Solutions For Exceptional Dentists

Dr. Michael Martins shares his journey from working in a Blatchford practice in Oregon to purchasing and transforming his own practice in North Carolina. Growing up in a dental family with both parents in dentistry, he learned the Blatchford philosophy working for Dr. Devin Bryce for seven years before moving across the country after Bryce's unexpected passing. Dr. Martins purchased a struggling PPO practice and completely rebranded it as AIR Dental Studio (Atmosphere Experience Redesigned), eliminating insurance contracts and implementing comprehensive systems over two years. His vision focuses on creating a first-class patient experience that's the opposite of typical medical visits, complete with balloon animals for kids, dad jokes, and even an AI receptionist for after-hours scheduling. Outside the practice, he's an avid pilot, wake surfer, and traveler who has taken his young family to seven countries, embodying the work-life balance that dentistry can provide.

Dr. Tricia Nelson and her partner Dr. Rachel Popple achieved remarkable practice transformation, growing collections by $1 million in their first year with Blatchford while dramatically improving work-life balance. Initially seeking to maintain profitability while taking more time off, they exceeded expectations by reducing daily hours from 8-4 to 8-2 (Monday-Thursday) and increasing vacation from four to seven weeks annually. The key to their success was engaging their entire team in case presentation and treatment planning, allowing the doctors to focus on clinical work during their six-hour days. This team-driven approach, supported by an effective bonus system, enabled them to present life-changing comprehensive cases to long-term patients who had previously only received patchwork dentistry due to incorrect assumptions about patient desires.

Dr. Tracy Davis describes her 11-year journey with Blatchford Solutions, working just 125 scheduled days per year (three days a week) while taking 10-12 weeks of vacation annually. Starting with a biochemistry background and no initial interest in dentistry, she found the profession perfectly combined science, medicine, business ownership, and artistry. Through multiple practice transitions—from associate to partner to sole owner—Blatchford provided crucial guidance in maintaining life-work balance while raising four children with her husband. Her commitment to continuing education, including Kois Institute training and cosmetic dentistry courses, has expanded her clinical skills significantly. Recently, she's incorporated wellness-focused dentistry and salivary diagnostics, energizing her team around comprehensive periodontal care with a goal of zero bleeding for all patients.

Dr. Brian Jacobsen, dubbed "The King of Ephrata" by Bill Blatchford, shares his journey from working 180+ days per year to just 128 days (2.48 days per week) while dramatically increasing profitability. Starting with Blatchford in 2013 after meeting successful dentist Matt Fluggie, Dr. Jacobsen overcame key challenges including staff retention while working fewer days and implementing an effective bonus system. A pivotal moment came when Bill Blatchford encouraged him to contact a retiring local dentist, leading to a practice acquisition and transition to fee-for-service dentistry. During his five-year calling as a church bishop (2017-2022), his well-structured practice allowed him to serve dual roles successfully, demonstrating the power of systematic practice management in creating life flexibility.

Dr. Courtney Levine describes her evolution from AACD-accredited cosmetic dentist to board-certified orthodontist. Despite building a successful fee-for-service practice with Blatchford Solutions' help and achieving accreditation, she felt unfulfilled after checking all the traditional success boxes. Her personal experience with sleep-disordered breathing treatment opened her eyes to airway issues, and she grew frustrated with cosmetic dentistry's limitations when patients needed orthodontic intervention first. She made the bold decision to sell her thriving practice in 2020 and pursue orthodontic residency, now serving as the "quarterback" for complex restorative cases.

Dr. Alexandria Ross shares her unconventional path to dentistry with no family connections to the field, discovering her passion through undergraduate shadowing experiences. After dental school, she and her husband spent two years traveling the world, which sparked her interest in wine and led to becoming a certified sommelier. This unique combination resulted in co-founding Stained Tooth Education, creating dental continuing education programs in beautiful wine regions. Dr. Ross recently purchased a 52-year-old legacy practice in Boulder after patiently searching for one aligned with her values, and remains committed to annual volunteer dental missions in the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Rhys Spoor, with 42 years of experience, shares insights about his Aesthetic Excellence course at the Dental Ceramics Institute in Cleveland. The hands-on program allows dentists to perform live patient treatment with temporary Ohio licenses, providing real-world learning experiences. Dr. Spoor emphasizes that aesthetic dentistry is 20% technical skill and 80% people skills, stressing the importance of accessibility and relationship building with patients. He advocates for giving patients cell phone access and personally calling course participants to demonstrate his relationship-first approach. The course offers levels from basic veneer training (1.0) to full-mouth reconstruction (2.0), with plans for soft tissue management and no-prep aesthetic classes. Dr. Spoor discusses his 35-year insurance-free practice, relationship building with dental labs, and the importance of trial smiles for patient communication. His approach focuses on minimal tooth reduction and maximum aesthetic improvement, supported by strong laboratory partnerships and neuromuscular bite principles.

Tamara Myles, professor at Boston College and researcher at University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center, discusses her book "Meaningful Work" and its application to dental practices. As sister to Blatchford client Dr. Daniella Eversgerd and daughter of a Brazilian pediatric dentist, Tamara understands dental practice dynamics. Her research reveals that meaningful work consists of three Cs: Community (sense of belonging and caring leadership), Contribution (understanding why work matters), and Challenge (opportunities for growth and development). She emphasizes that one thank you per week from a leader can cut disengagement and burnout in half. The framework helps leaders move beyond providing just a paycheck to creating environments where team members thrive. Tamara shares practical strategies like the button system for daily recognition and explains how meaningful work builds resilience and increases productivity. Her research shows that when all three Cs are present, they create a multiplier effect that transforms workplace culture.

Dr. Haissam Dahan from Ottawa demonstrates the power of practice niching by transitioning from general dentistry to focusing exclusively on TMD, sleep medicine, and Botox therapy. His specialized practice now produces close to $4 million annually while working only three days a week and taking 12-13 weeks off per year. With three young children, this schedule allows him to maintain perfect work-life balance with family dinners and evening activities. His team of eight consistently bonuses $1,000-$2,000 monthly, with some months reaching $8,000 each. Dr. Dehan developed his passion for TMD treatment during dental school and emphasizes that these conditions are easier to treat than most dentists believe. He now offers a 12-month training program limited to 10 dentists annually, providing complete "clinic in a box" systems for implementing TMD and sleep services. His success illustrates how finding your unique specialty can differentiate your practice and dramatically improve both profitability and lifestyle.

Dr. Adam Langan from Norfolk, Nebraska, discusses his evolution from a small-town practice to becoming a digital dentistry leader and educator. Starting with a practice purchased from a 74-year-old dentist in 2010, Adam realized he needed advanced training to serve his remote community's complex cases. Through extensive education at Kois Center and Pacific Institute/Digital Dentistry Institute, he now performs everything from simple implants to full-arch cases in-house. Adam shares his involvement with the Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation's emerging leaders program and his role as a Nobel Biocare Key Opinion Leader. He teaches courses globally and hosts Digital Dentistry Excellence courses at his Nebraska office, demonstrating complete digital workflows from design to final restoration. His practice showcases how mastering technology and in-house capabilities can serve underserved rural populations.