Trust is essential in every dental practice. But blind trust? That's where financial leaks begin.

In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with certified fraud examiner Julie Rentz to uncover how embezzlement happens in dental offices, the red flags most doctors miss, and the simple systems that can prevent thousands in lost revenue.

Embezzlement in dentistry is more common than most practice owners realize, and it rarely starts with obvious theft. It starts with blind trust, lack of oversight, and small process gaps that quietly grow over time.

Julie Rentz, a Certified Fraud Examiner and forensic specialist, shares what she has seen inside dental practices and explains why small teams, divided attention, and undefined systems create vulnerability. She breaks down how adjustments become the "black hole" of dental accounting, how repeated "mistakes" can signal intentional fraud, and why refunds and credits are often overlooked risk areas.

This episode shifts the focus from reacting to fraud to proactively preventing it. If you want stronger financial controls, cleaner systems, and more confidence in your numbers, this conversation is a must-listen.

What You'll Learn

• Why blind trust is the number one tool an embezzler uses

• Behavioral and operational red flags dentists often miss

• Where revenue cycle risks most commonly occur

• Why adjustments are the "black hole" of dental accounting

• How to tell the difference between a mistake and fraud

• Why reconciling PMS deposits to bank statements matters

• How refunds and credits can expose your practice

• Best practices for handling cash securely

• Why consistent oversight protects your revenue

Key Takeaways

00:56 Introduction and episode overview

03:05 Why dentistry is a target for embezzlement

07:48 Behavioral red flags and blind trust

09:38 Revenue cycle risk areas

13:47 The black hole of adjustments

15:00 Auditing and defining adjustments

17:04 How often to audit reports

18:38 When a mistake becomes fraud

20:54 Proactive fraud prevention strategies

22:00 Refunds and credits as hidden risks

25:10 Cash handling best practices

27:51 The power of consistent oversight

30:54 Lightning round Q&A

35:29 How to connect with Julie

Connect with Julie

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 983-208-4613 Website: VerifindForensicSolutions.com

🎁 Special Offer for Raving Patients listeners: Julie is offering a three-month financial systems evaluation at a discounted rate of $750.

Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com.

This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here.

This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here.

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