Shutting the Associate Revolving Door: Strategies for Long-Term Retention

👉 For more information on dental practice growth strategies and marketing trends, go to: https://www.drlentau.com/ – Successful practices grow, and growth brings its own set of challenges. One of the biggest? Finding an associate who fits your team, sticks around, and maybe even steps into ownership. Stats show that 75% of new associates leave within their first year. Just think how this plays out on your team’s dynamic and patient trust. Not to mention the stress this causes practice owners. There’s a fix to this, and my guest Robert Spiel has all the answers. He’s the founder of Dentist Partner Pros and expert in associate retention. He’s a former hospital CEO, author, and a thought leader in building successful, multi-doc practices.  With 14+ years of experience and an impressive 85% success rate, Bob has cracked the code on how to shut the associate revolving door.  Bob lays out his proven, systematic approach that’s transforming the way dental practices hire and retain associates. He also shares:  The key to making associates feel like partners. The importance of the right cultural fit. How team involvement makes all the difference. Don’t let the fear of associate turnover hold your practice success back anymore! Tune in to learn how to build a successful, sustainable team for long-term growth. —   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) How Bob Spiel helps dental practices (01:15) Why there’s a 75% failure rate in associate hiring (05:44) The mindset practice owners need when hiring (10:27) What causes issues and ensuring the right cultural fit (13:19) The cost of associate turnover and your team’s role in their success (16:04) Compensation expectations and attracting top talent (19:06) How Dentist Partner Pros makes hiring easier (21:56) Final thoughts & lighting round Q&A (23:20) — Connect with Bob: Book: “Flip Your Focus: Igniting People, Profits and Performance through Upside-Down Leadership” https://www.amazon.com/Flip-Your-Focus-Performance-Upside-Down/dp/154476541X — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com.   This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here.   This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here.   Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!  

Are you overpaying for software that isn’t serving your practice? In this episode, I sit down with Shayna Phipps-Holman, a dental software consultant with over 17 years of expertise in dental education and practice management. After a successful career with CEREC Doctors and gaining deep insights into dental software, Shayna has become a top advisor for dental practices looking to streamline their tech stacks without facing this overwhelming process alone. Shayna’s experience spans everything from implementing cutting-edge AI solutions to rolling out multi-location practice software, and she’s seen firsthand what tools drive success and which ones just add to the clutter. Today, talks about helping dental professionals avoid costly redundancies and optimize their software so that it truly fits their needs, reducing overlapping features and boosting efficiency. Whether you’re managing a single office or a larger network, Shayna’s insights will guide you through the software maze with ease. If you’re ready to save money and make your software work for you, tune in to hear Shayna’s expert advice! — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Shayna Phipps-Holman’s experience at the Supercharge event (01:36) About Shayna & her start in dentistry (03:28) From CEREC doctors to practice management (08:46) How Shayna helps practices find the best software (15:46) Cloud-based software & who should reach out to Shayna (21:29) Final thoughts & lighting round Q&A (24:54) — Connect with Shayna: LinkedIn InstagramWebsite — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Struggling to meet patient demand for holistic care? With 80% of patients seeking more natural, integrative options in healthcare, it’s essential for dentists to see how myofunctional therapy can increase revenue while meeting this demand. To dive into the details, I’m joined by Karese Laguerre, founder of The Myo Spot and a leading expert in myofunctional therapy.  As a registered dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist, Karese has dedicated her career to bringing this powerful therapy to patients worldwide, helping them overcome airway issues, TMJ disorders, and more. In our conversation, we cover everything dentists and orthodontists need to know about myofunctional therapy, highlighting that it’s an effective solution for airway, sleep, and broader dental issues that many practitioners overlook.  Karese also share insights on: How this service is a low-cost addition with substantial growth potential. How implementing this therapy looks like in a practice. And a look inside her event, Dental Culture Con. Tune in to learn how myofunctional therapy can position your practice to attract today’s health-conscious patients and tap into a rapidly growing market. PS. Use promo code PODCAST to get 15% off your registration for The 2025 Dental Culture Con.  — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Karese Laguerre & what myofunctional therapy is (01:46) How myofunctional therapy can boost practice growth (07:17) An example of a myofunctional exercise (14:10) Integrating into dentistry & ortho (16:17) The predicted boom of integrative services (19:36) Myofunctional vs myofacial therapy & how to study it (21:12) More about Karese’s event Dental Culture Con (22:44) Final thoughts & lighting round Q&A (25:29) — Connect with Karese:  Learn more about The Dental Culture Con. FacebookLinkedIn Instagram TikTok — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Wondering how much you really need to save to retire comfortably? Or how to best manage 401K plans for your employees? This episode has the answers. I’m joined by Kelly Richards, a partner advisor at Allworth Financial, who has nearly two decades of experience helping dentists transition from big spenders to big savers through strategic financial planning. We dive into the importance of maximizing your 401(k) with profit sharing and how Allworth Financial’s low-cost platform can significantly boost your retirement savings.  Kelly also breaks down why ETFs are superior to mutual funds and explains the dangers of trying to time the market, which can cost you big time. From defining your "retirement number" to why you should only hire fiduciary advisors, this episode will put you on the right track to make smarter financial decisions.  Tune in now to learn how you can secure your future and grow your wealth. — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Kelly Richard’s experience at Supercharge Your Dental Practice (00:46) Kelly’s background & how he helps dental practices (04:09) 401K profit sharing & cash balance plans (06:46) Mutual funds vs. exchange traded funds (14:55) Finding your retirement “number” & timing the market (17:56) Final thoughts & lighting round Q&A (22:54) — Connect with Allworth Financial:  Website: https://allworthfinancial.com/ Email: [email protected]   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Most dentists focus solely on clinical excellence, which is expected. But when was the last time you paid attention to the financial health of your practice?  If it’s been a while for you, then here’s everything you need to know. In this episode, I sit down with Tim McNeely, founder and CEO of Dental Wealth Alliance, to talk about how dental professionals can eliminate financial confusion and fear. Tim brings his wealth management expertise to the table, focusing on key strategies that include tax mitigation, retirement planning, and practice exit strategies tailored specifically for dentists. From the five pillars of wealth management to the importance of stress testing your financial plan, this conversation uncovers everything you need to know to protect your practice and personal wealth.  If you’re ready to make smart, strategic moves for your financial future…this episode is for you. Tune in! — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Tim McNeely & the financial advice dentists need (03:01) The five key pillars of wealth management (07:11) How the rich manage their wealth (11:50) When you need a wealth management advisor (14:30) Is your advisor getting good results for you? (22:38) Stress testing your financial plans (25:45) Final thoughts & lighting round Q&A (28:44) — Connect with Tim:  Facebook  LinkedIn — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Are all the great insights from the dental conferences you assist gathering dust?  While investing in continuing education is a must for dental practice owners, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the learnings are being put into practice. So, how do you take the step from knowledge to implementation?  Today, I sit down with Brenda McNulty, a dynamic leader in the dental industry with over 30 years of experience in both clinical and business settings.  As the owner of DSO Facts, Brenda excels in transforming dental practices by putting knowledge into action. Her work focuses on creating accountability systems and empowering teams to work efficiently, both in-office and remotely. In this episode, we tackle a problem many practices face: learning new strategies but failing to put them into practice. Brenda and I touch on how leadership, proper implementation plans, and accountability can take your practice from stagnant to thriving. We also touch on the difference between consulting and fractional training, how to monitor your KPIs, and much more.  If you're ready to stop wasting time and money and start turning your new knowledge into real results, then don’t miss this episode. Tune in! — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Brenda McNulty’s take on leadership & implementation (02:06) Why accountability & implementation plans are a must (08:24) Tracking implementation plan performance (13:28) Consulting vs. Fractional Training Officer (19:26) Measuring ROI & getting external help for implementation (21:02) Final thoughts & lighting round Q&A (26:03) — Connect with Brenda:  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram DSO Facts Website — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Sometimes, all that’s in the way of doubling your practice’s growth is not having an office manager. In this episode, I sit down with Zachary Shelley, a leading dental office manager who’s achieved incredible growth in just 4 years at Satellite Family Dentistry.  Zachary’s journey to dental office management is unconventional — he went from professional skateboarder to dental lab manager, eventually landing the role at Satellite as its very first office manager.  And how is that going? Well, in this episode Zachary shares not only the changes he made as office manager but also how he’s helped the practice retain over 88% of new patients, simply by focusing on elevating patient experience and team communication. Additionally, we talk about team culture and the power of creating a structured, supportive environment where the staff feels valued. Other themes include: Zachary’s evolution in dentistry The value of ongoing education And tips for empowering staff. These growth-boosting insights are just a click away.  Tune in! — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) How Zachary Shelley became a dental office manager (01:42) The importance of continuing education (11:01) Zachary’s method of creating a positive team culture (16:01) The hardest part of Zachary’s job & improving communication (22:16) How to get 88% patient retention like Zachary does (24:09) Final thoughts & lighting round Q&A (27:58) — Join the Dental Office Manager Success Network to connect with Zachary and learn all about dental office management: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1043108050120371 — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Are your aligner treatments really boosting your practice’s profitability, or just creating more headaches? There’s a right and wrong way to approach certain cases, and GPs aren’t necessarily equipped to take them all, despite what most aligner companies like to advertise. In this episode, I sit down with Lou Chmura, founder of Egghead Orthodontics and Ortho Mastery Advisors, and an orthodontic expert with over 35 years of clinical practice experience.  Lou sold his practice in 2022 and now dedicates his time to teaching and consulting, helping dentists and orthodontists incorporate technology for improving patient outcomes. With deep expertise in both orthodontics and general dentistry, Lou possesses a unique POV on integrating orthodontic treatments into a general practice successfully. We chat about a big issue with aligner treatments: the misleading nature of their ads that promise increased production but fail to address the importance of completing cases efficiently.  Additionally, Lou brings up how you can set your aligner cases up for success all the way to completion, which involves thorough diagnosis and proper case staging, from IPR to monitoring techniques. He also shares the hidden costs in aligner treatments and introduces the concept of hybrid cases for more complex scenarios. If you’re ready to maximize your practice’s success with aligners, don't miss Lou's tips on mitigating the challenges you may face. — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Lou Chmura & how he helps practices with ortho treatments (01:28) Why aligner advertisements misleading (04:59) What does it take to be more efficient with orthodontic treatments? (09:03) What GPs should focus on when setting up orthodontic cases (15:51) Ensuring proper case selection (21:00) Final thoughts & lightning round Q&A with Lou (26:22) — Connect with Dr. Lou Chmurra on Instagram.  — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Most dental professionals will agree that one of the most frustrating things about accepting insurance is dealing with low reimbursements or the overwhelming credentialing process you have to go through.  And when it comes to collections, surely you’re feeling the pinch. But what if I told you there’s a way to increase your revenue without changing your workload. In this episode, I sit down with Angela Holland, a returning guest and an expert in dental insurance credentialing and fee negotiations. With over 15 years of proven insurance expertise, Angela is on a mission to help practices maximize revenue with no additional work required.  She shares her insights on how outsourcing fee negotiations with Preferred Dental Solutions can unlock new revenue streams for dental practices by optimizing insurance fee schedules and the credentialing process. We also cover: How to negotiate insurance fees from day one. The role of TPAs vs. direct contracting with insurance companies. Why it’s critical to revisit and renegotiate your fee schedules every two years. The essential steps for proper credentialing to avoid revenue loss. If you're ready to make more from your insurance collections and streamline your practice's financials, this episode is for you! Tune in.  — Key Takeaways Introduction (00:00) Meet Angela and her move from billing to insurance credentialing (01:36) Angela explains the credentialing & fee negotiation process (08:41) Choose between TPAs and direct contracts carefully (15:09) Boosting your revenue through insurance fee negotiations (17:47) Final thoughts & lightning round Q&A with Angela (24:39) — Book a free consultation with Angela at Preferred Dental Solutions. — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Have you noticed the staff at your dental practice a bit tired and unmotivated? Are they working to the point of burnout?  This is an extremely relatable scenario in the healthcare space, but there’s a solution that’s rising in popularity, and it can transform your practice — virtual assistants. In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Herring, a seasoned dental coach from Transformational Dental Coaching. She’s here to share how offshore virtual assistants (VAs) can be the modern dental practice’s secret weapon when it comes to improving the patient experience, reducing stress for your team, and minimizing overhead. We also chat about: The importance of ongoing training for your front desk team The critical role SOPs play in effective training Strategies for smart revenue cycle management And much more. Ready to make things run more smoothly at your practice and make room for your in-office staff to focus on providing a high-quality, white-glove service to patients? Then, this episode is for you! Tune in.  — Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Rebecca & her approach to dental coaching (02:06) The benefits of using virtual assistants (06:43) The disadvantages of hiring VAs (16:58) Importance of SOPs in ensuring consistency & efficiency (19:52) Effective strategies for revenue cycle management (23:09) Credit card payment fees: who absorbs that cost? (28:11) Lightning round Q&A with Rebecca & how to connect (31:27) — Book a Free Strategy Call with Rebecca at Transformational Dental Coaching:  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Email — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here. Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. —     Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!