Everyday Oral Surgery Ask the GP: A General Dentist’s View on How and Why They Refer (with Dr. Victor Martel)
Aug 25, 2025
Dr. Victor Martel, a seasoned general dentist with 36 years of experience, shares fascinating insights about the referral process in dentistry. He discusses why dentists prefer certain specialists and how to foster communication and trust. Dr. Martel emphasizes the power of informal lunch meetings and strategic gifting in building relationships. He warns against over-referring and highlights the role of effective training for dental teams. This lively discussion offers valuable tips for both generalists and specialists to enhance collaboration and patient outcomes.
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GPs Choose Focus Over Doing It All
- General dentists often specialize by narrowing their scope instead of doing everything and prefer sending cases they can't master to specialists.
- That selective referral builds trust and better patient outcomes when GPs acknowledge their limits.
Invest In Referrers' Growth
- Invest time and resources in your referring GPs so they feel the relationship is mutually beneficial.
- Offer CE, training, or practice-growth help so GPs see tangible ROI from referring to you.
Make CE Deliver Immediate ROI
- Design CE that gives immediate, practical ROI and leaves GPs able to apply changes Monday morning.
- Avoid generic topics that only offer a free meal; teach skills that increase case acceptance.
