Creating a Healthier Dental Practice

Creating and maintaining a healthy dental practice takes effort on multiple fronts. It’s not the responsibility of one person alone, it requires shared commitment from the entire team.

In this article, we’ll focus on two essential dimensions of a healthy practice: business health and mental health.

Business Health: Building Success Together

During a recent visit to a small dental clinic in Western Australia, I observed a simple but powerful team ritual. In the staff room, a whiteboard displayed daily financial goals for the month, each day marked with a number and, often, a smiley face.

Curious, I asked the practice owner if this system placed pressure on the team.

To my surprise, he said, “It’s the team who put the numbers up, not me.”

The smiley faces weren’t arbitrary – they were a celebration. When daily goals were met, the team would mark the day and celebrate. At the end of each month, they’d go out together to recognise their collective success. They weren’t just working in the business, they felt like co-creators of its success.

This kind of ownership is vital. When people feel their actions have a direct impact on outcomes, they’re more engaged and solutions-focused – especially when times get tough.

One way to maintain this focus is by running quarterly numbers meetings. These meetings allow the team to reflect on their contributions, customer service outcomes, and even the small, human gestures – like placing a reassuring hand on an anxious patient’s shoulder – that improve care and grow trust.

Mental Health: A Healthy Team Means a Healthy Practice

Business health alone isn’t enough – mental wellbeing is equally important.

Burnout, stress, and disengagement are early warning signs that something is off in your practice culture. Here are some common indicators that your team may be under strain:

• Frequent or uncharacteristic mistakes

• A “just doing the job” attitude

• Rising gossip or interpersonal friction

• Withdrawal from optional tasks

• Decreased morale or positivity

• Team members arriving late

• Leaders cancelling meetings due to being too busy

  
  

If you’re seeing these signs, don’t panic, but do act. Most of the time, the solution begins with good communication.

Ask yourself:

• Are team members encouraged to speak up about stress?

• Do they feel psychologically safe doing so?

• Is your practice vision clear and consistently shared?

• Are staff empowered to make meaningful decisions?

• Are you having regular one-on-one chats with team members?

These might sound like time-consuming leadership tasks, but burnout costs far more. When your team is thriving, so is your practice.

For inspiration, this Lifehack article offers ideas for creating workplaces where people feel they truly belong.

Creating a Culture of Openness

Beyond team meetings and performance reviews, one of the most powerful things a practice owner or manager can do is foster a culture of psychological safety. This means creating an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing concerns, proposing ideas, and admitting mistakes without fear of criticism or judgment. When staff feel safe to speak up, they’re more likely to take initiative, collaborate effectively, and bring their whole selves to work. It starts with small, intentional behaviours – like listening without interrupting, following up on feedback, and showing appreciation publicly. Over time, these behaviours build trust and loyalty, which are critical ingredients in any healthy, high-performing dental team.

Final Thought

Creating a healthier dental practice isn’t about a single initiative. It’s about consistency – in financial focus, team engagement, emotional wellbeing, and leadership.

Celebrate progress, communicate often, empower your team, and keep the bigger picture in sight.

Here’s to building a practice that’s as healthy and happy as the patients you serve.