Claire Dickinson, Operations & Professional Relationships Director

Claire has over 22 years of experience in dentistry and a bachelor's degree in Business Management and a master's in Organizational Management and Leadership

https://www.pugetsoundperio.com/meet-our-team#partnership-group

🔍 If your dental practice isn’t crystal clear on where it’s going in 2026, now is the time to fix that.

In this episode, Dayna Johnson and Claire Dickinson break down why clarity, intentional planning, and aligned goals are the foundation of success for dental practices heading into 2026.

They discuss the importance of revisiting annual plans, aligning the entire team around shared outcomes, and understanding the personal “why” behind professional decisions. The conversation also explores how AI and new technologies can support practice efficiency when implemented with focus and purpose, not distraction.

This episode is ideal for dentists, office managers, and team leaders who want to move into 2026 with confidence, direction, and a clear plan for success.

✅ Key Takeaways:

Why clarity is essential for effective planning and execution

How revisiting annual plans keeps practices on track

The role AI can play in improving efficiency when used intentionally

Why identifying clear outcomes matters more than vague goals

How team alignment drives accountability and results

Using visual tools to keep goals front and center

How daily check-ins reinforce focus and momentum

Why understanding your personal “why” supports better decisions

How adaptability helps practices thrive in changing environments

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Kickoff to 2026: Embracing Clarity

02:32 Navigating Post-COVID Challenges

05:12 Annual Planning: Revisiting Goals

07:59 The Importance of Clarity in Execution

10:43 Identifying Clear Outcomes for Success

13:31 Visual Tools for Team Alignment

16:12 Staying Focused on Goals

18:53 Understanding Your Why

21:29 Recap: Key Takeaways for 2026

📲 Ready to build clarity and alignment in your practice?

Book a free discovery call with Dayna at https://novoneecommunity.mykajabi.com/membership-offers

Dr. Eric Block is a practicing dentist, educator, speaker, and author focused on helping dental professionals reduce stress, prevent burnout, and build more fulfilling careers. He is the author of The Stress-Free Dentist and Stress-Free Dental Implants, with his work centered on wellness, leadership, and practice growth in dentistry.

👉 Check out Dr. Block’s books on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Eric-Block/author/B0BZQ13DX9?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8c59e614-ca18-4907-bf51-204c1ce035c1

🧠 Dentistry doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, exhausting, or isolating.

In this episode, Dayna Johnson sits down with Dr. Eric Block to discuss burnout in dentistry, mental health awareness, and what it really takes to build a sustainable, stress-free dental career.

Eric shares his personal journey from a struggling dentist dealing with anxiety and burnout to becoming the author of The Stress-Free Dentist and the founder of the International Academy of Dental Life Coaches. Together, they explore why mental health is often overlooked in dentistry, how therapy helped Eric rediscover his passion, and why leadership training and standard operating procedures are essential for healthier practices.

This conversation is a must-watch for dentists, practice owners, and leaders who want to improve team culture, reduce stress, and build systems that support long-term success.

✅ Key Takeaways:

Why burnout and anxiety are so common in dentistry

How Eric Block found his way into dentistry and through burnout

The role mental health plays in sustainable dental careers

Why The Stress-Free Dentist was created

How the International Academy of Dental Life Coaches supports dentists

The impact of standard operating procedures on practice efficiency

Why leadership training matters for dentists managing teams

Practical advice for reducing stress and improving well-being

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Eric Block

02:39 Journey into Dentistry and Overcoming Burnout

05:10 The Birth of The Stress-Free Dentist

07:54 Creating the International Academy of Dental Life Coaches

10:36 Innovations in Dental Practice Management

13:31 The Importance of Standard Operating Procedures

16:19 Advice for Reducing Stress in Dentistry

📲 Need support building systems or reducing stress in your practice?

Book a free discovery call with Dayna at https://novoneecommunity.mykajabi.com/membership-offers

🤖 Dental technology is changing fast, and if you are not paying attention, you will fall behind.

In this episode, Dayna Johnson shares key insights and takeaways from the Greater New York Dental Meeting, highlighting the latest advancements in AI technology and Dentrix software that are shaping the future of dental practices.

Dayna breaks down how new tools like Dentrix Imaging Center, AI-powered image quality ratings, transcription tools for clinical notes, enhanced patient forms, and the Claims Manager can dramatically improve efficiency, documentation, and patient engagement. She also emphasizes why proper training and intentional software use are critical to getting real value from these innovations.

This conversation is a must-watch for dentists, office managers, and dental teams preparing for 2026 and beyond, as technology continues to redefine how practices operate.

✅ Key Takeaways:

-Why the Greater New York Dental Meeting is a must-attend event

-How AI innovations are improving dental practice efficiency

-What Dentrix Imaging Center changes about image management

-How AI can help ensure higher-quality clinical images

-Why transcription tools matter for clinical documentation

-How new Dentrix forms enhance patient engagement

-Why the Claims Manager tool is essential for insurance workflows

-How training unlocks the full power of dental software

-Why 2026 is a pivotal year for dental practice optimization

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Exploring the Greater New York Dental Meeting

09:07 AI Innovations in Dental Practices

14:35 Enhancements in Dentrix Software

📲 Want help implementing these tools the right way?

Book a free discovery call with Dayna at https://calendly.com/dayna-johnson/discovery-call?month=2026-01

🧾 Are your patients confused by their bills when tax season rolls around?

In this episode, Dayna Johnson explains why clear, organized billing statements matter more than ever and how dental practices can generate statements that actually make sense to patients.

Dayna walks through best practices for creating billing statements that include ADA procedure codes, insurance claim details, and family-level summaries, instead of handing patients confusing ledgers. She also shares tips for adjusting billing software settings, generating statements consistently, and improving patient communication through clarity and transparency.

This conversation is especially helpful for office managers, billing teams, and doctors who want to reduce patient frustration, save time at the front desk, and deliver a better overall patient experience.

✅ Key Takeaways:

-Why patients often need billing statements for tax preparation

-Why billing statements are better than ledgers for patient understanding

-The importance of including ADA procedure codes and insurance details

-How organized statements improve patient communication and trust

-Benefits of generating billing statements for the entire family

-Why daily statement generation saves time and reduces errors

-How small software setting changes can streamline billing workflows

-The value of sharing knowledge and support within your team

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Navigating Patient Billing Statements

07:12 Enhancing Patient Communication and Support

📲 Need help cleaning up your billing workflows?

Book a free discovery call with Dayna at novonee.com

- https://calendly.com/dayna-johnson/discovery-call?month=2025-12

💸 Are outdated fees quietly costing your dental practice thousands?

In this episode, Dayna Johnson breaks down why regular fee updates are essential for maintaining a financially healthy practice — and how to make those updates without shocking your patients.

Dayna walks through how to navigate fee schedules in your practice management software, how incremental increases protect patient satisfaction, and what to do when insurance companies fail to update their fee schedules. You’ll learn practical, step-by-step strategies to stay proactive and ensure your treatment plans and workflows are aligned with your current fees.

✅ Key Takeaways:

~ Update fees every 12–18 months to stay competitive

~ Use incremental fee increases to reduce patient pushback

~ Hygiene fees should increase differently than restorative fees

~ Practice management software makes fee updates more efficient

~ Treatment plan fees do NOT update automatically

~ Use filters to manage treatment plan updates accurately

~ Insurance fee schedules may not be current — stay proactive

~ Fee updates should be a team effort for accuracy and efficiency

~ Regular fee maintenance drives long-term practice success

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Updating Fees: Importance and Strategy

02:46 Navigating Fee Schedules in Practice Management Software

05:55 Treatment Plan Fees: Updating and Managing Changes

11:35 Insurance Fee Updates and Best Practices

📲 Ready to strengthen your systems and protect your profitability?

Book a free discovery call with Dayna → https://calendly.com/dayna-johnson/discovery-call?month=2025-12

✨ Did you know your team says more with their body language than their words?

In this episode, Dayna Johnson breaks down the power of nonverbal communication and how dental teams can use it to build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and create stronger, more connected workflows.

Nonverbal cues influence everything — from patient interactions to team collaboration — and mastering them can transform the way your practice functions. Dayna shares practical, easy-to-implement strategies you can start using immediately to enhance communication, even when no one is speaking.

✅ Key Takeaways:

~ Nonverbal communication is essential for effective teamwork

~ Teams can improve understanding without relying only on words

~ Body language has a major impact on team dynamics

~ Nonverbal cues can prevent conflict and misunderstandings

~ Practicing nonverbal techniques builds trust within the team

~ Awareness of body language supports a more inclusive culture

~ Nonverbal communication is powerful for both in-office and remote teams

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Treatment Planning

00:26 Effective Documentation Strategies

📲 Want to strengthen your team communication and systems?

Book a free discovery call with Dayna at https://calendly.com/dayna-johnson/discovery-call?month=2025-11

Transitioning from paper charts to digital records can feel like learning an entirely new language, and many dental professionals are still adjusting. In this episode, Dayna Johnson explores the real-world challenges teams face when moving to digital charting, from maintaining accuracy to finding ways to preserve creativity and detail in documentation.

You’ll learn why this shift requires more than just new technology, it demands new skills, workflows, and a team mindset focused on accuracy, clarity, and patient care.

✅ Key Takeaways:

~ Transitioning from paper to digital records comes with challenges and a learning curve.

~ Digital charting can feel limiting but offers long-term efficiency and accuracy.

~ The odontogram must always reflect the patient’s mouth precisely.

~ Strong team communication improves consistency and accuracy in charting.

~ Training and adaptability are key to a successful digital transition.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Transitioning from Paper to Digital Records

00:43 Charting Techniques for Accurate Representation

📲 Want to streamline your charting and digital documentation?

Book a free discovery call with Dayna at novonee.com

Are manual case tracking systems slowing down your dental practice? In this episode, Dayna Johnson dives into the inefficiencies of traditional case tracking and how dental teams can modernize their workflows for better communication, accessibility, and patient outcomes.

She explains why manual tracking methods—like whiteboards and spreadsheets—often create chaos instead of clarity and how adopting digital solutions can help your team stay organized and efficient.

✅ Key Takeaways:

~ Manual tracking systems waste valuable time and lead to errors.

~ Centralized, digital tracking improves accessibility and accountability.

~ Clear communication and regular updates keep everyone aligned.

~ Training your team is critical for successful system adoption.

~ Investing in technology enhances patient outcomes and clinical efficiency.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Inefficiencies in Lab Case Management

00:56 Streamlining Lab Case Creation

📲 Want to improve your lab case tracking and workflow efficiency?

Book a free discovery call with Dayna at novonee.com

Want to improve your case acceptance and streamline treatment planning in your dental practice? In this episode, Dayna Johnson breaks down how to master treatment planning in Dentrix, covering everything from case dates and alternate cases to customizing treatment plans for better patient understanding.

Drawing insights from a recent Dentrix User Meeting, Dayna shares how small adjustments in your treatment planning process can have a big impact on efficiency, communication, and production.

✅ Key Takeaways:

~ Treatment planning is the foundation of strong case acceptance.

~ Use case dates strategically for tracking expiration timelines.

~ Link alternate cases to present multiple options to patients clearly.

~ Customize treatment plans to focus on what patients really care about—their out-of-pocket costs.

~ Always accept or reject treatment instead of deleting it for accurate tracking.

~ Clear communication is essential for patient trust and workflow harmony.

💡 Free Resource:

Download the free tip sheet on linking cases in Dentrix: https://novoneecommunity.mykajabi.com/linking_alternate_cases

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Treatment Planning

02:44 Understanding Case Dates and Their Importance

05:19 Linking Alternate Cases for Better Patient Options

08:34 Customizing Treatment Plan Estimates

11:21 Accepting and Rejecting Treatment Plans

Are you managing membership plans in your dental practice but not sure if you’re doing it efficiently? In this episode, Dayna Johnson breaks down how to manage membership plans inside Dentrix—without creating chaos in your system.

She walks you through the levels of membership management—from basic tracking to advanced setups—so you can choose what works best for your team. Whether you're just starting or optimizing your process, you’ll get practical, real-world tips to simplify workflows, protect profitability, and keep your data accurate.

✅ Key Takeaways:

~ Understand your practice’s unique needs for membership management

~ Learn how to track hygiene and discounts correctly

~ Avoid common Dentrix mistakes (like linking membership to insurance!)

~ Discover how to use fee schedules and custom codes effectively

~ Streamline your operations and save time using built-in Dentrix tools

💡 Free Resource:

Download the Membership plan Tip Sheet to help you better manage your membership plan setup and financial tracking:

👉 https://novoneecommunity.mykajabi.com/Membership-plans-setup-dentrix

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Navigating Membership Plans in Dentistry

13:54 Best Practices for Managing Membership Plans

🔗 Learn more:

Explore more resources and training at novonee.com

Book a Discovery Call with Dayna to optimize your systems: novonee.com