David Rice

David Rice

Founder of the nation’s largest student and new-dentist community, igniteDDS, David R. Rice, DDS, travels the world speaking, writing, and connecting today’s top young dentists with tomorrow’s most successful dental practices. He is the editorial director of DentistryIQ and leads a team-centered restorative and implant practice in East Amherst, New York. With 27 years of practice in the books, Dr. Rice is trained at the Pankey Institute, the Dawson Academy, Spear Education, and most prolifically at the school of hard knocks.

busy does not equal profit

Busy ≠ Profitable: The February Reality Check Every Practice Owner Needs

By: Dr. David Rice While January often feels like a fresh start – schedules filling fast –…

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5 Mistakes Dentists Make When Starting a Practice

Top 5 Mistakes Dentists Make When Starting a Practice & How to Avoid Them

By: Dr. David Rice There is no moment more exciting, or more overwhelming, than building your dream dental…

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why most dental practice goals fail by February and how to prevent it

Why Most Dental Practice Goals Fail by February & How to Prevent It

By: Dr. David Rice, Founder & CEO IGNITEDDS Every January – dental practices around the globe set…

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What Your Team Says in the First 30 Seconds Determines Everything

What Your Team Says in the First 30 Seconds Determines Everything

By: Dr. David Rice Ask most doctors or office managers what their #1 goal is when the…

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Keeping Gingival Crevice Healthy

Keeping Gingival Crevice Healthy

By: Pankey GramTopic Originally appeared on PankeyGram.org Gingival crevice is the space between the marginal gingiva and…

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from clinician to CEO

From Clinician to CEO: Part 3

Financial Control: Profit With Purpose By: Dr. David Rice Most dentists don’t hate numbers … they just hate…

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a-dec flush dock

When Time Is Tight: Fast, Smarter Waterline Safety

By: A-dec A complementary solution best paired with an A-dec 500 Pro or 300 Pro system, A-dec®…

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from clinician to CEO

From Clinician To CEO: Part 2

Part 2. Systems Control – Turning Chaos Into Consistency By: Dr. David Rice When a dentist shares…

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a-dec

6 Valuable Lessons Your DSO Can Learn from Dental Schools

By: A-decThis topic originally appeared on A-dec.com. They granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers….

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from clinician to CEO

From Clinician to CEO: Part 1

Part 1. Clinical Control: Leading People to Clinical Excellence By: Dr. David Rice Do you want to…

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How Dentistry Affects the People You Love: Part 1

By Sable Muntean | February 2, 2026

How Dentistry Quietly Changes Your Relationships By: Dr. Sable Muntean Dentistry is a deeply rewarding profession. Every day, you transform smiles, ease pain, and build trust with your patients. But behind the satisfaction lies a hidden cost—your personal relationships. If you’ve ever felt tension at home after a long day, noticed that your partner seems…

Busy ≠ Profitable: The February Reality Check Every Practice Owner Needs

By David Rice | February 2, 2026

By: Dr. David Rice While January often feels like a fresh start – schedules filling fast – production firing on all cylinders – and that sense that this is the year everything finally clicks … Like our diet and gym new year’s resolutions – February arrives and … The practice is still busy, but stress…

The Sugar Crisis: The Link to Oral-Systemic Health

By Dr. Paul Henny, DDS | February 2, 2026

By: Paul Henny, DDSThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Henny granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. According to the CDC, one in three Americans will be diabetic by 2050 if we don’t make significant course corrections. By that same time, 42% of the population is expected to be obese, a condition…

Why the Money Isn’t Showing Up: Part 2

By Dawn Patrick | February 2, 2026

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 👉  By: Dawn Patrick, COO and Dental Business Strategy Coach, IgniteDDS Let’s be honest — Cash flow problems usually don’t start with insurance. They start with unclear financial conversations. 1….

Buying a Dental Practice Is the Easy Part—Earning the Team’s Trust Is the Real Work

By Ronda Holman | January 26, 2026

By: Ronda Holman Purchasing an existing dental practice offers a significant advantage: a team that already knows your patients, systems, and practice culture.  However, one critical factor doesn’t automatically transfer with ownership—trust. Building trust with your new team requires intention, patience, and thoughtful leadership. 1. Listen More Than You Lead in the First Weeks When…

Would It Even Matter If I Wasn’t Here?

By Dr. Eric Recker | January 26, 2026

By: Eric Recker I froze. Where were those thoughts coming from and why were they in MY head? It was the end of yet another chaotic day in my practice. A day of all alone at the top as my team of eighteen left the office to go about their normal lives outside of the…

How Young Dentists Can Succeed with Debt

By Dr. James Pitts | January 26, 2026

By: Dr. James Pitts As a former practicing General Dentist, I understand the challenges all Dentists face concerning debt. Over the last 10 years, the student loan debt problem has reached crisis levels. The cost of dental education has risen faster than inflation, leaving most young Dentists with student loan debt of $400,000 or more….

The Importance of Caries Risk Assessment and Management

By Dr. Lee Ann Brady | January 26, 2026

By: Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis article originally appeared on Pankey.org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. For most of us, caries risk assessment feels second nature; we’ve been trained to do it from the start. Diagnosing caries and periodontal disease are among the first skills we develop in dental school. Early…

Top 5 Mistakes Dentists Make When Starting a Practice & How to Avoid Them

By David Rice | January 26, 2026

By: Dr. David Rice There is no moment more exciting, or more overwhelming, than building your dream dental practice from the ground up. But with no patient base, no production history, and endless decisions to make, a start-up can either launch your self-determined future or trap you in stress, debt, and discouragement. We coach fearless, trailblazing…

The Guilt Dental Professionals Feel When They’re Not Working

By Sable Muntean | January 19, 2026

Why Stepping Away From Dentistry Can Feel So Uncomfortable By: Dr. Sable Muntean For many dental professionals, time away from the office doesn’t feel restful—it feels wrong. Even on days off, vacations, or quiet evenings at home, there’s often a low hum of guilt in the background: This isn’t laziness. This isn’t poor time management….