Integrity & Letting Go: Leadership Lessons for the Dental Practice
- Sarah Beth Herman
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
A Free Training for Dental Leaders
Welcome to another free training from Dentistry Support®, created to help dental practice owners and managers strengthen their leadership, streamline their systems, and lead with integrity. If you’re overseeing your dental team, managing billing or eligibility verification, handling phones, or mentoring your front office — this resource was built for you.
At Dentistry Support®, we believe that leadership in dentistry starts with culture, continues through systems, and is sustained by accountability. That’s also what we talk about every week on Dentistry Support® The Podcast — the #1 Podcast in Dentistry, where real conversations about growth, mentorship, billing, and leadership meet practical solutions for modern practices.
Why Integrity Matters More Than Ever in Dental Leadership
Dentistry isn’t just about crowns, composites, or chairside care — it’s about people. Behind every treatment plan are conversations, systems, and team members who either uphold integrity or let it slip.
Research has long shown that leadership behaviors directly influence team performance and patient outcomes (Rahman, 2023). For dental practices, that leadership begins at the front desk and extends all the way to post-op follow-ups.
When we lead with integrity, our systems become smoother, our patients feel safer, and our billing accuracy and eligibility processes strengthen naturally.
Integrity in dentistry means:
Explaining treatment plans clearly and honestly
Ensuring accuracy in dental billing and eligibility verification
Answering phones consistently with empathy and professionalism
Respecting every patient’s trust and privacy
Leading with consistency even when decisions are uncomfortable
At Dentistry Support®, this value isn’t negotiable. Integrity forms the foundation for every call we answer, every claim we process, and every relationship we maintain — internally and externally.
When Leadership Requires Letting Go
One of the hardest realities of leadership — especially in dentistry — is realizing when a relationship or professional path has reached its limit.
As leaders, we invest deeply in people. We coach, mentor, and believe in their potential. Yet sometimes, the most loving act of leadership is recognizing that someone’s season in your practice has ended.
In a dental office, that might look like:
A front-desk coordinator who once radiated warmth but begins disregarding systems or gossiping with patients.
A billing and eligibility specialist who was once precise but now cuts corners or fails to communicate.
A team leader who no longer represents your practice’s mission and values.
Letting go isn’t about punishment — it’s about protection. Protection of your team, your culture, and your patients.
Leadership requires courage. Grace can live inside grit, but grace without boundaries becomes chaos.
Six Practical Leadership Steps for Dental Practice Owners
These six steps are drawn from over two decades of leadership across multi-location dental groups and virtual support companies. Each one is tested, applicable, and practical for dental leaders at any stage:
State facts, not feelings.
Example: On [date], this action violated policy [number] on patient communication or billing accuracy.
Anchor in your values, not your emotions.
Integrity isn’t conditional on how you feel that day — it’s a decision you protect daily.
Close the door cleanly.
Say what needs to be said and leave space for growth on both sides. No rumors. No lingering hurt.
Protect your people and your peace.
If someone’s actions compromise your billing accuracy, eligibility workflow, or patient trust, address it immediately.
Grieve with dignity — don’t grovel.
You can care deeply for someone and still release them with respect. That’s true leadership.
Keep going.
Your leadership sets the tone for the entire practice. Don’t let a loss make you lose momentum.
Each of these steps protects your practice and builds resilience into your culture.
The Ripple Effect of Integrity on Your Practice
When integrity becomes your baseline, everything else improves.
1. Patient Trust Grows
Patients notice when a team is aligned and honest. From the first phone call to the final statement, authenticity builds confidence.
2. Team Morale Improves
People thrive when standards are consistent and everyone is held equally accountable. Integrity creates safety.
3. Growth Stabilizes
Sustainable growth comes from predictable systems: accurate billing, timely eligibility checks, structured phone processes, and ethical leadership.
4. Reputation Expands
Your community will trust a practice that does what it says and treats people with respect — patients and employees alike.
Leadership in Action — A Real-World Perspective
Throughout my career, I’ve faced the heartache of letting go of people I truly believed in. Each time, I had to remind myself: leadership isn’t just about building up — it’s about releasing when necessary.
At Dentistry Support®, we’ve built our systems on that same balance. Our virtual dental billing team, eligibility specialists, and phone support staff are trained with a single expectation: integrity first.
We don’t cut corners to gain clients. We build long-term trust through accuracy, transparency, and the understanding that people matter more than numbers.
When we lead like this, we don’t just grow businesses — we elevate an entire industry.
How to Apply This in Your Dental Practice Today
Audit your systems. Check your billing and eligibility processes for accuracy and integrity. Ask: Would I be comfortable explaining this workflow to a patient?
Evaluate your communication. Listen to how your phones are answered. Is it consistent, kind, and aligned with your values?
Revisit your policies. Do your written standards support the culture you want to build?
Train for accountability. At Dentistry Support®, we train teams to follow systems because systems protect people.
Mentor with clarity. Mentorship is a gift — but without boundaries, it can drain you. Teach with grace and hold standards firmly.
Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being consistent. And in dentistry, consistency creates trust that no marketing budget can buy.
Free Training + Podcast Series for Dental Professionals
If you’re ready to lead your practice differently, join me for a free training for dental leaders through Dentistry Support®. This training covers team culture, billing and eligibility accuracy, phone system optimization, and mentorship for practice owners.
And this Monday, Week 4 of our Keep Going Series releases on Dentistry Support® The Podcast. The episode, titled “Releasing with Love, Leading with Strength,” explores how to let go without losing your peace — and how to rebuild stronger systems after.
Each episode in this 12-week series stands alone, so you can start anytime and still walk away with actionable steps to grow your team and your practice.
Visit www.dentistrysupport.com to access the training and subscribe to Dentistry Support® The Podcast — the #1 Podcast in Dentistry helping practices build systems that scale with integrity.
What This Means for You and Your Team
Every time you lead with integrity — whether it’s by clarifying a policy, holding someone accountable, or releasing an employee gracefully — you teach your team what real leadership looks like.
It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.
Because the culture you build is the legacy you leave. And in dentistry, that legacy doesn’t just affect employees — it affects every patient who walks through your doors.
Keep going, keep leading, and keep choosing integrity over convenience. Your practice will be stronger for it.
References
Bryant Consultants. (2024, January 3). The importance of consistent leadership in dentistry. Retrieved from https://www.bryantconsultants.com/dental-consulting/the-importance-of-consistent-leadership-in-dent…
ClearDent. (n.d.). Why leadership matters in dentistry. Retrieved from https://www.cleardent.com/blog/why-leadership-matters-in-dentistry/
Herman, S. B. (2024, February 29). Generational Leadership + Fostering a Culture of Continuous Improvement. Dentistry Support®. Retrieved from https://www.dentistrysupport.com/post/generational-leadership-fostering-a-culture-of-continuous-imp…
MyDentistHub. (2022). Professionalism and integrity in dental practice. Retrieved from https://mydentisthub.com/professionalism-and-integrity-in-dental-practice/
Rahman, D. (2023). 12 principles of “leadershift” for dental staff within the practice. BDJ in Practice, 36, 26–28. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-023-1936-7
Disclaimer:
To learn more about Sarah Beth Herman, the author of all free training content you can read her bio here. These materials are intended to provide helpful information to dentists and dental team members. They are in no way a substitute for actual professional advice based on your unique facts and circumstances. This content is not intended or offered, nor should it be taken, as legal or other professional advice. You should always consult with your own professional advisors (e.g. attorney, accountant, or insurance carrier). To the extent, Dentistry Support ®has included links to any third-party website (s), Dentistry Support ® intends no endorsement of their content and implies no affiliation with the organizations that provide their content. Further, Dentistry Support ® makes no representations or warranties about the information provided on those sites. You can view our privacy policy and terms and conditions by clicking those pages in the footer of our website.