Questions? Start Here.
Opening a practice, improving an existing one, or bringing in outside help usually comes with plenty of questions.
Here are straightforward answers about working with NextTier Dental Strategies, what dental practice consulting can help with, and what to expect if we work together.
FAQ
Still not sure?
About Working With NextTier
What types of dental practices do you work with?
I work primarily with independent dentists and dental practice owners—from doctors preparing to open their first practice to established offices looking to improve operations, profitability, leadership, and team performance.
Support can be tailored to general and specialty practices, single-provider offices, and growing multi-provider practices.
Support can be tailored to general and specialty practices, single-provider offices, and growing multi-provider practices.
Where is NextTier Dental Strategies located?
NextTier Dental Strategies is based in Florida and provides dental practice consulting throughout the state, including South Florida, as well as virtual consulting for practices outside the area.
On-site consulting and training may also be available depending on the needs and location of the practice.
Do you work virtually or on-site?
Both.
Many consulting engagements can be handled virtually through scheduled meetings and ongoing support. When being inside the practice would be more valuable, I also provide on-site consulting, team training, leadership workshops, practice intensives, and opening support.
Do you offer one-time consulting, or do I need ongoing coaching?
Both are available.
Some practices need help solving a specific problem or completing a particular project. Others benefit from ongoing support as we work through several priorities over time. We'll decide what makes sense based on what your practice actually needs.
Some practices need help solving a specific problem or completing a particular project. Others benefit from ongoing support as we work through several priorities over time. We'll decide what makes sense based on what your practice actually needs.
Starting a Dental Practice
Can you help me open my first dental practice?
Yes.
I help dentists navigate the business and operational side of opening a new dental practice, including planning, timelines, insurance credentialing, vendors, technology, hiring, workflows, compliance, team preparation, and opening-day readiness. The goal is to make sure you're not trying to figure out hundreds of unfamiliar decisions on your own while also preparing to become a practice owner.
I help dentists navigate the business and operational side of opening a new dental practice, including planning, timelines, insurance credentialing, vendors, technology, hiring, workflows, compliance, team preparation, and opening-day readiness. The goal is to make sure you're not trying to figure out hundreds of unfamiliar decisions on your own while also preparing to become a practice owner.
When should I hire a dental consultant before opening a practice?
Earlier is usually better.
Many decisions made months before opening—such as credentialing, software, hiring, workflow design, and vendor selection—can affect your timeline and how smoothly the practice operates later.
You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. In fact, that's often the point.
Can you help with dental insurance credentialing?
Yes.
Credentialing support can include PPO credentialing, Medicare and Medicaid enrollment when applicable, CAQH setup, fee schedules, and related insurance participation needs. Because credentialing can take longer than expected, it's one of the areas I recommend addressing early in the startup process.
Credentialing support can include PPO credentialing, Medicare and Medicaid enrollment when applicable, CAQH setup, fee schedules, and related insurance participation needs. Because credentialing can take longer than expected, it's one of the areas I recommend addressing early in the startup process.
Can you help with hiring and training my new dental team?
Yes.
I can help with recruiting, hiring, onboarding, job descriptions, training manuals, standard operating procedures, workflows, and preparing the team to work together before patients begin walking through the door.
I can help with recruiting, hiring, onboarding, job descriptions, training manuals, standard operating procedures, workflows, and preparing the team to work together before patients begin walking through the door.
Improving an Existing Dental Practice
My dental practice is already successful. Can consulting still help?
Absolutely.
A practice doesn't need to be struggling to benefit from an outside perspective.
Sometimes the opportunity is improving profitability, strengthening leadership, creating more consistent systems, improving case acceptance, addressing scheduling problems, or helping the practice operate without the doctor having to solve every problem.
How do you determine what needs to change in a dental practice?
I start by looking at what's actually happening.
That may include operations, scheduling, collections, insurance, workflows, team responsibilities, leadership, case acceptance, patient flow, and other areas affecting performance.
I don't believe in trying to fix everything at once. We identify the issues creating the greatest impact and decide what deserves attention first.
Can you help improve dental practice profitability?
Yes—but profitability isn't usually improved by looking at one number in isolation.
I may look at collections, insurance reimbursement, fee schedules, scheduling, case acceptance, workflow efficiency, productivity, systems, and accountability to understand where opportunities are being lost.
The goal is a healthier practice, not simply "do more dentistry."
Can you help if my dental team isn't working well together?
Yes.
Team problems often show up as communication issues, unclear responsibilities, inconsistent workflows, lack of accountability, leadership challenges, or dependence on one person to keep everything running.
I focus on the underlying systems and behaviors—not just the symptom you're seeing.
Team Training & Leadership
Can you train my entire dental team?
Yes.
Training can be customized for doctors, office managers, front desk teams, treatment coordinators, dental assistants, hygienists, or the practice as a whole. Depending on the goal, training can be provided virtually or on-site.
Training can be customized for doctors, office managers, front desk teams, treatment coordinators, dental assistants, hygienists, or the practice as a whole. Depending on the goal, training can be provided virtually or on-site.
Do you offer leadership coaching for dentists and office managers?
Yes.
Leadership development can focus on communication, accountability, delegation, team culture, expectations, and helping doctors and managers lead the practice more effectively.
Leadership development can focus on communication, accountability, delegation, team culture, expectations, and helping doctors and managers lead the practice more effectively.
What are on-site dental practice intensives?
On-site intensives provide focused, hands-on support inside your practice.
Depending on what you need, this may include a one-day practice intensive, team training day, leadership workshop, opening-week support, or quarterly practice review.
How Consulting Works
What happens during the complimentary consultation?
We talk.
You'll tell me about your practice, what's been happening, and what you'd like to improve. I'll ask questions to better understand what's going on and help separate the symptoms from the issues that may actually need attention.
If I believe I can help, I'll explain what working together could look like. If I don't think consulting is what you need, I'll tell you that too.
What happens if we decide to work together?
We begin by getting a clearer picture of your practice, priorities, and goals.
From there, we'll identify what needs attention first and create a practical plan. Rather than trying to change everything at once, we focus on the priorities most likely to make a meaningful difference and build from there.
Will you just tell us what to change?
No.
Knowing what needs to change is only part of the work.
I can work directly with you, your office manager, and your team to help implement new systems, improve workflows, strengthen accountability, and turn recommendations into changes your practice can actually use.
Fees, Travel & Agreements
How much does dental practice consulting cost?
Consulting fees depend on the type and scope of support your practice needs.
Ongoing consulting, project-based work, credentialing, training, practice openings, and on-site intensives may be structured differently. After learning about your needs, I'll explain the appropriate options and costs before you make a decision.
Do you require a long-term contract?
Ongoing coaching is generally structured month to month, with the terms explained clearly before services begin. Project based consulting and on-site services are scoped separately.
Do you travel for on-site dental consulting?
Yes.
On-site consulting is available outside the local area when the engagement would benefit from in-person support. Travel expenses and requirements are discussed and quoted in advance based on the location and scope of the project.
On-site consulting is available outside the local area when the engagement would benefit from in-person support. Travel expenses and requirements are discussed and quoted in advance based on the location and scope of the project.
Still Have a Question?
Every dental practice is different, and an FAQ can only cover so much.
If you're opening a practice, trying to improve one you already own, or simply aren't sure what kind of help you need, start with a conversation.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation