Dear Ms. Marketing: The dental laboratory down the street from me has lowered their prices.  Should I lower mine?

The hard disk drive in your computer is the place where the data is stored and the data is at its most current. So, if it fails and there is not a current backup then it can be a very serious problem.

Russell Giordano, DMD, D.M.Sc., is an associate professor and director of biomaterials in the department of restorative dentistry/biomaterials at the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Giordano received specialty training in prosthodontics at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and performed research at the Ceramics Processing Research Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology leading to a D.M.Sc. degree in 1991 and a certificate in prosthodontics. Since 1987, he has been actively involved in materials development and testing for CAD/CAM systems, tissue engineering and restorative materials at M.I.T., Harvard, and Boston University. Here are his answers to your zirconia questions.

Colin F. Norman is the 3M ESPE digital materials laboratory manager in Germany where he is responsible for building new research groups related to digital materials with a focus on the development of new materials programs and strategies to support the growing 3M ESPE digital materials business. He answers your questions about zirconia.

Auditing is a key component in the measurement of the effectiveness and performance of a quality system. Both FDA and DAMAS require, at a minimum, an annual audit. DAMAS requires that the lab audit the management system to verify that the manufacturing processes comply with planned arrangements.

As we craft strategies and executions for our advertising campaigns, know that brand character can be even more persuasive than the actual selling message. It’s hard to be emotionally committed to an attribute. Features don’t beget followers.

It turns out, you earn a Good Eye every time before final quality check off that you catch a potential defect, flaw or mistake that would have compromised the quality of the final restoration. That meant everyone was responsible for quality and was rewarded for behavior that reduced remakes and reworks.

“Sue’s gotten something in her eye – what do we do?” You don’t want this to happen in your laboratory, so make sure that your workers all know what action to take in an emergency situation.

In Proper Positioning Will Lead to Successful Negotiation Outcomes, Greg Williams shows you that the way you position yourself in a negotiation sets the stage for the direction in which the negotiation will proceed.

Many employers may view safety as a financial burden, but there’s more financial liability without a safety program. When on-the-job injuries occur, the employer is required by law to provide medical care for that injury, and in many cases, monetary payments to compensate for resulting temporary or permanent disabilities.

Dear Ms. Marketing: I have been using your 8-week program and it has been going great.However, there is a particular account that I want to target what can I do?

You'­ve already created solid relationships with your dentist clients. Now is the time to get the most benefit from that relationship. Hector Cadena address how you can best utilize the access that a good relationship with your customers and prospects present in Customer Relationships and Value Propositions.

Small laboratories don't have to be left out of the advertising loop. Get the scoop on several ideas you can implement at your laboratory.

Whether it'­s helping clean the entire laboratory or just your workbench, now's a good time to unclutter and spruce up the places where you spend most of your time. The benefits can range from bringing a breath-of-fresh-air to your surroundings to making it a safer place to work.

Have you ever attended a presentation that was more filler and fluff than actual content? Have you ever walked away from a presentation feeling like you wasted your time, and maybe even money? You may not be able to identify exactly what the problem was, but here'­s a theory: the speaker didn'­t give you anything of value. Lisa Braithwaite shows you the importance of Giving Value or Going Home.

What is the most affordable and versatile marketing tool available? Your business card. Surprised? In everyday business scenarios and networking events, a well-designed, informative card builds business and having different business cards will get you remembered. 

It is recognized that the product is the sum total of all parts and labor combined. A major component of continuous improvement is prevention of a defective/non-conforming product. Thus, one of the best controls is to ensure that the materials that make up your product meet your quality expectations.

Reports of lead being found in two Ohio dental restorations hits the U.S. and international news outlets.Get more information and read an exclusive Q&A with NADL Co-Executive Director Bennett Napier, CAE, in A Lead Weight.

Perhaps no other issue can so dramatically define the difference between management and leadership, than the attention the individual gives to ethics. James Gehrke explains how you can morph from manager to leader with his Six Steps for Ethical Leadership in Today's Organizations.

There are better ways.  I will provide you with an eight week program that will be helpful, no matter what product you are trying to sell.

The CDL modernization committee established the criteria for dental labs for their initial application and for their five-year revalidation application. As a member of that committee and as a safety expert, I have been asked to provide a more detailed explanation of the physical facility and equipment requirements to assist dental laboratories in submitting appropriate photographs for compliance with these areas.

Many profitable businesses fail because of cash flow issues. Without adequate cash, you canít pay your bills and you canít make plans for your business. In Cash Flow Planning for Solo Professionals, Kristine A. McKinley, CFP, CPA, helps you make the best plan for your laboratory.

Last month, we discussed ways to strengthen relationships with your clients.  Now, we will take these relationships to the next level by identifying some basic differences between men and women and customizing our marketing strategies accordingly.

Do you feel like you'­re talking but no one is listening? Then it'­s time to improve your communicating skills. In How to Communicate Much More Effectively in 3 Simple Steps, Peter Murphy helps you do just that.

Don't be the Ugly American. Learn the Ps and Qs of international business etiquette with Lydia Ramsey in Minding Your Global Manners.

The mission of THE DENTAL ADVISOR is to provide the dental profession with concise, accurate, objective, evidence-based information on dental products and equipment. Find out how you can get a free one-year subscription.