Ep 152: The Scariest Things We’ve Seen in Dental Practices

Happy Halloween from The Team Training Institute! In this special Halloween episode, Wendy and Dr. John are sitting down to share some of the scariest things they’ve seen in dental practices throughout their careers. From insurance mishandling to embezzlement to marketing disasters, you’ll hear about some of the most embarrassing and damaging things dentists and teams have dealt with.  Let this episode be a cautionary tale of what to avoid as you’re running your business. And from all of us at The Team Training Institute, we hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!

Smooth, quick patient financing allows more patients to move forward with the care they need. One of the best ways to complete more diagnosed treatment is to provide better financing options. Years ago, patient financing meant difficult approvals, lots of paperwork, and a low success rate. Patients needed to have a high credit score to qualify, and most were denied, creating uncomfortable moments for dental teams and frustration for patients. With the help of technology and industry-wide data, Sunbit has made this process much easier, allowing 9 out of 10 patients to get approved (all in about 20 seconds with a few clicks of an iPad). Jay Letwat is joining us as a guest on the podcast today from Sunbit to share how their service makes patient financing ultra-simple. If you don’t currently offer patients quick, easy financing options, it’s time to consider adding it. When patients have more flexibility in their payments, they can say yes to the care they need and everybody wins.   Learn more about Sunbit here: https://sunbit.com/

In this milestone episode, we invited dental practice owners from across our community to join us live and share what has been most impactful for their practice growth. You’ll hear from dentists with a wide variety of practices as they share what has made the biggest difference for them. In this episode, we talked about everything from profitability to teamwork to comprehensive preventative care. Don’t miss this packed episode. Thank you to everyone who was a part of this live recording, we’re SO honored to have hosted The Double Your Production Podcast for 150 episodes. Thanks for tuning in, we’re looking forward to many more episodes!

On the podcast today, we’re talking about money. Specifically, we’re talking about the role production plays in a dental practice.    How important is production? If the owner-dentist is talking a lot about production, is that a sign of greed or possible over-diagnosing? A dental practice is a business, and money plays a role, but how does that factor into patient care and the overall practice atmosphere?   Production isn't everything, but it is important to the survival and performance of the practice. So how much should teams be focusing on it?   We’re diving into this hot topic in today’s episode, so don’t miss it!

Team compensation can be an emotionally-charged topic in any dental office. With wages rising and profits shrinking, this can put doctor-owners in a tough spot when determining a fair pay structure.   Today, Kellie Black is joining Wendy Briggs on The Double Your Production Podcast to share how to best handle compensation in the practice.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How to determine the market rate for your area (and the pros and cons of meeting or exceeding that rate) How to introduce activity bonuses periodically to energize the team and incentivize top performance The best ways to respond to team members who ask for a raise What to do when team members are frustrated by the compensation of others

Most dentists are taking on too many things in the practice. They see patients every day, manage the team, and operate the business, all of which could be full time jobs. This overload often leads to burnout and causes practice growth to hit a ceiling, but delegation isn’t always easy. Do any of these sound familiar? “The team is already working so hard, I can’t ask them to take on any more.” “By the time I teach someone else how to do this, I could have just done it myself.” “This project is too sensitive to give to a team member, it can only be done by me.” When delegation is done right, time is saved, team members are more satisfied in their roles, and the practice can grow more quickly. In this episode, Dr. John Meis and Wendy Briggs are sharing their tips for delegation and clearing the way for stronger team dynamics. In the episode, Wendy highlights some of our upcoming events. We hope to see you at one of these retreats or workshops. See our full calendar here: https://www.theteamtraininginstitute.com/events 

In part 2 of this episode, Dr. John Meis and Wendy Briggs are discussing more ways to protect your dental practice in the event of an economic recession. In this episode, you’ll learn… How to make the most of lean periods in your practice Why it’s a good time to evaluate your insurance participation and renegotiate reimbursement rates How to avoid bad habits if appointments dip Why an economic downturn is often a good time to invest in growth Unexpected challenges will always arise in business, but the more prepared you are, the less your practice will be impacted. Don’t miss this episode. These strategies will ensure your office thrives no matter the circumstances. Download Your Free Guide: We’ve put together a downloadable guide with additional resources on how to protect your practice. Get your copy here: https://www.theteamtraininginstitute.com/recession 

Over the past few months, there have been countless headlines warning of a recession. While nobody can predict the future, there is considerable evidence to indicate a looming downturn. What can you do to protect your dental practice? Contrary to popular belief, recessions don’t hurt all businesses. Some companies make it through difficult periods unscathed, and some even take advantage of certain economic factors (like low interest rates) and grow. How you prepare will determine the impact economic fluctuations will have on your production, profitability, and growth potential.  In this 2-part episode, Dr. John Meis and Wendy Briggs are sharing their 7 strategies to insulate your dental practice from economic harm. Don’t miss this in-depth episode. We’ve also put together a free downloadable guide with additional resources on how to protect your office. Get your copy here: https://www.theteamtraininginstitute.com/recession

How is AI impacting the dental industry? How will it transform patient care? In this episode of The Double Your Production Podcast, Dr. John Meis and Wendy Briggs are diving into the AI advancements that they believe are making the biggest difference right now. Technology is improving at breakneck speed, and changes are coming to dentistry every day. As you look at the technology available, it’s important to have sound recommendations so you can make smart investments for your office. We’re proud to announce that this episode will be part of a recurring series on the podcast where Dr. John and Wendy share their thoughts on emerging tech and help you make the wisest investments for your practice. Don’t lose money on overly hyped new releases, get our recommendations here.

When people work closely together, conflict is inevitable. In a dental office, disagreements will come up, but if you have strategies in place to handle them, these sticky moments can actually bring team members closer and create a stronger work environment. In this episode of The Double Your Production Podcast, Wendy Briggs is joined by Heather Driscoll to talk about ways to reduce conflict at the office and bring the team together with a common purpose. In today’s episode, you’ll learn: How to establish non-negotiable rules of behavior to protect core values The Drama Triangle: what it is and how best to handle it in the workplace Scripts to empower the team to face discomfort and interpersonal tension How to disagree with co-workers without abandoning your integrity How clear roles and systems greatly reduce overall conflict within teams When conflict arises in your office, it’s an opportunity to improve communication, strengthen the team, and emerge happier.  If you’re struggling with conflict among your team members, reach out to us for some guidance and tools. Schedule a quick 10-min call here and we’ll see how we can help: theteamtraininginstitute.com/10min