Dawn Patrick

Dawn Patrick

Dawn has 30+ years of dental experience spanning all facets of dentistry including pediatric, cosmetic, complete health, and sleep.

During her career, Dawn enjoyed 25 years in practice management including marketing, team training, and consulting.

She joined IgniteDDS in June 2022 as Director of Operations.

Dawn enjoys working directly with teams and customers to create a win-win. She is passionate about creating systems and processes that allow teams to excel.

In her spare time, Dawn enjoys time with family, her two Goldendoodles, and traveling with her husband, Jon.

checklist of daily dental practice routines

Daily Dental Practice Routines That Lead to Long-Term Success 

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach and Director of Operations, IgniteDDS  Running a successful dental practice requires more…

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cultivate leadership in your dental practice team

Preventing Burnout: How to Maintain Engagement & Discipline in Your Dental Team

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach and Director of Operations, IgniteDDS  In today’s demanding dental environment, burnout among…

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cultivate leadership in your dental practice team

Building Self-Esteem & Long-Term Commitment: How to Show Appreciation to Your Dental Team 

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach + Director of Operations, IgniteDDS  In any dental practice, the team is…

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strong dental team culture

Building a Strong Culture with Your Dental Team: The Foundation of a Thriving Practice 

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  In the ever-evolving world of dentistry, clinical…

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cultivate leadership in your dental practice team

Building & Maintaining a Strong, Committed Dental Team: A Comprehensive Guide for Long-Term Success 

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  The success of any dental practice is…

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starting a dental practice

10 Steps to Starting a Dental Practice

By: Dawn Patrick Are you a dental student with dreams of one day starting a dental practice?…

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cultivate leadership in your dental practice team

Cultivate Leadership within Your Dental Team

Cultivating Leadership in Your Dental Team: Empowerment Strategies for Practice Success By: Dawn Patrick A successful dental…

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morning huddles

Powerful Connections: How Morning Huddles & Monthly Team Meetings Supercharge Dental Practices

By: Dawn Patrick As a dental practice, the key to success lies not only in providing excellent…

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dental patient communication

Dental Patient Communication: Tips for a Successful Outcome

By: Dawn Patrick In the realm of dental care, effective communication between dental teams and patients plays…

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building relationships with patients

The Key to Building Relationships with Patients & Practice Growth

By: Dawn Patrick In the ever-evolving landscape of dentistry, one thing remains constant: the importance of building…

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Preparing Your Patients for Removable Prosthodontics

By Ronda Holman | March 16, 2026

By: Ronda Holman For many patients, transitioning to removable prosthodontics, whether partial dentures or full dentures, can feel intimidating. As dental professionals, one of our most valuable roles is helping patients understand what to expect and guiding them through the adjustment period with clear explanations and supportive coaching. When patients are properly prepared, their confidence…

Hope Isn’t on the Menu: Planning a Profitable Dental Year

By Dawn Patrick | March 16, 2026

By: Dawn Patrick, COO and Dental Business Strategy Coach, IgniteDDS It’s almost the end of the first quarter of 2026. How’s “hope” working for you? At this point, you’ve either planned a successful year and had an amazing first few months, or you are winging it and hoping for the best each month. Think about…

Going From Conventional to Digital Denture Fabrication

By Lee Culp, CDT | March 9, 2026

By: Lee Culp, CDTThis article originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. igniteDDS was granted permission to share with our readers. For years, creating dentures was a time-consuming process, requiring multiple patient visits, manual wax-ups, and trial-and-error adjustments. However, the rise of digital dentistry has revolutionized denture fabrication. From AI-assisted design to dental 3D printing, digital workflows have…

6 Strategies to Lead an Old Team as a New Dentist

By David Rice | March 9, 2026

By: Dr. David Rice Imagine this … or maybe you don’t need to because you’re already living it … you’re a new dentist … passionate … skilled … and ready to crush it in practice. But the team that’s been there for 10… 15… 20 years … they know the patients … the systems (or…

Why Dental Photography Is Essential in Modern Dental Practice

By James Wanamaker | March 2, 2026

By: James Wanamaker, DDS – IgniteDDS Clinical Coach In my private practice centered on esthetics and function, dentistry is never just about restoring teeth. It’s about restoring confidence, improving function, and creating harmony between the teeth, lips, and face. When you approach dentistry at that level, one tool that becomes absolutely indispensable is dental photography….

Stop Choosing Sides: The Secret Ingredient for Next-Gen Dentistry Is Fusion

By Candy Velez - CRDH, BSDH | March 2, 2026

By: Candy Velez, CRDH, BSDH, IgniteDDS Dental Hygiene Coach For a long time, dentistry has lived in two very different worlds. On one end, you have corporate dentistry — highly structured, efficient, protocol-driven, and focused on numbers. On the other end, you have private practice — often rooted in relationships, autonomy, and heart, but sometimes…

Advancing Implant Dentistry Through Digital Precision

By Lee Culp, CDT | February 23, 2026

By: Lee Culp, CDTThis article originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. igniteDDS was granted permission to share with our readers. The advancements in digital dentistry have redefined implantology, making it faster, more predictable, and highly precise. Traditional workflows relied heavily on physical impressions, wax-ups, and manual adjustments, often requiring multiple appointments and increasing the risk of inaccuracies….

Why the Money Isn’t Showing Up: Part 3

By Dawn Patrick | February 23, 2026

Building Financial Accountability Without MicromanagingDid you miss Part 2? Catch up on Why the Money Isn’t Showing Up, Part 2 By: Dawn Patrick, COO and Dental Business Strategy Coach, IgniteDDS Here’s the balance every dentist wants: “I want accountability — not hovering.” Good systems do exactly that. 1. Ownership vs. Delegation You can delegate tasks….

The Tip Of The Iceberg

By Dr. Eric Recker | February 22, 2026

By: Eric Recker You get that call. Again. Lately, it feels like it’s every week. Your hygienist isn’t coming in because of a migraine, a sick kid, another illness, a family emergency, a last-minute appointment they forgot to tell you about, or some other vague reason. You look at your schedule and realize you have…

How Dentistry Affects the People You Love: Part 3

By Sable Muntean | February 16, 2026

The Guilt Dental Professionals Feel Toward Their Partners and Families By: Dr. Sable Muntean Guilt is a common, yet often unspoken, challenge for dental professionals. It creeps in when you miss family events, work long hours, or feel emotionally unavailable at home. Over time, this guilt can quietly affect your mental health and strain your…