Key Lessons in Building a Dental Practice

Dr. David Maloley is the founder of Vail Valley Dental Care in Avon, Colorado. He started his practice in 2009 amidst one of the most challenging economic times in recent history. And in a short amount of time, Dr. Maloley built a thriving practice that could support his dream life. He works three days a week, skis over 40 days a year, and takes quarterly vacations with his family, all while running the practice of his dreams. Dr. Maloley is also a Certified High Performance and Leadership Coach. He is the co-author of Titans of Dentistry. And he hosts his own podcast, the “Relentless Dentist Podcast.” In this episode, Dr. Maloley joins us to share his top strategies for dentists looking to grow their practice.

The Entrepreneurial Learning Curve

Dr. Maloley’s experience as a Dental Officer in the U.S. Army had an impact on his life both personally and professionally. When he first started his practice in 2009, he didn’t fully appreciate the amount of leg work it would take to go from $0 in revenue to a sizeable practice that would afford him time and financial freedom. Being in a resort town, Vail Valley Dental Care also succumbed to the peaks and valleys of seasonal traffic, which was a challenge in and of itself. Dr. Maloley had to learn marketing, leadership, and a wide variety of other skills that make a great entrepreneur. He was always clinically skilled, but opening his own dental practice taught him how to excel in every other area of dentistry.

Invest in Your People

If you run or plan to run your own dental practice, your job is to create the vision, build a team to support the vision, and give them the tools and training they need to execute the vision. But we aren’t taught how to tackle these challenges in dental school. If you want to get the most out of your people and ensure they’re engaged in their work, you have to align them under a common purpose. Building a culture that accomplishes this is the greatest investment you can make. Whether that means investing in yourself or investing in your team, there are a number of ways to grow your dental practice beyond adding services or new equipment; many of which are more sustainable.