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.

link ai from a-dec

Link AI for A-dec+™: A Smarter Way to Manage Your Future Dental Practice

By: A-dec® Thinking about your future practice? With all the decisions ahead, here’s an easy one. Your…

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Dental ownership team collaboration in bright office

The Start-Up Ownership Illusion: Part 1

Start-Ups & Dentistry’s Manpower Crisis – Your First Hire Will Break Your Practice By: Dr. David Rice…

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strategies to lead an old team as a new dentist

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…

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mistakes new dentists make when buying their first practice

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…

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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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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…

Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep-Disordered Breathing

By Dr. Mark Murphy, DDS | February 16, 2026

By: Mark T. Murphy, DDS This article originally appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Murphy granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Dentists are in a unique position to recognize the critical role sleep plays in systemic health. Research has confirmed that untreated sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of: With more consumer wearables tracking sleep…

Top 5 Mistakes New Dentists Make When Buying Their First Practice & How to Avoid Them

By David Rice | February 16, 2026

By: Dr. David Rice Buying your first dental practice is one of the most exciting — and daunting — decisions you’ll ever make. When you do it right, it’s your launchpad to fulfillment, wealth, and a self-determined future. When you do it wrong, it can trap you in stress, burnout, and financial struggle. As we…

How Dentistry Affects the People You Love: Part 2

By Sable Muntean | February 9, 2026

Why Dental Professionals Struggle With Emotional Availability By: Dr. Sable Muntean After a long day at the office, it’s natural to feel drained. But when fatigue becomes emotional distance, relationships begin to suffer. Emotional availability—the ability to be fully present and engaged with the people you love—is critical for maintaining strong connections, yet it’s often…

The Year-End Bonus Headache No One Warned You About

By Garrett Wilson | February 9, 2026

By: Garrett Wilson As we head into the start of 2026, it’s worth reflecting on what happened in 2025 so we don’t repeat the same mistakes. Few topics created more tension at year-end than bonuses and holiday gifts. If you spend any time in dental social media groups, you saw it firsthand—frustration from employees and…

Beautiful Smile Design Case using a Fully Digital Workflow

By John Cranham, DDS | February 9, 2026

By:  John C. Cranham, DDS This topic originally appeared on Pankey.org. Dr. Cranham granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. My professional journey in dentistry has been deeply influenced by my time in the Pankey Institute and other continuing education courses. My early career focused on integrating cosmetic digital dentistry with sound occlusal concepts….