- Originally sent on October 29, 2026 -
Can you believe we're already at the end of October? Christmas is creeping up, the year is flying by, and I'm wondering where on earth the time has gone!
I hope you've all had a lovely week and managed to find a little moment for yourselves amongst the usual hustle and bustle of dental life.
I've been spending a bit more time at home in Melbourne recently, and I've found myself really appreciating just how beautiful this city is. From my morning walks along the beach, watching the sunlight bounce off the city skyline, to wandering around the city like a tourist, I've been reminded how easy it is to take the things we see every day for granted.
And that got me thinking about our dental practices.
When you see something every day, it's easy to stop noticing just how beautiful it really is.
Today, I had an appointment in the city and decided to arrive a little earlier. Instead of rushing from one place to another, I became a tourist in my own city.
I wandered into the cathedral, took in the architecture, looked around and appreciated things I would normally walk straight past.
And it got me thinking…
How often do we do exactly the same thing in our dental practices?
We walk through the same doors every morning.
We know where everything is.
We know the sounds, the smells, the people and the routines.
It's familiar. It's comfortable. It's our normal.
But it's not our patients' normal.
For some patients, walking into a dental practice can be an unfamiliar, overwhelming or even frightening experience.
And while we're busy getting through the day, preparing surgeries, answering phones and managing appointments, we can easily overlook the little things that make a big difference to someone visiting our practice.
So, this week's tip is a little different.
Give your team stronger foundations—for $95 a month
If you’ve been reading this thinking, “We need a more consistent way to train our DAs,” the DAB Academy is a practical place to start.
For $95 a month, you and your team can access training and resources to support everyone—from new starters learning the basics to experienced DAs developing more advanced skills. There’s something for every team member, with content you can revisit as often as you need.
We’re continuing to add resources, with training on these five foundations coming soon—to help you turn “this is how I do it” into a clearer, more consistent approach across your team.
Make the basics part of your training routine. Join the DAB Academy today.
JOIN THE DAB ACADEMY PRACTICE LOGIN
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Where you’ll find us before the year wraps up
We’re finishing the year with A Day for DAs:
- 6 November — South Australia, click here to register.
- 13 November — Melbourne, click here to register.
- 21 November — Darwin, click here to register.
Then we’ll be at the Australian Dental Awards on 2nd December. Nominated in 3 categories this year!
We have just one or two on-site training spaces remaining this year before we wrap up until January. If your team needs help strengthening from the basics up, get in touch.
Tip of the Week
The full tip and this week's free cheat sheet are subscriber-only. It's free to join, sign up now.
THE DAB CHALLENGE: Become a Patient for 10 Minutes
I want you to take just 10 minutes out of your week and look at your dental practice through the eyes of a patient.
Better still, get a team member involved and do a little role-play!
Start with the very first interaction.
1. The phone call
Have someone call the practice as though they're a new patient.
How are they greeted? Is the person answering the phone warm, welcoming and helpful? Do they feel listened to?
