Generation Xers are those born from 1965 to 1980 . This generation represents a mixture of traits from the young and old or the Millennials and Boomers . They often consider themselves liberal and are more likely to support social causes such as gay marriage and legalizing marijuana . Xers consider themselves to be hard workers and yet are not financially satisfied with their current situation . When asked about their financial future , 46 % report that they are concerned that they will not have enough money to last through retirement . Although Xers as a whole do not consider themselves to be moral , they do believe that America ’ s morals have changed for the worse . However , they demonstrate optimism regarding the path that America is on and are hopeful for a bright future .
Baby Boomers are those born from 1946 to 1964 . They are called the boomers because there was a swell in births after World War II . This birth boom ended when the birth control pill was introduced 19 years later . The mothers to Boomers had on average three children , which is one more child than any other generation . With over 76 million included , it is the second largest generation . Boomers are entering their older years with pessimism . For a generation largely praised for their impact as babies , it is difficult to grapple with aging . In addition , because they are the second largest population , their impact on the economy as they enter retirement and use the government benefits weighs heavily on them . Knowing that they are depleting resources that their grandchildren will need one day and are ultimately paying for today leaves them gloomy and anxious .
The Silent Generation are those born from 1928 to 1945 . They are the most conservative of all the generations and are also the most politically energized . They are more uncomfortable with social changes and strongly agree with Xers and Boomers that America ’ s morals have taken a turn for the worst . They believe strongly that American is the best country in the world but are less positive about the future of America . Eighty-three percent of the Silents view themselves as hardworking and 73 % identify themselves as patriotic . While younger generations often identify themselves as greedy and self-absorbed , only 7 % of the Silents identify themselves as self-absorbed and only 8 % as greedy . There are virtually no similarities between this older population and the youngest one .
Another prominent factor in American culture is race . Although religious affiliation and economic status can be disguised , race cannot be hidden , and it can influence many factors such as political affiliation , religious affiliation , and communication norms . There are so many nuances on the impact of race in a person ’ s life . A family ’ s history and experiences are likely impacted in some way by race . When a dental team sees patients of every color and background , there must be an appreciation for the many and varied influences that race can have on each individual . Assumptions should never be made . Rather , by allowing curiosity to create discussion , the opportunity to learn about and appreciate other cultures is born .
Fifth , build systems based not only on objective evidence but also on individual influences and broad culture influences . In the norms of today , doctor-centric systems simply will not work . Due to technology , generational , and cultural norms , today ’ s consumer expects more . Dental teams must take the time to evaluate all levels of influence on a patient . Individual influences such as gender , economic status , family history , and personality should be considered alongside major cultural and generational influences . Once these influences are considered , systems should be built out of what is relevant to today ’ s consumer and what is expected . In addition , systems should be flexible enough to allow for individual needs . Historically , systems in dental offices have been built off of rigid scripts and robotic implementation . This must change . Highly scripted employees are often less able to be imaginative or empathetic about a customer ’ s true needs . Instead , they should continually ask themselves , “ Who am I going to serve , and what do they need and value most ?” Patient-centric systems requires teams to always be asking these critical questions and then doing the research necessary to answer those questions .
Sixth , constantly revisit , rework , and revise systems . Systems that were implemented 10 years ago , even two years ago , could very well be ineffective on many levels . Culture changes constantly . Technology changes constantly . The systems in a dental office should change along with culture in addition to the impact of individual nuances . By resisting change and being unwilling to bend with culture , practices lose the ability to connect with patients and provide them with exemplary care . Systems , revising systems , and customizing to the specific individual should be a constant and consistent topic among dental teams .
Bethany Petty is a practice management consultant that breaks the mold . In an effort to remove herself from the abrasive consultant persona , Bethany spent time receiving a Masters in Adult Education and a Masters in Health Communication , which enables her to present information in a way that dentists and team members understand and appreciate . Her approach is unique in that she customizes her suggestions and training to fit the individual personality and specific goals of the practice . Rather than approaching each practice with the same “ Fix- It Guide ,” she evaluates the practice , talks with team members , and listens to the dentist before making any suggestions . She truly provides a customized consulting plan . In addition , Bethany has the heart to help dentists . She has a legacy of dental field professionals in her family , and she has had the privilege of helping her father to build , manage , and maintain a successful family practice . With the heart to serve dentists , she has made a difference in practices all over the DFW Metroplex . For more information visit www . hellobethany . com .
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