If two to four percent of your collections are disappearing into card fees, you’re paying for dentistry’s most expensive habit. We sat down with Nelson Martin from Aligned Payments to unpack a smarter way to run money through your practice: integrated merchant services designed specifically for dental teams, not generic retail. The result is a leaner checkout, clearer books, and a real shot at cutting processing expense by up to ninety percent with compliant dual pricing.

We dig into the nuts and bolts of how this works day to day. Nelson explains why true PMS integration matters, how it removes duplicate entry, and what a waterfall approach to consumer financing does for acceptance. Instead of one lender and a coin flip, applications move across tiers from prime to alternative, driving 80 to 90 percent approvals so more treatment gets scheduled and more revenue lands in your account. We also demystify “surcharging” and dual pricing, covering what’s compliant, what patients see, and how to keep front-desk conversations simple and transparent.

Change can feel like a burden, so we push for specifics on rollout. Expect a week or two of hands-on support, direct phone access, and quick training until the new flow becomes muscle memory. For multi-location groups and ambitious solo owners, those savings compound into six figures and flow straight to EBITDA—fuel for hiring, tech upgrades, and better patient experiences. If your merchant services were set up years ago, odds are you’re stuck with legacy fees and clunky tools. It’s time to revisit the stack, run a free analysis, and reclaim margin without disrupting care.

If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with a colleague who handles your front desk or finances, and leave a quick review so more dental teams can find it. Ready for a numbers-backed checkup on your payments? Reach out and let’s see what you can save.