Dr. Laura Shaeffer Harkin graduated Cum Laude from Franklin and Marshall College in 1999 with a major in mathematics and a minor in flute performance. In 2008, she graduated from Temple University School of Dentistry and immediately began to live her dream as a family dentist. Her value to the dental team was undeniable, as she shared her spirit for both compassion and perfection.
In addition to the rigorous requirements of dental school, Dr. Harkin has completed level-four training at the prestigious Pankey Institute and has advanced dental implant and restorative credentials. Dr. Harkin has continued to further her education and is a certified Invisalign® dentist.
The Reason I Write Treatment Letters to Each Patient
By: Laura Harkin, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Harkin granted igniteDDS permission to share with…
Accurate X-Ray Records: Best Practices for Dental Teams
By: Laura S. Harkin, DMD This Topic Originally Appeared On Pankeygram.Org Radiographic imaging is an important diagnostic aid…
Holiday Recovery for Dentists: How to Reset After an Emotionally Draining Year
By: Dr. Sable Muntean The holidays are often portrayed as a time of rest and renewal. For many dentists, however, the reality looks very different. December tends to bring packed schedules, end-of-year insurance pressure, emotionally charged patient interactions, staffing challenges, and the unspoken expectation to finish strong, regardless of the personal cost. As January begins,…
Why Most Dental Practice Goals Fail by February & How to Prevent It
By: Dr. David Rice, Founder & CEO IGNITEDDS Every January – dental practices around the globe set goals with the best of intentions. We strive to … And yet by February – just like the gym promise so many make – most of those goals quietly fade into the background – replaced by overwhelming schedules…
Quick Relief: Minimizing Patients’ Discomfort in Aligner Therapy
By: Kelley Brummett, DMD This Topic Originally Appeared On PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Brummett granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. As dental professionals, we often see patients experiencing muscle tension or jaw discomfort—sometimes even stemming from routine procedures like cleanings or treatments. For patients undergoing orthodontic therapy, this muscle tension can sometimes intensify, even though…
Why the Money Isn’t Showing Up: Part 1
A Financial Control Series for Dental Practice Owners By: Dawn Patrick, COO and Dental Business Strategy Coach, IgniteDDS Let me start by saying this plainly: If the money isn’t showing up in your practice, it’s not because you’re a bad dentist. It’s because most dentists were never taught how to run financial systems, only how…
Endo Diagnosis: High-Yield Tips That Actually MatterÂ
By: Michael Eid Read more guides on Endodontics by Michael Eid: Endo diagnosis isn’t about memorizing tests. It’s about pattern recognition. Here’s how to get it right without overthinking it. 1. Listen Before You Touch the Tooth The story usually gives the answer. 🦷 Tip: If the history doesn’t fit the diagnosis, you’re probably wrong….
The Most _____ Time of the Year
By: Dr. Eric Recker Christmas is over. New Year’s is over. We have officially settled into the longest stretch we have without a scheduled break. It’s a long time until Memorial Day, and if you live in a place like Iowa—where it is ridiculously cold and often cloudy in January—this is where the walls can…
Why January Is the Best Time to Fix Broken Systems in Your Dental Practice
By: Dr. Sable Muntean January is often labeled as a “slow month” in dentistry. The holidays are over, patients are distracted by new deductibles, and schedules can feel lighter than usual. But for practice owners who understand the business side of dentistry, January isn’t slow—it’s strategic. January is the single best time of year to…
Mastering Time Management in Dental Hygiene Care
By: Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Dental hygiene appointments are the first opportunity to deliver your patients high-quality, personalized dental care. They offer a unique chance to connect with patients while addressing their oral health needs. However, with limited working hours…
What Your Team Says in the First 30 Seconds Determines Everything
By: Dr. David Rice Ask most doctors or office managers what their #1 goal is when the phone rings, and you’ll get what we rarely get in dentistry: total agreement — “To schedule the patient.” Now, I would agree, with a twist, “To schedule a lifelong patient who feels compelled to tell their friends, their…
New Year, Same Mouth: A Dentist’s Realistic Approach to Resolutions
By: Dr. Sable Muntean January arrives, and with it comes the usual flood of resolutions: eat cleaner, work out more, drink less, reinvent your entire existence, etc. But as dentists, we know a universal truth: Most people make big resolutions… and their mouths stay exactly the same. So instead of another unrealistic “new year, new…