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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.
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…
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…
Why the Money Isn’t Showing Up: Part 2
The Front Desk Systems That Make or Break Cash FlowDid you miss Part One? Catch up on…
Why the Money Isn’t Showing Up: Part 1
A Financial Control Series for Dental Practice Owners By: Dawn Patrick, COO and Dental Business Strategy Coach,…
The Practice Profitability Playbook: Part 3
Part 3: Clinical Control — Diagnose with Confidence, Present with Clarity By: Dawn Patrick, Business Strategy Coach,…
How Dental Practices Can WIN December Instead of Surviving It
By: Dawn Patrick, Business Strategy Coach, IgniteDDS December can feel like the ultimate scramble. Patients rushing to…
The Practice Profitability Playbook: Part 2
Part 2: Financial Control — Show Me the Money in Your Dental Practice By: Dawn Patrick, Business…
The Practice Profitability Playbook
Part 1: Systems Control — The Foundation of a Low-Stress, High-Performing Practice By: Dawn Patrick, Business Strategy Coach, IgniteDDS…
From Scramble to Strategy: Making Q4 Your Most Profitable Quarter
By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Business Coach and Director of Operations, IgniteDDS Every fall, dental practices face the same…
High Returns, Low Cost: The Power of Internal Marketing in Dentistry
By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Business Coach and Director of Operations, IgniteDDS When it comes to growing a…
Pitting and Erosive Tooth Lesions, What Does it Mean?
By: Jeffrey W. Horowitz, DMD, FAGD, D-ABDSM, D-ASBA Have you ever run into pitting and erosive tooth lesions during your time as a dentist? Here is a case study on my experience with it. Pitting and Erosive Tooth Lesions: Case Study Patient Information: Etiology of Tooth Structure Loss Tooth erosion happens when acids wear away…
Why Don’t Physicians Refer to Dentists?
By: Teresa DeNike There is growing evidence in the scientific literature that oral health is linked to the well-being of the rest of the body. A link has been found between poor sleep and periodontitis, with a shocking 36% increase in patients with chronic sleep loss; sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that dentists…
Facial Asymmetries and Discrepancies, What Does it Mean?
By: Jeffrey W. Horowitz, DMD, FAGD, D-ABDSM, D-ASBA Have you ever run into facial asymmetries and discrepancies during your time as a dentist? Here is a mini presentation on how I dealt with this. Facial Asymmetries and Discrepancies: Case Study Patient A: 13-year-old white female presents for an initial orthodontic evaluation Medical history is positive…
Dear D1s: Welcome to Dental School
By: Savanah Craig Welcome to Dental School! You have worked so hard for this moment, and I want to be the first to welcome you to the most challenging four years of your life! I know that you’re thinking that I’m just another exhausted upperclassman, who is trying to discourage you. A few months ago,…
Chronically Enlarged Tonsils, What Does It Mean?
By: Jeffrey W. Horowitz, DMD, FAGD, D-ABDSM, D-ASBA Chronically enlarged tonsils are a common condition, more likely to happen in children. Chronically enlarged tonsils are associated with: Frequent sore throat, ear, and throat infection. Enlarged adenoids, and poor nasal breathing. Poor nasal breathing leads to mouth breathing. Mouth breathing changes tongue posture. Poor tongue posture…
The Link Between Periodontal Disease and Heart Failure
By: Kevin Henry A new study has given dental professionals yet another reason to talk to their patients about the importance of maintaining their oral health in order to maintain and even improve their overall health. This study was released at the start of July in one of the Journals of the American College of…
Scalloped Tongue, What Does it Mean?
By: Jeffrey W. Horowitz, DMD, FAGD, D-ABDSM, D-ASBA A scalloped tongue is characterized by wavy or rippled edges along its sides. Scalloped tongues are usually not a cause of concern, but if left untreated, they can cause additional complications and symptoms that can harm your dental health. Identifying bad oral habits and diagnosing certain medical…
Professional Identity Formation
By: Savannah Craig Professional Identity Formation is a term I was unfamiliar with until it was brought up last week during my PGY-1 Orientation for my General Practice Residency program. Many of us have a variety of identities (daughter, sister, aunt, son, brother, uncle, etc.), and becoming a dentist requires you to add a new…
Why Aren’t Dentists Screening & Treating Sleep Apnea Patients?
By: Teresa Power DeNike, BS Sleep is a severely overlooked area in dentistry. In 2017, the ADA recommended all dentists screen for sleep apnea (and treat or refer out). Yet only 70% of dentists screen for sleep apnea, and most lack confidence in performing accurate routine screenings. In 2015, the AASM and AADSM recommended oral…
How Dental Assistants Can Deal with Workplace Bullying
By: Dianne Auger, RDH, BS Have you ever loved your position on the dental team, and then it starts to all go downhill? Have you ever thought that being in a profession such as this one that there are no conflicts or acts of workplace bullying? Well, there is! I was just as surprised as you are,…









