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.
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…
Top 5 Mistakes New Dentists Make When Buying Their First Practice & How to Avoid Them
By: Dr. David Rice Buying your first dental practice is one of the most exciting — and…
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 –…
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…
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…
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…
Keeping Gingival Crevice Healthy
By: Pankey GramTopic Originally appeared on PankeyGram.org Gingival crevice is the space between the marginal gingiva and…
From Clinician to CEO: Part 3
Financial Control: Profit With Purpose By: Dr. David Rice Most dentists don’t hate numbers … they just hate…
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®…
From Clinician To CEO: Part 2
Part 2. Systems Control – Turning Chaos Into Consistency By: Dr. David Rice When a dentist shares…
Preventing Tooth Wear and Color Loss When Adjusting Zirconia
By: Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis topic originally appeared on Pankey.org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Zirconia restorations have become a go-to solution in modern dentistry due to their durability, aesthetics, and biocompatibility. However, adjusting zirconia requires a precise approach to maintain its integrity and prevent complications. Whether you’re fine-tuning…
Silence Fuels Negativity, Leadership Requires Communication
Learning to Communicate Is Learning to Lead By: Candy Velez, CRDH, BSDH, IgniteDDS Dental Hygiene Coach In dentistry, and honestly in most professions, we are often told that leadership flows from the top down. But some of the most meaningful leadership does not come from a title. It comes from how we handle the conversations…
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….