255: Inside the Heart of the Dentist - Dr. Bill Robbins and Dr. Lauralee Nygaard

Inside the Heart of the Dentist

Episode #255 with Dr. Bill Robbins and Dr. Lauralee Nygaard

Our guest on this episode of the Best Practices Show podcast is Dr. Lauralee Nygaard, a renowned periodontist and long-time member and leader of the Seattle Study Club. Lauralee chose dentistry as a profession because of the flexibility paired with the challenges of serving clients in all situations. Early on in her career, she had to work through a lot of imposter syndrome, spurred on by negative referrals and critiques of other dentists in her area, but she has found that the key to her practice’s success is taking exceptional care of her patients and the rest will fall into place.

A lifelong learner, Lauralee has gleaned a lot of knowledge from thought leaders outside of the dental industry. She learned from Malcolm Gladwell about the intrinsic need for people to be in relationships, which cemented her belief that taking exceptional care of her patients would drive positive word-of-mouth referrals, and this continues to be her #1 source of new clients to this day. Lauralee has also found a great source of community, as well as personal and professional enrichment, through the Seattle Study Club symposium and her local club. She has been mentored by and has been a mentor to many clinicians over the years, and these relationships have been essential during this uncertain environment due to COVID-19 for finding mutual support and encouragement.

In addition to signing up for the Seattle Study Club symposium coming up January 29-31, 2021, Lauralee challenges listeners to connect with 2 people this week just to check in and see how they are doing during COVID-19. You may be surprised by the impact of a single phone call.

Main Takeaways:

The origins of the Seattle Study Club (7:15)

Finding business advice outside of dentistry (16:20)

Connecting with your patients is the secret (19:43)

Knowing someone that came before you (25:00)

Dentistry is a perfect fit for women (28:38)\

Quotes:

“I’m passionate about telling young clinicians – and women in particular – that they can be very successful in dentistry, and being a female is an asset, something that they should be willing to embrace.”

“I think the secret of my practice success is relational connection.”

“It’s cheaper than therapy to pay for me to go to symposium because those are my people.”

“If I wanted to build my business, I had to take exceptional care of people.”

“Charisma is not a gift – it’s a skill.”

“I didn’t understand that 80% of my business could come from 20% of my people.”

“There is always room for exceptionally taking care of people with a relational experience.”

Snippets:

Lauralee’s story (2:07-2:59)

The power of symposium (9:13-10:58)

How Lauralee found growth while remembering her roots (14:03-15:02)

People want relationships (17:32-18:53)

An impactful letter that Lauralee received from a patient (19:43-21:38)

Advice to younger clinicians (24:31-24:56)

Bio of Our Guest:

Dr. Nygaard is a Board Certified Periodontist, with three additional years of specialty training beyond dental school. Dr. Nygaard attended Loma Linda University where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. Dr. Nygaard continued her education for three additional years at Loma Linda University in the graduate periodontics program for specialty training in periodontics, soft tissue procedures and implant dentistry where she earned a Certificate in Periodontics and a Masters of Science degree.

Dr. Nygaard is well known for her exceptional skill with connective tissue grafting and esthetic dental implants. She is also an advocate for patients who desire to manage their total health through proper oral health. She works closely with several cardiologists and heart attack & stroke specialists to manage patients' risk(s). Dr. Nygaard lectures on the possibilities and benefits of connective tissue grafts, as well as other dental topics.

Dr. Nygaard is a member of numerous dental organizations including the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Dental Association, the Washington State Dental Association, the Spokane District Dental Society. Dr. Nygaard is a Fellow in the International Society of Periodontal Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Nygaard is also a Fellow in the American College of Dentists, an organization that recognizes dentists for their ethics and leadership in dentistry.

Dr. Nygaard is the director of the Meridian Dental Study Group (an affiliate of the nationally renowned Seattle Study Club network), a group of local dentists who are committed to providing quality, comprehensive treatment options for their patients. This group meets monthly to discuss clinical cases, new techniques and technologies. This forum allows the members to learn from each others' experiences, thereby elevating the level of dental care among the group.

Dr. Nygaard is married and has two teenage children. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, snow skiing, boating, baking gluten free items and reading.