The Middle "Class" Dental Practice Is Disappearing

Dentistry is changing fast, and many practice owners can feel it.In this solo episode of CEO Chairside, Dr. Greg Grillo explores a growing reality inside the profession: the “middle-class” dental practice is getting squeezed.Rising overhead. Flat insurance reimbursement. Staffing instability. Operational complexity. More competition. More pressure. And yet many dentists are producing more than ever while feeling less profitable, less clear, and more exhausted.This episode takes a deep dive into why the traditional “comfortable” private practice model is under pressure — and what separates the independent practices that are still thriving from the ones quietly struggling behind the scenes.Dr. Grillo breaks down:• Why being “busy” no longer guarantees profitability• The hidden operational leaks hurting many practices• How hygiene instability affects the entire business• Why patient expectations have changed dramatically• The growing divide between intentional practices and reactive ones• How DSOs and sophisticated groups are reshaping competition• Why independent dentistry still has a massive advantage — if practices evolve strategicallyThis is not a doom-and-gloom episode about private practice dying.It’s a conversation about leadership, clarity, systems, patient trust, and the future of independent dentistry.If you’ve felt like dentistry has become heavier, more complicated, or harder to navigate than it used to be, this episode will probably resonate deeply.Because the future may not belong to the biggest practices.It may belong to the most intentional ones.