Should you drop PPO insurance or negotiate harder for fee-for-service rates? The 60% rule tells you when a write-off crosses into insulting territory. But it only makes sense if you can answer these 3 questions:

#1. Is your chair full?
#2. What is your patient experience like?
#3. What is your plan for patients with no 'out-of-network' benefits?

Get an informal and informative review of your practice's insurances!
Reach out to Paula Quinn and her front office team!
https://nxlevelconsultants.com/contact/

Most dental startups guess at their marketing budget and end up either starving for patients or wasting money. Guido Tebano of Market My Market breaks down real numbers for SEO, ads, and mailers.

In this episode of the Marketing Series, Michael Dinsio and Paula Quinn sit down with Guido Tebano to answer the question every startup dentist asks: how much should you actually spend on marketing, and where should that money go? They cover the real difference between SEO and paid ads, how long a new dental website takes to start ranking, what a qualified implant lead actually costs, whether direct mail still works in 2026, and the calls to action that convert new patients on a website or mailer.

• Why a marketing budget can’t be copied from another office
• The real timeline for SEO and organic ranking Cost per lead and cost per patient, broken down by platform
• Are dental directories like ZocDoc worth the markup
• Do direct mail campaigns still work?
• The five calls to action that actually convert new patients
• General budget benchmarks for a dental startup by market type
• Why the first 90 days matter most

CHAPTER MARKERS

0:00 Intro: budgeting for marketing
1:04 Meet Guido Tebano
2:13 Why budgets can’t be cookie cutter
3:18 SEO vs paid ads timeline
5:38 How long a website takes to rank
8:23 Cost per new patient compared
9:46 Are directories worth the markup
11:24 Cost per implant lead and ROI
13:00 Do mailers still work
16:04 Why mailer messaging matters
18:01 5 CTAs that convert patients
21:35 Promotion vs production costs
23:51 General budget benchmarks
26:01 Spending your first $3,500/mo
28:15 When to turn ads on
29:35 Why your first 90 days matter

Learn more about Guido Tebano and Market My Market at https://marketmymarket.com

This episode is part of our Marketing Series for dental startups.
Catch Part I, our episode on dental startup demographics, wherever you listen.

Visit Our Podcast's Website:
https://dentalunscripted.com
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Check out Next Level Consultants:
https://nxlevelconsultants.com
Check out Next Level Consultants for personalized dental practice consulting services

Michael Dinsio, MBA

Paula Quinn, BSDH

Production by © Dental Unscripted 2026

The content provided in this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

In this episode, Michael Dinsio and Paula Quinn sit down with Stafani Sandoval, billing and credentialing expert at Next Level Consultants, to tackle the biggest question in the industry right now: "Should I drop my insurance?" They break down the massive differences between lease networks and direct contracts, when it is time to aggressively negotiate your fees, and why jumping out of network without a strategic plan can absolutely tank your dental practice revenue.

What You'll Find Out:

• Why you should never drop an insurance plan if your schedule isn't completely full
• The 60% rule: How to know exactly when an insurance fee schedule becomes insulting
• Why updating your UCR fees to the 90th percentile is critical before attempting dental insurance negotiation
• The hidden financial dangers of DIY dental credentialing and submitting blind PPO applications
• How to retain your patient base using in-house membership plans when transitioning to fee for service
• The essential 90-day patient communication playbook for going out of network seamlessly

Perfect for: Startup dentists, established practice owners, front office managers, and anyone focused on dental billing strategies, increasing profitability in dentistry, and mastering dental practice management.

Special Guest on Today’s Show: Stefani brings years of specialized experience to the table as the Billing & Credentialing Lead and Front Office Coach at Next Level. She specializes in navigating archaic insurance algorithms, maximizing practice fee schedules, and guiding dental teams through safe, profitable out-of-network transitions without losing their patient base. Special Promotional Offer and Connect: https://nxlevelconsultants.com/dental-consulting/

Key Takeaways:
You no longer have to be a victim to stagnant insurance reimbursements.
By fully updating your UCRs, mastering upfront patient communication, and strategically evaluating your clinical capacity, you can confidently take back control of your practice's financial future.
Finally, a realistic and actionable roadmap to escape the PPO trap!

Stay Connected to Get More Topics Covered by Dental Unscripted:
dental insurance negotiation, fee for service dentistry, dropping PPOs, dental credentialing, dental billing, UCR fees, dental practice management, successful dental practice, dental consulting, buying a dental practice, running a dental practice, dental practice revenue, growing a dental practice, dental entrepreneurship, dental industry advice, dental solutions, profitability in dentistry, dental practice tips, how to run a dental practice, business of dentistry, out of network dentist