Dr. Eric Block almost left dentistry. Halfway through his career he was anxious, burned out, and counting the minutes until he could retire. This conversation with Dr. Aditi Agarwal is about how he turned that around, and what he's learned in 22 years of practice.

We cover:

→ The burnout and "midlife crisis" that nearly ended his career

→ Therapy, perfectionism, and why so many dentists feel this way

→ His advice for new dentists (and why your first 3 years are the minor leagues)

→ Why systems matter, and the SOP tool he built after a key staff member retired

→ Wellness coaching through the Academy of Dental Life Coaches

→ How he went fully out of network, including dropping Delta at 50% of his practice

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and welcome

03:04 How a beer bottle led to dentistry

04:40 Burnout, anxiety, and wanting to quit

05:35 Therapy, perfectionism, and people-pleasing

07:50 Writing "The Stress-Free Dentist"

08:00 The career crises every dentist faces

10:33 Shiny-object syndrome and analysis paralysis

13:01 Advice for new dentists: the minor leagues

14:38 Going "next level" and reinventing yourself

15:42 From a set path to no path: handling failure

19:31 Why systems matter, and starting Flomo

23:44 Wellness coaching and the IADLC

26:11 Reaching out for help before rock bottom

27:02 Going out of network: dropping insurance

34:25 How to reach Dr. Block, and final words

Reach Dr. Block at thestressfreedentist.com, on Facebook and LinkedIn, or eric@flomo.com.

The Practice Pulse podcast is hosted by Practice by Numbers.

Most dental practice owners assume their retirement plan is working exactly as intended. But what if hidden fees, outdated structures, and poor oversight are quietly costing your practice thousands every year?

In this episode of the Practice Pulse Podcast, Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with forensic 401(k) consultant Paul Sippil to uncover what most practice owners never realize about retirement plans. Paul shares insights from reviewing thousands of retirement plans and explains why many dental practices unknowingly overpay, misunderstand their fees, and miss opportunities to create stronger benefits for employees.

From hidden advisor compensation and fiduciary responsibilities to practical questions every practice owner should ask immediately, this conversation breaks down one of the most overlooked areas of practice management. If you own, manage, or lead a dental practice, this episode may completely change how you think about retirement planning.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:34 – Are dental practices overpaying for 401(k) plans without realizing it?

04:38 – What is causing retirement plan fees to triple or quadruple over time?

05:37 – What can a practice do immediately to mitigate escalating costs?

08:14 – Is a financial advisor necessary for fiduciary protection?

09:21 – Why should practice owners pay plan fees at the employer level instead of the participant level?

15:37 – What are the biggest misconceptions practice owners have about their plans?

20:37 – What services are advisors, administrators, and recordkeepers actually supposed to provide?

32:20 – What specific questions should a practice owner ask their current provider immediately?

35:50 – Why might an advisor be contractually limited from recommending the best providers?

About the Speaker

Paul Sippil is a forensic 401(k) consultant specializing in retirement plan transparency, fiduciary oversight, and cost optimization. Since 2009, he has reviewed thousands of retirement plans and Form 5500 filings to help business owners identify hidden fees, conflicts of interest, and inefficiencies within retirement plans. His work focuses on translating complex retirement plan structures into practical insights that help organizations reduce costs, improve transparency, and make better financial decisions.

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▶ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMsQ8XtFVuXJ-smhkuEnGZMU44r1tmOyX

What does it really take to attract and keep top hygiene talent in today's dental practice?

In this episode of the Practice Pulse Podcast, Dr. Aditi Agarwal, Co-founder of Practice by Numbers, sits down with Rachel Wall, CEO of Inspired Hygiene and one of the Top 10 Content Creators Shaking Up the Dental Industry in 2026 (AGD Impact Magazine).

Together they unpack:

→ The "secret sauce" for retaining hygienists and why compensation alone isn't enough

→ How autonomy and clinical standards can coexist

→ The 3 hygiene KPIs every practice owner should be tracking (and what they really tell you)

→ Why the perio percentage is a barometer for the entire hygiene department

→ DSO vs private practice: who should have the hard compensation conversations

→ A real coaching story about 12 hygienists, a simple tracker, and the power of awareness

→ Why losing a long-tenured team member can be the start of something better

Whether you're a private practice dentist, office manager, or DSO leader, this is an honest conversation about culture, systems, and the people behind the practice.

Hosted by: Dr. Aditi Agarwal, Co-founder, Practice by Numbers Guest: Rachel Wall, CEO, Inspired Hygiene

Learn more: https://inspiredhygiene.com/

Website: https://practicenumbers.com/