Why Dentists Gamble with Growth (and Insurance) — and How to Stop Rolling the Dice

When news broke that NBA players — some of the highest-paid athletes in the world — were caught in gambling scandals, most people asked:

“Why would they risk everything?”

The answer isn’t about money. It’s about the brain on risk.

Dentists may not be betting on basketball, but many are making equally high-stakes moves in their practices — often without realizing it.

The Dopamine Effect: Why Smart Dentists Take Big Risks

The thrill of risk isn’t reserved for Vegas.
Neuroscience shows that the same dopamine circuits that fire when someone wins a big bet also light up when we chase something new and exciting.

For dentists, that often looks like:

These decisions can feel bold, visionary, and empowering.
But without alignment to your mission, vision, values, and market reality, they’re not strategy.
They’re a bet.

Insurance Dependence: The Most Expensive Roll of the Dice

Leaving insurance participation may be one of the smartest moves a dentist can make — but it’s also one of the riskiest when done without strategy.

Too many dentists make this leap based on frustration instead of a clear plan, leading to:

Insurance independence isn’t a switch.
It’s a structured transition that must be aligned with your WHY, your ideal patient, and a marketing and experience strategy that attracts people who say “yes” to care — not just coverage.

Breaking free without a strategy isn’t bold. It’s blindfolded poker.

From Gambling to Strategy: A Better Way Forward

The answer isn’t to stop innovating or stay trapped in insurance networks forever.
The answer is to make every big move on purpose.

Before investing in a new service or cutting loose from PPOs, ask:

✨ Strategic moves build freedom. Reactionary moves build chaos.

Liberated Insight

Innovation and insurance independence are powerful.
But without clarity, they’re just another roll of the dice.

“The biggest gamble isn’t losing what you have.
It’s losing who you are.”

️ Don’t Gamble. Get Liberated.

Too many dentists pour time, energy, and money into breaking free from insurance or adding new services without a clear plan — and pay the price later.

That’s where the Liberated Practice Strategy Session comes in.

We’ll help you:
✅ Gain crystal-clear clarity of purpose and direction
✅ Align growth strategies with your mission, vision, and values
✅ Develop a step-by-step roadmap to insurance independence or service expansion
✅ Invest wisely — not emotionally

Book a complimentary strategy session with me, Dr. Michael Goldberg, and you’ll receive a free copy of my guide:

“In Pursuit of Implementation: The Art and Science of Turning an Idea into Reality.”

You’ll learn:

✅ How to evaluate which ideas deserve your attention

✅ The psychology of risk and motivation in practice growth

✅ A 5-step framework to move from inspiration to implementation

Because the biggest gamble isn’t trying something new — it’s failing to implement it well.

 Book your complimentary 20-minute strategy session and get a clear pathway before you make your next big move. You’ll also receive a Special Report:
Schedule Your Strategy Session Now

Don’t gamble with your practice. Build something intentional, profitable, and aligned with your purpose.

Michael