Is dental insurance slowly draining your profit and your passion for dentistry?

Many dentists today are working harder, seeing more patients, and yet taking home less.

In this episode, Ian is joined by Sandi Hudson of Unlock the PPO, one of the most respected voices helping dentists understand, renegotiate, and reduce insurance dependence with confidence. Together, they dig into the real financial and emotional toll insurance has on private practice dentistry — and what dentists can do to regain control, profitability, and fulfilment again.

Sandi shares her personal story of discovering the hidden leaks in her own husband’s practice, the mistakes nearly every dentist makes with insurance contracts, and the step-by-step process to protect your revenue without losing patients. Whether you’re considering going out of network, feeling trapped by shrinking reimbursements, or simply exhausted by the insurance hamster wheel, this conversation is packed with clarity, encouragement, and practical next steps.

💡 5 Things You Will Learn in This Dental Podcast

• The hidden ways insurance is costing dentists money — beyond write-offs.

• How to evaluate whether an insurance plan is actually profitable for your practice.

• The truth about dropping insurance: what really happens to your patients and income.

• Common contracting mistakes that silently drain your revenue (and how to avoid them).

• A realistic roadmap to reduce insurance dependence without risking your practice.

🔗 Connect with Sandi Hudson & Unlock the PPO

Website: https://unlocktheppo.com/

Facebook: /unlocktheppo

PART 2 - It’s not enough to be seen online—you must tell a story. Generic SEO tactics like "dentist in [city]" or saying you'll treat your patients like family don't cut it anymore. Google has become smarter, and so have your potential patients. That’s where Story-E-O comes in. At Pain-Free Dental Marketing, we don’t create content to please Google; we craft messaging that resonates with people and showcases your practice's unique story and authentic values. You need to market what makes your practice truly stand out—the why behind your practice and what you stand for. It’s not enough to only attract patients; you must connect with the ones who value what you offer.

In this four-part series, the Pain-Free team explains why it's important for your dental marketing to evolve across SEO, paid advertising, and social media. We’ll show you how being your authentic self in every marketing channel will help you attract the right patients—not just any patients.

For Part 1, please listen to Episode 40 of this season, published August 25th, 2025.

What’s really driving dentist burnout—and how can you build a practice that actually gives you freedom? It’s not just insurance. It’s not just staffing. And it’s not just marketing.

Eric is joined by Dr. Craig Spodak of the Bulletproof Dental Practice to talk about the real struggles dentists face, from one-size-fits-all consulting to the pressure of building practices they don’t even want. Craig shares his personal story of burnout, the turning points that reshaped his career, and how Bulletproof is helping dentists create businesses that align with their lives—not someone else’s playbook. Whether you’re debating dropping PPOs, growing multiple locations, or simply trying to avoid feeling trapped by your practice, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, candid stories, and hope for the future of dentistry.

💡 5 Things You Will Learn in This Dental Podcast

• Why “one-size-fits-all” consulting leads to unfulfilled careers.

• The real reason marketing “doesn’t work” for some practices.

• How culture and leadership shape case acceptance and growth.

• Why DSOs may actually be raising the bar for dental standards.

• Practical steps to build a practice that runs without burning you out.

📱 Learn More About Dr. Craig Spodak & Bulletproof

Website: https://bulletproofdentalpractice.com

Instagram: bulletproofdentalpractice

Facebook: bulletproofdentalpractice

Podcast: https://www.bulletproofdentalpractice.com