Q&A: 🤯 The WORST Career Advice for Associates—And What to Do Instead

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In this episode of Practice on Fire, we’re tackling listener questions and diving deep into two critical topics that could reshape how you run your dental career.

💥 First up: Managing Unreliable Patients.
One listener asks how to flag unreliable patients in their practice management software, but here’s the bigger question—should you even be keeping these patients? Instead of double-booking and scrambling to fill no-show gaps, learn how to upgrade your patient base over time, enforce firm attendance policies, and build a schedule that works for you instead of against you.

💰 Next: “I Make $350K as an Associate—Should I Buy a Practice?”
If you’re pulling in a solid paycheck, why take on the risk and responsibility of ownership? Simple: long-term wealth and control. As an associate, you’re trading time for money, with zero equity and limited autonomy. We break down why practice ownership is the fastest way to financial freedom—and how to prepare so you don’t just survive, but thrive.

Plus, I tackle one of the worst career tips I’ve ever heard—should associates work a fifth day as a hygienist to make an extra $75/hr? 🤯 Spoiler alert: NO. Instead, I explain why thinking bigger is the key to multiplying your income, escaping the time-for-money trap, and making career moves that actually matter.

If you’re ready to take control of your practice, your finances, and your future, this episode is for you. Let’s light this fire! 🔥

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