Why Most Dentists Will Be Corporate Drones (and How to Avoid It)

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

Are we heading toward a future where most dentists spend their entire careers as corporate employees? Sadly, the answer might be yes—unless we do something about it. In this episode of Escape Hygiene Hell, Graham Dersley breaks down the quiet but dangerous trend pulling more and more dentists away from ownership and into the arms of DSOs. Inspired by a “doomscrolling” moment and a Facebook post about retirement savings, Graham unpacks why owning your practice isn’t just a good idea—it might be the only way to protect your income, your autonomy, and your sanity.

We’ll dig into why the traditional family dental model is bleeding practices dry, how hygiene has become a black hole for profitability, and why marketing for free cleanings is one of the most backwards strategies you could run in 2025. Plus, Graham shares how dentists can unlock their income potential by becoming both clinical powerhouses and business-savvy owners. (Spoiler: That $5M retirement plan doesn’t look so great when you’ve handed your whole career over to “the man.”)

If you’re ready to ditch the hygiene hamster wheel, stop giving DSOs all the leverage, and finally take control of your dental future, this episode is your wake-up call. It’s not too late to build a smarter, leaner, more profitable practice—and we’re here to help you do it.