DENTAL MANAGER ARTICLES

Introduction Every dental office manager knows the sinking feeling: You walk in with a full schedule, providers prepped, rooms ready, and production projected to hit goal… Then it happens “I need to cancel.” “I’m not feeling well.” “Something came up.” No-show. No call. No warning. Your heart drops. Your schedule collapses. Your production vanishes. Last-minute cancellations and no-shows are more than an inconvenience they’re a systemic revenue leak that affects staff morale,

A Complete Guide for Dental Office Managers By: Kyle Summerford Introduction Leadership inside a dental office is multidimensional. You don’t just lead downward  (your team). You also lead sideways  (your peers)… …and most importantly, you lead upward  toward your dentist. Upward leadership is one of the most powerful skills a dental office manager can develop. But here’s the problem: 👉 No one teaches office managers how to lead their dentist. Not dental schools.  Not staff

By: Kyle Summerford Introduction Let’s be honest most morning huddles in dental offices are messy. They start late, run long, and leave everyone more confused than before. But when done right, a 10-minute huddle can transform your day improving communication, patient flow, and morale. Here’s how to go from chaos to calm with a system that works for every  practice size. 1. Start with a Structure A good huddle has a rhythm: yesterday, today, tomorrow. Kyle’s Story:  I once ran

By Kyle Summerford Introduction You can’t lead effectively without trust and in dentistry, that trust has to exist between the office manager and the doctor. When that relationship breaks down, the entire practice feels it: miscommunication, tension, and finger-pointing. But when it works? The entire team operates in harmony. Let’s explore how to become the kind of leader your dentist relies on not just reports to. 1. Earn Trust Through Communication Trust doesn’t grow in sil

By: Kyle Summerford Introduction Insurance denials don’t just cost money they cost time, morale, and trust. Every resubmission adds hours of stress that could’ve been prevented. The good news? You can eliminate most denials with structured coding systems, staff training, and clear accountability. Let’s walk through the habits that protect your collections and keep insurance chaos under control. 1. Audit Your Coding Accuracy Start by reviewing 10 random claims from last month.

By: Kyle Summerford Introduction If you’ve ever heard a patient say “I’ll have to think about it,” odds are they were really thinking, “I can’t afford it.” Financial hesitation is one of the biggest barriers to treatment but it’s also one of the easiest to fix. When you make payment options part of the conversation (not an afterthought), you help patients make confident, informed decisions. 1. Stop Waiting to Talk About Money Avoid surprises. Bring up payment early in the dis

By: Kyle Summerford Introduction Every dental office experiences it a packed hygiene schedule on paper that somehow ends with two open hours by midweek. Those lost hours quietly drain thousands in production every month. The real issue isn’t just patient behavior it’s your systems. Let’s walk through how to prevent hygiene downtime with structure, accountability, and simple communication tweaks that keep every chair full. 1. Pre-Book Every Recall Appointment If a patient leav

By: Kyle Summerford Introduction If you’ve noticed your team moving slower, smiling less, or sighing more you might not have a performance problem. You might have burnout. Dental burnout shows up as fatigue, disengagement, and emotional exhaustion. And it’s contagious. The good news? You can fix it without losing productivity in fact, when you rebuild morale, production usually increases. 1. Recognize the Early Signs Burnout isn’t dramatic it’s subtle. Small irritations, shor

By: Kyle Summerford Introduction If you’re afraid to let go of treatment presentations because you think no one will do it as well as you you’re not alone. Delegation anxiety is one of the biggest barriers to scaling a dental office. Early in my career, I didn’t trust anyone to discuss finances, case options, or insurance breakdowns. The result? Long hours, decision fatigue, and a burned-out manager (me). Let’s talk about how to delegate effectively without losing quality, co