In a world filled with online ads, sponsored posts, and endless marketing messages, one thing still stands above the rest: a personal recommendation from someone you trust. At LADD Dental Group , word-of-mouth referrals are the foundation of our growth. When a patient tells a friend, family member, or coworker, “You should go there—they really take care of you,” that means more to us than any advertisement ever could. Why Word-of-Mouth Referrals Are So Powerful Word-of-mouth referrals are built on trust. When someone recommends their dentist , they’re putting their own reputation on the line. That tells us we’ve done more than just provide dental care —we’ve created a positive, memorable experience. Patients who come to us through referrals often: Feel more confident and relaxed before their first visit Have higher trust in our doctors and team from day one Are more likely to stay long-term and refer others themselves Simply put, great experiences create great conv...
Across the dental profession, practice owners and clinicians are feeling it: doing more dentistry , seeing more patients, and yet margins continue to tighten. While there are several contributing factors, one stands above the rest as the single biggest driver of margin compression in dentistry today. Labor. Labor Costs Are Rising Faster Than Revenue Staff wages, benefits, and recruitment costs have increased dramatically over the past several years. Hygienists, assistants, and front-office team members are in high demand, and the supply has not kept pace. Many practices have experienced: 20–40% increases in hygiene wages Higher overtime costs due to staffing shortages Signing bonuses, temp staffing, and recruiting fees Increased benefit costs to remain competitive At the same time, reimbursement rates—especially from PPOs—have remained largely flat. When your largest expense grows rapidly but your revenue per procedure doesn’t, margins get squeezed. Hygiene E...