💸 Are outdated fees quietly costing your dental practice thousands?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

💡 What makes a truly high-performing dental team?

In this episode of The High Performing Dental Team Podcast, Dayna Johnson and Claire Dickinson dive into the vital role of hygienists in driving patient care, trust, and collaboration across the practice.

They explore the real-world challenges new hygienists face, the importance of using diagnostic tools effectively, and how to foster a culture of care that strengthens relationships between doctors, hygienists, and patients. Dayna and Claire also discuss how hygienists can take ownership of their roles, view themselves as mini business owners, and create lasting impact in their practices.

Key Takeaways:

Hygienists are essential educators and leaders in patient care

New hygienists often face unexpected real-world challenges

Teamwork and trust fuel long-term practice success

Diagnostic tools improve patient outcomes and confidence

Compensation should reflect the true value hygienists bring

Health history reviews are critical for personalized care

Creating a culture of care fosters stronger team dynamics

Hygienists should think like business owners to elevate results

Building value in treatment increases patient acceptance

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Dental Hygiene Month and Guest Introduction

02:11 The Role of Hygienists in Patient Education

05:18 Real-World Challenges for New Hygienists

08:45 Building Collaborative Relationships in the Practice

11:22 The Importance of Diagnostic Tools

13:47 Understanding Compensation and Value in Hygiene

17:13 The Significance of Health History Reviews

19:28 Creating a Patient-Centric Culture

22:30 Trust Between Hygienists and Doctors

25:39 Empowering Hygienists as Mini Business Owners

28:03 Conclusion and Future Topics

🔔 Subscribe to The High Performing Dental Team Podcast for more practical insights on leadership, Dentrix optimization, and team growth strategies that drive success in modern dental practices.

🦷 Want to boost hygiene production while improving patient care and documentation?

In this episode, Dayna Johnson dives into how efficient health history reviews and electronic forms can transform your dental hygiene workflows. She explains why proper documentation isn’t just good practice—it’s essential for compliance, patient safety, and protecting your license.

Dayna also shares best practices for engaging patients in their health history, using technology to streamline documentation, and setting production goals that truly reflect the services you provide. Whether you’re a hygienist, office manager, or doctor, this conversation will help you strengthen both your systems and your patient experience.

Key Takeaways:

-How to set hygiene production goals that align with your services

-Why health history reviews should be efficient and consistent

-The role of electronic forms in improving patient engagement

-How documentation protects your practice from legal risk

-Using dual monitors to enhance patient interaction

-Why health history updates should be part of every visit

-How technology streamlines hygiene workflows for better results

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Production Goals in Dental Hygiene

02:34 Streamlining Health History Reviews

05:32 Leveraging Technology for Efficient Workflow

08:09 Enhancing Patient Engagement in Health History

10:51 Best Practices for Documentation and Review

13:50 Implementing Electronic Health Forms

🔔 Subscribe for more Dentrix training and practical tips to help your dental team save time, boost production, and improve patient care.

🦷 Did you know hygienists are one of the biggest drivers of both patient care and profitability in a dental practice?

In this episode, Dayna Johnson dives into the essential role hygienists play in creating comprehensive treatment plans, achieving production goals, and improving the overall health of patients.

With rising costs and stagnant reimbursement rates, understanding hygienist production goals and leveraging the right mix of services is more important than ever. Dayna breaks down how hygienists can calculate their ideal production, why perio percentages matter, and how continuous education helps teams adapt to industry changes.

Key Takeaways:

Why hygienists are central to comprehensive patient care

How to calculate and track hygienist production goals

The benchmark of 3x total compensation for hygienist production

Why most practices underperform in periodontal treatments (5–20%)

How perio percentages impact patient care and profitability

The link between profitability and offering better staff benefits

Why continuing education and new techniques matter for hygienists

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Hygienist Appreciation

02:31 Understanding Practice Profitability

05:41 Maximizing Patient Care and Production Goals

08:23 The Importance of Comprehensive Care

10:57 Role of Hygienists in Practice Success

🔔 Subscribe for more Dentrix training, practice management strategies, and tips to build a high-performing dental team.

🔒 Would you let a stranger walk into your house without permission?

In this episode, Dayna Johnson explains why unauthorized vendors in your Dentrix software are just as dangerous — and could put your patient data at risk.

Using a powerful home invasion analogy, Dayna breaks down the risks of using unapproved third-party vendors, the potential consequences of compromised security, and why it’s crucial for dental practices to work only with authorized Dentrix vendors.

You’ll also learn how to evaluate vendor relationships, understand security requirements, and protect your practice from preventable data breaches.

Key Takeaways:

Why unauthorized vendors are a major security risk

How to verify and choose approved Dentrix vendors

The importance of security updates and vendor accountability

Understanding the potential consequences of working with unapproved partners

Why communication with vendors about data security is non-negotiable

How to regularly review vendor relationships for compliance and safety

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Unauthorized Vendors

04:53 The Analogy of Security and Access

09:16 Navigating Vendor Relationships and Security

11:50 Consequences of Choosing Unauthorized Vendors

🔔 Subscribe for more Dentrix tips and dental practice security insights. Protect your data, protect your patients, and protect your practice.