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

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

Dr Anna Maria Yiannikos

Tue. 14. February 2017

save

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!

To post a reply please login or register

Eleven tips for success in your dental clinic—Part I: SWOT analysis and loyal patients

During this journey towards business growth and educational development with this new series on tips for success in your dental clinic, I am going to ...

Diagnostic tips for bone lesions with DTX Studio Clinic

Diagnostics is the ultimate key to success for any treatment, and it can be particularly challenging in clinical situations that require a great deal of ...

From chairside to cyberspace: AI is phishing you now— is your team ready?—Part 4

It is common to think of cyber-attacks as isolated incidents—one office, one victim, one mistake—but in reality, practices are connected. The systems ...

Lateral maxillary incisor implant—Key issues for esthetic success Part II

Having discussed in the previous article (see editorial note), all of the preprosthetic stages for the replacement of a lateral maxillary incisor and having...

Virtual reality in restorative dentistry: Global study maps research growth and gaps

DOHA, Qatar: Virtual reality (VR) is rapidly gaining ground in dental training, particularly for restorative dentistry. A new bibliometric study from a team...

Laser in endodontics (Part II)

After explaining the basic physics of the laser and its effects on both bacteria and dentinal surfaces, the second part of this article series will analyse ...

Exocad Insights 2022: Tips, tricks and deep learning for clinics and laboratories

PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain: Exocad, an Align Technology company and a leading dental CAD/CAM software provider, successfully concluded Insights 2022, its ...

One in four Americans lacks dental insurance, ADA urges wider preventive coverage

CHICAGO, US: Despite growing recognition of the importance of oral health to overall health, access to dental care remains out of reach for millions of ...

Expert reports on COVID-19 situation in dental clinic in Wuhan

WUHAN, China: As dean of the School and Hospital of Stomatology of Wuhan University, Prof. Zhuan Bian has had first-hand experience of the working situation...

New dental clinic to open in Brooklyn in 2020

NEW YORK, U.S.: More access to dental care facilities can only be a positive step toward improving the general health of people and benefiting the ...

Education

Live webinar
Tue. 10 February 2026
7:00 pm EST (New York)

ITI Section USA Treatment Planning Live

Prof. Dr. Wael Att, Dr. Robert A. Levine DDS, FCPP, FISPPS, AOD, Dr. Larissa Bemquerer ITI Scholar at Harvard

Live webinar
Wed. 11 February 2026
11:00 am EST (New York)

Onlays – die elegante Art für eine prothetische Bisshebung

Dr. med. dent. Sven Mühlemann

1CE

Live webinar
Wed. 11 February 2026
12:00 pm EST (New York)

Implant Overdentures

Prof. Dr. Samir Abou Ayash

1CE

Live webinar
Fri. 13 February 2026
12:00 pm EST (New York)

Don't Forget Function - Partnering Occlusion with Aligners to Deliver Long Term Stability

Dr. Alex Gause DDS

1CE

Live webinar
Mon. 16 February 2026
12:00 pm EST (New York)

Sie haben die Wahl - die richtige Polymerisationslampe beim Zementieren

Dr. Frank Pfefferkorn

1CE

Live webinar
Tue. 17 February 2026
12:00 pm EST (New York)

Implant prosthodontics in the digital era

Dr. Kevser Pala

Live webinar
Wed. 18 February 2026
9:00 am EST (New York)

World Oral Health Day 2026: A Happy Mouth is a Happy life – Insights and How to Get Involved

Dr. Anna Lella, Ms. Francesca Nava

Latest Unread Articles

Dental anxiety and quality of life among adults in the UAE

RAS AL-KHAIMAH, UAE: Although the association between dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life is well established internationally, evidence ...

save

Intra-oral scanning with fluorescence technology shows promise in paediatric caries detection

MELBOURNE, Australia: Intra-oral scanners are emerging as efficient, scalable tools for detecting dental caries in children, offering a promising ...

save

Trends in five key areas of dental anxiety research

TAIPEI, Taiwan: Dental anxiety research has surged over the past three decades, reflecting growing recognition of its impact on oral health and patient ...

save

Trends in five key areas of dental anxiety research

A new bibliometric review has shown how, in recent decades, dental anxiety research has significantly increased in sophistication. (Image: Elnur/Adobe Stock)

Fraser Macdonald, Dental Tribune International

Thu. 5. February 2026

save

TAIPEI, Taiwan: Dental anxiety research has surged over the past three decades, reflecting growing recognition of its impact on oral health and patient behaviour. A major bibliometric review of more than 1,500 scientific papers has mapped how the field has evolved, revealing clear thematic priorities and shifting clinical focus. Together, these trends show a discipline moving beyond description towards prevention, personalisation and multidisciplinary care.

At the foundation of the literature sits the topic of aetiology and risk factors, which remains the most persistent research theme. Early studies focused heavily on traumatic dental experiences, fear conditioning and personality traits. More recent work widens the lens to include broader psychological vulnerability, health anxiety and social determinants, such as socio-economic status and access to care. This shift reflects a growing understanding that dental anxiety is typically multifactorial and develops through interacting biological, psychological and environmental factors.

Research into clinical presentation and consequences was the second major theme. Studies consistently associate high anxiety with avoidance of care, delayed attendance and poorer oral health outcomes. Adults with long-standing anxiety often present late with advanced disease, while older patients may experience compounded anxiety because of cognitive decline or complex medical needs. The literature increasingly frames dental anxiety as a driver of health inequality.

The third dominant theme was prevalence and assessment tools. Large population studies have established dental anxiety as one of the most common specific fears, and severe forms affect a clinically significant minority of patients. This has fuelled development and validation of screening instruments, from brief single-item questions to more nuanced psychometric scales. Reliable assessment is now viewed as essential for identifying at-risk patients early and tailoring care pathways accordingly.

Perhaps the most dynamic area of research concerns treatment and preventive interventions—the fourth major theme. While pharmacological management and sedation remain important, the evidence base has expanded decisively towards non-pharmacological approaches. Cognitive behavioural therapy features prominently, alongside exposure techniques, relaxation strategies and communication-based behavioural management. More recently, research has explored adjunctive methods such as virtual reality distraction, music and aromatherapy, used alongside anxiety management strategies, signalling a move towards low-cost, patient-friendly interventions that can be embedded in routine practice.

The fifth major theme, paediatric dentistry stands out as a consistently strong and distinct research area. Children’s dental anxiety is framed as both a clinical challenge and a preventive opportunity. Studies emphasise early positive dental experiences, parental involvement and behaviour guidance techniques such as tell–show–do. The enduring focus on paediatric populations reflects consensus that preventing anxiety in childhood may be the most effective long-term strategy for reducing its burden in adult dentistry.

Taken together, these five themes illustrate a field that has matured rapidly. Dental anxiety research has expanded beyond describing and quantifying anxiety; it now informs how clinicians screen, communicate and intervene across diverse patient groups. Publication output in dental anxiety research continues to rise globally. For practitioners, an ongoing challenge will be translating this growing evidence base into everyday, anxiety-sensitive dental care.

The article, titled “Publication performance and trends in dental anxiety research: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis”, was published online on 19 January 2026 in the International Journal of Dentistry.