Dental Consulting Experts - The Ledbetter Group

05/27/2026

PPO write-offs can significantly change the economics of a dental practice.
In our latest article, Russ Ledbetter explains how to evaluate where a practice belongs on the PPO to fee-for-service scale — and why the decision should be based on more than frustration with insurance adjustments.
The right move depends on the numbers, the patient base, new patient flow, and local market realities.
Read the article:

PPO write-offs can quietly reduce what your dental practice actually collects. Learn how to evaluate your PPO plans, patient base, production, and fee-for-service potential before making changes.

05/14/2026

Dental staff conflict does not have to be dramatic to hurt a practice.
Sometimes it shows up as poor communication, incomplete handoffs, tension between departments, or team members who simply stop working well together.

In our latest article, Russ Ledbetter explains how dentists can address staff conflict without becoming the referee — by focusing on facts, expectations, and professional behavior.

Read the full article:

Dental staff conflict can hurt communication, morale, and production. Learn how to resolve conflict by focusing on facts, expectations, and professional behavior — without taking sides.

04/28/2026

Most dental teams know what to do—but struggle with follow-through.
That’s where micromanagement starts.
The real issue usually isn’t effort. It’s motivation.

This article explains how to improve consistency without constant oversight:

Most dental teams struggle with follow-through—not effort. Learn how to motivate your team effectively and reduce the need for micromanagement.

04/16/2026

New article from The Ledbetter Group:
Dental Leadership Part 1 — Leading by Example
Most leadership problems in dental practices don’t come from lack of effort.
They come from misalignment between expectations and actions.
This article breaks down:
What leadership actually looks like inside a dental office
Why teams respond to effort—not instructions
How to create a stronger, more accountable team
Read Part 1 here:

Strong leadership sets the tone for your entire dental team. Learn how leading by example and balanced feedback improves performance and accountability.

04/13/2026

Hygiene recall drives the majority of dental practice production — yet it’s often overlooked.
In this article, Russ Ledbetter explains why weak hygiene recall systems stall growth and how stronger scheduling creates stability and profitability.
Read the full article:

Most dental practices neglect hygiene recall — and pay the price. Discover how hygiene recall impacts production, growth, and stress.

04/07/2026

Many dental practices feel busy and booked out, yet still don’t know how much they’re truly capable of producing.
Over the years, I’ve found that production ceilings are often misunderstood — not because dentists aren’t working hard, but because the wrong indicators are being used.
I recently wrote about how I evaluate a practice’s true production potential and which factors matter most.
Read now:

Many dental practices are busy, but do not know their true production ceiling. Learn how active patients and key systems determine real potential.

04/03/2026

When production varies from day to day, it can be frustrating.
But that variation often points to something more important—untapped growth potential.
The more your production fluctuates, the more opportunity for growth your practice is likely to have.
This article explains how to evaluate production variation and what it reveals.
Includes a simple calculator to measure your own numbers. We make it easy! Read the full article: https://wix.to/RuKZRF5

03/27/2026

Broken appointments are often treated as a people problem when they’re really a systems problem.

In most practices, a small percentage of interactions create a disproportionate amount of lost production. When the underlying systems aren’t addressed, the same problems repeat over and over.

I recently wrote about how the 80/20 rule applies to broken dental appointments — and what actually fixes the issue long term. Full article:

Broken dental appointments quietly drain hygiene revenue. Learn how the 80/20 Rule reveals repeat offenders—and what systems reduce no-shows.

03/23/2026

Broken appointments are one of the most common—and most expensive—problems in a dental practice.
A consistent system can dramatically reduce no-shows, stabilize the schedule, and improve overall production.
This 4-step approach is simple, practical, and proven in real practices.
Full article: https://www.dentalconsultingexperts.com/post/broken-dental-appointments-4-step-aggressive-fix

03/13/2026

Broken dental appointments and no-shows are one of the most common productivity killers in dental practices. In this article, Russ Ledbetter explains how retraining patient behavior — using a simple three-strikes system — can dramatically improve show rates. Read the full post:

Broken dental appointments and patient no-shows cost many practices thousands each month. Learn how retraining patient behavior can dramatically improve show rates.