Dr. Katie Dumbell attained a Doctorate in Dental Surgery at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Dentistry in May of 2019. Prior to dental school, Dr. Dumbell attained a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and B.S. in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University in 2013 and an M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville in 2015. As a graduate researcher, Dr. Dumbell studied biomarkers for the early detection and diagnosis of submandibular salivary gland cancers at SIU School of Dental Medicine, completing a Master's Thesis on Dentin Matrix Protein-1. Dr. Dumbell is currently a Staff Dentist at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Kansas City, MO pursuing a lifelong passion for public health, treating patients of all ages. In addition to working full-time as a clinician for the underserved, Dr. Dumbell is currently a student at A.T. Still University College of Graduate Health Studies in pursuit of a Masters in Public Health – Dental Emphasis.
What Makes a Good Dentist? Top Skills To Be the Best Dentist
skills to being the best dentist aren’t things you learn in a classroom, writes Dr. Katie Dumbell.
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…