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Broke Patients and Bold Choices: What Every Startup Dentist Needs to Know About Money Conversations

 

 

Broke Patients and Bold Choices: What Every Startup Dentist Needs to Know About Money Conversations
Let’s talk about something a lot of dentists avoid: money.

Specifically, what happens when your patients can’t pay.

It’s uncomfortable, sure. But if you’re preparing to open your own practice, you need a real strategy for how to handle financial conversations—especially when you’re trying to serve people well without compromising your business.

This episode of the Ideal Practices Podcast gets right into the heart of it.

Serving Patients Well Doesn’t Mean Serving Everyone

It might sound harsh, but here’s the truth: not every patient is right for your startup. That doesn’t mean you stop caring. It means you lead with strategy, clarity, and service—not guilt.

Inside the episode, we cover:

  • When “broke patients” are hurting your practice more than helping

  • Why giving away free dentistry isn’t always the answer—and when it actually is

  • The myth of “Cash is King” and what really matters in your collections strategy

  • How to serve your best-fit patients better, without draining your time or energy

  • How to build a business that supports people and profits—without the guilt

This isn’t about being greedy. It’s about creating a practice that has the margin to give generously… because it’s structured to thrive.

Make a Bigger Impact—With Boundaries

When you’ve got the right systems and strategy in place, you can lead from a place of generosity, not scarcity. That’s what allows you to make a lasting impact—not just on teeth, but on lives.

Want to take this further?

Here’s how to make sure your financial systems and patient model support the practice you’re building:

You don’t have to choose between being a good doctor and a smart business owner.

With the right plan, you can be both.

– Stephen Trutter