Private practice is getting squeezed by complexity, competition, and promises that “bigger is better.” That pressure is pushing more dentists to consider selling, scaling, or giving up control. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with Dr. Christian Coachman, dentist and educator, about why celebrating independent private practice matters, why quality in dentistry isn’t scalable, and what private practitioners can do to stay clinically excellent without burning out. To learn how community, support, and smart strategy can help you protect your freedom and your standards, listen to Episode 1011 of The Best Practices Show!

Main Takeaways

Private practice protects the dentist’s freedom to make key decisions that support quality and patient-first care.
Motivation, attention to detail, and passion can decline when a practice is sold and clinical decisions are influenced by outside ownership.
Quality in dentistry is not scalable, and it typically drops as practices grow beyond a size that can be closely managed.
The temptation to scale often hits when a dentist reaches a ceiling on fees but demand continues to grow.
Independent dentists can gain many advantages of large organizations by joining a real community that offers support and shared resources.
The increasing demands of technology, marketing, leadership, and management are pressuring private practitioners and fueling DSO interest.
Many dentists who sell are financially relieved but still want their freedom back once non-compete periods end.

Snippets

00:00 Intro – Protecting Independent Private Practice

01:12 Why Private Practice Matters

02:45 Introducing Dr. Christian Coachman

04:10 Celebrating the Freedom of Ownership

06:30 The Current Challenges Facing Private Dentists

08:55 The Mindset Shift Required to Stay Independent

11:20 Why Community and Collaboration Matter

13:40 Innovation in Modern Private Practice

16:05 The Future of Independent Dentistry

18:30 Why Events Like The Exchange Matter

20:10 Final Thoughts – Choosing Freedom Intentionally21:32 Outro

Guest Bio/Guest Resources

Dr. Christian Coachman is a dentist and dental technician known internationally for his work in dental communication, treatment planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He is the founder of Digital Smile Design and has spent decades working inside dental practices, observing patient interactions, and teaching clinicians how to communicate more effectively with patients and teams. He lectures globally and consults with dentists seeking to improve trust, case acceptance, and long-term patient relationships.

Guest resources mentioned in the episode:

Digital Smile Design: https://digitalsmiledesign.com
Dr. Christian Coachman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscoachman

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/

Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa

Upcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/

Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/

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