Dental Practice Heroes

Ever feel like your dental practice is an endless cycle of putting out fires, managing team drama, and squeezing in "just one more patient"? That overwhelming weight on your shoulders isn't just in your head—and you're definitely not alone in feeling it.Dr. Paul Etchison breaks down the three fundamental stressors that make practice ownership feel impossibly heavy: team management challenges, operational overwhelm, and the crushing clinical demands that keep you trapped chairside. But rather than offering quick fixes or motivational platitudes, he provides concrete, tested solutions that have transformed practices across the country.Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

Claims keep getting denied? Here’s a hard truth: it’s probably your fault. But in this episode, Dr. Travis Campbell shares everything he's learned about how to master the insurance game, get your denial rate under 2% and stop wasting hours on appeals.His insights cover everything from the common reasons SRP claims get denied to the simple step that makes crown approvals almost automatic. We also talk about what insurance reviewers actually want to see in claims, how to avoid surprise patient bills, and what every out-of-network practice should have in their office.Topics discussed in this episode:Why practices are going out-of-networkThe biggest reason claims get deniedPerio protocols and insurance strategyHow to overcome the AI problem and get claims approvedTips for dealing with insurance reviewersThe foundational restoration codeHow to reduce crown denialsMetrics you should track in your officeHow to calculate better estimatesThe Dental Insurance Guy membershipUse the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking Here Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

Leadership's echo effect shapes dental practice culture far more than we realize. As practice owners, even when we're not actively leading, our behavior creates rippling effects that influence team dynamics long after we've left the building.True practice culture isn't what you declare in mission statements or team meetings—it's the accumulation of every feeling your team members have about working in your practice. These feelings develop through countless small interactions where your actual behaviors either reinforce or contradict your stated values. A deep sigh when interrupted, multitasking during conversations, or inconsistently holding people accountable all send powerful unspoken messages that can undermine everything you claim to stand for as a leader.Ready to create a practice that runs smoothly with less stress and higher profits? Consider joining our September mastermind where we'll help you build leadership skills and systems that create positive cultural echoes throughout your practice.Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

You get it, you need to let go. But how do you actually step back, stop micromanaging and see what your team can really do?In this episode, we share actionable ways to reduce your workload, delegate the right tasks, and leave work stress at the office. Learn how you might be getting in your own way and why letting your practice fail is the first step to real growth!Topics discussed in this episode:Why letting go is so hard for practice ownersHow to manage the guilt of letting goExercises to redefine your role and delegate effectivelyWhy you should let your practice failBuilding your perfect work weekTake Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

Discover the psychological key that unlocks patient follow-through with the endowed progress effect—a powerful concept that transforms how dental professionals communicate about treatment plans. This game-changing approach doesn't require changing your fees, procedures, or recommendations—just the way you frame patient progress.Through a fascinating car wash punch card study, we explore why patients who feel they've already made progress are dramatically more likely to complete their treatment. Rather than overwhelming patients with everything that needs to be done, learn to recognize and celebrate the steps they've already taken. For new patients with extensive needs, acknowledge that simply coming in was "half the battle." For returning patients after a hiatus, reinforce that they're "the type of person who cares for their teeth" rather than making them feel they're starting over.Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

Thinking about making your associate a partner? This episode will help you decide if it’s the right move for you and what other options you have to keep associates in your practice without giving up equity.You'll learn the must-haves of a successful partnership, the common reasons they fail, and what to look for in a potential partner. Listen now to hear the benefits of partnership and why you might want to stay solo!Topics discussed in this episode:The first step to partnershipThe benefits of partnershipWhy Dr. Henry chose to stay soloWhy partnerships failHow to make partnerships successfulAlternative ways to structure partnershipsTake Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

There’s an easy solution for patients who can’t afford treatment: membership plans. In this episode, you’ll learn how to structure your plan, price it so patients sign up, and get your team on board.The DPH coaches share what’s worked in their practices and easy mistakes you can avoid, whether you're creating a plan or revamping one you already have. Tune in for tips to build a plan that keeps patients coming back and feels like a win for everyone!Topics discussed in this episode:Why membership plans are good for your practiceHow membership plans benefit patientsPlan structures and pricingHow to get team buy-inMarketing and getting patients to sign upTo download the Membership Plan Documents mentioned in the episode click here! Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

Most owners manage the day-to-day; Dr. Sten Erickson is turning doctors into partners. He joins me in this episode to share how he stepped into a true leadership role and expanded his practice after leaving clinical work behind.From scheduling weekly meetings across multiple practices to case reviews, we talk about the strategies and systems that help him get doctors ready to lead, drive culture, and grow a multi-location practice without micromanaging or seeing patients. Tune in to hear how he structures his time to mentor doctors and scale without burning out!Topics discussed in this episode:Mistakes as a young practice ownerThe ideal practice size of new ownersMaintaining culture as you expandDr. Erickson’s meeting schedule and training systemHow your role changes when you step back from clinicalStrategies to keep associates engaged and growingUse the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking Here Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

Practice ownership doesn’t have to mean running an office or signing a lease. Dr. Jennifer Haddad designed her practice around a hybrid model that keeps her schedule and clinical decisions all within her control. In this episode, she shares how it works inside an existing practice, the benefits of this non-traditional path, and how she began building a brand before ownership. Tune in to find out if this model is right for the career and lifestyle you want!Topics discussed in this episode:Struggling with work-life balance as a new motherLogistics of the co-working hybrid modelBalancing responsibilities and patient careStarting a brand before ownershipBuilding a brand based on referralsUse the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking Here Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.

Feeling trapped in the operatory five days a week? Imagine reclaiming an entire workday without sacrificing income or patient care. That's exactly what today's episode delivers—a practical blueprint for dental practice owners who want to work smarter, not harder.I break down five seemingly small schedule adjustments that combine to create massive efficiency gains. From the simple act of staggering assistant lunches (yes, you can eat quickly!) to training your team to handle crown deliveries up to the final cementation, these strategies address the hidden time thieves lurking in your daily operations. By implementing these changes, you'll reclaim a staggering 16 hours of production time weekly while simultaneously increasing your hourly production value.The math is compelling: just two crown appointments daily at $1,500 each generates $3,000 daily—that's $430 per hour or nearly $331,000 annually. Combined with your newly reclaimed production time, this approach transforms practice economics while reducing your chairside hours. These aren't theoretical concepts—they're the exact strategies I've implemented in my own multi-doctor practice and helped countless coaching clients adopt with remarkable results.This episode reveals the foundation of what makes a "three-day dentist" possible. You'll discover how seemingly minor inefficiencies compound into major production losses, and more importantly, how addressing them systematically can revolutionize both your practice and your quality of life. Ready to spend more time with family, pursue other interests, or simply reduce the physical toll of clinical dentistry? These practical strategies offer the concrete pathway many dentists have been searching for.Want to implement these systems with expert guidance? Visit dentalpracticeheroes.com to explore our coaching options designed to help practice owners install efficiency-driving systems that ultimately allow your practice to run itself. Work less, earn more, and fall back in love with practice ownership.Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life We help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.