If you had to choose just one thing to include in your morning huddle every day, what would it be?

For Dr. Ben Kacos—DSI Black Belt Coach and Chief Clinical Officer for Dental Success Partners—that one thing is clear: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

In a recent DSN webinar, Dr. Kacos took us inside his practice’s daily morning huddles and broke down why reviewing KPIs isn’t just a good habit: it’s a non-negotiable.

Dr. Kacos shared a detailed look at how his team uses morning huddles to stay aligned, accountable, and driven. His central philosophy? What gets measured improves, and what gets measured and reported improves exponentially.

By reviewing both lead and lag measures daily, the team gets real-time clarity on what success looks like and what actions are needed today to get there. These huddles aren’t bloated or overwhelming: they’re focused, efficient, and consistent.

Key Takeaways from Dr. Kacos’ Morning Huddle Playbook:

• Start with Lead Measures: Things like number of SRP quads diagnosed, new patient calls, fluoride acceptance, and internal referrals are early indicators of future success.
• Don’t Neglect the Basics: Daily missed calls and call scores are tracked to identify if marketing or front desk processes need improvement.
• Create Momentum: Patients who don’t have insurance verified before arriving? That’s a broken system—and a missed opportunity! Tracking these moments can prevent that.
• Google Reviews Matter More Than You Think: Not only are they a marketing boost, but tracking review frequency directly correlates with new patient flow.
• Hygiene Metrics Drive Profit: Quads of SRP, fluoride acceptance, and reappointment rates are all reviewed regularly—because a profitable hygiene department means a healthy practice.
• Celebrate Wins, Learn from Diagnoses: When hygienists diagnose periodontal disease, the team discusses it the next day, turning clinical experience into teachable moments.

This level of intentionality doesn’t just keep your team informed—it keeps them inspired. And over time, that transforms culture.
“Without this, we would not have the practice that we have with the overhead, the production, the collections, and the Google reviews that we have.” – Dr. Ben Kacos

Want to Go Deeper with Dr. Kacos in Person?

Join us for The Total Hygiene Workshop led by Dr. Ben Kacos in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, April 10th, 2025. This full-day training will help hygienists and practice leaders understand the clinical and cultural drivers behind a thriving hygiene department—and how to translate that into results.

Seats are limited, and this workshop always fills fast!