Art of Dental Finance and Management

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, speaks with Matthew Nelson, a Practice Management Analyst at the California Dental Association. They engage in an insightful discussion about key performance indicators (KPIs) in the dental industry. Drawing on his extensive experience in supporting the growth of dental practices, Matthew outlines the critical metrics and KPIs that dental teams should consistently monitor. He emphasizes a common mistake made by dental professionals: attempting to track too many or too few metrics.Art and Matthew also explore strategies for optimizing scheduling and improving case acceptance rates. They stress the importance of consistent team communication and standardized terminology to build patient trust and enhance treatment acceptance. The episode addresses methods for managing no-shows and cancellations, examines the negative impact of low collections on practice sustainability, and outlines best practices for improving revenue collection.Finally, the episode concludes with a thorough analysis of overhead costs, including team compensation, supplies, laboratory fees, and marketing expenses, highlighting the necessity of regularly monitoring these expenditures.Together, Matt and Art provide actionable recommendations to help dentists improve their production, collections, and overall profitability.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, shares key findings from a recent national survey of over 3,500 dentists, highlighting compensation trends for associate dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, and office managers. The data reveals a growing shift in workforce sentiment — with many dental professionals planning to seek new opportunities in 2025 and 2026.Art analyzes the reasons behind this trend, including employee dissatisfaction with work schedules and office culture. He highlights the importance of fostering a positive, team-oriented environment where employees feel supported and encouraged to grow professionally.Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies to strengthen team engagement — starting with how practice leaders can create a culture of collaboration, encourage continuous learning, and build trust across their teams.This episode offers valuable insights and practical takeaways to help dental practice owners make informed decisions about team management and long-term business success.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, continues his conversation with Mike Pennisi, owner and founder of the Rinnovo Group. With over 18 years of experience and more than 250 dental offices completed, Mike offers guidance for dental practice owners planning a new build, remodel, or office expansion.Art and Mike walk through the essential planning points, including defining the practice vision, reviewing contracts, ensuring facilities support today’s technology needs, and addressing potential challenges with landlords. They also discuss ADA compliance, the differences between ground-up builds and expansions, how payment structures are arranged, and the effect of current tariff policies on construction costs.Listeners will gain insights into working effectively with construction professionals and coordinating with banks, CPAs, attorneys, and other advisors to keep projects on track. As a continuation of their earlier discussion, this conversation equips practice owners with the knowledge to avoid costly missteps and build a strong foundation for future growth.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman, CPA, sits down with Joseph Pennisi, AIA, architect and principal at PepCreative, Inc. With over 30 years of architectural experience and two decades working directly in the dental industry, Joe brings a rare blend of design expertise and technical insight to dental office construction. His deep understanding of spatial planning, ergonomics, and specialized infrastructure has shaped hundreds of dental practices across the country.In this conversation, Joe shares essential guidance for dentists planning a new build, remodel, or expansion—making this episode a must-listen for practice owners looking to align their office design with their clinical vision.

On July 4, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which contained many tax changes that will affect dentists. In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art visits with Don Watson, Partner and Director of Dental Practices at Eide Bailly, to discuss the provisions of this new legislation.Art and Don discuss topics including the Standard Deduction, new personal exemptions for seniors, the increase in the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, the Section 199A and State tax workaround rules, changes to the Child Tax Credit and Estate and Gift Tax exclusions, the repeal of many clean energy incentives, changes in the reporting of Form 1099 payments, and much more.Art and Don provide actionable advice on taking advantage of these new rules, suggesting that dentists work to legally reduce their incomes to avoid the phase-out rules included in these new laws. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to cut their income tax bills for 2025 and beyond.

Whenever you talk to a dentist about what they can do to improve their practice, you always hear things like drive more growth by adding new patients, improve your overall departments, etc. But you rarely ever hear a dentist talk about empowering their dental assistants. On this episode of “The Art of Dental Finance and Management with Art Wiederman, CPA” Art visits with the founder of Dental Assistant Nation, Kevin Henry. Kevin talks about why Dentists do not spend more time empowering their Dental assistants, why it is so important for them to feel important in the practice, and why they can make or break a treatment plan proposed by the Dentist. Kevin gives advice on what questions to ask a prospective employee applying for a job as a dental assistant, what type of a training program a Dental office should have for a new Dental assistant, what resources there are to find out what procedures Dental Assistants can and cannot perform in a particular state, and how and why it is important for the Dental Assistant to get involved in the office’s digital workflow (i.e. CAD CAM, Digital Printing, Digital Scanning, etc.). It is very important for our listeners to pay more attention to the Dental Assistants in their offices as they are a key component of the Dentist’s success.About the Guests Kevin HenryKevin Henry is the founder of Dental Assistant Nation. He’s a national speaker on the topic of how dental assistants can improve the bottom line of their dental practice. He’s also the current editor in chief of Dr.Bicuspid.com.About the Host   Art Wiederman, CPA   Director of Dental Practices   Art specializes in serving dental practices. He oversees a variety of services including accounting, tax compliance and planning, financial planning, retirement planning, and financial practice management consulting. Art’s expertise is not only in taxation issues for dentists, but also in his knowledge of dental practice metrics and benchmarks. Art has the ability to look at a dentist’s statements and identify profit holes in their practice.

If you are going to school to become a dentist, or have recently started your career in dentistry, there are many important financial considerations, starting with borrowing when you’re in dental school. There are several loan options from federal to personal borrowing options, so how do you know what fits you best and what will leave you in the best financial situation when you start your career?In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management. Join Art Wiederman as he sits down with Dr. Amrita Patel, a general dentist and award-winning author and national educator. They’ll discuss student loan and other debt strategies dentists should take into consideration as they navigate dental school and jumping into the dental profession.About the Guests Dr. Amrita Divian PatelDr. Amrita Patel is a general dentist and award-winning author and national educator. She is a multi-practice owner based in Westchester County, New York, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dr. Patel also contributes to the profession through her writing as the Leadership columnist for AGD Impact, and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board to Dental Economics. About the Host   Art Wiederman, CPA   Director of Dental Practices   Art specializes in serving dental practices. He oversees a variety of services including accounting, tax compliance and planning, financial planning, retirement planning, and financial practice management consulting. Art’s expertise is not only in taxation issues for dentists, but also in his knowledge of dental practice metrics and benchmarks. Art has the ability to look at a dentist’s statements and identify profit holes in their practice.   Industries    Healthcare   Offerings   Healthcare   Related Insights   Pull latest   Show Notes and Resources   • UPCOMING EIDE BAILLY EVENTS • EIDE BAILLY’S HEALTHCARE SERVICES   • DECISIONS IN DENTISTRY    • ACADEMY OF DENTAL CPAS  

The future of artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry promises enhanced diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, streamlined practice management, and increased case acceptance, all while maintaining the human element of dental care. In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art visits with Dr. Divian Patel and Bernard Casse, co-founders of TrustAI. TrustAI’s software can have conversations with a dentist and help them make the best clinical decisions possible. The three discuss how AI integrates with dental technology and the diagnostic capabilities AI brings to the table. About the Guests Dr. Divian Patel, TrustAI Dr. Patel practices dentistry at San Ramon Dental Excellence in San Ramon, CA. His passion lies in delivering high-quality care through conservative dentistry, focusing on achieving healthy, functional, and aesthetically pleasing smiles. His areas of expertise include invisible orthodontics, restorative, cosmetic, and implant dentistry. Dr. Patel is dedicated to practicing ethical, non-invasive dentistry that prioritizes patient well-being. He’s also a co-founder of Trust AI an Advisory Board Member at Cloud Dentistry and DAS Group Senior Partner. Bernard Casse, CEO and Founder of RIOSDr. Casse is a seasoned leader and entrepreneur, leading a world-class team developing dexterous, AI-powered robots.About the Host   Art Wiederman, CPA   Director of Dental Practices   Art specializes in serving dental practices. He oversees a variety of services including accounting, tax compliance and planning, financial planning, retirement planning, and financial practice management consulting. Art’s expertise is not only in taxation issues for dentists, but also in his knowledge of dental practice metrics and benchmarks. Art has the ability to look at a dentist’s statements and identify profit holes in their practice.   Industries    Healthcare   Offerings   Healthcare   Related Insights   Pull latest   Show Notes and Resources   • UPCOMING EIDE BAILLY EVENTS • EIDE BAILLY’S HEALTHCARE SERVICES   • DECISIONS IN DENTISTRY    • ACADEMY OF DENTAL CPAS  

One of the traits that separate great dentists from good Dentists are their abilities to communicate with patients and to lead a cohesive, happy dental team. Today, Art visits with Jonathan Bonanno who is an Industrial Organizational Psychologist and whose work involves helping dentists to communicate with their patients and also involves the importance of understanding employees needs, providing a psychologically safe and positive work environment. Art and Jonathan discuss what steps a Dentist can take to improve team cohesiveness and efficiency, why calling your team a “family” might not be the best way to refer to them, and how to determine if the “vibe” in your dental office and with your team is off, and how to fix it. Jonathan also explains how to create and promote a positive team culture and why it is important to recognize achievements. Finally, Jonathan describes several different leadership styles and why there are good, or not so good such as autocratic and democratic leadership, Laissez-Faire leadership, and then two good leadership styles which are Transformational where we inspire and motivate and Servant leadership where we serve the needs of others. About the GuestsJonathan BonannoIndustrial Organizational PsychologistJonathan Bonanno is a trailblazing organizational development executive, founder of ZIA, and the visionary behind The Chief Psycho. With a career rooted in psychology, leadership, and talent optimization, Jonathan has redefined what it means to create safe, high-performing cultures—especially in dentistry and healthcare. Known for his bold, no-BS approach and commitment to authenticity, Jonathan supports teams and leaders in unlocking their full potential, integrating psychodynamic insight with practical strategy. Whether he's coaching a DSO, leading a workshop, or hosting his podcast, Jonathan shows up with zeal, heart, and an unapologetic drive to disrupt the norm.About the Host Art Wiederman, CPA Director of Dental Practices Art specializes in serving dental practices. He oversees a variety of services including accounting, tax compliance and planning, financial planning, retirement planning, and financial practice management consulting. Art’s expertise is not only in taxation issues for dentists, but also in his knowledge of dental practice metrics and benchmarks. Art has the ability to look at a dentist’s statements and identify profit holes in their practice.

Navigating the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can be intimidating for individuals and businesses alike. In these situations, it helps to have a former IRS professional on your side. On this episode of the Art of Dental Finance and Management podcast, Art is joined by Ben Peeler, Partner in Charge of Eide Bailly’s Tax Controversy and Procedures group. Ben provides updates on proposed personnel cuts at the IRS and what they mean for current and future audits. Ben also discusses issues with S Corporation shareholder loans, why it’s important to report all your income, and what documentation is necessary for expenses. Finally, Art and Ben discuss the IRS’s “Dirty Dozen” — the worst of the worst scams taxpayers may encounter this year. Tune in to receive actionable insights from someone familiar with the ins and outs of the IRS.

Dentists in private practice are bombarded with not only their local dental supply representative visiting on a regular basis, but dozens dental supply vendors standing in line at the practice entrance. These vendors most often want to sell the practice owner their product, but did you know there are ways to save? With Procurement Technology dentists can reduce their supply costs by as much as 30%. In this episode of the Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art it joined by Jordyn Levitas, head of Strategic Partnerships at Torch Dental. Levitas discusses how artificial intelligence is helping to organize the dental supply procurement process like never before. It provides the dentist an available platform with several authorized options and helps dentists keep track of the team’s product preferences, orders and spend across vendors. This ultimately saves time for dental teams and overall costs by driving efficiency. About the GuestsJordyn LevitasHead of Partnerships, Torch DentalJordyn has dedicated her career to the tech industry, with a strong focus on innovation in the dental space. As one of the founding team members at Torch Dental, she played a pivotal role in the company’s early growth—personally visiting hundreds of dental offices across New York City to gather critical market insights. Her hands-on approach helped shape Torch’s cutting-edge procurement platform, designed to bring greater efficiency, convenience, and transparency to dental practices.Over the past six years, Jordyn has witnessed Torch Dental expand from serving zero practices to over 3,000 nationwide. She is deeply passionate about how innovative technology can empower dental teams, streamline operations, and elevate patient care—regardless of practice size.Now based in Chicago, Jordyn leads Strategic Partnerships at Torch Dental, helping the company build strong industry relationships and drive continued growth.About the Host Art Wiederman, CPA Director of Dental Practices Art specializes in serving dental practices. He oversees a variety of services including accounting, tax compliance and planning, financial planning, retirement planning, and financial practice management consulting. Art’s expertise is not only in taxation issues for dentists, but also in his knowledge of dental practice metrics and benchmarks. Art has the ability to look at a dentist’s statements and identify profit holes in their practice. Industries Healthcare Offerings Healthcare Related Insights Pull latest Show Notes and Resources • UPCOMING EIDE BAILLY EVENTS• EIDE BAILLY’S HEALTHCARE SERVICES • DECISIONS IN DENTISTRY • ACADEMY OF DENTAL CPAS

One of the biggest challenges facing dentists today involves contracting with PPO plans through insurance companies. On The Art of Dental Finance and Management Podcast, Art discusses this challenge with Ben Tuinei, President of Veritas Dental Resources. For over twenty years, Ben has helped thousands of dentists obtain higher reimbursements, manage the array of contracts put in front of them by insurance companies, and successfully resign from insurance company plans with a minimal loss of patients. Ben and Art discuss how dental practices can negotiate fees with insurance plans, what umbrella insurance policies are and how they work, and what a dentist must consider from an insurance perspective if they are considering buying or starting a practice from scratch. Ben also details the steps a dentist should take to educate their patients when considering the move to an out-of-network provider, including key interpersonal skills for front desk administrators.

In this episode of the Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art is joined by Dr. Max Martinez, President of the California Dental Association (CDA), to discuss the importance of organized dentistry. Dr. Martinez outlines his own professional journey, from becoming the first in his family to graduate high school to overseeing the largest dental association in the country. Art and Dr. Martinez also discuss the most pressing challenges facing dentists today, from insurance restrictions to workforce shortages, and the role that local dental organizations can play in overcoming these challenges. In Dr. Martinez’s words, it truly takes a village to run a dental practice. He also shares information about the CDA Foundation’s efforts to help practices impacted by recent wildfires recover and rebuild.

In this episode of the Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art is joined by Perrin DesPortes, founder of The Next Level Executive, for a conversation about expanding your dental empire. Perrin provides advice for dentists who want to level up their practice by building additional locations — discussing who should (and shouldn’t) consider expansion, how to effectively lead a growing team, and why you need to identify and track key metrics about your practice.

In this episode of the Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art is joined by Nancy Coy, founder of Finance Rx Venture Studio, for an in-depth exploration of patient financing. Nancy discusses some of the most common mistakes dentists make when communicating financing options with patients. She also shares how implementing a financing system that is tailored to your patient base and treatment protocol can help your practice avoid regulatory challenges and dramatically increase your case acceptance rate.

Knowing the difference between buying and leasing a car and how to avoid common situations that might get you into a vehicle at a price you aren't prepared for.

It's important to start a new year on the right foot — especially when it comes to managing your finances and taxes. In this episode of the Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art explains how CPAs help their clients navigate the annual financial maze. From setting up salary schedules in January to planning for tax liabilities and retirement plans, Art shares valuable insights to help you navigate the complexities of financial planning.

In this episode of The Art of Dental Finance and Management, Art Wiederman and Kurt Oswell dive into the intricacies of retirement plans tailored for dental practices. They discuss the benefits of 401(k) profit-sharing plans, the flexibility of new comparability allocations, and the advantages of defined benefit and cash balance plans. Kurt explains how these plans can be customized to meet the unique needs of each practice, considering their employees’ demographics or financial goals. They also highlight the importance of working with experienced professionals to optimize retirement savings and ensure financial security for both the owners and their employees.

In this episode of the Art of Dental Finance and Management Podcast, Art Wiederman is joined by Justin Pattelaro, Wealth Advisor at Sequioa Financial Group, for a conversation on financial planning for dental professionals. Tune in to discover strategies for meeting your personal and professional financial goals, maximizing the impact of charitable giving, and setting yourself up for financial success in the new year.