90 day dental day 5, co-discovery and options for patients’

Last week I had 3 videos published as part of 90 day dental, here is video two where I summarise co-discovery techniques and presenting options to patients’.

To watch my first video, day 4 click here

90 day dental with Laura Horton – personality profiling of patients

Last week I had 3 videos published as part of 90 day dental, here is video one where I summarise personality profiles of patients using the DISC system.

I reference to a webinar from 2014 on this video you can find it here

New ASA enforcement notice on the advertisement of Botox and other botulinum toxin injections on social media

Yesterday the 9th of January 2020 saw a huge change in the way social media is used to promote Botox and other botulinum toxin injections.

See the full enforcement notice here

Although as a profession we are fully aware that you could not use the words Botox in any advertising, now they have really stamped down on social media use, and words such as ‘anti wrinkle injections’ are no longer allowed.

All providers of Botox now need to review their social media advertising as form there 31st of January targeted enforcement will be in place.

How will this effect your dental practice?

We have had clear advertising guidance for many years so the majority of practices only have to stop using wordings such as ‘anti-wrinkle’ for facial aesthetics. Those providing Botox for armpit sweating need to change the use of these words too.

I feel this is something that should not cause a problem for most due to Dental practices ethical marketing.

Pictures cannot have words / reference in as an overlay / stamp, such as ‘anti-wrinkle injections’ . You also need to confirm what hashtags they can and cannot use, after all it is really easy to get carried away with hashtags! For example you cannot use Hashtags that say #botox or any other reference.

Dermal fillers are not part of this enforcement but you can not marry the two together, this will still be classed as breaking this enforcement. I know fillers are not a POM but I hope they are working on this in some way as it is as equally shocking if not worse what some providers are doing to their non-the-wiser clients. Lauren Goodyear known for The Only Way is Essex is a classic example of recklessness.

If you train dentists, doctors or nurses you are ok to use the words Botox in your advertising.

How does this effect the dental team?

Most practices have a team member carrying out social media for them.

If you have not already you you need to make a documented system for the team that manage your social media. This needs to clearly state what they can and cannot write in social media posts. Link to the GDC guidance

This document must be signed by the team members carrying out your social media.

I am hopeful this will reduce the negative impact of the ‘influencers’, and if it does not then we need to take action as a profession as we did, and many still do with the act of illegal dentistry by non-registrants proving tooth whitening.

Laura

Final words from Laura on the last day of the decade

I do not think I have posted contents of a newsletter into a blog before but wanted to share the newsletter with those of you who may not be a subscriber…

This is the last day of the decade! I have been banging on about the end of the decade for some time now, reason being I am always an optimist looking forward to what the future holds.

This decade ‘the zeros’ has been a great one for me, personal highlights include:

2011 – Finally a proposal and engagement to my boyfriend of 9 years

2013 – A house move and our wedding

2014 – We welcomed our cockapoo Monty

2015 – On the move again

2016 – The birth of our first and only child Harry

2018 – Celebrating 10 in years in business

2019 – Turning 40

There has been no doubt that in my professional life the meeting of Michael and I seven and half years ago was meant to be, a dental love story right there. Our relationship started as a business one and we are now fortunate to have a great friendship too.

There have been a huge number of people that I met and loved in the zeros and long wish for this to continue in the twenties.

There are affiliates that have supported me from the word go and still do now, there are many exciting new relationships forming too.

We are extremely lucky to work with so many lovely people, honestly some days we have to pinch ourselves as we seem to attract really NICE people, really kind people and I guess that comes from us all having a love for dentistry, after all this is why Horton Consulting was born.

What’s happening from us in the next year?

We will have a bit of a brand refresh with new photos that have been taken at the end of the year.

We have great events and courses coming up that I will list below and we will continue to work with our existing clients, and take on new ones for visionary days, one off team training days or more long term developments such as enhancing the patient experience over a period of time, working with all the team – dentists can be included!

Our podcast will continue to run pausing for a break in the spring before season 4 starts again in the summer.

At the beginning of the month Michael interviewed me for the podcast, (something I had avoided for many months) but decided there was no better way for you to hangout with us for the final podcast of the decade!

In 2020 our guests will take a different look at Dentistry and this should be a great learning experience for all, the main focus of the podcast will continue with us answering your questions so please do send them in!

Signing off for the last time this decade and wishing you all a fabulous 2020

Laura Horton