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.
3 ways to avoid the biggest crisis in dentistry
All across the country, dental practices are facing a hiring crisis. Teams are being stretched thin because…
15 Best Dentist Memes
By: Kevin Henry When it comes to dental patients and their relationship with their dentist, dental hygienist,…
3 things you can do to take care of your mental health
Whether we’re living in a pandemic, adjusting to life after COVID-19, or just trying to get through the day, there are times when we all need a “mental break” and need a few moments to change our thought patterns and deal with the pressure we may be feeling at the moment.
How dentistry helped solve an ancient murder
It’s the stuff that you love to watch on Netflix with the lights turned down. It revolves…
Let’s talk Michael Strahan and smile design in your dental practice
Michael Strahan’s dental-related April Fools’ Day joke got us thinking about the options that could be available to him with today’s dental technology.
Why dental practices need to know about zero click searches
How can zero searches on Google and other sites help your dental practice? Sean Hamel is here to explain.
3 Dental Insurance Mistakes Practices Are Making
As we dive deeper into 2021, dental insurance expert Teresa Duncan of Odyssey Management is seeing three big issues with dental insurance that practices encounter.
Advice Every Dental Practice Should Hear: From a Baseball Usher
A bike ride past Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., brought back memories of some great advice from an usher for dental practices.
WalletHub unveils 2021 list of best and worst states for dental health
So where does your state rank in terms of dental health for 2021? WalletHub has compiled its annual rankings.
Dental Assistant Drama in the Practice: Q & A
One dental assistant is tired of the drama in her practice … but she’s making a plan on how to change her viewpoint.
Preparing Your Patients for Removable Prosthodontics
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, 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, 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: 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, 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, 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, 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
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: 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
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…