Managing Dental Drama

Bethany’s sister-in-law is back!! Amanda has been a manager for many years now. She recalls a time when she felt, “If I want to have something done right, I have to do it myself.” This mindset led her to burnout, fatigue, and frustration. She and Bethany discuss her delegation mindset. Amanda shares how she strives to create a collaborative environment where delegation, teamwork, and equality is t...

Have you ever been in that uncomfortable situation where you feel like you might need to report something to either the state board or even the police? This episode digs into an incredibly yucky topic, but the information provided should make it useful for any listener. Dr. Kuba and Bethany shift through many of the various situations that can come across your plate that might necessitate you fili...

Have you been asking yourself lately, “Where is all the money going?” Or have you noticed that certain procedures are simply less productive than they used to be? Maybe you’ve even wondered to yourself, “I feel like I’m working harder and making less, what is happening?” If these thoughts sound familiar, then tune into this episode. Dr. Kuba and Bethany spend time discussing current trends in the...

Today’s episode continues the saga from last week’s episode (“Are Accurate Estimates Important?”). Dr. Kuba continues to unpack details about a disgruntled parent in her practice that ended up with an unexpected bill of $1,700. Today, they discuss more oversights from the team including coordination of benefit issues (involving primary and secondary insurance), miscommunication to the parent when...

Today’s episode jumps straight into the deep end of managing a practice. Dr. Kuba shares about a disgruntled parent in her practice that ended up with an unexpected bill of $1,700. Travel together with Dr. Kuba and Bethany as they discuss step by step how they investigated the account and used it as an opportunity to learn and improve. In today’s episode, they discuss what all went wrong with the...

As an addendum to last week’s “Money Matters” episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany dig into the various ways that a team member can unintentionally sabotage a practice. While collections (last week’s episode) is foundational to practice success, there are many other seemingly insignificant mistakes that can substantially impact success. Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss several important ones to consider. Thi...

Collecting money in a practice tends to be one of the more difficult tasks. At times, odd emotions get in the way. Sometimes we feel guilt over charging a patient for something they need, a service they receive. We attempt to lighten the guilt feeling by making unsanctioned collections agreements or even avoiding to collect altogether. Balances can loom over our heads at times and can cause patien...

Last week’s episode probably sounds like a beautiful pipe dream….so today, Dr. Kuba asks the hard question, “Can you really truly pass things off to team members?” She and Bethany discuss the times where tasks are passed off and teams either fail to accomplish them OR are not equipped to complete the task successfully. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss how to ensure that the right peop...

Check this episode out in both video and audio! Today, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss a foundational management strategy called “Directly Responsible Individuals” or as Kuba refers to “The Tag-You’re-It Person”. They discuss what a DRI and how it helps in managing a great team, inspiring confidence in your team members, and lightening the load on the practice owner and manager. If you want an inspir...

Need a little motivation for today? Bethany gets on a self-proclaimed soapbox today, but hopefully one that will inspire and encourage all dental professionals today. She shares of a recent encounter she had with a health provider that reminded her about the importance of what we do on a daily basis. Through dentistry and through relationships, we have the opportunity to be impactful. Today is a d...

Encore Performance: While disgruntled patients have always been a reality, they seem to be growing in number. The combination of massive social and economic changes has turned even some of the nicest patients into grumps. In this world-wide rise of grumpiness, the dental field certainly gets hit hard by the patients who are simply looking to fight. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss spe...

In a residual theme of “going deep”, Dr. Kuba and Bethany dig into a weighty and important topic today – medical emergencies. Together they reflect on several REAL scenarios that recently occurred in the dental field. They discuss the appropriate steps to take during an emergency in order to protect your patients, your practice, and yourself. In addition, they discuss preventive steps that can be...

Dr. Kuba spills the beans today. In complete vulnerability she discusses the recent opening (and closing) of her second location. She unpacks all of the emotions and thought that went into turning the page on this new and exciting venture in her life. At times, life throws curve balls your way, and you have to react, to pivot. Today’s episode focuses on the importance of pivoting and then fighting...

Bethany and Dr. Kuba take a more serious tone today as they address the very real hardships of leadership, management, and practice ownership. The bottom line is – it is extremely difficult. Struggling to successfully manage a dental practice and team is so challenging, in fact, that it can feel isolating…..like nobody truly understands the stresses of it all. The isolation can often lead to lonel...

So, what is all the buzz about AI? Dr. Kuba wants to know and puts Bethany on the spot for her take on AI. Together, they discuss what this new trend is and if it is truly something new and exciting. Bethany shares some of her client’s experiences with how they have incorporated AI into their practices and addresses the highlights and possibilities of implementation as well as her own personal res...

One of the most common questions that Bethany gets is, “When should I give a raise?” In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany unpack the mystery of salary and hourly increases. Their advice is to ensure that the team has a clear understanding of when and how often pay will be reevaluated. This clarity will prevent employees from asking for a raise, which seems to be every practice owner’s worst night...

Are you ever stuck in a situation in your practice where you wonder – is this happening elsewhere? Or am I the only one? Bethany gets the opportunity to field “real vs. not-real” questions from her clients all the time. She often helps them decipher if they are truly alone in their struggles or are struggling along with the rest of the dental community. In today’s episode, she tackles four recent...

So what is the big deal with patient retention? Dr. Kuba and Bethany dig into this topic today to discuss why this buzzword is so prominent amongst dentists and consultants alike. Bethany discusses multiple different ways to look at the category of retention and then describes why this number is a litmus test for health in most dental practices. This is definitely an episode you do not want to mis...

It’s all over the news. Impossible to miss, unfortunately. Dr. Kuba and Bethany grab their vomit bags and discuss this news story. This is every practice owner/team’s nightmare…..this kind of national story that brings scathing comments, negative reviews, and a dark cloud of despair, no doubt. Dr. Kuba asks the plaguing question – can dentists truly ever take a break? This is the fear that every p...

Are you watching the Olympics? Well, Bethany is. She admits that the only thing on her TV for the last week has been the Olympics. She draws inspiration from these athletes in today’s episode and challenges all listeners to harness the power of the Olympics. She reminds everyone of the importance of being dedicated to the profession of dentistry like the elite athletes are dedicated to their sport...

Today, we turn the tables and ask the question…..What if the leaders are failing? It is, no doubt, a question that has nagged at the back of some of our listener’s minds. It is a valid question, albeit uncomfortable, but valid. So, Dr. Kuba and Bethany tackle this topic in today’s episode. What choice does a team member have when their doctor or their manager seems to be the problem? What steps, i...

Closing the practice for a day, two, or five is an extremely difficult decision. Whether it is due to snow, a water leak, or a broken compressor, there are multiple factors when considering a practice closure. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss what to consider with patients during a practice closure. They remind listeners about the importance of clear communication with patients as wel...

Have you noticed the fragility of the human psyche? One harsh word can crumble someone’s confidence or inflame it. In the workplace, corrective feedback has become incredibly challenging. Leaders must delicately balance corrective conversations and often find themselves avoiding them all together. Dr. Kuba and Bethany tackle this topic in today’s episode.  📣January content available!!   If you wa...

It has been a while since Bethany and Dr. Kuba have tackled the ugly topic of insurance. They jump right into tough topics in their first 2026 episode together! Insurance ranks at the top of their list. After a recent incident with a parent who was frustrated about insurance coverage (or lack, thereof), the situation was brought to Dr. Kuba’s attention and ultimately to Bethany’s attention as well...

Meet Bethany’s husband! He gets put on the spot today to answer some burning questions. As a high school economics and government teacher, his insight into current economic trends is always a support for Bethany as she consults with her clients. Listeners get a small piece of this insight in today’s episode. He also reflects back on the history of Bethany Consulting and shares his top tips for den...