After nearly 20 years of searching — and with the help of the latest technology on my phone — I finally found the dentist I heard speak in London around 35 years ago.
At the time, I struggled to believe what he was saying. He said he was the only dentist, and had three full time hygienists.
Now, after retiring from dentistry, I realise he was right.
He focused on behavioural science, of making people feel happy.
We often think business success is measured by turnover, growth, or the car we drive. But perhaps the greatest reward in dentistry is something much simpler: the smiles we help protect and maintain.
Not every smile has to be perfect. Some of the best smiles are natural, healthy, functional and full of character. With the right advice, prevention and support, many of those smiles can last a lifetime.
Dentistry should not simply be a business built around providing what people want, especially when that often means more treatment, more complexity and more stress. It should be a health service built around what people need.
That means prevention, trust, teamwork and long-term wellbeing.
We need to support one another, share what we have learned, and use modern technology and current resources to promote health in a more positive and affordable way.
Perhaps the future of dentistry is not just treatment-centred, profit-centred or target-centred.
Perhaps it should be happiness-centred.
This is the book I wish I’d read a long time ago. I know he made a fortune, but you could earn more. You could earn enough.
Dr Paddi Lund — Happiness Centred Business
