In this episode of the High Performing Dental Team podcast, Dayna Johnson interviews David Harris, a certified fraud examiner specializing in dental embezzlement. They discuss the importance of trust in dental practices, the need for thorough pre-employment screening, and strategies to prevent embezzlement through effective division of duties and financial controls. David shares key insights from his keynote presentation, 'How to Outsmart an Embezzler,' emphasizing the significance of hiring practices, daily balancing, and the necessity for dentists to engage with their practice management software. The conversation concludes with practical tips for protecting dental practices from fraud and the importance of ongoing training for dental teams.
Contact David Harris directly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dentistryscrimefighter/
“The Prosperident Roundup” on Oct 18 in Irving TX. More information and registration is here -- https://www.prosperident.com/the-prosperident-roundup-october-18-2025
Takeaways
-David Harris has the longest-standing embezzlement company in the dental industry.
-Trust in dental staff should be periodically reevaluated.
-70 million Americans have a criminal record, highlighting the need for thorough hiring practices.
-Drug testing is essential and has become easier with saliva-based tests.
-Only clinicians should enter treatment into practice management software.
-No one person should handle more than two financial tasks to prevent embezzlement.
-Dentists should print their own reports to avoid selective reporting.
-Understanding practice management software is crucial for financial well-being.
-Doctors need to know which reports are relevant for their practice.
-Ongoing training for dental teams is essential for effective practice management.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dental Embezzlement
03:06 Understanding Trust in Dental Practices
05:56 Key Takeaways from Keynote Presentation
08:56 Pre-Employment Screening Essentials
12:04 Dividing Duties to Prevent Embezzlement
19:52 The Importance of Daily Balancing
28:40 Understanding Financial Controls in Practice Management
34:03 Embracing Practice Management Software
37:21 Final Thoughts and Resources
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Book a call with Dayna: https://calendly.com/dayna-johnson/discovery-call