Dental technicians have the same issues as dentists

Friday – working at Ashley Latter’s Head Office with Ash and Simon Tucker from Medenta.

All three of us were invited by the Dental Laboratories Association to present a full-day on “Working smarter not harder”.

I was up there first, with a 90-minute session on marketing, including a review of where the UK market for dentistry is right now.

Ashley then presented two gigs either side of lunch – covering ethical selling and communication skills.

Simon (poor lad) ended the day with the ins and outs of patient finance but included some very good points on marketing and communication himself.

I’ve worked with labs since 1987 and feel very familiar with the issues they face – and I have been a critic over the years of the rather slap-dash approach that mant technicians take to the business of running a business.

It was encouraging on Friday to work with a switched-on and attentive audience – I was impressed with them – and motivated to discuss more strategic alliance activities with the DLA.

Best treat of the day was an impromptu tour of the inner sanctum at Old Trafford -as a fitting prelude to us tonking the Arsenal on Saturday.

How I love to see Arsene Wenger looking miserable – childish I know – but that’s the beautiful game.

Thanks DLA – and thanks Ash and Simon for making a truly enjoyable event.