My Dental Playbook

Dr. Blake Hamblin & Gary Bird
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Business

Welcome to My Dental Playbook, the dental podcast where real growth meets real talk.Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin, a practicing dentist on the road to $10M, and Gary Bird, founder of SMC National, this show breaks down proven practice growth strategies, real-world dental entrepreneurship, and the dental practice management tactics that actually move the needle.Each episode dives into the playbook behind thriving practices: how to attract better patients, build a high-performing team, and scale without burning out. Whether you're just getting started or aiming for your next big milestone, you'll get tactical steps from leaders who’ve lived it.If you're ready to grow your practice with smarter marketing, clearer systems, and a team that wins - subscribe now and start building your own playbook for success.🎙 New episodes every Thursday. Support the Channel:→ Subscribe + hit the bell → Drop a like  if this helped→ Comment below — We reply to (almost) everything  Contact Us: https://mydentalplaybook.com/

  1. 6d ago

    064 Are You Growing Your Practice or Just Your Schedule?

    📥 Free Resource: https://go.mydentalplaybook.com/resources/practice-growth-bottleneck-worksheet  📥Download the Master Growth Playbook every dentist should own: http://mydentalplaybook.com/growth 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://hubs.la/Q04mc4V_0 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/496YYLb 🚀What are top-performing dentists doing differently? Find out inside the mastermind:  https://shorturl.at/AenIt ➖➖➖➖ Dentists are trained to master clinical dentistry, but building a great dental practice requires a completely different set of business skills. In this episode, Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird challenge the idea that dentistry is different from every other business, and explain why focusing on the right problems can determine whether you build a real business or simply create yourself a job. 🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode: 📌 Separate clinical skills from the business systems 📌 Identify the single limiting factor holding your dental practice back 📌 Use first-principles thinking to remove unnecessary roles, steps, and noise 📌 Shift from growing your schedule to growing the entire practice 📌 Maintain high standards while moving from the chair into leadership and scaling Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, sharing real strategies from real practices, backed by data from 1,195+ dental offices. Subscribe for weekly playbooks that help dentists grow faster, lead better, and build a practice they love. What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction and overview of building a $10 million practice 02:05 The importance of systems, culture, and follow-up 06:54 The role of marketing and communication 08:10 Handling patient experience and reputation 09:02 The complexity of business versus clinical dentistry 10:34 Lessons from Elon Musk and building multiple businesses 13:06 Applying first principles to business challenges 14:10 Focusing on the limiting factor and solving problems 15:30 Balancing clinical excellence with business leadership 17:29 Debunking myths about marketing and patient financing 19:00 The simplicity of buying and selling practices 21:10 Focusing on what truly matters in business 🎧 Listen on: Apple: http://bit.ly/4mvFu8g Spotify: http://bit.ly/3Ugtnjc 🎯Support the Channel: → Follow + hit the bell 🔔 → Give us 5 stars ⭐ if this episode helped 🚀 Ready to grow your practice? Book a free strategy call with Gary Bird's team → https://bit.ly/3IXIN9D 🙌 About the Show: My Dental Playbook gives you real strategies to grow your dental practice from a dentist who's actually doing it! We cover everything: financially, operationally, mindset and clinically. Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, each episode delivers a new play you can run to get results with your team. ⬇️HOSTS INFO⬇️ 🧑🏼‍⚕️Dr. Blake Hamblin:  Doctor/Practice Owner at Hamblin Family Dentistry 🌐Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blake.hamblin 🐐Gary Bird: Founding Owner at SMC National, a Dental Growth Partner 🌐Website: https://thegarybird.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegarybird #DentalMarketing #DentalPodcast #PracticeGrowth #MyDentalPlaybook

  2. Oct 22

    063 The $500 Bonus That Builds Leaders

    📥 Free Resource: https://go.mydentalplaybook.com/resources/dental-team-training-bonus-planner 📥Download the Master Growth Playbook every dentist should own: http://mydentalplaybook.com/growth 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://hubs.la/Q04mc4V_0 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/496YYLb 🚀The mastermind fills fast - apply now and start scaling with confidence: https://shorturl.at/AenIt ➖➖➖➖ Bonus systems can either turn your dental team into a growth engine or quietly drain your money and motivation. In this episode, Gary Bird and Dr. Blake Hamblin break down the incentive mistakes Blake has made and the bonus strategy he uses to develop people, improve performance, and build future leaders. 🔍What you’ll learn in this episode: 📌Use bonuses to reward team members for developing others 📌Build 30-90 day beta bonus plans before making long-term commitments 📌Create measurable incentive tiers using treatment and patient acceptance 📌Turn high performers into mentors without pulling them out of their strongest roles 📌Replace all-or-nothing goals with progressive targets that reward continued practice growth Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, sharing real strategies from real practices, backed by data from 1,195+ dental offices. Subscribe for weekly playbooks that help dentists grow faster, lead better, and build a practice they love. What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction to Bonus Strategies in Dental Practices 03:39 The Philosophy Behind Incentives and Long-Term Growth 05:07 Common Mistakes in Bonus Structures and How to Avoid Them 06:33 Using Bonuses to Develop Leadership and Support Team Growth 10:05 Training and Incentivizing Staff to Improve KPIs 12:08 Adapting Bonus Plans for Different Roles and Departments 14:07 Practical Steps for Fixing Underperforming Departments 15:21 Creating a Culture of Support and Development 18:50 Innovative Incentive Ideas for High Performers 21:15 Structuring Bonuses as Experiments and Iterations 22:07 Long-Term Incentives and Building Future Leaders 🎧 Listen on: Apple: https://bit.ly/4mvFu8g Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Ugtnjc 🎯Support the Channel: → Follow + hit the bell 🔔 → Give us 5 stars ⭐ if this episode helped 🚀 Ready to grow your practice? Book a free strategy call with Gary Bird's team → https://bit.ly/3IXIN9D 🙌 About the Show: My Dental Playbook gives you real strategies to grow your dental practice from a dentist who's actually doing it! We cover everything: financially, operationally, mindset and clinically. Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, each episode delivers a new play you can run to get results with your team. ⬇️HOSTS INFO⬇️ 🧑🏼‍⚕️Dr. Blake Hamblin:  Doctor/Practice Owner at Hamblin Family Dentistry 🌐Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blake.hamblin 🐐Gary Bird: Founding Owner at SMC National, a Dental Growth Partner 🌐Website: https://thegarybird.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegarybird #DentalMarketing #DentalPodcast #PracticeGrowth #MyDentalPlaybook

  3. Oct 15

    062 5 Traits That Make Associates Stand Out

    📥Download the Master Growth Playbook every dentist should own: http://mydentalplaybook.com/growth 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://hubs.la/Q04mc4V_0 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/496YYLb 🚀What are top-performing dentists doing differently? Find out inside the mastermind:  https://shorturl.at/AenIt ➖➖➖➖ A great associate can accelerate practice growth, but the wrong hire can create patient-relationship problems, culture issues, and a costly bottleneck. In this episode, Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird reveal the five traits that separate strong associate candidates from doctors who simply look good on paper. 🔍What you’ll learn in this episode: 📌 Identify the 5 traits that signal a growth-minded associate 📌 The characteristics to evaluate during interviews 📌 Ask opportunity-focused questions that uncover patient-volume and growth potential 📌 Use communication principles from treatment acceptance to make better hiring decisions 📌 Build stronger patient relationships with simple “cheat sheets” Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, sharing real strategies from real practices, backed by data from 1,195+ dental offices. What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction to hiring associates and episode overview 03:28 The importance of energy and enthusiasm in candidates 06:04 Questions to ask to uncover candidate motivation and growth mindset 09:36 Confidence, honesty, and not needing to prove oneself 12:16 The significance of appearance and professional presentation 14:39 Connecting through relatability and shared interests 17:00 Observant and curious approach to candidate evaluation 18:14 The role of leadership qualities in hiring 🎧 Listen on: Apple: http://bit.ly/4mvFu8g Spotify: http://bit.ly/3Ugtnjc 🎯Support the Channel: → Follow + hit the bell 🔔 → Give us 5 stars ⭐ if this episode helped 🚀 Ready to grow your practice? Book a free strategy call with Gary Bird's team → https://bit.ly/3IXIN9D 🙌 About the Show: My Dental Playbook gives you real strategies to grow your dental practice from a dentist who's actually doing it! We cover everything: financially, operationally, mindset and clinically. Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, each episode delivers a new play you can run to get results with your team. ⬇️HOSTS INFO⬇️ 🧑🏼‍⚕️Dr. Blake Hamblin:  Doctor/Practice Owner at Hamblin Family Dentistry 🌐Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blake.hamblin 🐐Gary Bird: Founding Owner at SMC National, a Dental Growth Partner 🌐Website: https://thegarybird.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegarybird #DentalMarketing #DentalPodcast #PracticeGrowth #MyDentalPlaybook

  4. Oct 8

    061 OON vs FFS: Structuring Your Hygiene Department

    ▶️ Full 5-part Hygiene Crisis series playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc5Ru9aNk5_M 📥 Free Resource 1: https://mydentalplaybook.com/courses/ce-series/patient-financing/ 📥 Free Resource 2: https://go.mydentalplaybook.com/resources/three-models-one-standard 📥 Free Resource 3: http://go.mydentalplaybook.com/resources/hygiene-reappointment-script-card 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/496YYLb ➖➖➖➖ Can a hygiene department still be profitable in 2026? Between rising wages, staffing shortages, PPO reimbursement pressure, and growing overhead, many practice owners believe the hygiene model is broken. But what if the real problem isn't hygiene... It's how your practice is designed? In this episode, Dr. Blake Hamblin, Dr. Andrew Vallo, Dr. Collin Myrick, and Gary Bird compare three completely different practice models, including fee-for-service, PPO, multi-location, and rural practices, to reveal the systems they use to build productive hygiene departments that fuel long-term growth. Whether you're struggling to hire hygienists, wondering how much to pay, trying to improve retention, or debating whether hygiene should even be profitable, this conversation will challenge what you've been told and give you practical strategies you can implement immediately. 🔍In this episode, you'll learn: 📌 Should hygiene be a profit center or a patient acquisition strategy? 📌 The KPI that predicts long-term practice growth better than almost any other metric 📌 Why some practices hire hygienists before they actually need them 📌 How top-performing practices structure hygienist compensation and bonus plans 📌 The biggest mistakes owners make with hygiene scheduling and retention 📌 Why reappointment rate may be more valuable than new patient volume 📌 How three successful practices use completely different business models to grow 📌 The systems that help practices keep hygienists engaged while improving production If you're frustrated by rising payroll, empty hygiene schedules, or declining profitability, this episode will help you rethink what's possible. 🎙️ Dr. Andrew Vallo's Podcast: Check out Dr. Vallo's podcast for more practice growth strategies. 👉  https://dentalunfilteredpodcast.com/ This is Episode 5 of 5 in the Hygiene Crisis series. Watch the complete series in order here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc5Ru9aNk5_M Episode order: The State of the Hygiene Market / Recruiting / Onboarding and KPIs / Pay and Compensation / PPO vs. Fee-for-Service ⬇️GUESTS INFO⬇️ Dr. Andrew Vallo:  CEO/Founder at Starlight Dental Management Website: https://starlightdentaloffices.com/ Dr. Collin Myrick:  Dentist/Owner of DFS Dental Website: https://defuniakspringsfamilydental.com/ What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction and overview of practice models 04:00 Dr. Blake's perspective on hygiene in 2026 05:05 Andrew Vallo on managing hygiene across multiple practices 07:50 Hygiene as a volume game and loss leader 08:18 Dr. Collin Myrick on his practice size and model 11:15 The importance of patient education and insurance barriers 12:46 The success of different practice models in hygiene management 15:27 Strategies to make hygiene work: compensation and incentives 20:11 Current hygiene strategies and future improvements 22:30 KPIs and team incentives for hygiene success 25:30 Advice for single or small practices on hygiene models 30:23 Final thoughts on hygiene and active patient count 38:37 Leadership and autonomy in dental hygiene teams 🎧 Listen on: Apple: https://bit.ly/4mvFu8g Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Ugtnjc  🎯Support the Channel: → Follow + hit the bell 🔔 → Give us 5 stars ⭐ if this episode helped 🚀 Ready to grow your practice? Book a free strategy call with Gary Bird's team → https://bit.ly/3IXIN9D 🙌 About the Show: My Dental Playbook gives you real strategies to grow your dental practice from a dentist who's actually doing it! We cover everything: financially, operationally, mindset and clinically. Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, each episode delivers a new play you can run to get results with your team. ⬇️HOSTS INFO⬇️ 🧑🏼‍⚕️Dr. Blake Hamblin:  Doctor/Practice Owner at Hamblin Family Dentistry 🌐Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blake.hamblin 🐐Gary Bird: Founding Owner at SMC National, a Dental Growth Partner 🌐Website: https://thegarybird.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegarybird #DentalMarketing #DentalPodcast #PracticeGrowth #MyDentalPlaybook

  5. Oct 1

    060 Hygiene Compensation: Bonusing Your Way to Growth

    ▶️ Full 5-part Hygiene Crisis series playlist:  Hygiene Crisis Series: Build, Recruit, Compensate, and Retain a High-Performing Hygiene Team 📥 Free Resource: https://go.mydentalplaybook.com/resources/hygiene-compensation-guide ➖➖➖➖ Finding and keeping great hygienists is harder than ever, but paying a higher hourly rate isn't the answer. In this episode, Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird reveal the compensation system that helps hygienists earn up to $80–85/hour while improving retention, increasing collections, and supporting long-term practice growth. If you're tired of turnover, rising payroll costs, or struggling to build a productive hygiene department, this episode is for you. 🔍What you’ll learn in this episode: 📌Discover the performance-based compensation model that aligns incentives for patients, hygienists, and practice owners. 📌Learn the 3.0–3.3× productivity benchmark every hygienist should achieve to support healthy collections. 📌Build flexible schedules that improve hiring and retention. 📌Use bonuses, benefits, 401(k), and health insurance to reduce costly staff turnover. 📌Increase treatment acceptance by helping hygienists educate patients with microscopes, X-rays, and better communication. This is Episode 4 of 5 in the Hygiene Crisis series. Watch the complete series in order here:  Hygiene Crisis Series: Build, Recruit, Compensate, and Retain a High-Performing Hygiene Team Episode order: The State of the Hygiene Market / Recruiting / Onboarding and KPIs / Pay and Compensation / PPO vs. Fee-for-Service Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, sharing real strategies from real practices, backed by data from 1,195+ dental offices. Whether you're focused on dental marketing, practice growth, hiring, PPO profitability, fee-for-service dentistry, or building a scalable practice, these playbooks are built for today's practice owner. Subscribe for weekly playbooks that help dentists grow faster, lead better, and build a practice they love. What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction and the Hygiene Crisis 04:33 Compensation Structures for Hygienists 10:38 The Importance of Benefits and Retention 14:05 Bonuses and Performance Metrics 16:01 Enhancing Patient Care through Hygienist Engagement 20:53 Flexible Scheduling for Hygienists 25:15 Conclusion and Key Takeaways 🎧 Listen on: Apple: http://bit.ly/4mvFu8g Spotify: http://bit.ly/3Ugtnjc   🎯Support the Channel: → Follow + hit the bell 🔔 → Give us 5 stars ⭐ if this episode helped 🚀 Ready to grow your practice? Book a free strategy call with Gary Bird's team → https://bit.ly/3IXIN9D 🙌 About the Show: My Dental Playbook gives you real strategies to grow your dental practice from a dentist who's actually doing it! We cover everything: financially, operationally, mindset and clinically. Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, each episode delivers a new play you can run to get results with your team. ⬇️HOSTS INFO⬇️ 🧑🏼‍⚕️Dr. Blake Hamblin:  Doctor/Practice Owner at Hamblin Family Dentistry 🌐Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blake.hamblin 🐐Gary Bird: Founding Owner at SMC National, a Dental Growth Partner 🌐Website: https://thegarybird.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegarybird #DentalMarketing #DentalPodcast #PracticeGrowth #MyDentalPlaybook

  6. Sep 24

    059 The Hygiene Onboarding System That Retains 95%

    ▶️ Full 5-part Hygiene Crisis series playlist: The Hygiene Crisis Series: Build, Recruit, Compensate, and Retain a High-Performing Hygiene Team 📥 Free Resource: https://go.mydentalplaybook.com/resources/hygiene-onboarding-playbook ➖➖➖➖ Your hygienists don't become top performers by chance; they need the right systems, coaching, and accountability. In this episode, Gary Bird, Dr. Blake Hamblin, and lead hygienist Autumn Bretscher reveal the exact onboarding and KPI framework that helps their team consistently deliver better patient care, stronger treatment acceptance, and long-term practice growth. 🔍What you'll learn in this episode: 📌Build a structured onboarding system that prepares new hygienists for long-term success. 📌Track the KPIs that matter most, including 90–95% reappointment rates, fluoride acceptance, and laser treatment goals. 📌Implement the Triangle System to improve communication between the hygienist, doctor, and patient. 📌Coach hygienists through role-playing, scorecards, and real-time feedback instead of guesswork. 📌Create ethical bonus systems that increase collections, improve patient care, and strengthen your fee-for-service practice. This is Episode 3 of 5 in the Hygiene Crisis series. Watch the complete series in order here: The Hygiene Crisis Series: Build, Recruit, Compensate, and Retain a High-Performing Hygiene Team Episode order: The State of the Hygiene Market / Recruiting / Onboarding and KPIs / Pay and Compensation / PPO vs. Fee-for-Service Hosted by Gary Bird and Dr. Blake Hamblin, with lead hygienist Autumn Bretscher, sharing real strategies from real practices, backed by data from 1,195+ dental offices. Whether you're focused on dental marketing, hiring, PPO optimization, collections, or practice growth, this episode delivers proven systems you can implement immediately. Subscribe for weekly playbooks that help dentists grow faster, lead better, and build a practice they love. What We Discuss: 00:00 Overview of the topics: onboarding, soft skills, KPIs, bonuses 04:35 The onboarding process for new hygienists 05:46 Managing high patient volume with efficient appointment flow 07:50 Handling deep cleaning discussions and patient expectations 08:55 The triangle system for patient handoff and communication 11:53 Role-playing and training for new hygienists 14:00 Soft skills: attitude, coachability, growth mindset, and ethics 19:50 Measuring hard skills: KPIs like reappointment rate and fluoride acceptance 23:28 Presentation of fluoride and vitamin treatments to patients 26:05 Use of lasers and microscopes in hygiene treatments 27:49 Bonus systems based on performance and ethics ⬇️GUEST INFO⬇️ Autumn Bretscher: Lead Hygienist at Hamblin Family Dentistry Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 🎧 Listen on: Apple: https://bit.ly/4mvFu8g Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Ugtnjc 🎯Support the Channel: → Follow + hit the bell 🔔 → Give us 5 stars ⭐ if this episode helped 🚀 Ready to grow your practice? Book a free strategy call with Gary Bird's team → https://bit.ly/3IXIN9D 🙌 About the Show: My Dental Playbook gives you real strategies to grow your dental practice from a dentist who's actually doing it! We cover everything: financially, operationally, mindset and clinically. Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, each episode delivers a new play you can run to get results with your team. ⬇️HOSTS INFO⬇️ 🧑🏼‍⚕️Dr. Blake Hamblin:  Doctor/Practice Owner at Hamblin Family Dentistry 🌐Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blake.hamblin 🐐Gary Bird: Founding Owner at SMC National, a Dental Growth Partner 🌐Website: https://thegarybird.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegarybird #DentalMarketing #DentalPodcast #PracticeGrowth #MyDentalPlaybook

  7. Sep 17

    058 Recruiting Hygienists with a $0 Budget

    ▶️ Full 5-part Hygiene Crisis series playlist: The Hygiene Crisis Series: Build, Recruit, Compensate, and Retain a High-Performing Hygiene Team  📥 Free Resource: https://go.mydentalplaybook.com/resources/hygienist-recruiting-ad-template ➖➖➖➖  If you're struggling to hire hygienists, offering a higher hourly wage probably isn't the solution. In this episode, Gary Bird sits down with recruiting and operations leader Paige Mosquella to reveal why the best dental practices attract great hygienists without relying on expensive recruiting or bidding wars. Learn the mindset shift that can transform your hiring strategy and support long-term practice growth. 🔍What you’ll learn in this episode: 📌 Discover the PPP Hiring Framework (Pain, Paradise, Process) that makes job ads stand out. 📌 Build a continuous pipeline of hygienists using free recruiting platforms like Indeed and Facebook Groups. 📌 Create flexible scheduling systems that improve hiring and retention without sacrificing standards. 📌 Refresh recruiting ads consistently to attract new candidates instead of relying on one-time postings. 📌 Strengthen your employer brand through culture, Google reviews, and a modern practice experience to win top talent. This is Episode 2 of 5 in the Hygiene Crisis series. Watch the complete series in order here: The Hygiene Crisis Series: Build, Recruit, Compensate, and Retain a High-Performing Hygiene Team Episode order: The State of the Hygiene Market / Recruiting / Onboarding and KPIs / Pay and Compensation / PPO vs. Fee-for-Service Hosted by Gary Bird, a dental marketing expert, and featuring recruiting leader Paige Mosquella, this episode shares proven hiring strategies used by successful dental practices. Backed by insights from more than 1,195 dental offices, you'll learn practical systems that support hiring, practice growth, collections, fee-for-service success, and long-term scalability. Subscribe for weekly playbooks that help dentists grow faster, lead better, and build a practice they love. What we discuss: 00:00 Introduction and guest background 03:21 The importance of continuous posting and ad refreshment 05:02 The significance of refreshing creative content 05:31 Using free tools like Indeed and Facebook groups 07:45 The PPP framework: Pain, Paradise, Process 09:21 Addressing hygienists' need for flexibility 11:00 Flexible scheduling and work-life balance 13:00 The power of culture, reviews, and modern facilities 13:45 Process: Focusing on Standards and Training 15:18 Leading with benefits, not just pay ⬇️GUEST INFO⬇️ Paige Mosquella: Hygienist/Recruiter & Operations Leader at Hamblin Family Dentistry Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 🎧 Listen on: Apple: http://bit.ly/4mvFu8g Spotify: http://bit.ly/3Ugtnjc 🎯Support the Channel: → Follow + hit the bell 🔔 → Give us 5 stars ⭐ if this episode helped 🚀 Ready to grow your practice? Book a free strategy call with Gary Bird's team → https://bit.ly/3IXIN9D 🙌 About the Show: My Dental Playbook gives you real strategies to grow your dental practice from a dentist who's actually doing it! We cover everything: financially, operationally, mindset and clinically. Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, each episode delivers a new play you can run to get results with your team. ⬇️HOSTS INFO⬇️ 🧑🏼‍⚕️Dr. Blake Hamblin:  Doctor/Practice Owner at Hamblin Family Dentistry 🌐Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blake.hamblin 🐐Gary Bird: Founding Owner at SMC National, a Dental Growth Partner 🌐Website: https://thegarybird.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegarybird #DentalMarketing #DentalPodcast #PracticeGrowth #MyDentalPlaybook

  8. Sep 10

    057 Is Your Hygienist Holding Your Practice Hostage?

    ▶️ Full 5-part Hygiene Crisis series playlist: The Hygiene Crisis Series: Build, Recruit, Compensate, and Retain a High-Performing Hygiene Team 📥 Free Resource: https://go.mydentalplaybook.com/resources/hygiene-crisis-readiness-checklist ➖➖➖➖ The hygiene crisis is not coming, it is already here, and most dental practices are completely unprepared for what happens next. If you are paying a hygienist $80 an hour while insurance reimburses $12 for a cleaning, the math is not broken, it was never going to work. Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird break down exactly why the shortfall is getting worse, and the full system to stop getting held hostage by your own hygiene department. 🔍What you’ll learn in this episode: 📌Discover why in-network hygiene math is destroying practice profitability and what to do instead 📌Learn how Dr. Blake scaled from 2 to 6 hygienists using a redundancy strategy that eliminated bad hiring decisions 📌Build a flexible shift schedule that attracts top hygiene talent without competing on hourly rate alone 📌Implement the KPI scoreboard system that tells your team whether they are winning or losing without you having to say a word 📌Increase hygiene revenue by moving active patients from 2 visits per year to 3 using a co-diagnosis framework This is Episode 1 of 5 in the Hygiene Crisis series. Watch the complete series in order here:  The Hygiene Crisis Series: Build, Recruit, Compensate, and Retain a High-Performing Hygiene Team Episode order: The State of the Hygiene Market / Recruiting / Onboarding and KPIs / Pay and Compensation / PPO vs. Fee-for-Service Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird sharing real strategies from real practices, backed by data from 1,195+ dental offices. Subscribe for weekly playbooks that help dentists grow faster, lead better, and build a practice they love. What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction to the Hygiene Market Breakdown 03:46 Amazing opportunity: Looking for 4 Dentists 06:10 The Shortfall of Hygienists and Its Impact 08:58 The Role of Hygienists in Patient Retention 11:30 The Challenges of Using Temporary Hygienists 17:48 Leadership and Culture in Dental Practices 24:34 Navigating Insurance: Out of Network vs. PPO 27:48 Always Be Hiring: Onboarding and Retention Strategies 🎧 Listen on: Apple: https://bit.ly/4mvFu8g Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Ugtnjc 🎯Support the Channel: → Follow + hit the bell 🔔 → Give us 5 stars ⭐ if this episode helped 🚀 Ready to grow your practice? Book a free strategy call with Gary Bird's team → https://bit.ly/3IXIN9D 🙌 About the Show: My Dental Playbook gives you real strategies to grow your dental practice from a dentist who's actually doing it! We cover everything: financially, operationally, mindset and clinically. Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin and Gary Bird, each episode delivers a new play you can run to get results with your team. ⬇️HOSTS INFO⬇️ 🧑🏼‍⚕️Dr. Blake Hamblin:  Doctor/Practice Owner at Hamblin Family Dentistry 🌐Website: https://hamblinfamilydentistry.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blake.hamblin 🐐Gary Bird: Founding Owner at SMC National, a Dental Growth Partner 🌐Website: https://thegarybird.com/ 👋Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegarybird #DentalMarketing #DentalPodcast #PracticeGrowth #MyDentalPlaybook

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About

Welcome to My Dental Playbook, the dental podcast where real growth meets real talk.Hosted by Dr. Blake Hamblin, a practicing dentist on the road to $10M, and Gary Bird, founder of SMC National, this show breaks down proven practice growth strategies, real-world dental entrepreneurship, and the dental practice management tactics that actually move the needle.Each episode dives into the playbook behind thriving practices: how to attract better patients, build a high-performing team, and scale without burning out. Whether you're just getting started or aiming for your next big milestone, you'll get tactical steps from leaders who’ve lived it.If you're ready to grow your practice with smarter marketing, clearer systems, and a team that wins - subscribe now and start building your own playbook for success.🎙 New episodes every Thursday. Support the Channel:→ Subscribe + hit the bell → Drop a like  if this helped→ Comment below — We reply to (almost) everything  Contact Us: https://mydentalplaybook.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Blake Hamblin & Gary Bird
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © 2025 My Dental Playbook
  • Show Website
    My Dental Playbook

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