The Importance of Core Values in Your Dental Practice

Core values serve as the foundation for how your practice operates and how your team interacts with each other and your patients. They define your culture, your standards, and the way your practice is perceived. Without well-defined core values, it's easy for things to become disorganized and for misunderstandings to occur.

My suggestion is to sit down as a team, either with a facilitator or on your own, and develop a clear understanding of the values that resonate with you. You can find lists of core values online and select those that best reflect your practice's philosophy. About four or five years ago, our team sat down and defined our core values, and they’ve made a huge difference in how we work together.

Five Core Values That Shape Our Team

We have five core values that we live by in our practice. These values not only guide us in our work but help us when it comes to hiring new team members.

1. Integrity

Integrity is non-negotiable. If someone doesn’t have integrity, they shouldn’t be on our team. When interviewing a potential team member, we don’t simply ask, “Do you have integrity?” because, of course, everyone will say yes. Instead, we ask for examples of times when they’ve seen someone act without integrity, or even when they themselves may have acted without integrity. It’s important to see how they react to these situations to understand their alignment with our core value of integrity.

For example, when I interviewed my partner 12 years ago, I asked him about integrity. I didn’t just ask if he had it— I asked what bothered him about integrity, and he was visibly upset when describing a situation where a fellow doctor wasn’t treating a patient with integrity. His emotional reaction showed me that integrity was important to him. This was a key moment in our hiring process.

2. Being a Good Teammate

Being a good teammate is another essential value. It’s about working together, helping each other out, and going above and beyond when needed. In our practice, we value people who are willing to step up when someone is overworked or going through a personal challenge. Great teammates don’t just do their job—they support each other and contribute to the overall well-being of the practice.

Sometimes, in a dental practice, conflicts or frustrations arise among team members. However, when everyone aligns with these core values, we can minimize those conflicts and maintain a harmonious workplace. We emphasize the importance of teamwork, and this value helps ensure that everyone is committed to helping each other succeed.

3. Servant-Heartedness

Our next core value is servant-heartedness. In dentistry, we are in the service business. While we perform dental procedures, our primary goal is to provide patients with an exceptional experience. We want every patient to leave our office feeling cared for, valued, and well-treated.

This servant mindset isn’t just about doing a good job—it’s about going above and beyond to create a "wow" experience for every patient. By taking the extra step to make our patients feel special, we show them that they are more than just a dental procedure—they are people we care about. Many patients come to us with anxiety, and our goal is to make them feel at ease and comfortable during their visits.

4. Health

As dental professionals, we care about the overall health of our patients. We encourage our patients to take care of their bodies, eat well, exercise, and maintain good health habits. But it’s not just about promoting oral health—it’s about promoting a healthy lifestyle overall.

In our practice, we lead by example and educate patients on the importance of oral health. We also aim to provide guidance on living a healthy life, as we are role models for our patients in this regard. We strive to offer advice that helps them make healthier choices for both their mouth and body.

5. Education

Education is our final core value. As healthcare providers, we want to ensure that our patients understand their role in maintaining their own health. Dentistry isn’t like fixing a broken arm, where you simply put on a cast and it heals. Many of the issues we treat, like periodontal disease and cavities, can return if the patient doesn’t take proper care of their oral hygiene.

It’s essential to educate patients on the importance of daily brushing, flossing, and using fluoride, as well as regular check-ups and follow-ups. By providing education and empowering our patients with the knowledge to take care of their oral health, we increase their trust and satisfaction.

Why Core Values Matter

These core values—integrity, being a good teammate, servant-heartedness, health, and education—are not just words on a wall; they are the principles that guide our practice and team. They create a sense of trust and consistency, both within the practice and with our patients. When everyone in your practice is aligned with these core values, you’ll build a stronger, more effective team that is committed to providing exceptional care.

If you haven't already, I encourage you to define your own core values with your team. When your team understands the values you stand for and aligns with them, you’ll create a practice culture that fosters success and long-term growth. Having clear core values in place helps guide decision-making and ensures everyone is on the same page, creating a more unified and productive environment.

Conclusion

By integrating these core values into your hiring process and daily practice, you can build a team that truly reflects your mission. Define your values, communicate them to your team, and make sure they are consistently practiced. When everyone on your team aligns with these principles, you will see improved morale, better patient care, and long-term success for your dental practice.

Take the time to create and implement core values in your practice today. They are the foundation for a thriving, successful dental practice that puts people first.