Next Level Practice

NextLevel Practice
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Overworked. Overwhelmed. And still not where you want to be? If you're a dental practice owner grinding 60+ hours a week, juggling patient care, team issues, and business chaos — this podcast is for you. Next Level Practice is the show where we don’t just talk about the business side of dentistry — we fix it. Hosted by Kelly Dahmer, CEO of Next Level Practice, each episode gives you battle-tested frameworks to stop doing it all and start building a dental business that thrives without you being in every room, every moment, every decision. You’ll learn how to: • Step into your dentist-CEO mindset • Build a high-performance team that actually takes ownership • Create systems that make your practice run without your constant oversight • Eliminate burnout while increasing profitability • Delegate, automate, and lead like the top 1% of practice owners Real strategies. Real case studies. No fluff. Visit nextlevelpractice.com for more information on scaling your practice.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Your Morning Huddle: The 10 Most Valuable Minutes in Dentistry

    You think your morning huddle is “just another meeting”—but the real issue? Skipping it is costing you production, morale, and leadership every single day.  👉 Book a free strategy call with Kelly: https://hubs.ly/Q03vy4k10 Learn how to transform your morning huddle into the heartbeat of your practice—one that boosts culture, accountability, and same-day treatment acceptance. In this episode of The NextLevel Practice Podcast, Kelly Dahmer shares why the morning huddle is the most underutilized leadership tool in dentistry—and exactly how to run it so your team shows up aligned, energized, and ready to win. From boosting case acceptance to igniting team ownership, this 10-minute reset is the simplest way to drive big results. ✅ Why skipping your huddle is costing you more than you think ✅ The 5-minute leadership reset that re-aligns your whole team ✅ What to say (and what not to say) to make huddles powerful, not painful ✅ How one practice raised same-day treatment acceptance from 30% to 57%—just by fixing their huddles ✅ The key elements of a “Gary Kadi style” huddle that build culture and profit 📍 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Pop Quiz 00:14 The Importance of the Morning Huddle 00:33 Podcast Introduction and Episode Overview 01:10 Why Skipping the Huddle Costs You 01:29 Key Elements of a Great Huddle 02:14 Common Huddle Mistakes and Solutions 03:17 Gary Katy's Huddle Blueprint 04:12 Real-Life Success Story 04:55 Conclusion and Call to Action 💙 Love this episode? Hit subscribe now for weekly conversations that help you master both the business and the human side of dentistry 📌 Links & Resources 👉 Book a free strategy call with Kelly: https://hubs.ly/Q03vy4k10 Website: https://nextlevelpractice.com/ #dentalleadership #MorningHuddle #practicegrowth #dentistrypodcast #caseacceptance #dentalteamculture

    6 min

  2. 15 AUG

    Why Dental Patient Communication is an Art—Not a Script

    You think patients are saying “no” because of cost—but the real issue? They’re not hearing you at all. 👉 Book a free strategy call with Kelly: https://hubs.ly/Q03vy4k10 Learn how to tailor your conversations so patients feel understood, trust you, and say “yes” with confidence. In this episode of The NextLevel Practice Podcast, Kelly Dahmer reveals the 4 Patient Personas—Humanist, Methodical, Competitive, and Spontaneous—and exactly how to spot and speak to each one. When you match your communication style to their decision style, case acceptance skyrockets—without scripts, discounts, or pressure. ✅ How to identify the 4 patient decision styles in minutes ✅ What each persona needs to hear before they commit ✅ Why the “one-size-fits-all” presentation is killing your case acceptance ✅ The communication shift that boosted one practice’s acceptance rate by 28% in 90 days ✅ How to use personas to improve both patient and team communication 📍 Chapters: 00:00 Why Money Isn’t the Real Case Acceptance Barrier 00:14 Introduction to the 4 Personas 00:39 The Humanist Persona—Connection Over Details 02:11 The Methodical Persona—Facts, Logic, and Structure 03:59 The Competitive Persona—Results and Efficiency 05:42 The Spontaneous Persona—Ease and Excitement 07:21 Using Personas to Improve Team Communication 09:12 Case Study: 28% Case Acceptance Increase Without Scripts 10:35 How to Apply Personas in Your Practice 11:40 Recap and Next Steps 💙 Love this episode? Subscribe now for weekly conversations that help you master both the business and the human side of dentistry: /  ⁨@nextlevelpracticedentistry⁩  📌 Links & Resources 👉 Book a free strategy call with Kelly: https://hubs.ly/Q03vy4k10 Website: https://nextlevelpractice.com/ #CaseAcceptance #DentalPracticeGrowth #PatientCommunication #DentistryPodcast

    9 min

  3. 31 JUL

    Your Dental Practice Is Packed—Why Is Your Value So Low?

    Your schedule’s full—but your valuation is falling flat. So what gives? 👉 Book a free strategy call with Kelly to find out exactly what’s holding your practice value back—and how to fix it fast. In this episode of The NextLevel Practice Podcast, Kelly Dahmer reveals why profitability, not production, is what buyers actually care about—and how you can raise your value without adding more patients (or burning out). You’ll learn: What serious buyers look for in your financials How to calculate and grow your true EBITDA The 3 fastest ways to boost profit: clean A/R, hygiene optimization, and case conversion How to plug common expense leaks—and turn costs into value Why most dentists are underpaying themselves (and hurting their valuation) 🧠 Don’t forget to use the Lost Revenue Locator Tool to uncover untapped revenue already inside your practice—free and easy to use. 📍 Chapters: 00:00 Debunking Practice Value Myths 00:13 Introduction to Practice Value Series 00:24 Understanding and Raising EBITDA 00:58 Key Financial Metrics Buyers Look For 01:29 Add Backs Explained 03:31 Assessing and Optimizing Expenses 06:31 Lost Revenue Locator Tool 10:32 Case Study: Dr. M's Success Story 11:43 Final Thoughts and Recap #DentalPracticeGrowth #DentalValuation #DentalEBITDA #DentalBusinessStrategy #NextLevelPractice #DentalProfitability

    13 min

  4. 15 JUL

    Practice Value 101: The 3 Drivers Behind What Your Practice Is Worth

    If someone walked into your office tomorrow and offered to buy your practice—would you know what to ask for? Most dentists don’t. In Part 1 of our 3-part series on Practice Value, Kelly Dahmer breaks down the biggest myth in dentistry: that production and collections determine your value. They don’t. In today’s market, it’s all about margin, systems, and EBITDA. What You’ll Learn: • Why production and collections don’t define your value • The 3 real drivers of practice value: profit, systems, and stability • What EBITDA actually means—and why it matters more than ever • How to build a practice that runs without you (and why buyers care) • Real-world case study: How one stressed-out dentist went from $4k/month to a $7M valuation This episode is packed with actionable insight whether you're ready to sell or just want more freedom down the road. Kelly also unpacks the emotional and strategic shifts dentists need to make to move from burned out owner to confident, cash-flow-positive leader—with or without a sale. You'll also hear about: ✓ What private buyers vs. group buyers are really looking for ✓ How to think about rollups, equity retention, and recap events ✓ Why “value” isn’t about how big your practice is, but how sustainable it is 🎧 Ready to know your number? Book a free Practice Value Review with Kelly: https://hubs.ly/Q03vy4k10 Be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for Part 2—where we walk through exactly how to clean up your numbers, add back value, and position your practice to win. 📝 Download the 90-Day Practice Sale Book: https://nextlevelpractice.com/the-90-day-practice-sale 🔗 More resources: https://nextlevelpractice.com/

    9 min

  5. 1 JUL

    Why Most Dental Practices Fail New Hires in 90 Days—And How to Fix It

    You hired a great team member…Now what? The first 90 days can make or break a new hire's success—and most practices are getting it wrong. Onboarding isn't paperwork; it's the culture blueprint. What You’ll Learn: • Why onboarding starts before day one • How to design a 90-day onboarding plan that boosts retention • The difference between "new" and "fresh" hires—and why it matters • How to use mentors, feedback loops, and performance tracking for long-term success • A plug-and-play roadmap to create confident, culture-fit team members Most practices stop leading once the contract is signed—but that's when real leadership begins. In this episode, Kelly Dahmer dives deep into why onboarding is not just a checklist but a cultural shift. With 46% of new hires failing within 18 months, it's not enough to hope your new team member "figures it out." Kelly shares the “Next Level” way to onboard: setting expectations early, assigning peer mentors, using role-specific onboarding checklists, and clarifying who to go to for what. You'll also learn how to structure 30-day reviews, how to support performance-based raises, and how to turn red flags into growth opportunities—or graceful exits. Perfect for dental practices, this episode gives you actionable steps to improve retention, morale, and productivity. Whether you're onboarding a dental assistant, office manager, or hygienist, these principles apply across your team. Subscribe for more hiring and culture strategies! Leave a review if today’s episode gave you a fresh perspective. 💼 Download the Fresh Hire Onboarding Guide here: https://hubs.li/Q03sK_RH0 🔗 Links & Resources: https://nextlevelpractice.com/

    17 min

  6. 17 JUN

    Hiring Isn’t Luck — It’s Leadership. Build Your Dental Dream Team with Strategy, Not Stress

    If you’re tired of hiring flops, high turnover, and ghosted interviews, this episode is your game plan. Discover a smarter, proven approach to dental recruiting that actually works. 🎯 Subscribe now! What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why most dental practices hire backwards (and how to fix it) The 4-step strategic hiring system to reduce turnover How to write job ads that filter, not attract the wrong candidates Layered interview tactics that reveal true fit When to hire slow and fire fast—and why it saves your culture Why Hope Isn’t a Hiring Strategy (But Systems Are) Posting on Indeed and crossing your fingers? That’s not a hiring plan—it’s wishful thinking. With nearly 58% of dental practices struggling to fill key roles, especially hygienists and admin staff, it’s time to ditch the reactive approach. In Episode 11, Kelly Dahmer shares the exact framework her clients use to hire for fit, not just fill a seat. You’ll learn why job ads should speak to values and impact—not just tasks—and how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to optimize visibility on job boards. From using detailed subject lines to test applicant attention, to implementing personality assessments and working interviews, this is a step-by-step guide for hiring smarter. Hiring isn’t about luck. It’s about leadership. This episode will help you build the team your culture deserves. 💬 Share this episode with a colleague who's hiring—or should be! 🎧 Subscribe for more practice-transforming insights. 🎯 Ready to Stop Hiring on Hope? Download our free sample job ad template that filters the wrong fits before they hit your inbox. Crafted for dental teams. Proven to work. 👉 Grab yours now: https://hubs.li/Q03nFVBL0 Website: https://nextlevelpractice.com/

    12 min

  7. 3 JUN

    Is Your Dental Practice Quietly Falling Apart? Here’s Why

    Struggling to hire and keep great dental team members? You're not alone. Discover why 62% of dentists call staffing their #1 issue. In this eye-opening episode, Kelly Dahmer, CEO of Next Level Practice, dives into the dental hiring crisis affecting practices nationwide. With staffing shortages, rising payroll costs, and high turnover disrupting patient care and profitability, it's more critical than ever to rethink your approach. Learn why hiring feels like filling a leaky bucket—and what you can do to stop the leaks. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why the “Great Resignation” and “Great Reshuffling” are still impacting your team • How poor hires and high turnover quietly destroy your practice's financial health • Proven ways to make your practice the ideal place to work • The direct and hidden costs of hiring mistakes—and how to avoid them • Why A-players leave when C-players stay • How to align your team with vision, values, and performance-based compensation • Three key steps to prepare for strategic hiring in a competitive market 🎯 Download the free Practice Expense Tracker to benchmark your staffing overhead: https://hubs.li/Q03nFX3j0  📅 Book a call with Kelly for personalized help: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ava-tallman/podcast-strategy-session-kelly-dahmer Website: https://nextlevelpractice.com/

    19 min

  8. 20 MAY

    How to Drop PPOs Without Losing Patients or Profit

    Ready to escape the insurance trap? Learn how to drop PPOs with strategy—not chaos. Subscribe now for real-world solutions! Is your biggest PPO silently draining your profits, your peace of mind, and even your patient relationships? In this powerful episode of the Next Level Practice Podcast, host Kelly Dahmer, CEO of Next Level Practice, reveals a clear, actionable plan to drop PPOs strategically—without losing your patients or your income. Learn how to conduct a PPO profitability audit, communicate changes with confidence, and implement in-house membership plans to retain patients. Plus, hear Natasha’s inspiring transformation from loss to growth after ditching the plans that weren’t serving her or her patients. If you’ve ever felt trapped by insurance contracts, this is your must-listen blueprint for building a fee-for-service future. 📞 Ready to assess your practice’s PPO plans? Schedule a call: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ava-tallman/podcast-strategy-session-kelly-dahmer  💬 If this gave you courage or clarity, share it with a colleague who needs to hear it! 🔗 Visit Next Level Practice: https://www.nextlevelpractice.com

    10 min
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About

Overworked. Overwhelmed. And still not where you want to be? If you're a dental practice owner grinding 60+ hours a week, juggling patient care, team issues, and business chaos — this podcast is for you. Next Level Practice is the show where we don’t just talk about the business side of dentistry — we fix it. Hosted by Kelly Dahmer, CEO of Next Level Practice, each episode gives you battle-tested frameworks to stop doing it all and start building a dental business that thrives without you being in every room, every moment, every decision. You’ll learn how to: • Step into your dentist-CEO mindset • Build a high-performance team that actually takes ownership • Create systems that make your practice run without your constant oversight • Eliminate burnout while increasing profitability • Delegate, automate, and lead like the top 1% of practice owners Real strategies. Real case studies. No fluff. Visit nextlevelpractice.com for more information on scaling your practice.

Information

  • Creator
    NextLevel Practice
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Next Level Practice

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