Growing a dental practice is exciting… but it’s also where many dentists get stuck.
On this episode of the Nifty Thrifty Dentists Podcast, Dr. Glenn Vo sits down with Erica Benavente, Founder of Quest Dental Solutions, to unpack what truly changes when practices scale, and why leadership structure matters more than ever.
Erica’s career began as a dental assistant in 1996 and evolved into an executive role overseeing the growth of a practice from a few operatories to a 25-op super practice. That experience shaped her philosophy: growth without systems creates chaos.
“You can’t scale a practice by doing everything yourself between patients,” Erica explains. “You need the right people in the right seats.”
From Small Practice to Super Practice
As practices grow, the demands on leadership multiply. What worked in a 3–5 operatory office breaks down at scale. Staffing needs increase. Communication becomes more complex. Patient experience requires intentional systems.
Erica emphasizes that office managers often become overwhelmed because they’re asked to manage operations, HR, staffing, and day-to-day logistics, all at once.
“The office manager role is great,” she says, “but they can’t manage multiple practices and still run daily operations effectively.”
Why Fractional COO Support Works
For many dentists, hiring a full-time executive isn’t realistic early on. That’s where fractional COO support comes in providing high-level operational leadership without the full-time overhead.
Erica’s process begins with in-office immersion, allowing her to understand what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs structure.
“If we’re going to build something long-term, I need to see the systems, the team, and the clinical flow firsthand.”
Scaling With Intention
Whether expanding to a larger facility or opening additional locations, Erica stresses the importance of:
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Clear systems and expectations
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Adequate support staff
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Defined leadership roles
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Financial and staffing foresight
Dentists who try to “figure it out as they go” often experience burnout, staff turnover, and stalled growth.
Final Takeaway
Scaling successfully isn’t about doing more, it’s about building leadership infrastructure that allows growth to happen smoothly.
As Dr. Glenn Vo puts it, “When you want to go to the next level, you need another level of team.”
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