Dr. Phil Knall graduated from the College of Dentistry at Ohio State University in 1974 and has been running his own private practice for over 35 years. He is a dental advisor for the US Olympic Committee and the team dentist for the Arizona State football team. He has lectured at over 35 dental schools in the US and presented over 900 seminars in six different countries. Dr. Knall’s performance mouth wear is used by the US Military and eight major league baseball teams. He is also the author of The Dental Success Blueprint.
In this episode, Dr. Knall discusses:
- His webinar on performance mouth wear and how to use performance mouth wear to attract more clients
- Using his Dental Success Blueprint to create and maintain a successful and profitable practice
- The advantages of Big vs small practices
Favorite Quote:
“Not to decide, is to decide” – Harvey Cox
Rough Time/ Success Story:
“I was having a frustrating time with my staff. I felt like my staff didn’t understand what I was trying to do and that we weren’t on the same page. I kept trying to preach to them about what we should be doing, and sometimes they got it and other times they didn’t. So, we tried this exercise and it has been one of my keys over the years and I would recommend it to everyone of your listeners. The team and myself went out to eat 4 Wednesdays in a row. The first Wednesday, we went to McDonalds and we had a hamburger, french fries, and a coke. The second week, we went to a T.G.I. Friday’s and ordered a hamburger, french fries, and a coke. The third Wednesday we went to the Ritz Carlton Hotel and had a hamburger, french fries, and a coke. The fourth Wednesday, we sat down and talked about it. The burger and fries at McDonalds was three dollars and the one at the Ritz was almost fifteen. Why was one more expensive than the other? The difference was the experience. It wasn’t the material, it was the experience. And the staff got it, that it was the experience that we were trying to change. Thats why when I said that this is the type of uniforms we are going to wear, they got it. When I said, this is how we are going to practice dentistry, this is how we are going to treat people, they got it. It wasn’t me teaching them or telling them what to do, it was them learning it from their own experience and that made a huge difference in the bottom line for us.
Best Advice:
The best advice I ever received was to have a vision for the practice that I want to have. Instead of just opening the doors and accepting what comes through, to actually have a vision about who I want to attract, this is how I want to treat them, and these are the procedures I want to do. For example, for a while I thought about ortho. I tossed that idea back and forth and I am very glad I did not decide to do ortho. Not having a vision about the adult restorative boutique that I wanted, I would probably have ortho patients
Clinical/Practice Management Pearl:
Set up your ideal day. if it takes you three months to do it, take three months and get it done. Once you do it, you’ll never be able to go back. You’ll realize how great it is, you’ll drive home and feel great about yourself and your practice and you’ll feel great about life. That is the best and fastest way that I know to make my practice more profitable and more fun, which is what it is all about for me.
What Technology excites you:
I literally could not practice without an intra-oral camera. When a new patient comes in, the first thing I do is start and intra-oral tour and I use lay type language. I do two or three images, and I put them on the screen and inform the patient where they are headed and the choices they can make if they choose to make any.
Must read book:
Advice for those just starting out/ restarting their practice:
There are a few things you could do. You could set up your own practice, which is going to cost you a lot. With debt from dental school and buying the technology and equipment. Its going to cost a lot. So unless you have some family money, I think setting up your own practice is going to be unlikely. You could work for a managed care facility, and I think this is the best way of developing skills, but personally is not how I want to practice. If I could, I would try to find a dentist that is mature, but is still practicing and work for a few years with them, until you can phase into the practice, which is how you can easily afford to buy it.
How can we contact you:
Email: philkdds@cox.net
Phone: 480- 203- 3202
Website: http://thedentalsuccessblueprint.com
Dental Success Blueprint Program: http://thedentalsuccessblueprint.com/enroll
Phil Knall DDS
It was my pleasure to do the Passionate Dentists interview