Burnout in Dentistry Part 2: The Path to Financial Freedom

In part one, we unpacked why burnout in dentistry often isn’t a personal flaw, it’s a systems problem. Today, let’s go deeper into the “how.” Because if you’re running a business that drains your energy, it’s not just exhausting, it’s unsustainable.

Dr. Lauryn Brunclik joined me to talk about the real solution: stop running your practice like an expensive hobby and start building it as a true business that creates both cashflow and freedom.

Step One: Burnout in Dentistry Starts with Money Management

It sounds simple, but many practices miss this. You don’t just need to produce, you need to collect and keep the dollars that are already flowing through your business.

Here are the three levers to watch:

• Lower your overhead: Payroll, supplies, and rent should be benchmarked. For most dental practices, payroll should sit around 25–30% (including benefits), with overhead at 50% (not including doctor pay).

• Increase production: Often easier than cutting costs. Look at new patient flow, reactivation, and scheduling efficiency.

• Fix collections: Too many practices have $500K sitting in AR. That’s not a collections issue, it’s a systems issue.

If you’re taking home less than you would as an associate, you don’t have a business. You have an expensive hobby.

Step Two: Burnout in Dentistry and the Lifestyle Trap

Once cashflow improves, it’s tempting to inflate your lifestyle—new cars, bigger houses, designer bags. But here’s the trap: you end up in golden handcuffs, making more but feeling just as strapped as before.

Instead:

• Define your bare minimum (security bucket).

• Map your growth bucket (comfortably covering expenses + some extras).

• Identify your freedom bucket (passive income covering your dream life).

The clarity of these buckets helps you prioritize. You’ll know when to spend, when to save, and when to invest.

Step Three: Build Beyond Dentistry

Your practice should be a solid foundation, but it shouldn’t be your only asset. Diversification matters. Common paths we see include:

• Real estate: Long-standing wealth builder (though not 100% passive).

• Digital business/education: Courses, memberships, and online programs can scale without chair time.

• Investments: Whether that’s index funds, crypto, or private equity, you need money making money for you.

The key is aligning these streams with your vision, risk tolerance, and timeline for freedom.

Step Four: Buy Back Your Time

Money without time is just stress with a bigger paycheck. Many dentists stay trapped because they won’t delegate. Hiring a Director of Operations (not just an office manager) can be a game-changer.

Think of it this way: if your clinical hour is worth $1,000, why spend it on HR or payroll tasks that could be delegated for $60–90K annually? Buying back your time gives you space to be the visionary leader your practice, and your life, needs.

Reinvention Is Normal

As Arthur Brooks shares, humans are wired to reinvent themselves every 7–12 years. Dentistry is no exception. If you’re feeling stuck, numb, or burned out, it’s not because you’re ungrateful, it’s because it’s time for reinvention.

Whether that means reshaping your practice systems, diversifying your income, or creating space for a new vision, you have permission to build differently.

Burnout in dentistry isn’t the end. It’s the sign you’re ready for what’s next.

Schedule a Complimentary Practice Assessment call
We’ll help you identify blind spots, diagnose burnout triggers, and craft a new game plan you actually enjoy living.

Because dentistry should support your life, not consume it.

For more tips, check out our podcast.

Last updated: October 2025

Written by Jacintha Ham, Dental A Team