A booming untapped market

Dear DrBicuspid.com member:

Like it or not, competition is a fact of life for dentists of all stripes, whether you are fresh out of school or you have been hanging out a shingle for 30 years. In recent months, DrBicuspid.com has explored the many ways of making your practice more competitive, more nimble, and just plain better. We have talked about revamping your scheduling (click here), rethinking your marketing (click here and here), and how to get high tech (click here).

More recently, we explored concierge/spa dentistry -- the high-end approach to attracting patients with a lot of money to spare.

But what about the other end of the spectrum? What about one of the fastest growing (and the least served) populations in the U.S.? I refer, of course, to the burgeoning Hispanic market. Demographics tell the story and hint at the profitable potential. One in seven Americans is Hispanic, and this proportion is growing.

Senior Editor Laird Harrison has spent the last month assessing the market, talking to researchers, and meeting both Hispanic and non-Hispanic dentists who have been successful in this realm and come away with some real-world advice. Their consensus: You can satisfy both your soul and your bank account by working with this underserved population.

Where do you begin? What's it take? And how can you benefit financially and emotionally? Read Senior Editor Laird Harrison's report here.

A dental nightmare

It's a dentist's worst nightmare: A routine procedure goes suddenly, irrevocably wrong. A patient dies. And when that patient is a child, the tragedy is especially wrenching. That's what happened to a Riverside, Calif., child who apparently choked on an extracted molar. What are the lessons learned here? What precautions should you take? Seek Assistant Editor Rabia Mughal's piece here.

Other picks to click

It's the hot story of the week ... maybe of the year. The rise of the "super hygienist," who can drill, fill, do crowns, and more. Don't miss our piece on the controversy (click here) and our follow-up on legislation working its way through the Minnesota Legislature.

Another story you don't want to miss? Questionable whitening, mouth rinses that stain (maybe), and the latest scoop on antibiotics and SRP.