Dental Practice Heroes

Hosted by Dr. Paul Etchison

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Episodes

692

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Where dentists learn how to cut clinical days while increasing profits - without sacrificing patient care, cutting corners, or cranking volume. We teach you how to grow a scalable practice through communication, leadership, and effective management. Hosted by Dr. Paul Etchison, author of two books on dental practice management, dental coach, and owner of a $6M collections group practice in the south suburbs of Chicago, we provide actionable advice for practice owners who want to intentionally create more time to enjoy their families, wealth, and deep personal fulfillment. If you want to build a scalable practice framework that no longer stresses, drains, or relies on you for every little thing, we will teach you how and share stories of other dentists who have done it!

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60 recent

August 12, 2026Episode 69345 min

The Hidden Reason Your Practice Feels So Hard to Run w/ David Maloley

Eight out of ten employees show up disengaged. The other two are doing all the work in your practice.In this episode, Dr. David Maloley explains what's really driving attrition and why a paycheck doesn't cut it anymore. You'll find out which outside forces are quietly commoditizing your practice, the burnout triggers already built in, and how to create an employee experience that holds your practice together.Topics discussed:(00:00) Introduction(03:19) David’s dream practice that turned into a nightmare(06:29) What hiring an office manager can't fix (09:18) The forces commoditizing dentistry(18:25) What a bad employee experience looks like(20:10) Three levels of a value-fluent team(21:16) What's really driving patient attrition(23:09) Burnout triggers built into dental practices(25:30) What happens when you stop chasing numbers(30:10) Why vague leadership creates attrition(36:28) The Trust Triangle decision frameworkTake the Commodity Threat Assessment:https://assessment.irreplaceablepractice.com/Listen to more episodes with Dr. David Maloley:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2311108/episodes/14424320https://www.buzzsprout.com/2311108/episodes/14423936This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

August 10, 2026Episode 69228 min

Don't Try to Scale Your Practice Until You See This In Your Numbers

Hire another associate, open a second location, drop insurance — or maybe change nothing at all? The truth is, just because your practice can grow doesn't mean it should.In this episode, the DPH coaches will help you figure out what kind of practice actually fits the life you want. You'll hear the mistake that almost buried one of them, the steps you should take before scaling, and the honest questions that reveal whether a bigger practice is right for you.Topics discussed:(00:00) Introduction(02:26) How to make your own decision(06:45) The mistake that can break your practice(09:52) A framework for deciding whether to scale(11:40) The client who was happier staying small(13:12) What type of leader you are (and why it matters)(15:38) One thing to do whether you scale or not(18:30) How to know when you're readyThis episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

August 5, 2026Episode 69113 min

3 Conversations that Will Keep You from Repeating Yourself

You know the moment: you’re having the same conversation again, trying to stay calm, trying to protect psychological safety, but quietly wondering why the message still isn’t landing. When a team member keeps missing a checklist step, showing up late, skipping a pre-collect, or sending patients up front with the wrong codes, it stops feeling like a one-off mistake and starts feeling like a culture problem. That’s where accountability either strengthens your dental team or slowly erodes it.We break down a powerful tool from Crucial Accountability called CPR: Content, Pattern, Relationship. First we talk about content, the single miss that needs a quick, timely reset of expectations. Then we move to pattern, where leaders must stop re-litigating “today” and name the repetition clearly, without getting dragged into whataboutisms or excuses. Finally, we tackle relationship, the level most practice owners avoid until it hurts: when the real issue becomes trust, and the team can’t count on someone to do their part in a system that depends on everyone.You’ll leave with three tactical takeaways you can use immediately, plus a clear test for deciding which conversation you’re actually having before you open your mouth. If accountability is a constant bottleneck in your dental practice management, we also share how a trained leadership team can carry standards with you so you’re not the only person holding the line. Subscribe, share this with a practice owner friend, and leave a review so more dental leaders can find the show.Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

August 3, 2026Episode 69029 min

5 Levers That Decide How Much Your Practice Produces

"I just need to get more patients into the office." It's something almost every owner tells themselves, but it's rarely what their practice needs.In this episode, you'll learn the five levers that decide how much your practice actually produces. The DPH coaches share their own experiences of freezing in front of patients, getting honest feedback from their teams, and coaching associates who want a raise.Topics discussed:(00:00) Introduction(03:02) What to do when an associate wants more money(06:29) Why chasing new patients keeps you stuck(08:13) Are you doing comprehensive treatment planning?(09:46) Five levers that decide what you produce(12:47) Why so many doctors freeze or hold back(16:27) The honest feedback your team isn't telling you(19:05) Setting standards and measuring outcomesThis episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

July 30, 2026Episode 68935 min

The Doctor-Hygienist Partnership That Drives Case Acceptance w/ Janet Hagerman

Your hygienist spends more time with your patients than you do. That makes them one of the biggest case acceptance drivers you have.This episode shows you how to unlock that potential with the right systems, language, and a true doctor-hygienist partnership. Hygiene consultant Janet Hagerman breaks down how to train your team to talk about treatment, the meeting you should be having every month, and the five steps to the perfect handoff.Topics discussed:(00:00) Introduction(02:08) From hygienist to fractional hygiene officer (05:47) Why hygiene is the bedrock of your practice(08:28) Where to start with your hygiene team(13:08) How to have perio conversations with patients(18:30) Getting them involved in diagnosis and treatment(21:01) The monthly meeting that aligns your team(24:05) Disagree without making anyone look bad(26:22) The perfect handoff sequenceDownload Janet’s free step-be-step handoff guide: https://janethagerman.com/tpn/c/C2030/docs/DOC-5ComponentsofHandoff-c2030.pdfConnect with Janet Hagerman:Website | https://janethagerman.com/LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/janethagerman/Email | janet@janethagerman.comThis episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

July 27, 2026Episode 68814 min

Stop Hoping and Praying for Your Dream Team, Build Them

If you walked into your dental practice right now and asked one random team member what they’re actively trying to get better at, would they have a real answer or a long pause? That moment tells you almost everything about your culture, your leadership, and why “good people” sometimes slowly turn into disengaged people. We believe most team members don’t drift toward excellence on their own, they drift toward comfort, and it’s our job to make growth the default. We unpack why ongoing team training is one of the highest-ROI investments in dental practice management. It’s not just about clinical skills or checking boxes after onboarding. It’s about building a culture of mastery where coaching and feedback feel normal, where people know what they’re working on next, and where your assistants, hygienists, and admin team develop into stronger communicators and leaders. We also talk through the common sticking point: many owners want better systems and better performance, but they simply don’t know what to teach, who to teach, or how to structure training so it actually sticks. We share a practical approach for making development consistent, including separating operational meetings from true training time, using quarterly sessions for role-play and verbiage, and setting a 90-day skill focus for every department. If you’ve been hoping your team “just gets better,” this will give you a clearer roadmap for building skills like case presentation support, patient communication, conflict handling, and leadership at every level. If you found yourself nodding along, take a minute to subscribe, share this with a practice owner friend, and leave a five-star review so more dental teams can build a culture that never stops improving.Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

July 23, 2026Episode 68715 min

Short Staffed? Here's What to Do

Your dental practice feels like it’s barely surviving, the team is overwhelmed, and the plan sounds logical: “Once we hire one more assistant or one more hygienist, then we’ll fix the systems.” I’m challenging that idea head-on, because waiting doesn’t pause the chaos. It feeds it. When we delay training, accountability, and process improvement, we create the exact environment that drives burnout, frustration, and turnover in a short staffed dental office.I walk through the cycle I see constantly in dental practice management: we hire someone, we rush onboarding, the new team member is afraid to ask questions, mistakes pile up, coworkers get resentful, and suddenly we’re hiring again. The problem isn’t effort, it’s predictability. That’s why building a systematized dental practice is not a “nice to have.” Clear expectations, simple workflows, and consistent follow-up are powerful staff retention strategies that make the day feel doable and the job worth keeping.You’ll get a practical leadership playbook for what to do right now: talk to your team with transparency, pick one recurring friction point to fix instead of launching five projects, and protect training even when the schedule is packed. Training isn’t extra work, it’s how we reduce future work and help people feel confident, capable, and loyal.If you want help building the systems and training that keep great people, head to dentalpracticeheroes.com/slash strategy and set up a call with me. Subscribe, share this with a practice owner who’s stuck in survival mode, and leave a five-star review so more dentists can find the show.Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

July 20, 2026Episode 68634 min

What Your Front Desk Wishes the Clinical Team Understood (And Vice Versa)

Front desk versus clinical: every practice has this quiet rivalry, but it doesn't have to be that way.In this episode, the DPH coaches break down why these two sides of the office resent each other and how you as the owner might be making it worse. They share exactly what you can do to create cohesion in the office, from an exercise that breaks tension and gets people talking to an easy fix for the most common source of conflict.Topics discussed:(00:00) Introduction(02:43) What causes front and back office drama(06:55) The exercise that bonds your office(14:11) Managing unspoken expectations(15:42) How to handle team complaints without losing safety(18:55) Who should handle team conflict(21:45) The trust exercise every office needs(25:13) When getting involved backfires(27:22) What causes the most conflict and how to fix itThis episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

July 16, 2026Episode 68515 min

Stop Hiring People to Solve This Problem

Your dental practice can feel like it’s drowning even when you’re fully staffed and the schedule looks reasonable on paper. The real culprit is often smaller and harder to spot: tiny steps in your systems that get skipped, “just this once,” and then explode into bigger problems for the next person downstream. I’m breaking down how that ripple effect creates the daily feeling of chaos, backlog, and burnout and what to do about it as the leader. We walk through concrete dental practice management examples that every team recognises. First, pre-collecting patient copays for larger appointments: when we avoid a brief, uncomfortable money conversation, we often create longer conversations later, more insurance re-checking, slower check-in, and weaker patient commitment that leads to cancellations and holes in the schedule. Then we talk about scheduling hygiene and recall the right way, including the simple commitment question that reduces last-minute reschedules and protects production, team bonus, and momentum. We also dig into the front office and back office handoff, and how small documentation mistakes can quietly destroy trust. When the front desk has to keep double-checking what happened in the operatory, it slows everything down and can even lower treatment acceptance because patients feel the uncertainty. The solution is not hiring another person. It’s building clear agreements, coaching the “why,” and creating a culture where each team member asks, “Did I make someone else’s job easier or harder?” If you want calmer days, stronger systems, and a team that runs smoother together, subscribe, share this with a practice owner friend, and leave a quick review so we can help more offices. What small step gets skipped most often in your practice?Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.

July 13, 2026Episode 68431 min

How to Hire a Hygienist Fast in a Tough Job Market

Where did all the good hygienists go? You may be asking yourself this question, but the truth is they're out there. They're just choosing someone else.In this episode, you’ll learn how to become the office people want to work at (and stay). The DPH coaches share how one of them out-recruited six offices for a single hygienist, why your job posting is costing you good candidates, and the interview red flags you can’t ignore — even when you're desperate.Topics discussed:(00:00) Introduction(02:45) Landing a hygienist every office wanted(07:12) Doing more with fewer hygienists(09:21) Why recruiting is really sales(12:25) Write an ad that stands out(14:05) Get ahead of turnover before it hits(19:02) Why you should involve your team(20:15) Interview questions that assess culture fit(23:45) Qualities that matter most in a hire(25:38) What's more important than recruitingThis episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe 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.