Eric Tobler on Continuous Learning in the Dental Industry
In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker is joined by Eric Tobler, the National Director of Clinical Affairs for Mortenson Dental Partners. Join them as they explore creating a supportive culture in the dental industry.
In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker is joined by Eric Tobler, the National Director of Clinical Affairs for Mortenson Dental Partners.
Join them as they explore:
- Creating a supportive culture in the dental industry
- The importance of employee ownership
- Implementing new technology like scanners, cloud-based imaging, and AI tool
- The challenges faced by dental organizations
- And more!
Eric Tobler has worked at Mortenson Dental Partners for nearly seventeen years and is currently their National Director of Clinical Affairs. Mortenson Dental Partners is one of the largest groups of employee-owned dental practices in the United States and has grown to include over 140 practices across nine states, welcoming nearly one million patient visits each year. He is also a Director of the AADGP (American Academy of Dental Group Practice).
Episode Highlights
The Power of Praise: Eric stresses the importance of praising good work and recognizing when employees provide an excellent standard of care. He says that Mortenson Dental Partners has built internal systems to recognize performance, including an award called The Love Award. Eric ensures that team members feel like they are taken care of and that they are part of the organization and the growth that the company has. He cites the benefit of leaders recognizing a job well done.
Technological Advancements; Tobler mentions the implementation of scanners, cloud-based imaging, and AI tools like Overjet to improve diagnostics and treatment planning. He also expresses excitement about the potential of AI in detecting incipient lesions and treating them non-surgically. While these are beneficial, Eric also highlights the impact of less flashy technology, citing the roll-out of scanners across each of Mortenson Dental Partners’ practices. He looks forward to the impact of new technology on early intervention and accurate diagnosis.
Getting Buy-In For New Technology: When discussing the adoption of new technology, Eric emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of trust and mutual respect within the organization. He notes that Mortenson Dental Partners relies heavily on sharing experiences among clinicians and supporting early adopters to drive technology implementation. For instance, Eric runs regular “clinical town halls”, where doctors and clinicians meet and talk about what is working, which is how they get buy-in for technology, such as new restorative materials. He stresses the value of starting slow and then laying the foundations for maximum uptake.
Optimizing Business Operations: While inflation and lower reimbursements are squeezing dental practices, Eric says that there are still ways to optimize for better growth and revenue. He suggests that focusing on the core business and finding ways to make work easier for the dental team through automation could help improve profitability. Another solution for these problems is reducing staff turnover, which can be done by inspiring and supporting employees during training.
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