What separates thriving dental practices from struggling ones often comes down to one thing: how effectively the team communicates with patients. In this episode, David Harris sits down with Debra Engelhardt Nash — one of dentistry's most accomplished practice management consultants and co-founder of The Nash Institute — to explore the verbal skills that consistently move patients from hesitation to "yes."

Debra introduces her "Five Killer Questions" framework: a proven set of patient-centered conversations designed to uncover what patients truly value, address unstated concerns, and build the kind of trust that leads to long-term loyalty and higher case acceptance.

Topics covered include:

• Why most dental communication inadvertently creates patient resistance
• The psychology behind why patients say no to recommended treatment
• How to discover what each patient actually cares about before presenting treatment
• The five questions that consistently convert hesitation into acceptance
• Team training strategies to embed stronger communication practice-wide
• The direct link between patient communication skills and practice profitability

About Debra Engelhardt Nash: Debra is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and dental practice management consultant with over 40 years of experience transforming practices across North America. As co-founder of The Nash Institute, she brings unparalleled expertise in the human side of dentistry.

To learn more about protecting your dental practice from embezzlement and financial threats, visit www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid.

What happens when a trusted dental team member turns criminal? In this gripping episode, Dr. Deborah Staten of Las Vegas joins Prosperident senior investigator Scott Clifford to recount one of the most striking embezzlement cases in recent dental history.

Danielle Powers, a dental office employee trusted with financial responsibilities, systematically stole over $250,000 from Dr. Staten's practice. But the story doesn't end there — after leaving Dr. Staten's practice, Powers went on to victimize another dentist. She is currently serving an 8-year prison sentence for her crimes.

Beyond the facts of the case, this episode delivers something invaluable: Dr. Staten's hard-won wisdom for other dentists. Having lived through the shock, betrayal, and financial devastation of embezzlement, she speaks candidly about the warning signs she missed, the decisions she wishes she had made differently, and the message she wants every dental practice owner to hear.

Topics covered include:

• How Danielle Powers gained access and trust within the practice
• The specific methods used to steal and conceal the theft
• Why embezzlers often move from one victim to the next
• The investigation process and how the theft was ultimately discovered
• The criminal justice outcome and what it means for victims seeking accountability
• Dr. Staten's direct advice to dentists on preventing what happened to her

About Scott Clifford: Scott is a senior forensic investigator at Prosperident, North America's leading firm specializing in dental embezzlement investigation. With years of experience examining financial crimes in dental practices, Scott brings both technical expertise and deep empathy to every case he handles.

If you suspect embezzlement in your dental practice, do not confront the suspect or alter your office procedures before speaking with a professional. Contact Prosperident at www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid.

Three of dentistry's leading specialists in practice protection come together for a candid roundtable on the challenges confronting dental practice owners today. David Harris of Prosperident, Adrienne Twigg of Bent Ericksen & Associates, and Erik Pook of Cirrus Group each bring a distinct and vital perspective — financial forensics, human resources and employment law, and commercial real estate — to a wide-ranging discussion that every practice owner needs to hear.

Whether you are an established practice owner or newly starting out, the threats explored in this conversation can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars or even your practice itself. The good news: with the right knowledge, most of these risks are entirely preventable.

Topics covered include:

• Embezzlement: how it starts, why it often goes undetected for years, and what to do about it
• Hiring mistakes that introduce financial and legal risk into your practice
• The most common employment law pitfalls dental practices walk into
• Commercial lease terms that quietly devastate practice value and profitability
• How to evaluate your current lease and what leverage you actually have
• Practical steps to reduce vulnerability across all three risk categories

About the guests:

• David Harris, CEO of Prosperident, is North America's leading dental embezzlement investigator with over three decades of experience protecting dental practices.
• Adrienne Twigg is a senior consultant with Bent Ericksen & Associates, a firm specializing in human resources and employment compliance for dental practices across the United States.
• Erik Pook is a principal at Cirrus Group, experts in dental and medical commercial real estate, lease negotiation, and practice transitions.

To learn more about protecting your practice from embezzlement, visit www.prosperident.com or schedule a consultation at www.prosperident.com/meetwithdavid.