Shared Practices | Your Dental Roadmap through Practice Ownership

A dental owner tells how rapid scaling led to an $8M multi-location practice and why profitability became the next challenge. They explain aggressive hiring and marketing during COVID that doubled new patient flow. The conversation covers buying a nearby practice, consolidating operations, and choosing growth over short-term margins while weighing when to optimize for profit.

In this Ask George episode, George breaks down how to set practice ownership goals you’ll actually be happy you hit. He walks through the three stages of a dental career, how to align qualitative lifestyle goals with quantitative income targets, and why bottlenecks and “surface area of luck” matter more than arbitrary production numbers. If you’re a dentist who wants to grow your income without hating Mondays, this episode gives you a practical roadmap from today to your ideal Point B.

A real-world breakdown of multi-practice ownership, associate management, rural dentistry challenges, and the financial and emotional reality of scaling back to a profitable solo dental practice.

Discover how AI and automation can transform the challenges of private practice dentistry. Explore why now is the perfect time to embrace technology to tackle staffing issues, competition, and insurance woes. Learn about AI-driven patient flow enhancements and the benefits of automating confirmations and forms. George discusses cutting-edge tools for clinical diagnosis and patient management, emphasizing that those who adopt tech will thrive in future dental landscapes. Dive into the tech-driven methods shaping a successful practice.

Dr. Aditi Agarwal, a practicing general dentist and co-founder of Practice by Numbers, dives into how AI and data are revolutionizing dental practices. She shares the inspiring origin of Practice by Numbers and reveals how AI tools, like dashboards and call analytics, can significantly enhance case acceptance and operational efficiency. Aditi discusses the crucial role of tech adoption in helping private practices compete with larger DSOs, emphasizing team training and the importance of starting small with AI integrations. It's an insightful conversation about embracing technology for better practice outcomes.

Exploring the art of delegation, guests discuss how dentists can stop being bottlenecks in their practices. They dive into why clinical tasks are hard to let go of and how an 80% quality mindset can be beneficial. Key leadership roles are defined, emphasizing building a culture of ownership among the team. The importance of task documentation, metrics to drive engagement, and strategies for nurturing team leaders are highlighted. Ultimately, the power of team-led growth shines as the path to sustainable practice success.

Jill Hasselman, an HR expert from HR for Health, joins Richard to demystify the often dreaded HR landscape for dentists. They discuss practical tools for managing time-off policies, employee handbooks, and the intricacies of payroll without the usual confusion. Jill emphasizes that compliance is crucial and explains how technology can streamline HR processes. They even touch on the risks of using AI for HR tasks, stressing the importance of human oversight. Tune in to make HR easier and more efficient!

Tired of choosing between a great personality and plug-and-play experience? Richard and Caitlin show how real-world SOPs let you hire for attitude, train the skills, and stop feeling held hostage by turnover. Plus: easy ways to draft manuals with AI and keep a steady pipeline of candidates.

In Part 2 of Thor’s return to Practice Under Water, George and Thor tackle the complexities of scaling a thriving $2.5M practice. From facility constraints to associate performance and insurance strategy, this episode offers a real-time masterclass in transitioning from hustle-based growth to systems-driven sustainability.

Join the discussion as Thor shares his incredible journey, growing his dental practice from $700K to $2.5M in just four years. Explore the marketing strategies that fueled this patient influx—think engaging reviews and effective mailers. Thrilling insights into staff dynamics arise as Thor navigates hiring an associate and tweaking schedules. Discover the delicate balance between income and lifestyle goals, and unpack the potential for Thor to embrace a pseudo-specialist role. It's a riveting blend of ambition, strategy, and the art of patient care!