Released on: April 18, 2008, 8:04 pm

Press Release Author: The Wealthy Dentist

Industry: Marketing

Press Release Summary: Dentists know they need dental practice marketing to bring in
new patients, but many are still reluctant to be perceived as unprofessional by
touting their own services. Nonetheless, fully 95% of dentists in a recent Wealthy
Dentist survey acknowledge that marketing is a part of their job.

Press Release Body: When dentists were asked if dental practice marketing is part of
their job as a dentist in a recent Wealthy Dentist survey, many complained of what a
pain dental practice marketing can be. Nonetheless, 95% of respondents acknowledge
that they won\'t get to practice dentistry if they can\'t run a successful business.
Only 5% maintain that their job is to fix people\'s teeth and improve oral health.

One dentist summed up how many seem to feel about dental marketing: \"Hate it. Can\'t
live without it.\" Though the financial benefits are clear, some dentists still feel
it\'s somehow unprofessional to actively market their practices.

Most dentists acknowledge that marketing is part of doing business. In response to
those who feel it\'s unprofessional, a Minnesota dentist said, \"A restaurant can\'t
say, \'We won\'t do marketing because we just want to cook good food for people.\'\"
Agreed a California implant dentist, \"A successful dental practice is a business. It
requires the inclusion of several elements that were never taught in dental school,
and one of those elements is marketing.\"

Dental marketing comes in two forms: internal and external. Not all practices engage
in external marketing, which focuses on reaching the general public through
advertising. Internal marketing seeks additional business and referrals through
existing patients. \"First things first,\" declared a Michigan dentist. \"If you aren\'t
doing internal marketing, you should not be doing external marketing.\"

It\'s clear that dentists have a love/hate relationship with marketing. \"It\'s a
\'necessary evil,\'\" said a prosthodontist. \"I hate it,\" agred a Kansas dentist, \"but
it\'s a necessary effort and expense.\"

Lots of practices find that their dental practice marketing is worth every penny.
\"Every dentist is involved in marketing and PR,\" declared an Oregon dentist.
\"Generally, the more thought, time, effort and money one puts into it, the greater
the benefits.\" \"Marketing should be a fun and integral part of a fun and rewarding
dental practice,\" agreed a Washington orthodontist.

Of course, not all dentists are in love with marketing. \"It can be difficult to get
a good return on your investment (ROI),\" complained a New Jersey dentist. \"I don\'t
really like it. I\'m not sure how it will be perceived. Lots of opportunity for
misunderstandings with patients,\" worried an Oregon dentist.

These days, dentists find they have to market themselves to stay afloat. This is in
stark contrast to just a few decades ago, when the mere idea of dental marketing was
generally considered unprofessional. \"I have learned to do it. It was not needed
years ago!\" commented an Indiana dentist who has been practicing since 1966.

\"I\'ve spent decades watching dentists struggle with dental marketing,\" said Jim Du
Molin, dental management consultant and founder of dental website The Wealthy
Dentist. \"The fact of the matter is, dentistry is a business, and dentists who don\'t
market themselves are going to fall behind the rest of the pack.\"

\"Dental practice marketing doesn\'t have to be unprofessional or offensive,\" added Du
Molin, an expert on the subject. \"And it doesn\'t have to dominate a dentist\'s time,
either. That\'s what qualified dental marketing firms are there for!\"


Web Site: http://www.thewealthydentist.com

Contact Details: Visit http://www.thewealthydentist.com for more surveys in the
areas of dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, edation dentistry, wisdom teeth,
braces, and dentures. Jim Du Molin offers a free weekly newsletter and dental
practice management advice.

Jim Du Molin
The Wealthy Dentist