In dental school, you're taught to be the answer for everyone. But who are you really the answer for? To help you answer this critical question, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Jim McKee, founder of Chicago Study Club, to explain why you don't need to be everyone’s dentist, and how to be selective with the patients you see. To learn how to build a sustainable practice with an ideal patient base, listen to Episode 758 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. McKee:

• Send Dr. McKee an email: jim@mckeedds.com 
• Join Dr. McKee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.mckee.104
• Register for Dr. McKee’s Advanced Occlusion workshop (July 25-27, 2024): https://campus.speareducation.com/workshops/advanced-occlusion/details/syllabus
• Register for Dr. McKee’s TMD course: https://courses.phelandentalseminars.com/tmd-pds
• Learn about Chicago Study Club: https://chicagostudyclub.com

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 758: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Learn more about Dental Online Training: https://www.dothandson.com/home

Main Takeaways:

• Become the answer for “above-the-line” patients.
• Understand the class one, two, and three classification system.
• Remember that not everyone values dentistry the way that you do.
• Figure out how much your patients value quality or comprehensive dentistry.
• Be aware of your patients’ ability to pay for quality or comprehensive dentistry.
• Don't do “wallet biopsies”. Never assume how much someone can or can't pay.
• There are many other patients besides crown-and-bridge patients that need help.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:30 Who are you the answer for?

5:39 The dental demographics have changed.

8:36 $1,500 doesn't go as far today.

10:38 How much do your patients appreciate quality or comprehensive dentistry?

14:22 What is your patients’ ability to pay for quality or comprehensive dentistry?

17:08 Class one, two, and three patients, explained.

20:05 Don't do wallet biopsies.

24:06 Patients don't have the same dental background as dentists.

25:34 How to maintain a low-cost practice overhead.

26:17 Your entire team needs to understand above-the-line and below-the-line patients.

35:15 The restorative diagnostic practice, explained.

39:40 Final thoughts.

41:23 More about DOT Fest.

43:10 More about Chicago Study Club.

Dr. Jim McKee Bio:

Dr. Jim McKee is a member of the Spear Resident Faculty. He has maintained a private practice since 1984 in Downers Grove, Illinois, where he treats a wide variety of cases with a focus on predictable restorative dentistry. He is a member of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and former president of the American Equilibration Society. He has lectured both nationally and internationally for over 25 years and directs several study clubs. Dr. McKee graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1980 and earned his dental degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1984.