Shared Practices | Your Dental Roadmap through Practice Ownership

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  Ask George: Is a Fee-for-service dental practice Right For You? 27.07.2026 30min

  In this episode of Ask George, Dr. George Hariri breaks down the pros, cons, and brutal truths of running a fee-for-service dental practice. While dropping insurance is a dream for many in dental practice ownership, George explains why going out-of-network is often like "swimming upstream". It becomes significantly harder to attract new patients and retain existing ones when they face higher out-of-pocket costs.However, if you are committed to this model, it can be incredibly rewarding when executed correctly. To achieve sustainable dental practice growth without relying on PPOs, you must deliver an experience that justifies the premium price tag.Here is your blueprint for operating a successful fee-for-service dental practice:Simulate the In-Network Experience: The best out-of-network offices are extremely insurance-friendly. You must submit claims on behalf of the patient and avoid charging extra for preventative care whenever possible to reduce friction.Leverage Rural Markets: The most predictable path to fee-for-service success is in rural or underserved areas. When there is a severe lack of access to care, patients have no choice but to tolerate out-of-network fees.Create a Unique Value Proposition: If you are operating in a highly competitive, urban market, your patient experience—from the doctor-patient relationship to the physical office environment—must be undeniably superior to the in-network clinic down the street.Transition Slowly: If you are acquiring an in-network clinic, do not abruptly transition into a fee-for-service dental practice. Build your patient base first, establish goodwill, and then gradually drop the lowest-paying plans one at a time.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  The Dental Menu Factor: Elevating Patient Retention and Practice Profitability 20.07.2026 36min

  In this episode of Coach's Corner, Caitlin Embree interviews Paul Lowry, co-founder of Dental Menu, to solve one of the biggest bottlenecks in dental practice management: failing in-house membership plans. While dropping insurance is a common goal, data shows that unmanaged cash-pay patients only have a 12% retention rate over five years, compared to 64% for insured patients.To achieve sustainable dental practice growth, practice owners must treat their membership programs like true subscriptions (e.g., Netflix or Amazon Prime) rather than one-off "Groupon" discount bundles that cause renewal gaps. Poorly administered plans not only create massive administrative headaches but also artificially lower your practice valuation by forcing you to zero out production or write off massive adjustments.Here is your blueprint for upgrading your dental practice management through a properly structured membership plan:Stop the "Discount" Mindset: Shift from selling a bundled package of cleanings to an auto-renewing subscription model to prevent patients from lapsing for months at a time.Fix Your Accounting: Stop adjusting membership preventative care to $0, as it destroys your KPIs. Dental Menu uses a separate bank account to process monthly fees and generate internal EOBs so production flawlessly matches collections.Protect Provider Pay: Proper dental practice management requires accurate ledgers so associate dentists and hygienists receive their correct collection-based bonuses when treating membership patients.Incentivize Your Team: Drive dental practice profitability by offering your front office staff bonuses (e.g., $25 per sign-up) to consistently present the membership plan to cash-pay patients.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Ask George: Maximizing Profitability Through Solo Dental Practice Management 13.07.2026 34min

  In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. George Hariri answers listener requests to strip away group practice bias and focus entirely on elite solo dental practice management. Many practitioners mistakenly believe that a multi-provider clinic is the only route to high-level profitability, but optimizing a solo model can create an incredibly low-stress, high-income asset. George outlines the precision growth pathways and details how transitioning from a standard solo dentist to a "productive solo" or "smart solo" can elevate your take-home pay to $400,000 and beyond.To break out of the low-revenue trap, you must learn how to manipulate the core levers of dental practice management.Implement these critical solo growth metrics and systems in your practice:Build the 2-2-2 Operational Balance: Scale your patient base to seamlessly support two full-time hygienists, two front office team members, and two dental assistants to perfectly balance your diagnostic and administrative workflow.Master Hygiene Benchmarks: Understand that there are roughly 200 active patients per day of hygiene. Target a base of 1,600 active patients to completely fill two full columns of hygiene working four days a week.Hit Case Acceptance Targets: Elevate your presentation style to consistently achieve an 80% patient acceptance rate (patients saying yes to at least one treatment item) and a 30% to 40% total dollar value treatment acceptance rate.Lock In Diagnostic Consistency: Develop clear, research-backed clinical diagnostic protocols so your hygiene team can confidently co-diagnose and tee up treatment plans before you even enter the room.Maximize Time Efficiency: Unlike group practices that focus heavily on analytical data points, a solo practitioner must treat their personal clinical time as the most valuable asset in the building by delegating every legally allowed task to auxiliaries.Transforming your solo office requires moving past basic survival and adopting highly intentional dental practice management strategies.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Sitting Down with an Office Manager - Uncovering Dental Practice Pearls 06.07.2026 38min

  In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Caitlin Embree interviews Max Dempsey, the rockstar office manager for Dr. Jaspreet Parmar’s two growing practices. Max provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at dental practice management from the perspective of an elite team member navigating an ownership transition. With 29 years of experience, she shares how she evolved from a lead dental assistant into a multi-practice manager by mastering front-office billing, insurance communication, and team leadership through targeted coaching.For any dentist evaluating dental practice acquisitions, this episode highlights how crucial it is to establish a unified culture from day one.Here is your masterclass in team-driven dental practice management:Establish Core Values Early: Do not let your team wallow in uncertainty during a transition. Dr. Parmar took his team out on day one to collaboratively define the clinic's core values, instantly proving his commitment to structured leadership.Master Fee-for-Service Verbiage: Running an out-of-network practice requires flawless communication. Train your team to respond to insurance questions by offering to verify benefits and calculate estimated copays, ensuring a "wow factor" patient experience.Delegate and Trust: True dental practice management scaling requires the owner to step out of the daily administrative weeds. Dr. Parmar built trust with Max to the point where she now handles major HR issues independently, allowing him to focus strictly on clinical production.Hire for Personality: Never make desperate hires. Prioritize candidates who fit your culture and exhibit a strong desire to learn, as technical skills can always be taught through effective dental practice management systems.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Ask George: Unlocking Dental Growth Strategies with 4 Levers That Make a Difference 29.06.2026 35min

  In this episode of Ask George, Dr. George Hariri shatters the industry myth that achieving more than 10% same-store growth is impossible. For the modern dentist, transitioning from an exhausted clinician to a strategic CEO requires executing targeted dental growth strategies. Rather than forcing generalized systems onto your team, true leadership means diagnosing your clinic's unique bottlenecks. To scale efficiently, stop treating every operational issue equally and focus your administrative time on the constraints that generate massive dental practice profitability.This episode serves as your survival guide for mastering dental practice management. George reveals the four operational levers that guarantee sustainable dental practice growth:- Patient Flow: Implement the Retain, Open, Fill method. Lock the back door by mastering hygiene reappointment rates, then open new columns.- Case Acceptance: Empower your staff to co-diagnose. When the team leads patient education, doctor production becomes completely predictable.- Consistency: Close the performance gap between your best and worst clinical team members to instantly elevate the practice floor.- Efficiency: Play "Whac-A-Mole" with your metrics. Identify massive operational leaks, like a high missed call rate, and resolve them immediately.Elite dental business strategies require you to leverage your time. If you only spend a few hours a week working on the business, you must direct that energy toward your weakest links. Customizing your dental growth strategies to target these precise inefficiencies guarantees predictable expansion year after year.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Maximizing Efficiency: Implementing Virtual Dental Assistants for Success 22.06.2026 40min

  In this episode, Caitlin Embree and Cory Pinegar, CEO of Reach, dive into integrating virtual support to elevate your dental practice management. With operating costs rising roughly 87% since 2001 and insurance reimbursements remaining stagnant, the modern dentist is getting squeezed. To maintain dental practice profitability, owners must rethink their traditional staffing models.Cory explains why conventional outsourcing fails and how embedding a dedicated virtual team member transforms your dental practice management. By delegating repetitive front-desk tasks, your in-office staff can focus exclusively on the patients directly in front of them, driving sustainable dental practice growth.Here is your blueprint for implementing elite dental business strategies using virtual support:Capture Missed Revenue: Over 60% of Reach's clients start by delegating inbound phone calls because the industry average for missed calls is 33%.Define Success Metrics: Before hiring, clearly outline whether your goal is saving money, buying back time, or driving revenue to ensure a measurable ROI.Customize Your Training: Provide the final 20% of practice-specific training, such as exact verbiage and software nuances, to fully integrate your virtual assistant.Embrace AI as a Tool: Combine the efficiency of AI technology with the empathy of human virtual assistants rather than treating them as opposing forces.Treating virtual assistants like actual human team members is the missing link in modern dental practice management.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Ask George: How to Transition from a Job to Dental Practice Ownership and Profitability 15.06.2026 35min

  In this Ask George episode, we tackle the ultimate debate in dental practice ownership: have you built a highly profitable business, or just a high-paying job? Dr. George Hariri breaks down the reality of "key man risk," proving that if your office relies on your personal clinical energy to generate revenue, you are acting as an employee. For a future owner, making the shift to CEO requires mastering advanced dental practice management so your team performs efficiently without your oversight.This ultimate survival guide for mastering dental practice ownership shows you exactly how to shift from a stressful owner-driven clinical model to an autonomous, team-driven powerhouse. To achieve sustainable dental practice growth, implement KPI accountability:Missed Call Rate: Track front office metrics to capture inbound leads.Reactive Retention: Consistently monitor your overdue recare efforts.Proactive Retention: Push daily hygiene reappointments past a 90% target.To cement your dental practice ownership, delegate case acceptance entirely. When hygienists are calibrated to co-diagnose, they educate patients before you arrive, massively boosting dental practice profitability. We also highlight why the associate to owner transition fails without an Office Manager handling HR and payroll, ensuring scaling does not create more work. Embrace entrepreneurship for dentists by building systems that leverage your team's time.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Being Clinically Busy vs True Dental Practice Profitability and Sustainable Dental Practice Growth 08.06.2026 34min

  The "Busy" Trap in DentistryFor Future Dental Practice Owners, a packed schedule feels like success. Yet, a booked day lacking strategic production leads to clinical burnout. Dr. Andrew Clingan and Caitlin Embree reveal why being merely "busy" destroys dental practice profitability. Moving from clinician to empowered CEO means stopping the cycle of stepping over dollars to pick up pennies. This requires mastering dental practice management through intentional scheduling.Your Scheduling Survival Guide:If your days are chaotic but collections are stagnant, your systems are failing. Allowing patients to cancel restorative work without consequence is why dental practice profitability drops. You cannot achieve sustainable dental practice growth if your team scrambles for supplies instead of prepping same-day treatment. To implement elite dental business strategies, engineer your operations:Implement Block Scheduling: Define daily "rocks" and "boulders" to hit goals before filling gaps.Enforce Front Desk Protocols: Separate doctor time from assistant time to end bottlenecks.Demand Accountability: Stop absorbing no-shows by collecting upfront deposits for major cases.Optimize Back-Office Systems: Standardize inventory so your team can add same-day treatment.Dr. Clingan shares how these systems turned a routine limited exam into a prepaid $17,000 case in ten minutes. This operational mindset lays the foundation for scalable dental business ownership and predictable dental practice profitability. It is vital for the associate to owner transition.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Ask George: Why Hiring an Associate Can Hurt Dental Practice Profitability 01.06.2026 34min

  In this episode of Ask George, Dr. George Hariri breaks down the common—yet avoidable—trap where adding an associate leads to a massive drop in dental practice profitability. George shares his own Dental Moneyball cautionary tale: how he went from a thriving income to making zero dollars after hiring his first associate. This episode serves as a survival guide for any dentist moving from clinician to CEO, ensuring that your associate to owner transition actually results in more freedom, not just more expenses. George explores the "perfect storm" that kills dental practice profitability: rising overhead costs paired with a less efficient provider seeing your patients. You will learn specific dental business strategies to mitigate these risks, including the "two-to-one" hygiene-to-restorative ratio and how to expand your office capacity by modifying your schedule. We discuss why owner doctors are typically more efficient and how to train your team for co-diagnosis so that your associate walks into a well-oiled system of case acceptance. Whether you are looking to work fewer days or simply want to scale your net worth, George provides the roadmap for delegating lower-level procedures while keeping your high-production hourly rate intact. Stop guessing and start using data-driven insights to ensure your next hire is a catalyst for dental practice profitability rather than a drain on your bank account. Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Bridging the Gap: Financial Management for Dentists and the Role of CPAs 25.05.2026 43min

  Caitlin Embree and Morgan Hamon from EAG Dental Advisors bridge the gap between daily operations and proactive financial management for dentists. Transitioning from clinician to CEO requires deep financial clarity. Most owners only speak to their CPA during tax season, but advanced financial management for dentists transforms raw data into insights that fuel long-term dental practice profitability.  If your goal is sustainable dental practice growth, this is your survival guide. Morgan explains how specialized CPAs act as your financial radiologist—diagnosing cash flow bottlenecks—so your dental practice management team can perform the operational surgery. We explore why standard profit and loss statements hide critical metrics like debt service.  Here is your blueprint to master dental business strategies and dental practice ownership:Master the Rule of Threes: Hygienists must produce three times their total pay to sustain dental practice profitability.  Calculate Cash Reserves: Keep one to two months of break-even capital, combining operating expenses and debt service, to eliminate stress. Optimize Distributions: Implement structured monthly or quarterly distributions to maximize personal wealth.  Demand Strategy: Stop accepting tax-season surprises. Demand year-round communication to track liabilities as you scale.  Proactive financial management for dentists protects your revenue. Contact Morgan Hamon at morgan.hamon@eisneramper.com or visit https://eagdentaladvisors.com/.  Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Ask George: Revenue vs. Cash Flow: The CEO’s Guide to Real Dental Practice Profitability 18.05.2026 30min

  Transitioning from a clinician to a CEO requires a fundamental shift in how you view your bank account. In this episode of Ask George, Dr. George Hariri reveals the "survival guide" for mastering dental practice profitability. If you’ve ever felt the frustration of a packed schedule and high production that never seems to translate into a growing bank balance, you are likely missing the "Moneyball" discipline required for true dental business ownership. George shares his personal journey from a revenue-only focus to becoming a disciplined CFO, providing the roadmap for every future owner to follow.The core of dental practice profitability lies in understanding three financial pillars: the Income Statement, the Balance Sheet, and the Cash Flow Statement. George explains why your practice management software might lie to you about your revenue and how to reconcile bank deposits with collections. By mastering financial management for dentists, you can stop guessing and start leading. This episode breaks down the "one month break-even" liquidity rule, ensuring you have enough cash on hand to weather the volatility of dental practice management without the stress of payroll cycles or credit card bills.For those looking to scale, George explores dental growth strategies that prioritize cash-on-cash returns over "paper wealth." He discusses how to utilize a quarterly distribution schedule to accumulate cash before deciding whether to reinvest in the practice or take a personal draw. This approach to sustainable dental practice growth ensures that every dollar you spend—whether on a new operatory, marketing, or coaching—acts as a soldier sent out to bring more soldiers back.Don’t let your practice be a high-revenue trap. Learn the dental business strategies that separate struggling associates from wealthy owners. By focusing on dental practice profitability through the lens of cash flow and disciplined reinvestment, you can build a business that generates consistent, predictable wealth.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Unlocking Group Practice Opportunities For A Solo Dentist - Part 2 11.05.2026 30min

  Transitioning from a clinician to a CEO is the ultimate hurdle in dental practice ownership. In this episode of Practice Underwater, Dr. George Hariri and Elizabeth navigate the "logistical nightmare" of scaling an eight-month-old practice that is already bursting at the seams. With 3,000 patients and only six operatories, Elizabeth faces a pivotal choice: stay in a challenging second-floor space or chase a "shiny object" real estate deal with mismatched timelines.George reframes the traditional dental business ownership mindset by challenging the urge to move too soon. They break down the ROI of a $43,000 construction project to add two operatories versus the capital-intensive trap of buying a building that doesn't fit the long-term vision. This is a survival guide for any dentist wrestling with dental growth strategies and the fear of patient attrition.The conversation pivots to the "Mega Group" concept, where George introduces the power of the 12-operatory model. For those pursuing sustainable dental practice growth, reaching 12 operatories allows for a three-doctor rotation, providing the owner with the "school schedule" flexibility they crave without sacrificing dental practice profitability. Elizabeth gains clarity on why settling in her current space—for now—is the fastest way to hire an associate and preserve her patient base. Ready to scale your dental practice ownership?Visit https://sharedpractices.com/ for our "Free Look" service and follow our social channels for roadmap updates. Join the community and turn your clinical skills into a thriving business.
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  Unlocking Group Practice Opportunities For A Solo Dentist - Part 1 04.05.2026 28min

  In this episode of Practice Underwater, Dr. George Hariri sits down with a dentist, Elizabeth, to discuss the initial hurdles she faced following an associate to owner transition.They analyze her impressive growth as a new dentist, jumping from a projected $1.2M to a $1.4M finish within eight months, while exploring dental business strategies to manage a bursting 3,000-patient base with only 11 hygiene days.The core strategic debate centers on whether to simplify the schedule via a fee-for-service model or expand into a multi-doctor setup by hiring another dentist, a dilemma complicated by real estate constraints discussed through a Shared Practices framework.This is a must-listen for any dentist weighing the long-term flexibility of group practice against the streamlined profitability of staying solo.In this episode:• Scaling production from a projected $1.2M pace to over $1.4M.• Managing a bottleneck of 3,000 patients with only 11 hygiene days.• The strategic debate: dropping insurance versus hiring an associate.• Evaluating real estate options for a growing team.• Balancing clinical autonomy with family flexibility.Whether navigating an associate to owner transition or vetting acquisitions in dentistry, this is your survival guide. Ready to scale your dental practice ownership? Visit https://sharedpractices.com/ for our "Free Look" service and follow our social channels for roadmap updates. Join the community and turn your clinical skills into a thriving business.
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  Ask George – How Aspiring Dental Practice Owners Can Build a Real Business, Not Just a Job 27.04.2026 28min

  Welcome back to the Shared Practices podcast.In this episode of Ask George, we’re diving into a question we hear all the time from aspiring owners: How do you build a real business instead of just buying yourself a job? Whether you’re preparing to purchase your first practice or thinking about expanding into your second or third location, this conversation will give you a clearer, more honest picture of what ownership really looks like today.Dentistry has changed a lot over the years. With more options like DSOs, choosing private practice is no longer the default—it’s a decision. And for many, that decision means stepping into the role of an entrepreneur. That comes with real challenges: managing rising staff costs, dealing with insurance reimbursements, and navigating tighter margins, especially in a post-COVID landscape. But at the same time, it creates an opportunity to build something that can grow beyond your own clinical work.So what’s the difference between a job and a business? If everything depends on you being in the chair day in and day out, it’s still a job—no matter how successful it looks on paper. A true business is built to operate and generate income even when you’re not there. That shift in mindset is what separates operators from owners.George breaks down a practical path to get there, including how to build around multiple providers, improve efficiency, and create systems that support long-term growth. From bringing on associates to optimizing your space and team, it’s all about creating a structure that doesn’t rely solely on you. Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  The CEO Mindset: Mastering Dental Business Strategies to Close the Trust Gap 20.04.2026 42min

  Transitioning from a skilled clinician to a successful practice owner requires a radical shift in how you view the operatory. In this high-stakes episode of Coaches Corner, Caitlin Embree and Dr. Andrew Clingan break down the essential dental business strategies that separate struggling associates from thriving owners. The secret isn’t just in the hand-piece; it’s in the psychology of case acceptance and the internal systems that turn "maybe" into "yes."Dr. Clingan pulls back the curtain on the "trauma" and wisdom gained during his associate to owner transition, revealing that clinical excellence is secondary to patient trust. If a patient doesn't understand the "why," they won't value the "how." This conversation serves as a masterclass in dental practice management, focusing on the "micro-trust" moments—those small, honest interactions that build a foundation for sustainable dental practice growth. You’ll learn why "creating space" and embracing silence is more effective than any sales script, and how to handle the "not now" objection without sounding like a corporate salesman. Implementing these specific dental business strategies allows a doctor to maintain clinical integrity while ensuring the practice remains a viable, profitable entity.A critical component of modern dental business ownership is the integration of high-ROI technology. Caitlin and Andrew discuss how utilizing AI-driven radiographs and intraoral cameras isn't just about clinical accuracy; it's about shifting the burden of proof from the doctor to the data. By treating the patient as a co-diagnostician, you eliminate the friction of "supervised neglect" and move toward more predictable financial management for dentists. Whether you are currently navigating how to buy a dental practice or looking to optimize your existing startup, adopting these dental business strategies will help you stop playing "ignorant to finances" and start leading your team and patients with the conviction of a true CEO. This episode is your survival guide to navigating the complexities of patient behavior and modern clinical technology.
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  Ask George: The Real Reason Dental Practice Profitability Is Higher Today Than In The Golden Age 13.04.2026 29min

  Are you worried that you missed the "Golden Age" of dentistry? Many dental students and associates look back at the 1980s with envy, assuming that high insurance reimbursements and low competition made that the only era for true wealth. In this episode of Ask George, Dr. George Hariri deconstructs this myth and explains why dental practice profitability in the 2020s actually offers a superior path for the entrepreneurial dentist.We shift the focus from the "Golden Age" to the "Golden Way"—a modern survival guide for transitioning from a clinical technician to a high-performing CEO. George breaks down why the current landscape of dental practice ownership is ripe with opportunity for those who embrace technology over tradition. Whether you are navigating an associate to owner transition or managing a growing firm, understanding the levers of dental practice valuation methods is critical to your exit strategy.This episode explores three distinct paths to building a $5M–$10M net worth:The Mega Practice: Why a single 14-operatory office with high dental growth strategies often outperforms a multi-location portfolio with less risk.The Multi-Location Venture: The "irrational" drive needed to scale past four locations and the financial controls required to maintain margins.The Platform Play: How modern DSOs allow for wealth creation through equity without the traditional burdens of solo ownership.Success in the mid-2020s requires extreme efficiency in marketing, patient retention, and clinical productivity. George explains how AI, guided surgery, and 3D printing have replaced "hanging a shingle" as the primary drivers of entrepreneurship for dentists. If you want to stop trading time for money and start building a "Practice 401k," this deep dive into the 170-billion-dollar dental industry is your roadmap. You aren't too late; you are exactly on time to leverage the consolidation wave and modern clinical systems for maximum financial freedom.
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  How to Choose the Right First Job If Your Goal is Dental Practice Ownership 06.04.2026 29min

  How do you bridge the gap between being a clinical student and achieving dental practice ownership? In this episode of the Shared Practices Podcast, Dr. Andrew Clingan returns to the mic to deliver a "survival guide" for D4s and associates planning their move from clinician to CEO. Andrew bought his practice straight out of school in 2023, and he’s pulling back the curtain on what it actually takes to double revenue in year one. If your goal is dental practice ownership, your first job is not an investment—it is a means to an end. This episode breaks down the four pillars of readiness: clinical confidence, practice management, cash runway, and leadership.We address a common dilemma for future owners: choosing between a DSO, a private practice, or a multi-location group. Andrew argues that if you want to succeed in dental practice ownership, you must prioritize clinical volume over brand names or base pay. We analyze why many private practice associate roles are "dead ends" for growth and why the "dead space" of mid-sized groups can hinder your development. Transitioning to a CEO mindset means understanding financial management for dentists; Andrew explains why keeping your personal overhead low is the key to securing bank financing for acquisitions in dentistry.Stop waiting for the "perfect time" to start your journey. We discuss how to identify a ready-to-grow practice and why most buyers pass on "diamonds in the rough" because they lack the dental business strategies to see past old wallpaper and film X-rays. This is a masterclass in dental practice management designed to help you build the clinical and financial cushion necessary for sustainable dental practice growth. Whether you are navigating the associate to owner transition or performing due diligence red flags checks on a potential acquisition, this episode provides the roadmap. Don't let your "pre-owner angst" fade into the comfort of a corporate paycheck. Learn how to stack your skills now so that when the right opportunity appears, you are prepared to execute.
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  Ask George - Does Dental Practice Ownership Still Make Sense Today? 30.03.2026 33min

  Is dental practice ownership still a viable path for aspiring dentists in today's rapidly changing landscape? Join Dr. George Hariri as he navigates the complexities of dental practice ownership in the latest episode of Shared Practices. This enlightening discussion delves into the critical factors that every dentist must consider when contemplating their career trajectory in the field of dentistry.Dr. Hariri emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and self-reflection for dental professionals, urging them to assess whether dental practice ownership aligns with their personal and professional goals. With the realities of increased competition and rising operational costs, particularly in a post-COVID world, understanding the nuances of ownership is more crucial than ever.The episode outlines essential principles for a successful dental career, including job satisfaction, income needs, and the importance of asset accumulation. Dr. Hariri also contrasts traditional dental practice ownership with the growing appeal of Dental Support Organizations (DSOs), which present attractive opportunities for those who may prefer a non-ownership track. This is particularly relevant for dentists who are exploring their options in the face of changing dynamics within the profession.For those considering a leap into dental practice ownership, Dr. Hariri provides invaluable insights into entrepreneurship for dentists, offering guidance on how to buy a dental practice and navigate the complexities of dental practice acquisition. He discusses key topics such as dental practice valuation methods, due diligence red flags, and financial management for dentists, equipping listeners with the knowledge needed to excel in their ownership journey.As Dr. Hariri articulates, ownership is increasingly suited for those with an entrepreneurial mindset who are willing to actively engage in the business side of dentistry. He encourages listeners to reflect on their leadership in dental practice and consider strategies for scaling their practices while avoiding common ownership mistakes.This episode is a must-listen for any dentist contemplating their career path, offering a comprehensive overview of the dental landscape and practical advice on navigating ownership transitions. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an established owner looking to refine your dental practice marketing strategy, this episode provides a roadmap to success.Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain insights from a seasoned expert in the field.
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  The #1 Reason Dental Practice Ownership Enters an Ugly Duckling Phase and How to Survive It 23.03.2026 30min

  Adding an associate to your team should be the ultimate win for dental practice ownership, but it is often the exact moment where your existing systems begin to break. In this episode, Andrew Clingan and Caitlin Embree unpack the "ugly duckling" stage—that uncomfortable transition where your previous business strategies no longer scale to support multiple doctors. If you are navigating the complexities of dental practice ownership, this episode is your survival guide for the inevitable systems failures and team tension that occur when scaling toward a sustainable dental practice.As we discuss in this segment, entrepreneurship for dentists is about developing people as much as it is about fixing teeth. Andrew gets vulnerable about the "super solo" trap: trying to out-produce your problems rather than fixing the underlying systems. We dive into the specific financial management for dentists necessary to weather the "stings" of growth—like losing $15,000 cases because the team wasn't ready to present new clinical codes.Ready to take the next step in your dental practice journey? Visit https://sharedpractices.com to learn more about our Buyer Representation and Coaching services, designed to help dentists buy, grow, and optimize profitable practices. You can also use our Free Look to evaluate dental practice opportunities with real data before making a decision. For daily Dental Moneyball insights, strategy tips, and updates, follow us across our social channels.
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  Ask George - Why Dental Practice Management Fails When Your CPA Is Your Only Advisor 16.03.2026 35min

  Are you stuck in the "defensive" trap of dental practice ownership? In this episode of Ask George, Dr. George Hariri breaks down a controversial reality: your CPA should not be your most trusted advisor if your goal is growth. While dental CPAs are essential for tax compliance and embezzlement prevention, their inherent bias toward historical data often creates a "growth ceiling" for ambitious owners. This episode serves as a survival guide for the transition from clinician to CEO, helping you identify when to listen to the brakes and when to hit the gas.We dive deep into the world of dental practice management to explain why traditional accounting metrics like staff cost percentages can be misleading. George shares his personal "Dental Moneyball" story of growing a practice from $90k to $150k and how listening to a defensive advisor during a dip could have stifled his long-term success. You will learn about the "deposit ratio"—a critical tool for spotting embezzlement—and why your CPA is the gold standard for historical accuracy but a poor guide for future projections.If you are currently navigating dental practice ownership, you need to understand the difference between offensive and defensive strategies. We discuss how to use dental growth strategies to justify temporary spikes in overhead, such as hiring a new hygienist or investing in marketing, which a standard CPA report might flagged as "red." This episode challenges you to become your own most trusted advisor, using financial management for dentists as a data point rather than a final decision.We also explore the future of dental practice profitability in the age of AI and why using tools like ChatGPT can prepare you for more nuanced conversations with your professional team. Whether you’re an associate in transition or a seasoned owner, this roadmap ensures your business decisions are fueled by vision, not just tax efficiency. Stop letting the "brakes" drive your vehicle and start mastering the levers of dental practice management today.