After more than three decades in dentistry, I've seen firsthand what separates a good practice from a truly great one. And I can tell you, it isn't the latest technology or the most complex surgical skills. The single most important person in my practice—the one who drives our success and ensures our patients stay healthy for life—is the dental hygienist. In this episode, I'll share why I believe so strongly in the power of the hygienist and how so many of my colleagues are leaving over $100,000 on the table every year by failing to recognize their true value.

Why the Current Dental Model is Broken

I believe the American healthcare and insurance systems have it all backward. We're rewarded for treating disease, not for preventing it. This creates a cycle where patients only come to us when they're in pain, and our most valuable preventive services are undervalued and undercompensated. This flawed model leads to:

• Widespread Oral Disease: Oral disease is the world's largest epidemic, and our system is failing to address its root causes.

• Financial Strain on Practices: Dentists are forced to rely on high-cost procedures, while the low-cost, high-impact work of prevention is overlooked.

• Patient Dissatisfaction: Patients lack the knowledge that empowers them to maintain their own health, leading to a lifetime of dental problems.

The Shift to a Prevention-Focused, Hygienist-Centric Practice

In my practice, we've rejected the broken model and have built our success around a simple but powerful principle: prevention is everything. This means empowering our hygienists to be true partners in patient care. In this episode, you will learn:

• The True ROI of a Great Hygienist: How investing in your hygiene department can add six figures to your bottom line.

• My Caries Control Program: The exact steps we take to educate patients, from analyzing diet histories to uncovering hidden sugars.

• The "Gift" of Education: How to shift your practice from a treatment-focused model to an education-focused one, creating patients for life.

• Building a Team of Believers: Why long-term success is a team sport that requires a non-negotiable commitment from both your staff and your patients.

This isn't just about cleaning teeth. It's about changing lives, starting with the way we value the most important person in our practice. Join me as I reveal the $100K secret that smart dentists are using to build healthier, more profitable practices.

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