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Good Morning.

You can be at the top of your game clinically.
Board-certified. Fellowship-trained. 27 years in.

But if your front desk collapses on Monday morning?

You don’t have much of an offering to the public.

Recently, our lead administrator left.
Shortly after, another key admin became seriously ill.

Two pillars gone.

Phones are still ringing. Patients are still scheduled. Payroll is still due.

For a brief moment, it felt like the practice equivalent of losing posterior support, everything unstable, even if the enamel still looked fine.

This edition of More Than Teeth is not about the airway.
It’s about the backbone of every practice: the team.

5-minute read 👇

The Clinical Parallel

When a patient loses support from their back teeth, their front teeth begin to wear down. Similarly, when a practice loses its administrative support, problems begin to appear everywhere: communication mistakes, scheduling issues, billing mix-ups, low team morale, and doctors feeling overwhelmed. At first, you might not notice these issues, but soon, everything becomes difficult. This is more than just a staffing problem. It’s a system’s vulnerability.

The Turning Point

What made the difference for us was having the Valere group already partnered with us.

Full disclosure: I am a partner in Valere.

But here’s what mattered in the moment:

They didn’t meddle in clinical decisions.
They didn’t tell me how to treat patients.

Their mentality was simple:

Within days:

• Recruiting support activated

• Screening and vetting accelerated

• Temporary coverage coordinated

• Systems stabilized

We didn’t skip a beat.

After 27 years of doing this largely on my own administratively, I’ll say it plainly:

This was a good move.

Not because of ego.
Because of sustainability.

Why This Matters for All Healthcare Providers

This issue isn't limited to dentistry; it's affecting the entire healthcare system. The biggest challenge right now is unstable staffing. Burnout among healthcare workers often isn't due to patient care, but rather to problems within the system. Many healthcare providers are expected to take on multiple roles, including clinician, HR director, recruiter, IT manager, compliance officer, and CFO. This isn't about being a hero; it's about being inefficient.

Practical Takeaways You Can Implement This Week

Here’s what you can do starting tomorrow:

1. Identify Your “Single Point of Failure.”

Ask yourself:

• If this person didn’t show up tomorrow, what would break?

• Who else knows how to do that role?

If the answer is “no one,” you have a vulnerability.

Cross-train immediately.

2. Create a 90-Day Talent Pipeline

Do not hire reactively.

• Always be interviewing.

• Keep 1–2 strong candidates warm.

• Build relationships with local hygiene and assistance programs.

Recruiting is not an event. It’s a system.

3. Separate Clinical Excellence from Business Management

Even if you don’t join a group, consider:

• Outsourced billing support

• HR consultants

• Fractional CFO services

• Recruiting firms

Your highest ROI hour is clinical leadership — not chasing down payroll errors.

4. Build a Written Playbook

If key staff left today, could someone step in?

Document:

• Daily admin checklist

• Insurance workflows

• Scheduling protocols

• End-of-day financial reconciliation

If it’s in someone’s head, it’s a liability.

5. Assess Whether Community Makes Sense

There’s a reason consolidation is increasing in dentistry and healthcare.

Communities create:

• Talent leverage

• Recruiting infrastructure

• Operational redundancy

• Negotiation strength

• Shared learning

This isn’t about selling out.
It’s about not doing everything alone.

(We’ll go deeper into the economics of buying power and cost reduction in a future issue.)

What I Learned After 27 Years

Throughout my career, I thought being independent showed strength. However, being independent is not the same as being isolated. The reality is that when you have less administrative work, you have more energy for clinical tasks. You can think more clearly, provide better treatment, and lead more effectively. Patients notice the difference.

Final Word

We check for airway collapse and occlusal instability. We should also check for operational fragility. A successful practice needs both clinical excellence and operational stability. If you agree, share this with a colleague who might be overwhelmed.

Until next week,

Dr. Michael Bennett
More Than Teeth
A Mission for Generational Health

🍭Stuff so sweet you might get a cavity…

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