The Dental Practice Heroes Podcast With Dr. Paul Etchison

Dental practice owners across the country face a mounting challenge—skyrocketing hygienist wages that strain traditional production-focused models. But what if obsessing over hourly production metrics is actually holding your practice back from its true potential?In this transformative episode, I reveal why the real value of your hygiene department extends far beyond cleaning teeth and covering overhead. Your hygienists aren't just maintenance workers—they're relationship architects creating memorable patient experiences, treatment acceptance facilitators preparing patients for necessary care, and health consultants offering solutions that improve lives.When patients spend 40-60 minutes with your hygienists but only 2-5 minutes with you as the doctor, those hygiene appointments become the defining experience of your practice. Patients form their strongest impressions and build their trusting relationships during hygiene visits. The loyalty this creates drives retention and word-of-mouth referrals th