AI is already changing dental practice administration. Dr Manrina Rhode’s new six-week course shows dentists how to build practical, repeatable workflows while keeping patient-identifiable information firmly outside the system.

During Q4 of 2025, I presented an exit-planning workshop to our Extreme Business members. The central idea was simple. Every dental business owner should be able to answer two questions: When do you want to exit? How much do you want to receive? Many owners cannot answer either question. They work hard, generate revenue, build teams and deliver excellent dentistry, but their exit strategy remains something they will “get around to one day”. "One day" is not a date. "Enough mo

As always, I asked my Uber driver: CB - "Nobody left school wanting to be a cab driver, so what did you want to do when you left school, and how did you end up as a cab driver?" He replied: Driver - "I have a post-graduate qualification in AI-engineering." CB - "So why are you driving an Uber?" Driver - "Because I make more money but it also gives me the time flexibility to pursue my side hustle." CB - "And what is that?" Driver - "I spend 20-30 hours a week as an online Fore

A successful dental practice needs more than healthy turnover. Owners must understand what drives revenue, where capacity is being lost and whether the patient journey is converting into treatment. These four KPIs provide that clarity. 1. Chair utilisation Chair utilisation measures how much of your available clinical capacity is genuinely being used. An empty surgery still creates costs through rent, wages, utilities and equipment, but produces no income. Track available sur

Leadership in dental practice ownership demands more than clinical skill and business acumen. It requires creating an environment where every team member feels motivated to contribute their best work. Last week, during a webinar for members of The Campbell Clubhouse, I shared insights on how dental practice owners can evolve their leadership style from reactive problem solvers to visionary architects and, ultimately, wise monarchs who sustain and grow their practices. Leaders

After almost a month away from my normal rhythm, I returned to my desk last Monday and stared at the accumulated emails, recordings, financial reports and tasks like a rabbit in the headlights. By Friday evening I had cleared about half of the backlog, and the conversations had given me a clear picture of what is happening in independent dentistry right now. The white space problem is real The most common anxiety remains white space in the diary. After the post-pandemic perio

July began in Cheshire, included many trips around the UK and Ireland, then to Ithaca, Greece, and ended at my desk, listening to the accumulated evidence of a month that tested business owners. In Greece I noticed quieter roads, restaurants and beaches. Fuel prices had risen and tourists seemed more cautious. Then we visited Myrtia, a small, inconveniently located and unapologetically expensive hilltop restaurant. It was full, with a waiting list. That became my picture of J

In my home village of Hartford, Cheshire we have a Co-op store that never seems to close and is always busy. As a result, there are regular visitations outside the door by a large delivery truck bringing much needed supplies. Whenever the delivery truck is due, the shop assistants rush outside to place cones on the road, preventing parking and leaving a space for the truck driver. A few days ago, we were walking the dog past the store and Annie popped in for something. I stoo

A client asked me earlier this week: "Chris I have 6 patients with big treatment plans that haven't been taken up. We've created mock-ups, plans, presentations. We have sent them a gentle reminder, but there is no response. Do you have any tips on how to reactivate them?" I reached for my Mont Blanc fountain pen and held it up to the Zoom camera. "Find your best pen, or buy one. Get some really nice stationery or a lovely branded card. Hand-write a note that builds empathy, s

In this episode of the Two Reds Podcast, Chris Barrow and Ashley Latter welcome back Julia Riese, Director of Marketing and Operations at Coastal Dental Care in Australia, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, systems, practice growth and the practical use of AI in dental business management. The first part of the conversation focuses on Julia’s book, Beyond Dentistry: Mastering the Four Pillars to Succeed with Your Dental Practice. Remarkably, Julia wrote the fir