title: Protecting your reputation in a digital world.
abstract: This article is not a substitute for professional services, nor is it meant to be a comprehensive list. It is intended to be a primer in helping you protect your greatest asset, your reputation. Be proactive in the way you treat your patients. Treat them with respect and courtesy and do your best to keep all your patients from becoming the disgruntled patient that attacks your reputation. Be vigilant in monitoring what people are saying about you on the Internet. If you are not aware of what they are saying, you can not defend your reputation. Be ready to act when you find unfair criticism of your reputation. Finally, be smart in how you present your online image. Don't post anything online unless you are comfortable with the entire world seeing it. Remember the old saying, "It takes a lifetime to build a reputation, but only a moment to undo it."
authors.affiliation: ddennis@floridadental.org
authors.forename: Don A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dennis
mesh_terms: D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence