Season 5: Episode 120: Ethical Dentistry: Money, Signatures, and Trust

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Sarah Beth, CEO of Dentistry Support, responds to reactions to episode 119 about her family being pressured and told they couldn’t leave a dental office without paying $1,460, arguing the root issue isn’t insurance or a signed treatment plan but breakdowns in communication about money. She explains that teams often hide behind signatures and “that’s how we do it” because they’re uncomfortable discussing finances, and emphasizes the missing step is confirming understanding by having patients repeat expected costs and options. She outlines warning patterns (patients saying “I didn’t know,” staff saying “we told them,” rushing, same-day add-ons, blaming insurance) and a remedy: slow down, remove pressure, take ownership, clarify, explore options, and protect patient dignity. She provides sample dialogues for potential balances, denied estimates, appeals, and non-ideal outcomes, and promotes free trainings and mentorship through Dentistry Support.

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