DEO's Growth Secrets Podcast for Dental Organizations 235: Why Being the Top Producer in Your Growing Dental Practice Is a Red Flag
Jul 24, 2025
Dr. Ben Oppenheimer, a leading expert in dental implants and a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, talks about the surprising drawbacks of being the top producer in a dental organization. He discusses the transition from clinician to leader while scaling to 7 practices. Ben shares insights on the importance of mentorship and building a strong team to overcome the bottleneck of personal productivity. He emphasizes viewing employees as valuable assets and harnessing AI to improve efficiency and patient satisfaction.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Ben's Dental Career Journey
- Ben Oppenheimer started dentistry as a third-generation dentist, quickly mastering implants without formal fellowship.
- Now leading seven practices, he struggles with still being the top producer and learning to lead others.
Healthcare Scaling Requires New Leadership
- Scaling dental practices multiplies leadership complexity because healthcare is people serving people.
- Transition from entrepreneur to executive requires new skills like patience and collaboration, which many dentists struggle with.
Let Go and Develop Patience
- To scale, let go of control and develop patience to work with team members who differ from you.
- Deepen communication skills by studying negotiation and leadership to better coach your team.
