Starting a dental practice from scratch is one of the boldest and riskiest moves a dentist can make. What if you didn’t have to figure it out the hard way?
In our recent DSN webinar, Dr. Addison Killeen and Dr. Chris Green opened up about their own start-up journeys: what worked, what didn’t, and the costly mistakes they wish someone had helped them avoid.
They’ve each built thriving practices from the ground up. Today, they coach dozens of dentists through the same process, and they’ve seen the patterns clearly: most start-up struggles are avoidable with the right plan, the right systems, and a supportive network.
Key Takeaways from Their Conversation:
- Location can make or break you. Visibility, traffic, and growth potential matter more than your buildout budget.
- Start with 7 ops or regret it later. Underbuilding limits your ability to grow, add associates, or even see same-day emergencies.
- Marketing isn’t optional. Many dentists underfund their marketing and end up with a beautiful office and empty chairs.
- Don’t over-equip. Every dollar spent on nonessential tech is one less you can put into patient acquisition or staff training.
- Credentialing missteps cost real money. One bad insurance setup can cut thousands off your production potential.
From Two Docs Who’ve Been There
Addison and Chris are both deeply involved in the DSN community because they believe no dentist should have to do this alone. DSN was built to give start-up owners an advantage through playbooks, templates, expert feedback, and cost-saving vendor deals.
If you’re in the planning stages or already in buildout, we invite you to hop on a call with our team. We’ll listen to where you are, what your goals are, and walk you through exactly how DSN can support your journey.
Let’s help you avoid the most common and costly start-up mistakes and build a practice that’s both profitable and fulfilling from day one.
Until Next Time,
The DSN Team
