Art of Dental Finance and Management

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman CPA sits down with dental attorney Sean Dumm to discuss the legal issues dentists cannot afford to overlook.

Legal agreements are essential for a successful dental practice. They protect dentists from costly disputes and help ensure long-term stability. In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman CPA talks with dental attorney Sean Dumm about the legal issues dentists must prioritize to safeguard their businesses.

Art and Sean discuss what makes a strong associate agreement, why clearly defining compensation formulas is critical, and how covenants such as non-compete agreements and other contractual clauses work. They also dive into the complexities of office leases.

The conversation compares the roles of lease negotiation firms and dental attorneys, highlights the most important lease provisions, and explains why dentists should seek legal advice before a lease term ends.

Finally, they explore dental partnerships, outlining key provisions and common pitfalls to avoid.

Packed with practical guidance, this episode is a must-listen for dentists looking to protect their practices and prevent costly mistakes.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, sits down with Rachel Wall, CEO and founder of Inspired Hygiene. For over 20 years, Rachel has helped dentists build thriving hygiene departments that deliver exceptional patient care and drive profitability.

Dental hygiene is a critical driver of both patient care and practice profitability. In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management with Art Wiederman CPA, Art is joined by Rachel Wall, founder and CEO of Inspired Hygiene, for an in-depth discussion on building a high-performing hygiene department.

Rachel shares insights on the current state of dental hygiene in the U.S. and strategies for hiring and retaining hygienists in today’s competitive market. She explains why strong leadership from the dentist accounts for 50% of hygiene success and the importance of implementing clear, written Standards of Care.

Listeners will also learn Rachel’s four “R’s” for creating a referrable practice — Relationship, Retention, Reputation, and Referrals — and why small gestures like saying “please” and “thank you” matter. The episode covers key benchmarks for hygiene production, including the ideal percentage of total office revenue and the role of 4000 codes such as SRPs and periodontal maintenance.

Packed with actionable tips, this conversation is essential for dentists looking to elevate their hygiene department and maximize profitability.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, discover how year-round tax planning and smart strategies can protect your dental practice and reduce tax liability.

Cybercrime and tax planning are two critical issues for dental practices. In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management with Art Wiederman, CPA, Art is joined by dental-focused CPAs Don Watson and Scott Haberman for an in-depth discussion on strategies every practice owner should know.

The trio explores why dentists are prime targets for cybercrime and why income tax planning must be a year-round priority. They share insights on proper recordkeeping, multi-year planning, and leveraging marginal tax rates to optimize financial outcomes.

Listeners will also learn about the impact of recent legislation and four proven ways to reduce tax liability: equipment purchases, qualified retirement plans, employing family members, and acquiring real estate for the practice. Packed with practical tips, this episode is essential for dentists looking to protect their practices and maximize savings.

This episode of the Art of Dental Finance and Management addresses ways dental professionals can recognize burnout and fatigue and outlines strategies for supporting well-being in the workplace.

Recent studies show that 40–67% of dentists experience anxiety, making mental health a critical topic in the profession. In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, host Art Wiederman, CPA, sits down with Dr. Eric Johnson, DDS, D.Ed., to share his personal journey through burnout after acquiring his dental practice.

The two delve into the warning signs that often go unnoticed — social withdrawal, persistent fatigue, growing cynicism, and high staff turnover. Dr. Johnson reflects on how these challenges shaped his perspective and offers practical strategies for recovery, including counseling, journaling, goal setting, and prioritizing physical activity.

Drawing on his experience as the founder of Leaders in Dentistry — a group dedicated to advancing conversations on leadership and well-being — Dr. Johnson explains why strong leadership, cognitive reframing, and team support are essential for creating a healthier, more positive workplace culture.

This episode provides valuable insights for dentists navigating similar challenges and offers actionable steps to protect both personal well-being and professional success.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, speaks with Matthew Nelson, a Practice Management Analyst at the California Dental Association. They engage in an insightful discussion about key performance indicators (KPIs) in the dental industry. Drawing on his extensive experience in supporting the growth of dental practices, Matthew outlines the critical metrics and KPIs that dental teams should consistently monitor. He emphasizes a common mistake made by dental professionals: attempting to track too many or too few metrics.

Art and Matthew also explore strategies for optimizing scheduling and improving case acceptance rates. They stress the importance of consistent team communication and standardized terminology to build patient trust and enhance treatment acceptance. The episode addresses methods for managing no-shows and cancellations, examines the negative impact of low collections on practice sustainability, and outlines best practices for improving revenue collection.

Finally, the episode concludes with a thorough analysis of overhead costs, including team compensation, supplies, laboratory fees, and marketing expenses, highlighting the necessity of regularly monitoring these expenditures.

Together, Matt and Art provide actionable recommendations to help dentists improve their production, collections, and overall profitability.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, shares key findings from a recent national survey of over 3,500 dentists, highlighting compensation trends for associate dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, and office managers. The data reveals a growing shift in workforce sentiment — with many dental professionals planning to seek new opportunities in 2025 and 2026.

Art analyzes the reasons behind this trend, including employee dissatisfaction with work schedules and office culture. He highlights the importance of fostering a positive, team-oriented environment where employees feel supported and encouraged to grow professionally.

Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies to strengthen team engagement — starting with how practice leaders can create a culture of collaboration, encourage continuous learning, and build trust across their teams.

This episode offers valuable insights and practical takeaways to help dental practice owners make informed decisions about team management and long-term business success.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, continues his conversation with Mike Pennisi, owner and founder of the Rinnovo Group. With over 18 years of experience and more than 250 dental offices completed, Mike offers guidance for dental practice owners planning a new build, remodel, or office expansion.

Art and Mike walk through the essential planning points, including defining the practice vision, reviewing contracts, ensuring facilities support today’s technology needs, and addressing potential challenges with landlords.

They also discuss ADA compliance, the differences between ground-up builds and expansions, how payment structures are arranged, and the effect of current tariff policies on construction costs.

Listeners will gain insights into working effectively with construction professionals and coordinating with banks, CPAs, attorneys, and other advisors to keep projects on track. As a continuation of their earlier discussion, this conversation equips practice owners with the knowledge to avoid costly missteps and build a strong foundation for future growth.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, sits down with Joseph Pennisi, AIA, architect and principal at PepCreative, Inc. With over 30 years of architectural experience and two decades working directly in the dental industry, Joe brings a rare blend of design expertise and technical insight to dental office construction. His deep understanding of spatial planning, ergonomics, and specialized infrastructure has shaped hundreds of dental practices across the country.

In this conversation, Joe shares essential guidance for dentists planning a new build, remodel, or expansion—making this episode a must-listen for practice owners looking to align their office design with their clinical vision.

On July 4, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which contained many tax changes that will affect dentists. In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art visits with Don Watson, Partner and Director of Dental Practices at Eide Bailly, to discuss the provisions of this new legislation.

Art and Don discuss topics including the Standard Deduction, new personal exemptions for seniors, the increase in the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, the Section 199A and State tax workaround rules, changes to the Child Tax Credit and Estate and Gift Tax exclusions, the repeal of many clean energy incentives, changes in the reporting of Form 1099 payments, and much more.

Art and Don provide actionable advice on taking advantage of these new rules, suggesting that dentists work to legally reduce their incomes to avoid the phase-out rules included in these new laws. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to cut their income tax bills for 2025 and beyond.

Whenever you talk to a dentist about what they can do to improve their practice, you always hear things like drive more growth by adding new patients, improve your overall departments, etc. But you rarely ever hear a dentist talk about empowering their dental assistants. On this episode of “The Art of Dental Finance and Management with Art Wiederman, CPA” Art visits with the founder of Dental Assistant Nation, Kevin Henry. Kevin talks about why Dentists do not spend more time empowering their Dental assistants, why it is so important for them to feel important in the practice, and why they can make or break a treatment plan proposed by the Dentist. Kevin gives advice on what questions to ask a prospective employee applying for a job as a dental assistant, what type of a training program a Dental office should have for a new Dental assistant, what resources there are to find out what procedures Dental Assistants can and cannot perform in a particular state, and how and why it is important for the Dental Assistant to get involved in the office’s digital workflow (i.e. CAD CAM, Digital Printing, Digital Scanning, etc.). It is very important for our listeners to pay more attention to the Dental Assistants in their offices as they are a key component of the Dentist’s success.

About the Guests

Kevin Henry

Kevin Henry is the founder of Dental Assistant Nation. He’s a national speaker on the topic of how dental assistants can improve the bottom line of their dental practice. He’s also the current editor in chief of Dr.Bicuspid.com.

About the Host  

Art Wiederman, CPA  

Director of Dental Practices  

Art specializes in serving dental practices. He oversees a variety of services including accounting, tax compliance and planning, financial planning, retirement planning, and financial practice management consulting. Art’s expertise is not only in taxation issues for dentists, but also in his knowledge of dental practice metrics and benchmarks. Art has the ability to look at a dentist’s statements and identify profit holes in their practice.