Northern Dental Alliance Members, Charlie Steingas, EA, MAAA, MSPA and Rick Epple, CFP® will be co-hosting an educational seminar on Friday, November 4 at 9:00 am.

Charlie will be presenting on "How Small Business Owners Can Take Advantage of Their Size to Achieve Financial Independence Via Their Retirement Plan".

Please join us to learn more about this important topic affecting business owners.

Even if you have a business retirement plan, you will want to learn if you have the best for your circumstances.

STEPS TO SUCCESS

IN YOUR

DENTAL PRACTICE

A workshop designed for the entire dental team

•   October 14, 2011
•   Bloomington, MN

Dental Offices Workshop Speakers

Gayle Christensen

Jeff Benson, DDS

Tammy Hines, LDA CDA

Zak Spaniol, CEO

Leanne M. Kramer, LDA CDA CDPMA

UPCOMING SEMINAR

Northern Dental Alliance Member Presentation

Cutting Edge Webinar - Retirement Plan for Dentists &Small Businesses

The Northern Dental Alliance welcomes Gayle Christensen of Christensen Dental Consulting. Gayle brings on board significant expertise in the practice and dental offices management area. She is a published author and has experience in many areas of office and team improvement and is excited to be part of NDA to help more dentists achieve ongoing and complete success.

READ more about Gayle, then CALL her or anyone of our Northern Dental Alliance members, who can work specifically with you or coordinate with other members, only when or if you request their services.

NDA members are independent dental consultants, like Gayle, who work in the best interest of their dentist-clients. The NDA can take your practice to the next level of customer service, internal efficiency, building design, new patient revenues, safety standards (OSHA/Infection control), financial independence, laboratory results, and overall performance. 

Gayle Christensen - Consultant/Owner & NOW NDA Member

Christensen Dental Consulting

Practice Management Systems & Training

• Article by NDA Member & CBA Chief Actuary Charlie Steingas

As a dentist and a small business owner you probably work with many different trusted advisors who help you run your business. You count on these advisors to keep you aware of changes and make sure everything is running smoothly.

Your attorney makes sure you are aware of any legal changes affecting your business that may need attention, your accountant helps you plan tax strategies to minimize the amount you are giving to Uncle Sam each year, and you get advice from experts about new dental technology and safety measures to improve your practice.

Why?

The point I am making requires a discerning rethinking of communication in reference to dentistry. Unpacking the dental care prioritization riddle is NOT found in “Secret” Dental Marketing Reports!

And, why would anyone hide a solution from dentists, which would help improve dental health in their community?

Developing a system to compensate for the ‘reality of where consumers/patients and dentists’ are required deep research, analysis of actual results, long term perspective (years) and finally, a societally reflective reality check.

This was done to determine how all past/current marketing tactics and communication approaches influence dentists and consumers: positively and negatively.

Further Strengthening Our Breadth of Member Expertise, theNDA Welcomes Aboard Cash Balance Actuaries…

Charlie Steingas, owner of Cash Balance Actuaries, LLC, has joined the Northern Dental Alliance (NDA).

A Minnesota-based organization, NDA also advises dentists in the areas of office safety, construction, marketing, laboratory services, banking, practice transition, staffing, retirement plans, and personal financial strategies. 

First, My approach, take it relatively slow...

Second, Yes, there can be a negative result from getting into social media - but...

Third, We can do some removal - however...

Remember, people can post on their sites, create sites specifically to...

Finally... The other problem is if dentists...

More Below

Epple Financial Advisors, LLC. is pleased to announce that Rick Epple, CFP^®, has been selected by Dental Practice Report magazine as one of the “2011 Best Financial Advisers for Dentists” list in their April 2011 edition.

Mr. Epple is one of only three financial advisors in the State of Minnesota to be included in this year’s rankings.

2011 MDA – Star of The North Meeting

• Minnesota Dental Association
• APRIL 28-30, 2011
• Thursday to Saturday
• Saint Paul RiverCentre
• NDA Members Attending

By Rick Epple, CFP®, NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor

As we approach the end the first quarter of 2011, are you thinking while I have been working as a dentist for a number of years and while I make a good income, I have no idea if I am on track for retirement? How do I take control of my future?

The following process can be used to start you on your way.

Taking Every Step To Make Success Predictable?

• Diagnose Your Objectives.
• Delegate The Variables.
• Develop Predictable Outcomes.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI (1888PressRelease) December 02, 2010

Kim Smythe, owner of Dental Staffing Services, has joined the Northern Dental Alliance (NDA). A Minnesota-based organization, NDA also advises dentists in the areas of office safety, construction, marketing, laboratory services, banking, practice transition, and personal financial strategies.

The Northern Dental Alliance provides a comprehensive platform for dentists to structure highly successful and secure businesses, achieve superior oral health and smile enhancement restorations for their patients as well as protect and improve their financial future through proper investment and transition planning.

Dental Staffing Services greatly increases the depth of knowledge and resources every NDA member can offer their dentist clients.

Sign Up. Show Up. Safety Up your annual OSHA and infection control requirements.

Northern Dental Alliance Member Leanne Mathieu Kramer of Statements Plus Compliance Solutions’ two hour, two CE credit, special seminar is scheduled for October 13, 2010. Leanne is a Minnesota-based instructor with significant experience working in dental offices.

Know how your office is doing before an inspector calls. Put the worries of hazardous waste and other environmental issues behind you. Leanne’s training session makes it possible for dentists and teams to focus on Treatment Planning, Marketing, Recall and Scheduling.

Minneapolis District Dental Society

Golf Tournament

August 2, 2010

The Northern Dental Alliance is sponsoring the Minneapolis Society's Summer Golf Event at the Golden Valley, Minnesota Golf Club.

We hope to see many dentists and dental professionals at the tourney.

Edentulous Mandible Reconstruction Using Zirconia Frameworks

Minnesota based laboratory, Renstrom Dental Studio, presents its Summer Featured Case Study. 

Cases as complicated as this one require excellent communication between the dentist, patient, and lab, to achieve the best possible outcome. Factors such as finances, stability, future risks, esthetics, and also level of difficulty are all taken into consideration when deciding on a solution for the patient.

For this particular case, an existing lower denture was to be replaced by three PFM bridges supported by six dental implants. Custom titanium abutments were milled by Atlantis and returned to Renstrom for fabrication of the bridgework.

Due to the wide span and large vertical dimension, a massive amount of metal would be needed to fabricate the three frameworks, resulting in very heavy dental restorations and exorbitant metal costs for the dentist.

• Article First Published on Aftco.net

There were three dental specialists working together in a group practice in the Northeastern section of the U.S. The practice was well run and extremely profitable (providing approximately $900,000 of annual income to each of its stockholders).

Their accountant had formed their corporation and allowed it to remain a “C” corporation rather than taking the time to file for a Sub “S” election (which would have eliminated any possible double-taxation and/or unnecessary payment of taxes that can result from operating as a “C” corporation).

A Primer By Dick Chwalek, NicheDental.com

The concept of Connective Communication^© incorporates these elements: improvers, gatherers and creators. The communication structure is visualized with these elements: a Pie Chart, three color slices and the π symbol  – image below.

This formula takes into account both simplicity and complexity in defining a path towards communication and marketing ongoing success, internally and publicly.

> The EFA Investment Approach

There is a science of investing. The body of knowledge for this science is often grouped under the heading Modern Portfolio Theory or MPT and it all began in 1959 with the publication of Harry Markowitz's classic book "Portfolio Selection."

Markowitz would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking insights. This work was expanded upon by Stanford's William Sharpe (another Nobel winner), Eugene Fama, Merton Miller, and many others.

While markets are complex adaptive systems too chaotic to allow for perfect prediction or control, we have learned much about how to control risk and capture returns. There is a science of investing, which I employ to guide the investment strategy of my dentist clients.

Niche Dental Twitters

Northern Dental Alliance member Heritage Construction Companies of Elk River builds and remodels dental offices throughout Minnesota and the region.

This case study covers three offices: two were expanded & remodeled and the other was new practice construction.

All three building projects involved the same client: Smile Center. The offices are located in Big Lake, St. Paul and Brooklyn Park.

Besides creating exceptional restorations for its clients, Renstrom Dental Studio provides various levels of continuing education. Helping dentists stay on the leading edge of cosmetic and restorative dentistry is extremely vital.

Renstrom provides the information their dentists need to be successful – from case development to cost efficiency. The following FAQs offer insight into their straightforward strategy.

• Why do my PFM and gold crowns seem to be going up in price?
• How can I reduce costs?
• What should be used for cementing/bonding e.max restorations?
• Can I still send my cases to Renstrom if I am taking digital impressions?
• What is the cost of an implant abutment and crown

Dentists and other business owners are invited to a BABO (Bring a Business Owner) Event on Friday, March 19, 2010 (more details below)

The financial talk and business forum are sponsored by Rick Epple, CFP®, of Epple Financial Advisors, LLC (NDA member) and Margaret A. T. Cronin of Grandchamp, Guyette & Cronin, PLLC. 

Sooner or later, you, like every dental practice owner, will need to transfer ownership of your business. Selling the your dental office is the final part or your role in building it. For most business owners, this is an emotional event. It is also a complex process involving financial auditing, confidentiality issues, title transfers, price negotiations, all while continuing to run your dental office.

Marketing IS communication. Communication makes things work. Nothing occurs in our society or changes our approach to living without a heavy dose of communication. Dental patients, dentists, and dentistry practices all work (or don't) with gears greased by communication and the 'marketing' surrounding it.

Of course, our brains are always there to mess things up. The mind easily falls into stereotypes. The cerebellum will often travel down the rabbit hole of wackiness. Our prehistoric noggin presets can and will, without warning, leap over the logic wall. Therefore, we need to take the time to strategize rather than merely let our evolutionary senses propose pre-programmed reactions.

2010 Star of the North Meeting

• Minnesota Dental Association
• Saint Paul RiverCentre
• APRIL 22-24, 2010

The Star of the North Meeting presented by the Minnesota Dental Association is the Upper Midwest’s main state dental conference. Thousands of dentists and dental professionals from around the region will be able to take in dozens of seminars from clinical to practice management.