Modern dentistry is ever-changing— the path towards long-term dental success looks significantly different than it did only a decade ago. As consolidation continues to transform this industry, new opportunities appear for practitioners who are willing to lean into the business side of dentistry. The prospect of becoming focused on the business rather than the clinical aspects of dentistry may feel daunting to busy practitioners. But by adopting the right practices—adaptability, being innovative, and strategic thinking—dentists can make a seamless transition into the role of CEO.

The Evolving Landscape of Dentistry

Previously, successful dentists needed only to focus on staying current with clinical skills and developing their chairside manner. If they were committed to ensuring the best experiences for their patients, they could expect a long and fruitful career. But times have changed.

Excellence as a clinician no longer amounts to a thriving career in dentistry. Advancements in technology, increasing competition, and ever-growing patient expectations coupled with rapid conglomeration—spells trouble. It means today’s dentists must navigate a lot more complexity to run a successful practice. Remaining relevant requires different thinking to stay ahead of the curve.  

Embrace the Entrepreneurial Mindset

A successful career in dentistry hinges on embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. Entrepreneurs are more than just people operating their own businesses. They’re people who think: innovators and opportunists who understand taking a calculated risk when there’s real value to gain. As dentists practice the entrepreneurial mindset, they can leverage the importance of those traits and use them to their advantage, helping them continue to provide quality services but also build sustainable practices that thrive.

Innovation and adaptability are core components of thinking like an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs want to create new and better things. Did your practice survive the pandemic? If it did, chances are, you adapted. When dentists adopt new technologies and novel approaches to treatment, patients get more value and improved experiences. The dentist benefits from an enhanced reputation because their patients will know they can get the best dental treatments and care available.

Focusing on positioning, brand development and marketing implementation is another important aspect of approaching entrepreneurship. Leveraging social media to promote services, provide education about new treatments, and connect with existing and potential patients is critical for growth. Having a professional, curated digital presence is essential for standing out among competitors because you are, in essence, a brand.

Dentists with an entrepreneurial mindset have a strong understanding of practice finances, including how to optimize expenses while growing revenue streams. Making strategic decisions and investments can help a dentist continue to grow their practice, even in difficult economic conditions or leaner financial times. Treating the practice as a business means the efficient and effective allocation of resources, along with future planning and the management of overhead costs.

Overcome Reservations and Challenges

This path isn’t an easy one, but it’s worth it. For any dentist, adjusting their identity from practitioner to entrepreneur is challenging. Many dental professionals worry that focusing on the business aspects of their practice will keep them from providing the best patient care due to concerns about maintaining the ethical foundation on which their practice is based.

The reality is a mindset shift can enhance the level of care delivered to patients by enabling dentists to be more effective at providing high-quality services to as many people as possible. By learning from business coaches, mentors, and professional networks, committed dentists can make the shift to entrepreneurs and strengthen their practice.

Making the Shift Adds Value for the Future

The next step is about action. If you’re still reading this, you’ve got two choices: do nothing and keep repeating the same lessons—or step up and define what you want your future to look like. Whether it’s a well-earned legacy and retirement dream or an aspiration to build a different type of dental career, on your terms, it has to start with you.

About Avi Weisfogel

Avi Weisfogel is a former dentist turned healthcare entrepreneur who now spends his time helping those in clinical practice navigate toward dental freedom.