This month, we shine the spotlight on Dr. Ken Phillips, owner and Principal Dentist at Royal Centre Dental Group in Vancouver, BC, and dentalcorp’s Partner since 2018. We discuss how partnership with dentalcorp has allowed him to provide consistent patient-focused care, his philosophy of building trust with patients, and the importance of mentorship for emerging dentists.
Tell us about your journey into dentistry and how you came into practice at Royal Centre Dental Group?
I was hit in the face with a baseball when I was 12 years old and had to visit the dentist for restoration, a process I found fascinating. From then on, I was determined to enter the field of dentistry. After working for a year and a half as an associate, my interest in owning a practice grew. Dr. Gaunce and Dr. Bonazza in Nova Scotia and Dr. Sham Shivji at Brentwood Mall were my business mentors. They provided me with the essential tools, confidence, and a road map to dive in and build my own practice. The key takeaway from my incredible mentors is that success is equally attributed to your strength in communication and relationship building as clinical skills.
How has partnership with dentalcorp impacted the way you practice?
Partnering with dentalcorp has given me freedom. More importantly, it has relieved me from the administrative tasks of running a practice. I'm now able to focus on patient care and mentoring new team members, while learning new techniques, technology, and building relationships with other dental professionals.
What excites you most about practicing dentistry?
I love interacting with our wonderful patients and staff while providing health care solutions to the community. Dentistry has evolved and with dc Institute and continuing education, I can stay up to date on my professional development.
What's the best part about being a dentist?
The ability to impact a patient's self-image and confidence in a positive way by improving their smile and oral health is extremely rewarding. Also, being a dentist is an excellent opportunity to mentor new professionals and team members.
What does excellence in patient care mean to you?
It means continuously striving to build relationships and trust to increase patient retention. It is important to listen to your patients and educate them about the life-changing benefits that dentistry offers.
What's the best part about being in the dentalcorp network?
Before joining dentalcorp, I was a bit isolated and had little knowledge of how my fellow dentists ran their practices. Joining dentalcorp has provided access to over a thousand dental professionals willing to collaborate and consult on various issues. The network of fellow Partners has been an incredible resource, especially during our collective fight against COVID-19.
What are some of the ways you stay on top of the latest trends and technologies in dentistry?
Peer-to-peer study clubs and continuous education through dc Institute have allowed me to stay on top of the latest technologies and trends. I'm currently studying the Ortho Acceleration Program, BioClear mentorship with Dr. David Clark, and Itero scanning training and refreshers with help from our Itero representatives.
What do you think has been the secret to your practice's sustained success?
Our practice success comes from treating everyone like family which has resulted in excellent reviews and consistent new patient growth. Our top priority is patient-focused care. We evaluate the effectiveness of our shared philosophy by the helpful reviews left by patients. Through their own words, we can ensure that our patient-focused care priorities resonate with them.
What makes your practice unique?
Our team members make our practice unique. Some of them have been with us for over 20 years and continuously provide the best care to our patients. They have been very flexible, especially during the pandemic when there were unexpected absences due to COVID-19. I'm looking forward to many years together with my team as we continue to develop solid relationships.
Tell us some of the ways that your practice gives back to your community.
When the pandemic hit, our team volunteered to be the emergency oral care hub of our community. We opened our doors 13 hours a day, seven days a week, to treat patients with the most urgent needs in the lower mainland. We also offered oral care through dentalcorp’s hellodent. Our staff willingly jumped in during these challenging times and ensured our patients remained a top priority. Over the months, we tested more than 600 dental community members and connected our suppliers to hospitals across the country in desperate need of help.
What advice do you have for emerging dentists?
One word: patience. I'd recommend that new dentists hone the basics, like restorative technique, local anesthetic administration, as well as communication and relationship skills. Find a mentor that resonates with you and learn from them. Also, I strongly suggest that emerging dentists in the dentalcorp network register for our dc Mentorship program.
