate.

Questions answered in this episode:

  • What kind of agreement should you have in place if you’re going to work for another dentist?
  • What outlets are available to find opportunities?
  • If you’re starting out on your own is a business plan the first thing you’ll need to put together?
  • What skills should you focus on building and learning while you’re working for another dentist?
  • Is buying into a practice a viable option?
  • How can you line up financing if you’re just getting started?
  • Plus so much more that relates to being fresh out of dental school

If you’d like to have your question answered on a future podcast, contact Edwards & Associates. Or contact any excellent ADCPA affiliate across the nation at www.ADCPA.org 

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Managing Your Hygiene Department

In a dental practice, the hygiene department is one of the most important teams in your practice, and managing your hygiene department is a must have skill for any dentist.

Karen Davis, owner of Cutting Edge Concepts, joins the Edwards and Associations team in this episode of Beyond Bitewings to discuss what dentists should know about hiring, managing, leading, and utilizing their dental hygienists.

In this episode, they discuss why the dental hygienist team is often underutilized, and why dental practices are often missing the mark on one of the largest problems regarding our health, periodontal disease. Teams must understand the dental practice’s approach to the diagnosis of periodontal disease treatment. Plus they all need to be on the same page when working with patients.

Other topics that are discussed are when to know the right time to bring in a hygienist and a hygiene coordinator, and where are some of the best places to find the right talent. They also discuss why leadership is one of the most important skills for the dentist in a dental practice, yet it’s something many aren’t working hard to build.

For more information on Karen’s company and managing your hygiene department, you can visit: https://karendavis.net/

If you would love to see your question answered on a future podcast, contact Edwards and Associates. Or contact any excellent ADCPA affiliate across the nation at www.ADCPA.org 

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Edwards and Associates team is back answering some frequently asked questions. They’re kicking this episode off with one of the biggest questions they get about car buying and some of the biggest misconceptions when using your car as a tax deduction. 

Also discussed in this episode is why putting your kids on your payroll could be beneficial and what you need to do to avoid raising any red flags.

Plus they cover what dentists should understand about buying multiple practices, like what you should know when proceeding with starting the second practice, why utilizing the same bank for all of your locations could be a very wise move, and why dreaming of someday owning 10 practices might not be what you really want (even though you think it is). They offer some great advice based on what they’ve seen their clients struggle with when taking on this pretty difficult goal. 

Another topic covered is business personal property tax, these aren’t just random letters that come in the mail, they’re for real! The team breaks down what this tax is all about and what you need to know. 

And of course, last but not least, they talk about implementing a 401k in your practice. 

If you would love to see your question answered on our next frequently asked questions podcast, contact us. Or contact any excellent ADCPA affiliate across the nation at ADCPA.org.

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Dental Practice Transitions

Dental Practice Transitions

Should you start a dental practice from scratch or buy one with existing patients, and more importantly, existing cash flow? It’s the main question that new dentists ask, and one that should be considered heavily before jumping in.

There are many things to consider when it comes to dental practice transitions, and the team from Edwards & Associates is discussing some of the important things you need to look for when considering either buying a dental practice or starting a dental practice from scratch.

The good news is that the failure rate for dental offices is very low, so either decision can be a good one, and lenders usually look favorably upon someone needing money for a dental practice.

In this podcast, the team weighs the pros and cons of each, and what the important factors are when deciding to purchase vs. startup. They discuss what you should consider when building a practice from scratch. Plus they talk about what you should be considering when purchasing a practice, and why patient count isn’t the most important number.

Before you start down the road of purchasing or buying, this is a must-listen!

Blog Mentioned In This Podcast – What Went Wrong Wednesdays:  https://www.adapracticetransitions.com/blog/what-went-wrong-wednesdays-3-contract-issues-that-got-expensive

Have a question? Contact Edwards & Associates to get your question answered and possibly featured in a future podcast. Or contact any excellent ADCPA affiliate across the nation at ADCPA.org.

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When to Add Providers

When is a good time to start adding providers to your dental practice? Trying to time when to add a hygienist or an associate doctor can be overwhelming–hoping you have enough patients but not waiting until it’s too late. 

This is one of the biggest questions the team at Edwards & Associates are asked by their clients, and one they’re answering in today’s podcast.

As companies are looking ahead to a post-pandemic world, they’re trying to figure out the best time to bring new providers on board. But there are many questions to answer when hiring a hygienist, an associate doctor, or any other staff. 

In this episode, Edwards & Associates discusses: How to know when it’s time to bring in an associate or hygienist. With hygienists in short supply, is there a day of the week that’s better if you can only hire one part-time? How much can you expect a hygienist to help you produce? Should you hire your new team member as an employee or contractor? And, what happens if your staff requires a Visa? 

Have a question? Contact Edwards & Associates to get your question answered and possibly featured in a future podcast. Or contact any excellent ADCPA affiliate across the nation at ADCPA.org.

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Employee Retention Credit

CARES Act, PPP Loans, Employee Retention Credit, understanding the rules between these relief programs and offerings can be an overwhelming task. Making things more difficult are the constantly changing rules.

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, the Edwards & Associates team brings some clarity to the Employee Retention Credit changes. They discuss what the changes mean for those who may have missed out on the original application and what you may be able to qualify for because of the new updates.

They dive deep into understanding what type of companies may want to re-visit applying for the Employee Retention Credit and also break down some of the specific qualifications.

Most business owners will find analyzing their situation and applying too overwhelming to do on their own, so make sure you consult with your CPA to help navigate these changes and determine what’s best for your situation.

Have a question? Contact Edwards & Associates to get your question answered and possibly featured in a future podcast. Or contact any excellent ADCPA affiliate across the nation at ADCPA.org.

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How To Lead A Team

Buying a dental practice does not automatically make you a great leader. Many dental practice owners find themselves in a predicament where not only do they need to learn how to build a practice, but more importantly, they need to learn how to lead a team so their practice will thrive.

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, the Edwards & Associates team welcomes Dr. Sharon Tiger, a nationally known practice management consultant and business coach to dentists. 

Dr. Tiger discusses what dentists need to learn to become great leaders, important factors to understanding leadership in dentistry, and why you shouldn’t be worried if you’re not a natural-born leader.

She also discusses why creating great job descriptions can help you build a more effective team, how you can create a culture within your dental team, why setting goals is so important to any practice, plus how you can learn to communicate better with your team, simply by practicing and making it a habit. 

If you would like to get in contact with Dr. Tiger, please email her at TXTiger2@gmail.com

Have a question? Contact Edwards & Associates to get your question answered and possibly featured in a future podcast. Or contact any excellent ADCPA affiliate across the nation at ADCPA.org.

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Paying Employees During the Texas Winter Storm

I couldn’t open my practice last week due to the historic Texas winter storms.  Do I have to pay my employees even though they didn’t work?  Can they file unemployment?  Help! 

Let’s start with…must you pay them for the time although they didn’t work?  

Keep in mind this is a super simplified explanation.  I am not an employment attorney.  If you have complex questions you should seek advice for your specific situation.

Hourly employees:

If they were able to work a few hours, you must pay them for the hours they worked. If you have a written policy for bad weather days (like paid vacation or paid personal time off, etc.), you must pay them according to that policy. If you have no written policy, you are not required to pay them for any hours they did not work, even if they were willing but could not reach the office or the office was closed.

Salaried non-exempt employees:

They may use paid leave according to the leave policy you have in place. Or they may choose to have their pay docked instead of using their paid time off. [Note: you must always get written authorization from the employee before deducting any monetary amounts from his/her pay.]

Now…could you pay them for the time they didn’t work even though it’s not in your policy? 

Certainly. Call it goodwill and bank it! Or allow employees to use their PTO balances even if that’s not your policy.  

As for whether you should pay them for the closure if you’re not required?

The decision to pay your employees that couldn’t work is one you will have to make personally. Remember, they’re going to be hurting from the lack of income just like you are. Hopefully, you can find a balance that will benefit your practice and your team. Just make sure whatever you decide, you apply it to the entire team. Don’t pay one for the time and not others. Being selective will likely turn into a problem down the road.

Can they file for unemployment if I don’t pay them for the time they didn’t work?

According to the Texas Workforce Commission website, because a disaster has been declared, there is an option for your employees to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DAU).  The eligibility period begins 2/14/2021 and ends whenever the practice reopened.  However, just because it is available, does not necessarily mean it will be approved.  There are many variables that ultimately play into final approval by TWC.  The TWC is still overwhelmed because of the pandemic.  That definitely won’t make the process quick.  But the employees should at least apply and attempt to receive the assistance.  And they should do so as soon as possible.

Preparing For The Next Pandemic

Preparing for the next pandemic, sound scary, right? We would probably all prefer to forget about 2020! But as hard as it was, it taught us that you can never be too prepared for the unexpected. 

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, the Edwards & Associates team discusses what dental practice owners can do to prepare themselves for the next catastrophe. The next significant event may not be a pandemic. It could be something much more local, like a flood. No matter how large or small, it’s important that you have the resources and capabilities to handle it.

How much cash should you have on hand? Are there opportunities to cut costs, and how aggressive should you be with those cuts? What are other areas you should analyze when trying to plan for a significant event? These are just some of the questions answered in this podcast so you can be preparing for the next pandemic.

Have a question? Contact Edwards & Associates to get your question answered and possibly featured in a future podcast. Or contact any excellent ADCPA affiliate across the nation at ADCPA.org.

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Beyond Bitewings: How To Hire the Right Dental Staff

“I have to hire dental staff.” Hiring can be a challenging event for any dental office, and it may sometimes feel like a hit or a miss when it comes to finding the right staff. However, it doesn’t have to be such a burden or a guessing game.

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, the Edwards & Associates team welcomes Linda Allen, a Management Consultant for dental practices across the nation. Linda focuses on helping dental offices hire the right dental staff and guides them in creating atmospheres and opportunities to help keep those valuable team members onboard.

Linda discusses the current challenges with staffing for dental offices in addition to specific issues that have arisen because of COVID. She also talks about what to look for in potential staff members to make the absolute best hire.

This episode features discussion on topics like developing great interview questions, the importance of a working interview, understanding how to lead a team, plus so much more. If you’re looking for ways to hire smarter and build a better team, this is the episode for you.

Have a question? Contact Edwards & Associates to get your question answered and possibly featured in a future podcast. Or contact an ADCPA affiliate at ADCPA.org.

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Beyond Bitewings: Understanding New PPP Rules

 

Almost one year ago PPP was an acronym no one knew, and now it’s a source of everyday conversation. As 2021 offers hope for a new year, it also offers some new PPP rules for PPP loan forgiveness, payback, and a new opportunity to receive more help for businesses that suffered from losses in 2020. Could you use help understanding the new PPP rules?

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings we break down what dental business owners need to understand about the new rules, the new programs, how to know what’s available for them, and how to move forward with the new applications in addition to the PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications.

Before you try to get forgiveness from last year’s PPP loan or attempt to apply for new money in 2021, make sure you listen to this episode for help understanding the new PPP rules.

Have a question? Contact us to get your question answered and possibly featured in a future podcast, or contact any of our affiliates from the ADCPA.  

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HHS PRF Reporting Update

HHS Reporting Deadline Coming Soon

If you received a Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payment, a reporting deadline is approaching. As you may recall, there were 3 phases of HHS Relief payments. You may have received relief payments from Phase 1 or Phase 2, and possibly from Phase 3. If your payments totaled more than $10K, you are required to report the use of those funds.

The original first reporting deadline was January 15, 2021, through February 15, 2021. The stimulus bill that passed in late December 2020 has pushed these dates. Updated dates are still not known.

HHS Reporting Portal Open for Registration

But the portal is open, and HHS is encouraging you to begin the registration process.  Home (hrsa.gov)  BE PREPARED before you start. According to the HHS website, “You cannot save a partially complete registration. Make sure you have all of the information required to register before you begin.”

Data Needed for Registration

What do you need? Here is the list directly from HHS. Note, especially the 3 items where we’ve added **. The payment amounts and dates are least likely to be at your fingertips. So be sure to look up that information in advance.

  • Tax ID Number (TIN) (or other number submitted during the application process (e.g., Social Security Number, Employer Identification Number (EIN))
  • Business name (as it appears on a W-9) of the reporting entity [This should be your legal business name.]
  • Contact information (name, phone number, email) of the person responsible for submitting the report
  • Address (street, city, state, five-digit zip code) of the reporting entity as it appears on a W-9)
  • TIN(s) of subsidiaries (if a provider is reporting on behalf of subsidiary(ies) – in a list delimited by commas, e.g.,123456789,987654321,135791357)
  • Payment information (for any of the payments received)
    • TIN of entity that received the payment
    • **Payment amount
    • **Mode of payment (check or direct deposit ACH)
    • **Check number or ACH settlement date 

You must report a second time if all your funds were not utilized by December 31, 2020. The second reporting deadline is scheduled for July 31, 2021, and will not likely change. 

Beyond Bitewings: Lending Environment

 

 

The thought of loans can cause a lot of stress, especially when building and growing your dental practice. What’s the best loan? Has the lending process changed considering the pandemic? And are banks making it harder to obtain dental practice loans? It always helps to know your lending environment.

These are just some of the questions we answer in this episode of Beyond Bitewings.

We discuss the questions lenders ask when trying to obtain dental loans in a world after the shutdown.

Plus we cover basic questions like should you get a home loan first or a business loan first and other topics that could save you thousands on your taxes like simply knowing who to list as the borrower on the business loan.

Before you take out a new loan or pay off any existing loans in today’s lending environment, be sure and listen to this podcast.

Already a fan and want bi-weekly episodes auto downloaded to your listening device, then subscribe today!   

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Want to talk to someone at Edwards & Associates? Contact us, we would love to hear from you!

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EIDL Advances VS PPP Forgiveness

1/8/2021 9:20 PM

The latest Coronavirus relief bill passed on December 27, 2020.  As mentioned in our earlier post, one provision changed the treatment of EIDL advances as they relate to PPP forgiveness. Under the old rules, if you received an EIDL advance, it reduced your PPP forgiveness amount. But under the new rules, EIDL advances will not reduce your PPP forgiveness amount. 

So, what if you already received PPP forgiveness under the old rules?  Your EIDL advance reduced your forgiveness amount. If you otherwise achieved full forgiveness, you essentially were left with a small PPP loan to repay equal to your EIDL advance. “That’s not fair!” you say. After all, those who are just now applying for forgiveness have the opportunity to have their entire loan wiped away. The SBA issued a notice today rectifying this discrepancy. They will remit payment to your PPP lender for the amount of your EIDL advance, essentially allowing you the full PPP forgiveness for which you were eligible. In most cases, this will mean 100% forgiveness of your PPP loan. If you already made any PPP loan payments that have now become unnecessary, have no fear.  Your lender should refund them to you. 

Employee Retention Credit and PPP

1/9/2021 3:31 PM

The recent Coronavirus stimulus bill (overview here) signed on December 27, 2020, made a significant change that could affect you in a good way. The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) was a credit enacted in the early stimulus bills in Spring 2020. But under the original rules, it was off-limits to anyone that took a PPP loan. For that reason, it was rarely discussed since most dentists were not eligible to claim it.  

The new bill removed this prohibition. You will not all qualify for this credit. And for some of you that do qualify, it will not be significant enough to fool with. But for some of you, it could be major and it should be investigated.

What are the requirements to qualify for the Employee Retention Credit?

  • The full or partial suspension of operations due to a government order OR
  • A 50% or more decrease in gross receipts for a quarter in 2020 compared to the same calendar quarter in 2019.

Based on the statistics we have seen, some of you will qualify under the revenue reduction. And if you do, great! You don’t need to worry about the government shut-down issue. But we believe many others will qualify under the partial suspension of operations due to a government order. It probably seems obvious to you that you would.  But trust me. There is rarely anything obvious about these laws. Please allow us time to complete the research.  

We are working to provide you more details of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). But until we can, we want to issue this warning: If you think you might qualify for the ERC, hold off on filing for forgiveness for your PPP1 Loan. This is especially true if you don’t qualify to use the new Simplified Forgiveness application. Why? Because you will need to strategize to maximize your ERC and still achieve full PPP forgiveness. That strategy could affect the documentation submitted with your PPP forgiveness application. It will affect the calculation of the ERC credit and an incorrect strategy will reduce your ERC.

There is no rush to file for PPP forgiveness yet.  So let patience be your motto a bit longer.  If you’re craving more information, our ADCPA affiliate in Boston has a great webinar on their preliminary ERC thoughts.