Brooke Ackerman, MSDH
Brooke Ackerman, MSDH, is known as an efficient and personable dental professional with a passion for education and connecting in ways that truly make a difference. Her creative expertise in communication, leadership, and innovation within the dental office and her commitment to working within a network of professionals as part of a dynamic team committed to excellence make Brooke a trusted expert in the dental field - an advocate for successful dental practices. Brooke has over 10 years of experience practicing clinically as a Dental Hygienist and holds a Master’s degree in Dental Hygiene, with a focus on Management through the U of MN/Carlson School of Business. Brooke is a practice management consultant at Advanced Practice Management. You may contact Brooke at 952-921-3360 or through AdvancedPracticeManagement.com
Cultivating Positivity in the Dental Office: How Dental Hygienists Can be the Change
A positive mindset is impactful and life-changing. What we focus on multiplies, and what we do day in and day out makes a big difference ‒ a simple principle but one that is often forgotten.
Here are five characteristics of a positive mindset that can be applied in a dental hygiene career:1,2
1. Optimism ‒ A willingness to try and take...
Communication Skills for Dental Professionals: Do You Hear Me Now?
The art of a meaningful conversation depends solely on listening. How often are you truly listening to dental patients? The majority of people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen merely with the intent to reply. Let that sink in. Is that you? If so, read on.
Communication is the most important element of successful dental practices....
Building Trust in Dentistry Takes Time, Effort, and Work
Trust is the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.6 Trust can be fragile, much like glass. Once it is compromised or broken, it might be able to be repaired or patched, but it will never truly be the same again. It may also be damaged beyond repair. Statistics show that people trust each...
How Clinical Calibration Helps Clarify Dental Treatments
Differences that exist among clinicians can be problematic within a dental office, including clinic workflow, systems, dental coding, and philosophies. A dental practice is rarely aware of this problem, and it’s even rarer to find an office that addresses these differences in its entirety.
The bottom line is quite simple. What do we really feel is best for our patients?...
Co-Diagnoses: How Dental Hygienists’ Input Strengthens Dentists’ Oral Health Goals
The dreaded D-word: diagnosis. Why is it that such an integral part of every hygiene appointment is tiptoed around by hygienists? Dental hygienists are smart, focused, and, most importantly, trusted by our patients.
Think for a minute about the time patients spend with their hygienist versus the doctor – utilize it! There are three key responsibilities of the dental hygienist...