Half the Population Skips the Dentist—Is That a Problem or a Goldmine?

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Free Resources and Downloads including our Escape Hygiene Hell e-book:  stan.store/escapehygienehell

What if I told you that the fact that 50% of people don’t go to the dentist might actually be the best news for your practice? In this episode of Practice on Fire, Graham dives into a conversation sparked by a hot Dentaltown thread—and even gets a shoutout from Howard Farran himself. Most dentists see the non-dental half of the population as unreachable. But what if they’re not unreachable… just waiting for the right dentist to speak their language?

While DSOs and traditional practices fight over the same pool of hygiene-driven patients, Graham makes the case for turning your attention to a group that’s often overlooked: patients with serious dental problems who aren’t part of the six-month recall machine. These patients aren’t coming in for a cleaning—but when they do come in, they’re motivated, ready, and often in need of thousands of dollars in treatment. And best of all? They’re grateful.

This episode breaks down why the hygiene-heavy family model is increasingly unsustainable, how private practice owners can leverage their unique position, and why marketing to the 50% of “invisible” patients could be the key to building a more profitable, fulfilling, and future-proof practice. If you’re ready to stop fighting over cleanings and start building something different, this is the episode for you.