Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Amanda Tebbe, Chief Operations Officer at SOH Dental
Date: September 28, 2025
Host: Ariana Portolattan (A)
Guest: Amanda Tebbe (B), COO at SOH Dental

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Ariana Portolattan interviews Amanda Tebbe, Chief Operations Officer at SOH Dental, about current industry trends, operational challenges, and the future of leadership in dental support organizations (DSOs). Tebbe shares her thoughts on workforce issues, the impact of technology (especially AI), and the critical importance of workplace culture and retention.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Amanda Tebbe’s Background and SOH Dental Overview

• Amanda Tebbe serves as COO, overseeing field and support operations as well as strategic initiatives at SOH Dental.
• SOH Dental, founded in 2018, operates 40 locations across 11 states, combining general practice and specialty offices and generating $80 million in annual revenue.
• Tebbe previously held senior roles at Heartland Dental and Patterson Technology Center, bringing a breadth of leadership experience.

Top Issues in the Dental Industry (01:13–02:42)

• Staffing Shortages:
  • "Operationally, staffing shortages, especially in the hygiene and dental assistant roles, [are] always on my mind." (01:25, B)
  • SOH Dental has achieved strong staff retention but remains vigilant on market trends and hiring practices.
• Retention Strategies:
  • Continuous evaluation of salary trends, bonuses, and market compensation.
  • Emphasis on job satisfaction as key to retention.
• Affordability and Insurance Coverage:
  • Concern over patient care affordability, insurance coverage gaps, and payer reimbursement trends; all are closely monitored as they impact overall market trends.

Ingredients of Successful Retention at SOH Dental (02:42–03:22)

• Culture-First Approach:
  • "It's really great culture...not necessarily micromanaging or treating every office and situation as a cookie cutter approach." (02:51, B)
  • Each office is recognized as unique, with leadership and supportive culture being core drivers of low turnover.
• Leadership and Flexibility:
  • Focused leadership and adaptable office management are named as retention cornerstones.

Excitement and Concerns about the Future of Dentistry (03:22–05:06)

• Optimism About Technology, Especially AI:
  • "I'm most excited about the buzzword AI and just new technology overall and how that can improve the efficiency of our supported dental offices." (03:30, B)
  • AI is seen as a solution to reduce repetitive tasks, centralize functions (e.g., accounts receivable, call center, insurance verification), and potentially improve compliance and data management.
• ROI Caution:
  • "I think the key is also making sure that there's an ROI and it's actually adding to the business." (04:21, B)
  • Importance of vetting technology investments to ensure team buy-in and genuine value addition.
• Concerns About Culture During Change:
  • "I'm really most nervous that we ensure culture and teams feel good about the centralization efforts...and they see it as a value add and not a replacement factor or more work in general." (04:36, B)
  • Emphasis on remaining a "people first" company as the organization evolves technologically.

The Future of Healthcare Leadership (05:15–07:10)

• Culture and People Focus:
  • "A big component of success is to focus on the team's culture and the people side to support the overall retention number." (05:15, B)
  • SOH Dental’s culture and communications working group supports retention and fosters a positive workplace.
  • Initiatives include ongoing training, mentorship, internal growth opportunities, and employee recognition.
  • "We truly believe that the saying 'culture eats strategy for breakfast' is, is absolutely true." (06:13, B)
• Operational Growth and Creative Thinking:
  • Leaders must focus on growing acquired offices, not just maintaining them.
  • There's value in looking for growth opportunities within existing locations ("diamonds in everyone’s backyard").
  • Encouraged to develop problem-solving capabilities and tailor approaches to each office, avoiding cookie-cutter management.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Staffing and Retention:
  • "I'm always looking to ensure we're staying on top of hiring and what's kind of trending...even comparing it outside and just trends in general within the industry." (01:31, B)
• On Technology and AI:
  • "It's easy for the team to get bogged down with the busy task-oriented things that really just take away from them focusing on the patient experience...AI can eliminate some of that busy work." (03:35, B)
• On Leadership Philosophy:
  • "Retaining high performers...makes people feel good about where they work and...personal growth is important to a lot of people." (06:00, B)
  • "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." (06:13, B)
• On Growth Strategy:
  • "It's not just about maintaining what you bought, but it's...really building on top of that." (06:43, B)
  • "There's diamonds really in everyone's backyard." (06:52, B)

Key Timestamps

• 00:22 – Amanda Tebbe introduces herself and SOH Dental
• 01:13 – Top issues in the dental industry today
• 02:42 – Why SOH Dental has best-in-class retention rates
• 03:30 – What excites and concerns Amanda about the dental industry’s future, especially technology
• 05:15 – The most important qualities for healthcare leaders in the coming years
• 06:13 – "Culture eats strategy for breakfast" and focus on developing internal talent
• 06:43 – On fostering growth post-acquisition and creative thinking

Summary Flow and Tone

Amanda Tebbe’s perspective is practical and people-centered, emphasizing that operational success in dental organizations is fundamentally tied to employee satisfaction, a supportive workplace culture, and thoughtful application of technology. She’s candid about both the promise and potential pitfalls of industry trends and passionately believes in continual cultural investment as the strongest strategy for long-term success.