Spilling the Teath: Culture, Team Dynamics, and Building Patient Trust

In the fast-paced world of dentistry, effective leadership is more crucial than ever. As the industry evolves, practices face challenges around team dynamics, cultural integration, and fostering patient trust. In this episode of Spilling the Teeth, Dr. Ryan Hungate and Brian Colao explore the everyday realities impacting dental organizations, sharing valuable insights and practical tips for leaders at all levels. 

Bridging the leadership gap in dentistry 

Dentistry has long excelled at clinical training. Leadership, however, has often been learned on the fly. In this episode, Dr. Hungate and Colao surface a core tension facing the industry: dentists and dental organizations are expected to lead people and culture without being taught how. 

That gap shows up everywhere — from team turnover to patient trust to the strain many organizations feel after years of rapid growth. The good news? Naming the problem creates momentum for change. 

When growth isn’t fully digested 

Colao’s “indigestion” analogy captures the consolidation era perfectly. Between 2018 and 2021, many organizations acquired practices faster than they could integrate them. Systems piled up. Cultures collided. Teams were left trying to make sense of mixed signals. 

Growth without integration creates friction. But when leaders slow down to align values, expectations, and ways of working, that friction can turn into cohesion. Integration isn’t a project. It’s an ongoing leadership responsibility. 

Culture as a leadership system 

Culture isn’t a soft concept; it’s the structure that holds teams together during change. Clear mission, transparent leadership, and shared purpose create alignment, especially in uncertain moments. 

When teams understand why the organization exists and how their work contributes, engagement follows. Culture becomes the difference between compliance and commitment. 

Scaling clarity, not just size 

As practices scale into DSOs, leadership has to scale with them. What works in a small team doesn’t automatically work across dozens of locations. 

The message matters, but so does the method. Leaders must communicate culture intentionally and consistently, adapting delivery without diluting meaning. Scaling successfully means scaling clarity. 

Leading forward 

Leadership in dentistry is no longer optional or implicit. It’s a discipline that requires attention, development, and humility. 

By prioritizing culture, communication, and early intervention when issues arise, dental leaders can build organizations where teams stay, patients trust, and growth feels sustainable—not strained. 

Check out the full episode for more takeaways from Ryan and Brian.  

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