What do barefoot patients, expensive coffee, and a small shoe factory have in common? In this episode of The Dental Practice Fixers podcast, Dr. Rich shares a strange but true story from a Seattle café and ties it into a powerful lesson about opportunity, mindset, and making the most of what’s right in front of you.

You’ll also hear a business fable with a surprising dental twist — and learn why your credit card fees might not be as fixed as you think. And then – mystery shopper calls! Don’t miss this one!

Clinical Opportunities & Patient Communication

• Periodontal Disease is Underdiagnosed: Most practices under-treat perio, often with rates as low as 3%, despite over 50% of adults having some form of the disease. This is a major missed opportunity for both care and revenue.
• Use the “Talk Over” Technique During Exams: Narrate perio probing in plain language as you do it. This engages patients, builds understanding, and increases acceptance of needed treatment.
• Educate with Simplicity: Use simple, relatable language when discussing diagnosis—e.g., “bleeding means infection,” “low numbers are good,” etc.—so patients clearly grasp the problem and ask what to do next.

Financial Strategy: Credit Card Surcharging

• Surcharging Can Protect Revenue: Consider passing credit card processing fees to patients—a legal and increasingly common practice. This preserves 100% of your fee without increasing prices.
• Be Transparent and Compliant: Use platforms like CardX (recommended in the podcast) to ensure compliance and ease of use when implementing surcharging.

Mindset Shift: The “Barefoot Island” Metaphor

• Turn ‘No One Wears Shoes’ Into Opportunity: Don’t assume patients don’t want or can’t afford services like fluoride, clear aligners, or perio therapy. Instead, assume they haven’t been offered them clearly and confidently—yet.
• Reframe Obstacles as Growth Areas: Challenge internal team beliefs like “our patients won’t go for that” and explore whether those beliefs are based on reality or reluctance to lead.

1 – Sign up for our e-newsletter. It’s filled with up-to-date practice building tips, event announcements, and more! madow.com/newsletter

When you sign up for the newsletter, you are automatically enrolled in our drawings for your own personal Dental Practice Fixers coffee mug!!

2 – Download our special free report,  “The Dirty Dozen:  HOW TO ANSWER THE MOST DIFFICULT QUESTIONS THAT PATIENTS ASK!” madow.com/ask

3 – Schedule time on Dr. Rich’s personal calendar to discuss any practice issues or ways to improve! (This is for practice-owning dentists only!)   madow.com/calendar

4 – Save money every single month on autopilot by paying a low, flat, monthly fee for credit card processing! Stop wasting money, and lower your overhead with one call!   madow.com/save

5 – Get the absolute most for your dental scrap with Southern Dental Refining. Deal directly with the owner, cut out middlemen and salespeople, and get some real mailbox money!    madow.com/gold

6 –Boost your practice with SimplyClear aligners from OrthoBrain. Skip the middlemen and work directly with US-based orthodontists for top-notch care. Make your patients smile and watch your practice thrive!  madow.com/ortho 

7 – Attract the perfect new patients with Simple Impact Media’s expert SEO, tailored just for your dental practice. Skip the generic and get a free consultation and audit with founder Evan Lazarus. Elevate your online presence and watch your ideal patients come in!  madow.com/simpleimpactmedia

8 – Meet up with us in our private FACEBOOK group to continue the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dentalplace123