Articles

For Dental Practice Success

$4,000 an Ounce!

Oct. 12, 2025
“The fillings of yesterday are whispering a warning about tomorrow.” A Dream I Won’t Forget I woke up sweating. I rarely remember my dreams, but this one lingered. I was back in practice. My schedule was packed—not with routine care, but with patients demanding I remove the gold restorations I’d placed decades earlier. Why? Because at $4,000 an ounce, their mouths
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From Red Napkins to White Coats: The Undeniable Patient Experience Strategy

Oct. 05, 2025
When Gary Vaynerchuk helped a struggling rib joint in Kentucky reinvent itself with the now-famous “Red Napkin Strategy,” he wasn’t merely dishing out marketing tips. He was uncovering a universal truth about service industries: the first three encounters are the crucible in which loyalty is forged—or lost. Dentistry isn’t barbecue, but human psychology is human psychology. Patient loyalty is built not through clever ads
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Let Me See You: Forgiving the Person Before Appealing to Heaven The Human Prerequisite

Sep. 28, 2025
Just when one might have thought that the division in our society had some hope of healing, a rash of incidents has reminded us how fragile reconciliation really is. Words spoken carelessly, jokes made at the expense of others, and the quick rush to label and dismiss have only deepened wounds instead of closing them. Each incident not only rekindles
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A Rosh Hashanah Reflection: Dreams, Speech, and the Book of Life

Sep. 22, 2025
Rosh Hashanah isn’t just the beginning of the Jewish year—it’s a reset button. It’s the season when we pause, reflect, and ask: How have my words, my actions, and my choices shaped the year behind me—and how can I do better in the year ahead? In our tradition, it’s said that on Rosh Hashanah, the Book of Life is opened. Who
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Tales From the Other Side – Part II Monitoring and Modifying the Patient Journey

Sep. 21, 2025
In Part I, I shared my experience as a back-pain patient whose confidence in the practice was shattered—not by the doctor, but by the team and the process before I ever got to him. That begs the bigger question for all of us in healthcare: how do you, as a healthcare practice owner, make sure you’re not unknowingly losing patients
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Tales From the Other Side (Pt I)

Sep. 14, 2025
Being a patient has its perks when you’re a healthcare consultant. It’s like getting a backstage pass to your own industry. This week, my aching back gave me just such a ticket—and the show was a cautionary tale worth sharing. I’ve had a chronic back issue since 1971 (yes, changing a tire can change a life). Recently, it flared up,
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Liberate Your Labor: What Labor Day Should Teach Dentists About Freedom

Aug. 29, 2025
Labor Day isn’t just about burgers, beach chairs, and back-to-school sales. It’s a reminder of why we work in the first place — freedom. But here’s the reality for many dentists: the “labor” of running a practice often feels like owning a job instead of a business. The hours are long, the headaches are plenty, and somewhere along the way, the dream of
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A Cracker Barrel Lesson

Aug. 24, 2025
Do you really know what your patients like about you? Cracker Barrel thought they did. Then they redesigned their logo, revamped their interiors, and tinkered with their menu — all without truly understanding what kept their loyal customers coming back. The backlash was swift, sales slipped, and the brand is now trying to avoid “a Budweiser moment” — alienating your core audience
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What’s Eating Away at Your Referrals? (How a Safari Adventure Reinforced the Rules of Referral Etiquette for Dental Practices)

Aug. 17, 2025
I’m often asked by budget-conscious practices (that’s praise, not criticism) how much they should set aside for marketing. My answer usually surprises them—and puts me slightly at odds with one of my own mentors, Dan Kennedy, who famously says, “Whoever can spend the most to get a customer, wins.” Maybe it’s my Jewish heritage, but spending money unnecessarily just isn’t in
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What Hyenas, Penguins, and a Cape Town Concierge Taught Me About Exceptional Dental Care

Aug. 10, 2025
I recently returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa. I expected the scenery to be breathtaking (it was), the wildlife to be awe-inspiring (it was), and the food to be memorable (mostly true). What I didn’t expect was how much the trip would teach me about patient care in any dental practice. You might think lions and leopards have nothing
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Dr. Michael Goldberg is one of the leading educators on dental practice management in the United States.

Michael ran and sold a prestigious group practice in Manhattan and has been on Faculty at Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Medical Center for 30 years including Director of the GPR program and Director of the course on Practice Management.

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How to Stop Cancellations... without spending more.

Learn how successful practices ensure their appointment slots are filled... and their patients keep coming back!

GET THE FREE GUIDE

The Proven Way to
Reboot Your Practice...

Increase profitability, decrease stress and achieve your goals with proven ways to ensure your practice thrives

GET THE FREE GUIDE

FREE BOOK:
From Hello to Hugs

Get the sensational book on how to turn callers into raving fans. A guide to making MORE from LESS in your dental practice.

GET THE FREE book

Join Michael LIVE for the FREE Monthly Coffee With the Coach Webinar

Invite your entire team and get expert advice from an industry expert on a new, timely topic every month that you can implement in your practice right away. 

SAVE YOUR SPOT

Get Started With:

How to Stop Cancellations... without spending more.

Learn how successful practices ensure their appointment slots are filled... and their patients keep coming back!

GET THE FREE GUIDE

The Proven Way to
Reboot Your Practice...

Increase profitability, decrease stress and achieve your goals with proven ways to ensure your practice thrives

GET THE FREE GUIDE

FREE BOOK:
From Hello to Hugs

Get the sensational book on how to turn callers into raving fans. A guide to making MORE from LESS in your dental practice.

GET THE FREE BOOK

Join Michael LIVE for the
FREE Monthly Coffee With the Coach Webinar

Invite your entire team and get expert advice from an industry expert on a new, timely topic every month that you can implement in your practice right away. 

SAVE YOUR SPOT