Synopsis:

As a young Prosthodontist, I was fairly confidant in my clinical ability, but as has been said before, sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. Wow was that true. It didn’t take long to realize that performing clinical procedures was much different than practicing Prosthodontics, on a wide range of patients with very different emotions. And doing it with a Team of employees, also with a wide range of emotions, and all the normal challenges that go along with being human.  In addition, there is the necessity of leading, managing, and creating a successful business. Now, as I look back over 40 plus years in Prosthodontics, I am aware that there are 4 major stages in a clinician’s life, as was taught to me by one of my mentors in 1983. I have lived all four stages, and each has left me with clear lessons I will share in this presentation.  In addition, I will focus on the three things that we can control daily which impact our desired outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• The four stages dentists go through in their practice life, and how each stage impacts your enjoyment, clinical results, and profitability.

• The three behaviors that can be used daily to move you toward your desired outcomes.

• How the movement of your practice through these stages isn’t linear, and how there may be times in practice you go backwards to a stage you thought was in your past.