Linda Mettler: Welcome to the Mettler Marketing Podcast where we will talk about marketing strategies and tactics to grow your practice. I am your host, Linda Mettler and I have worked with dental
practices for several years now, and I want to share my knowledge and experience with you so that you can gain valuable and actionable steps on how to grow your practice. We will talk about the latest
and greatest and marketing features some guest speakers so that you can hear firsthand what is and is not working and help you unravel the complexities of the digital marketing world. I work really
closely with my clients. So we will also delve into some other issues that affect your practice from time to time, such as staffing problems, COVID protocols and similar issues. Good morning. Today
we're going to chat with Dr. Raymond Tanaka. And Dr. Tanaka has a very successful practice in Glendale, Arizona. He practices alongside his wife, Dr. Cynthia Leon. They are both graduates from
Creighton University dental school, and recently completed their Mastership in the program from the Academy of General Dentistry. They had previously completed their fellowship program, and recently
completed their Mastership program along with their daughter Jenny, who just completed her fellowship program in the ag D. So as you might expect, they are very experienced, very knowledgeable and
highly skilled dentist, and Dr. Tanaka has been running his practice for over 30 years, and just has a very unique perspective on dentistry and has some great advice for younger newer dentists coming
coming out of school and coming on to the dental scene and starting their own practices. And he's given TED talks for ASU. Dr. Tanaka also belongs to the peer for short Academy. He is a mentor with
the kois Center in Seattle. He has served on the board for the Arizona Dental Association. He is a fellow at the American College of Dentists. So he as you can tell he's very well respected, very,
very experienced and knowledgeable in dentistry. And this morning, we're going to chat with him about a conversation that he and I had a few weeks ago about his practice and what he would or wouldn't
do differently if he had to start over today. So let's get started. Dr. Tanaka, thank you so much for joining us this morning. It's a pleasure to have you with us. Well, thank you. My pleasure. It's
after it's not the last time we met, you told me that somebody asked you recently what you would do differently if you were starting your practice today? And your answer was that you would do
everything the same. So can you elaborate on that for me a little bit?
Dr Ray Tanaka: Well, let me step back, Linda, because I kind of after thought about that answer, there was one thing I would do differently. And it was basically the acquisition of my practice. Back
in 1983, when we, we meaning general dentists graduating from dental school, the typical playbook was to go to the bank, borrow money, put your shingle up and wait for the flood of patients to walk to
the door. Unfortunately, I did that. And the flooded patients did not watch the door. It took about it took about the 18 months before I could actually pull a penny out of the practice to pay myself.
So if there is one thing differently I would do and it was brought to my attention by my dental school classmate who does run a practice management acquisition company. And he showed me by the numbers
is better for someone starting out a practice actually purchase a dental practice for the obvious reasons of having a cash flow from the very beginning and having a patient so yes, you do acquire the
the money part as far as the purchase practice, but the way I did it the borrowing the money and having to use practice capital for living expenses. I think in the long run, it probably would have
been better for me to to purchase a practice. So that being said, the reason why I said I wouldn't do anything differently is because I did things. Looking back now that had worked for me and I don't
think I would I would change it because what I did there were two things I actually did is I had the practice management company and I also attended quality continuing education
Linda Mettler: if you would like To get more information or reach out to Dr. Tanaka, you can find him at our m tanaka.com RMTANAK a.com. Or you can email him at our m Tanaka at Rm tanaka.com. You can
also call his office at 623-878-2600. He'd be more than happy to chat with you if you have any questions about his practice or anything you heard here today. And we really appreciate the opportunity
to chat with him. And hope you have a great day and if you do want to reach out to him, please feel free to do so. Or you can also reach out to me and I can put you in touch with him no
Ed Bejarana: problem. Are you committed to the growth of your practice Mettler marketing can help at medtner marketing. We help dental practices gain new patients increase referrals and maximize
patient retention with customized Marketing Solutions tailored to fit your needs. Visit www dot medtner marketing.com to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help grow your practice.
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