Episode #337: How to develop an effective blueprint to achieve the practice results you deserve

  1. March 27, 2025

In this episode of the Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, hosts Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah break down the essential steps to developing a customized blueprint for success in your dental practice.

Many dentists feel trapped by PPOs, working harder each year while losing a significant portion of their revenue to insurance write-offs. But the good news? There’s a way out.

Gary and Naren share a step-by-step approach to help you reverse engineer your success, transition away from PPOs, and build a thriving, profitable practice that provides personal, professional, and financial satisfaction.

Key Takeaways

  • A Clear Blueprint is Essential for Success
    Dentists who want to transition away from PPOs and build a thriving, profitable practice need a structured plan. A well-defined blueprint helps manage the process, ensuring steady growth without unnecessary financial stress.
  • Marketing is Key to Replacing Lost PPO Patients
    Simply dropping PPOs isn’t enough—you must proactively attract new patients to fill the gap. A strong marketing strategy helps ensure that your practice stays profitable and independent.
  • Long-Term Success Requires Work-Life Balance
    True success isn’t just about financial growth—it’s also about having time for family, health, and personal well-being. A sustainable practice model should support both your professional goals and your quality of life.

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Episode Timestamps

  • 00:02:35 – The Reality of PPO Dependence
    • Many dentists work harder each year but struggle to see growth due to insurance write-offs.
    • The common frustration of losing 40-50% of production revenue to PPO adjustments.
  • 00:04:49 – The First Step: Understanding Where You Are
    • Identifying your current PPO percentage and practice profitability.
    • Why tracking data is crucial before making changes.
  • 00:06:10 – Reverse Engineering Success
    • Defining what a thriving practice looks like for you.
    • Creating a clear, step-by-step plan to transition away from PPOs.
  • 00:12:00 – The Role of Marketing in PPO Transition
    • Why proactively replacing patients before dropping PPOs is essential.
    • Marketing strategies to attract fee-for-service patients.
  • 00:13:53 – Work-Life Balance: A Key Factor in Success
    • Why financial success shouldn’t come at the cost of personal happiness.
    • The importance of avoiding burnout and making time for family, health, and interests.

Like you have to now earn it. It’s no longer just given to you, and you just sit there.. That’s the PPO practice, right? It’s free, so you don’t have to earn anything. Now, everything changes here.

Naren Arulrajah

If you achieve every other measurement of success, but it comes at the expense of work-life balance, then I’m gonna say it’s not worth it. If it comes at the expense of your relationships, relationship with your spouse or partner or your kids comes at the expense of having time for health and wellness and fitness. Then it isn’t worth it.

Gary Takacs

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Resources

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The Future of Digital Impressions in Dentistry (May 27th, 2025) 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Eastern

Gary Takacs

Gary Takacs One of Gary's most significant achievements as a dental practice management coach is transforming his own practice, LifeSmiles, from one that was infected with PPO plans, no effective marketing strategy, and an overhead of 80% to a very successful dental practice that is currently one of the top-performing practices in the US.

With over 2,200 coaching clients, Gary has first-hand experience transforming insurance-dependent practices into thriving and profitable practices.

Through his Personalized Coaching Program, Gary shares access to the systems, strategies, processes, and experience gained over 41 years of coaching dentists and transforming over 2200 practices worldwide.

Learn More: www.thrivingdentist.com/coaching/
Connect with Gary Takacs on Linkedin

Naren Arulrajah

Naren ArulrajahAs CEO of Ekwa Marketing, Naren has over a decade of experience working with dental practices and helping them attract the ideal type of patients to their practices. It is his goal to help dentists do more of the type of dentistry they love with the help and support of effective digital marketing.

Ekwa’s "Done-For-You" Digital Marketing model blends fundamental persuasion principles with an all-in-one Digital Marketing solution to help your ideal patients find you and choose you for reasons other than being on their insurance plan.

If you’re interested in finding out if Ekwa is the right fit for you and your practice, book a Free Marketing Strategy Meeting with Ekwa’s Marketing Director, Lila Stone.

Book Free Marketing Strategy Meeting: www.lessinsurancedependence.com/marketing-strategy-meeting/

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