Posts by Ed Gabriel
The Hidden Costs That Reduce Dental Practice Profitability and How to Identify Them Early
Dental practices often operate with tight margins, especially as labor costs rise, insurance reimbursement pressures grow, and operational demands increase. While many owners focus on production and collections, the real threats to profitability are often less visible. Hidden costs—small, gradual, and easily overlooked—can erode margins long before they show up in annual financial statements. Understanding how these costs develop,…
Read MoreDelta Dental Changes in 2026 That Will Affect Your Practice
Delta Dental has announced a significant change coming at the end of 2026: the elimination of insurance payments by check. While this may sound like a simple administrative update, the downstream impact on dental practices could be meaningful, particularly when it comes to costs, cash flow visibility, and embezzlement risk. This topic has been thoughtfully…
Read MoreHow Rising Staffing Costs Are Reshaping Dental Practice Finances in 2026
The dental industry continues to face persistent staffing challenges, and 2026 is shaping up to be another year where labor costs significantly influence practice performance. Hygienists, assistants, and front-office team members remain in high demand, and competitive hiring pressures are driving wages upward across the country. For many practices, staffing represents their single largest expense category—and increases in labor…
Read MoreHow to Use Financial KPIs to Improve Case Acceptance and Production in Your Practice
A new year often brings renewed focus for dental practices: refining systems, improving efficiency, and strengthening the connection between clinical activity and financial performance. One of the most effective ways to achieve these goals is by tracking and understanding financial KPIs—key performance indicators that reveal how well your practice converts opportunities into production and revenue. Dentists are…
Read MoreWhat 2026 Tax Changes Could Mean for Dental Practice Owners
As 2025 draws to a close, dentists across the country are preparing for a wave of potential tax changes that could meaningfully impact practice profitability in 2026. While not all updates are finalized, the IRS has already signaled several areas of focus that practice owners should watch closely. For many dental professionals, understanding these shifts in advance…
Read MoreHow AI-Driven Dental Models Are Reshaping Patient Expectations — And What Practice Owners Should Prepare For
The dental industry is entering a pivotal shift. As consumer expectations evolve and AI-powered dental startups enter the market, traditional practices are facing new opportunities—and new pressures. One of the most talked-about examples is Wally, a subscription-based, AI-driven dental care model gaining traction among freelancers, gig workers, and uninsured or underinsured patients. While subscription dentistry…
Read MoreAvoiding the Lending Wall: What Dentists Need to Know Before Expanding to Multiple Locations
Expanding from one dental practice to two or three can be one of the most exciting — and financially challenging — transitions in a dentist’s career. Growth brings opportunity, but it also brings a new level of financial scrutiny. Dentists adding locations need to ask their banker what their options will be down the road.…
Read MoreHow Dentists and Business Owners Can Save Taxes by Hiring Their Children
Hiring your children to work in your dental practice or small business can be a smart and fully legal tax-saving strategy—when done right. Not only does it teach valuable life and financial skills, but it can also shift income into lower tax brackets, avoid payroll taxes in some cases, and keep more wealth within your…
Read MoreFeatured Resource Spotlight: Rick Ball of Summit Handpiece Express
When DrillDown Solution President Ed Gabriel recommends a professional, you know it’s someone worth your attention. One of Ed’s trusted contacts, Rick Ball, is a valued Backstage Member and the owner of Summit Handpiece Express—a family-run business dedicated to helping dentists save money and reduce downtime through reliable handpiece repair and rebuilds. By extending the…
Read MoreFeatured Resource Spotlight: Kirk Teachout and the Seven Figure Dentist Program
When DrillDown Solution President Ed Gabriel discovers a voice worth amplifying, it’s because that voice can make a real difference for dental professionals. At the recent Dental Festival, Ed connected with Kirk Teachout—a business coach, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author. Kirk is the creator of the Seven Figure Dentist Program through IV Quarter Coaching, a…
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