Dentaltown January 2025 - 29

to marketing your services,
handling HR issues, understanding
insurance and even
something as simple as managing
cash flow. These are all
crucial to running a successful
practice, yet many of us graduate
with little to no training in
these areas.
What I'd love to see is dental
schools integrating more
comprehensive business and
operations training into their
curriculums. It doesn't need
to be overly complicated, but
a few solid courses on financial
management, marketing,
leadership and the other basics
of running a practice could make a
world of difference. Even hands-on
experiences, like internships with
established practices or simulations of
running a practice, would be incredibly
valuable.
It's not just for those of us who want
to own our practices. Even if you're
working as an associate or in a group
practice, having a strong grasp of the
business side allows you to make more
informed decisions, advocate for yourself
and understand the broader context
of the profession. In short, dental
schools need to recognize that modern
dentists are not just clinicians-we're
also entrepreneurs and leaders.
What was your most humbling
experience in dentistry? Likewise,
what has been your proudest
moment so far?
Honestly, the most humbling experience
for me was when I first set up
my own practice. In dental school and
during my associateship, everything
was laid out for me. You focus on your
patients, do the work and then you go
home-your day ends when you walk
out the door. But when you're the one
in the driver's seat, owning the business,
it's a whole different ballgame.
I quickly realized how much I
didn't know about running a practice.
Getting patients through the door
wasn't as simple as just putting up a
sign and expecting them to come in.
There's a massive learning curve when
it comes to marketing, understanding
cash flow, managing staff and even
the nitty-gritty of insurance. You have
to wear so many hats that it can feel
overwhelming at times.
There were days when I questioned
whether I'd made the right decision-
times when the phone wasn't ringing
as much as I'd hoped, and I had to
figure out why. It's not something
they teach you in dental school, and
it's definitely not something you fully
grasp until you're in the thick of it.
But that experience taught me
resilience and the importance of constantly
learning and adapting. It made
me a better dentist and a stronger
business owner. It's been tough, but
JANUARY 2025 | 29 | DENTALTOWN.COM
seeing the practice grow and knowing
that I've built something from the
ground up is incredibly rewarding. It's
a reminder that success doesn't come
easy, and it's the challenges that shape
you the most.
My proudest moment was completing
my first full-mouth veneer
case. From the initial consultation to
working closely with the ceramist and
scheduling multiple appointments, it
was a true collaborative effort. Seeing
the patient's reaction when he finally
saw the result was incredibly rewarding.
It was a long process, but ensuring
he was thrilled with his new smile
made all the hard work worth it. That
experience really reinforced why I love
what I do. DT
Read the full story online!
Find online-exclusive photos
and even more Q&A with
Perrin by visiting this article at
dentaltown.com/magazine.
http://www.dentaltown.com/magazine http://www.DENTALTOWN.COM
Dentaltown January 2025

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