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Eleven tips for success in your dental clinic Part II: CAPS & CLIMB

Photograph: (Geralt/PixaBay)

Tue. 14. February 2017

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Today, I will share with you the knowledge I have gained within the past 25 years of managing and evolving my clinic so you can always be one step ahead and avoid mistakes I have made in the past. The third very important tip that I am going to share with you today in order to be and remain successful at your clinics is how to regain your power.

We learn a lot of things during our studies in the dental schools. We learn how to make the best fillings with great contours and biocompatible materials; how to treat a tooth that needs a root canal therapy, but do we really learn anything on how to find the best employee that will make our life and daily routine easier?

Firstly we should make a job analysis by listing the CAPS of the candidate. If we do not take the time to complete this process, we will not know from the beginning exactly what we are looking at and by this we will increase the risk of making the wrong choice.
If, for example, we go to the supermarket without our shopping list, what will we end up doing? We will most probably buy unnecessary things or even forget the things that we went in the beginning there for. My point here is that when we decide that we need to hire an employee we should know upfront what we are looking for, otherwise we might make mistakes that will cost us money and time!

Let’s have a look now what does CAPS stand for:
Capacities: The mental and physical abilities required to do the job. How smart and how strong (physically capable) must the successful applicant be?
Attitudes: such as customer service, orientation, team player, reliability, honesty, willingness to follow rules, problem-solving, loyalty, safety-consciousness, ability to follow through—Imagine having a receptionist who, although she is doing the job without a mistake, complains about everything all the time. Is that a person that you would love to have as part of your team?
Personality: traits such as competitiveness, assertiveness, attention to detail and sociability—Also search whether the person will manage his or her personality to get the job done, since as social scientists declare about 60 per cent of our personality traits are inherited and most of them are set by age nine. In other words: personality can’t be taught and it doesn’t change much over time.
Skills: Expertise required to do the job—Skills are the easiest job requirements to identify. We could do that by asking the candidate to perform certain tests. For example, if we are trying to find a receptionist we could ask her to translate an article, or through role playing to check how she responds in certain scenarios.

Have always in mind the quote ‘we hire them for the skills but we fire them for their attitudes’!

So finally we found our A-star employees and now what do we have to do in order to keep them?
The fourth very essential tip of today’s article that I would love to share with you is the different ways that we can use to retain our A-star employees.

Apply CLIMB to retain your team!

Now let’s explain a little what does exactly the acronym CLIMB stands for:
Challenge: Studies have shown that the main reason that our employees resign is that they are dissatisfied with their tasks. That’s why we should give them challenging duties to accomplish. And what will the result be? They will feel useful and they will find it difficult to leave from a job that offers them different and unique experiences.
Loyalty: Be human with your employees and do not be afraid that you will lose your power. Show interest in their problems and lay back in times that they cannot handle any more pressure.
Investment: Invest time and money to them so they will feel appreciated. During my lectures I get regularly the question that we reward them by giving them bonus and still they are not motivated enough, what shall we do? My answer here is that you must renew your reward system regularly.

Sometimes you can give them cash (as bonuses) or maybe you can offer them other kind of incentives, like buying them a free trip for vacation on Christmas, for example. Research has proven that the more powerful and effective incentives are the ones that are specific, tangible and non-cash.

Also please remember to ‘Reward not the best in sales but the best’ A major mistake that we usually do is to only reward the ones that bring money to our clinics. Instead we should reward the best in our practices, the ones that are completing their tasks in excellence unconditionally to what this task is.
Measurement: Conduct a fair performance appraisal every six months.
Building: Demonstrate your commitment to them by showing them opportunities of career development.

During the next issue we will analyse two new tips that will reveal new opportunities and potential of our dental clinics. Till then, remember that not only are you the dentist in your clinic, but you are also the manager and the leader.

You can always send me your questions and request for more information and guidance at:
dba@yiannikosdental.com or via our Facebook account.

Looking forward to our next trip of business growth and educational development!

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OSSVIS launches new scanner to strengthen its seamless digital dental ecosystem

The Lilivis digital ecosystem from OSSVIS integrates the company’s intra-oral scanner, CAD/CAM software, milling and 3D-printing devices, and implant systems into one seamless digital workflow. (Image: OSSVIS)

Wed. 22. October 2025

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ANYANG, South Korea: Dental imaging innovator OSSVIS has released Lilivis SCAN, a next-generation intra-oral scanner that marks a major expansion of the fully integrated Lilivis digital ecosystem. Designed to deliver efficiency, simplicity and affordability, the platform connects Lilivis scanning, design software, milling, printing and implant solutions in one unified workflow. Combining advanced performance and competitive pricing, it offers dental professionals a complete, future-ready solution to accelerate their digital transformation.

Lilivis SCAN sets a new standard in intra-oral scanning, combining intuitive usability, advanced performance and seamless digital integration. On average, clinicians need less than 2 hours to learn to use the device. This means that they can begin chairside use almost immediately, supported by a user-friendly interface, real-time guidance and automatic occlusion analysis. The scanner’s wide field of view (15 × 18 mm) ensures stable and accurate full-arch data capture, and optical filtering technology delivers reliable results even when scanning reflective surfaces such as metal. 

Lilivis SCAN provides a competitive price advantage and includes L-CAD software free of charge, avoiding costly annual subscriptions. Orders placed this year come with a three-year warranty, and a trial unit is available for only US$1,000 (€860*).  

Fully compatible with Lilivis MILL, Lilivis PRINT and Lilivis Implant systems, the scanner forms the foundation of the Lilivis digital workflow, which guides clinicians from scan to production, enhancing clinical efficiency, precision and peace of mind. Lilivis SCAN provides accurate intra-oral data that seamlessly transfers to L-CAD and L-CAM software for fast, intuitive design without software conflicts. Restorations are then fabricated using Lilivis MILL for precise milling or Lilivis PRINT for versatile 3D-printing applications. Furthermore, the ecosystem extends to Lilivis Implant, ensuring full compatibility for implant planning and surgical guides.  

By operating on a unified digital platform, Lilivis eliminates data loss, reduces management complexity and supports consistent, reliable clinical outcomes. Offering strong interoperability and competitive pricing, the Lilivis digital ecosystem delivers a future-ready digital dentistry solution that supports clinics of all sizes and empowers dental professionals to work with greater productivity and confidence. 

Backed by a growing global network, Lilivis supports both clinicians and companies in advancing digital dentistry. It is currently seeking new distributors worldwide. For partnership and purchase inquiries, visit www.ossvis.com. 

Editorial note:

* Calculated on the OANDA platform for 22 October 2025. 

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