Dental insurance is often full of confusing and frustrating nuances. It’s something we hear about from clients all the time. Understanding how to get the most out of claims, navigate denials, and maximize reimbursements can feel overwhelming, even for an experienced, well-trained team.

A functional practice relies heavily on a knowledgeable insurance specialist who understands how to work within these intentionally complex and vague systems. But even the most experienced specialists can hit roadblocks where it feels like there’s nowhere left to go. The reality is that there are often additional strategies, workarounds, and insights that can significantly improve claim approvals, benefiting both your practice and your patients.

While we’re not insurance specialists ourselves, we’ve had the opportunity to sit down with some of the best in the industry. That’s why we’re excited to share two recent podcast episodes featuring experts who bring a wealth of experience, along with practical, actionable advice.

If your insurance coordinator, or your entire team, is running into challenges, these two episodes are absolutely worth a listen.

Inside the Practice Episode #23: Navigating Dental Insurance Challenges & Maximizing PPO Revenue

In this episode, Alan and Sarah are joined by Ben Tuinei, Founder of Veritas Dental Resources, to unpack the realities of dental insurance and PPO contracts. With nearly 20 years of experience working with thousands of practices, Ben brings a straightforward, no-nonsense perspective to dealing with third-party payers.

He breaks down how PPO contracts actually work, highlights where practices are commonly leaving money on the table, and explores options beyond simply accepting unfavorable terms. You’ll walk away with clear, actionable strategies for negotiating contracts, optimizing PPO participation, and strengthening your practice’s financial performance without compromising patient care.

Key takeaways include:

• How to evaluate whether PPO participation is truly benefiting your practice.

• Common mistakes practices make when negotiating with payers.

• When renegotiation makes sense—and when it doesn’t.

• Practical strategies to improve revenue while maintaining operational stability.

This is a must-listen for practice owners and managers who want a clearer understanding of their insurance landscape and how to make more informed financial decisions.

Inside the Practice Episode #27: Taking the Power Back from Dental Insurance

In this episode, Alan and Sarah sit down with Tessina Bullock, President of Verus Dental, to tackle one of the biggest ongoing challenges in dentistry, denied claims.

With years of experience advocating for dentists and helping practices improve profitability, Tessina shares real-world insights on how to navigate and push back against insurance-driven limitations.

In this episode, we cover:

• The biggest challenges practices face when dealing with insurance companies.

• How insurance impacts profitability and what you can do about it.

• Strategies to regain control and reduce dependence on insurance.

• Common mistakes practices make, and how to avoid them.

• Tips for strengthening revenue and building a more sustainable practice.

• What it truly means to “take your power back” in today’s dental landscape.

Whether you’re feeling stuck with insurance or ready to make a strategic shift, this episode offers a fresh perspective along with practical next steps.

For more information on the topic, check out the Veritas/Verus blog. They have hundreds of short articles on how to tackle various dental insurance issues.

Staying informed is key in an industry that’s constantly evolving. These conversations are a great place to start, but don’t stop there. If something in either of these episodes sparks additional questions, we encourage you to reach out to our podcast guests. Ben and Tessina would be happy to provide further insight and guidance.