Zahn Dental Sales - November/December 2017 - 45

Top 5

Ways to improve
your

Dental IQ
with John Ackley

BOOSTING YOUR DENTAL IQ is one of the most important things you can do to
accelerate your career and grow your laboratory. The commitment you must make
is where and how best to obtain knowledge-it is up to you. The guidelines outlined
here are a great place to start to accelerate your technical knowledge, whether you
are a laboratory technician, a manager, or business owner.

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TRADE JOURNALS
"The most accessible resources are the trade journals such as IDT, LMT, and Digital Esthetics. You should be subscribing to
as many of these as you can; many are free of charge. Ask your friends and clients what journals they find helpful. By
reading scientific and technique articles, you will become more knowledgeable. After absorbing the content, ask other
people in the field questions to expand your learning even more. Be sure to explore international magazines too such as
Spectrum or Dental Labor; obtaining an international perspective can be an eye-opener. Remember, people appreciate
learning something new, especially when they can put it to use making their life easier, completing a case better, yielding
a higher profit-or better yet, all three. "

ONLINE RESOURCES
"Online resources are an endless source for boosting your IQ, with everything from videos on YouTube and articles on
blogs, to resources on manufacturers' web sites. You can also join forums like Dentaltown, where you can learn about topics
popular among dentists. For more laboratory-centered information, Dental Lab Network is a forum where many prominent
technicians share their knowledge. You can even find like-minded individuals who may become friends, coworkers, or new
customers through these forums. Be sure to look at CAP Academy, which has more than 300 videos. There, you will find
information about cutting-edge technologies that are a part of the modern dental laboratory."

MENTORS
"Mentoring is a concept that takes the live course to the next level. It can sometimes be difficult to find mentors and connect
with them consistently, but interacting with someone who can teach you and bring out your personal gifts is indispensable.
Finding just one person to provide all the mentoring knowledge you need may not be possible. You may need multiple
mentors, but they are out there and it will be worth your effort to find them. Many of the great artists were understudies of
other artists, and scientists often have a special professor that they credit with much of their success. Dental technology is a
blend of science and art-and in the modern landscape a healthy dose of technology-so be sure to find mentors who help
you cover all the bases."

LIVE EVENTS
"Another highly recommended opportunity is a hands-on or live demonstration course. Observing, asking questions, and
learning how the process flows is invaluable. Attending hands-on events where you can participate and be coached by the
instructor brings the experience to another level. Some dental implant companies are offering live demonstrations of the
Immediate Load Protocol for converting an immediate denture to a screw-retained transitional hybrid on the day of surgery.
This is a skill that is becoming increasingly in demand, and observing it first is essential. "

DESIRE
Passion and commitment are the keys to unlocking the educational resources that surround you. If you want the answer, it
is there waiting for you. Sometimes it will be readily available, and at other times it can be very challenging. However, the
energy spent in seeking and mastering new knowledge is well worth the effort. Every experience involves learning what
works and what doesn't.

Zahn: 1.800.496.9500

DIG DEEP | BE CURIOUS | BE TENACIOUS | BE SUCCESSFUL
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Zahn Dental Sales - November/December 2017