Just Two Minutes: Merry Christmas, Grinches!

Bite-sized dental wisdom in under 2 minutes.

Ah, December. The month of joy, cheer, and absolute chaos in your dental office.

Here’s why practice owners everywhere are counting down the days — but not for the reasons you think:

1. The patient you diagnosed back in July finally wants their crown — but now they want it this week so insurance will cover it. The lab’s behind, your schedule’s packed, and somehow it's still your fault.

2. You’re explaining for the 89th time that insurance pays on seat date, not prep date. To the patient. And your front office. Again.

3. The holiday lands on a Thursday. No one wants to work Wednesday. Or Friday. Or any day ending in “y.” You either pay them for the full week or risk them all quitting come January 1.

4. Secret Santa strikes again. And no, you don’t know what to get Sarah in hygiene who “loves crystals and rescue dogs but hates chemicals.” Enjoy the panic scroll on Amazon.

5. You bend over backwards to keep slots open for last-minute patients — who then cancel an hour before. Now your schedule has fallen apart and you’re going home to chug eggnog you won’t even enjoy, because let’s be honest… it’s gross.

6. A patient not of record calls your emergency line on Christmas Eve. They’re in “extreme pain” and their own dentist isn’t picking up. And just like that, you make a mental note: next year be more like that dentist. Unavailable. Unbothered. Probably sipping eggnog in peace.

-Dr. Alex

P.S. Merry Christmas. We’re all just one no-show away from losing it.