PDA Q&A

David Bradley // Owner, Bradley Dental, Warren; Studio 32, Farmington Hills
3866
David Bradley

DBIZ: Where are you?
DB: In Chicago. I’m speaking at Strategic Communication, one of four seminars offered each year by the Crabtree Group, where I’m a consultant. It’s a business strategist organization that works with dental practices from Barbados to Quebec. We concentrate on team-building, customer loyalty, accountability, and a host of other disciplines.

DBIZ: What best practices do you prescribe?
DB: The main message is this: Dental practitioners who work well together at the office — and I mean the whole team — represent their patients so much better. It’s about making the office ideal, so all of the positive energy rubs off on the patients. In other seminars, and within our consulting practice, we address finance, controlling overhead, leadership, sales, and a
number of other training programs.

DBIZ: How has dentistry changed over the years?
DB: It’s no longer drill, fill, and bill. With new technologies and new systems, patients are much more comfortable. We really work closely with patients to identify their overall goals. At the end of the day, everyone wants that million-dollar smile.

DBIZ: Why two practices?
DB: Bradley Dental is a family practitioner, while Studio 32 is a concierge practice, where we’re open 24 hours a day. We work one-on-one with people for whatever they need. We may have a celebrity come in for a couple of days, but they don’t want anyone to know they’re there. If a rock star has an accident at a concert, we can fix everything that night. The name comes from Studio 54 (formerly in New York), which was the club to be at, and no one talked about (what went on there) unless you were in the circle. We have 32 teeth, so Studio 32. It’s for people who want that private environment; our clients come from around the region, or they fly in and fly out.

DBIZ: Do dentistry schools provide enough management training?
DB: When I came out of school 20 years ago there were no business classes, and it isn’t much better today. We pick up the slack. A dentist practice is a business, which is structured to make a profit. The best way to manage patients is to better manage the office. If every team member owns their position, things are so much better. db — R.J. King