In this episode of Dental Office Rescue, Linda Kane invites industry expert Teresa Duncan on the show to break down the complexities of dental insurance, revenue management, and compliance.
Handling dental insurance, revenue cycles, and compliance can feel overwhelming for many dental practices. But without a solid system in place, uncollected payments, denied claims, and inefficient processes can cost practices thousands.
In this episode of the Dental Office Rescue podcast, Linda Kane sits down with Teresa Duncan, a renowned expert in dental revenue management, to talk about insurance, compliance, and financial strategies every dental office should know.
The Biggest Insurance Mistakes Dental Offices Make
For many dental teams, insurance training is nonexistent. Unlike clinical staff, front office teams are often expected to “figure it out” on their own.
"Too many offices rely on outdated information or a quick training from someone who was about to leave," Teresa explains. "That’s risky because insurance errors don’t just affect cash flow—they can lead to compliance issues."
A few key mistakes that cost dental practices money:
- Not verifying insurance properly – Many offices rely on incomplete verifications rather than diving deeper to check exclusions and policy details.
- Failing to track outstanding claims – If you’re not running an insurance aging report regularly, you could be missing thousands in unpaid claims.
- Incorrect CDT coding – Using outdated or incorrect codes leads to denials and unnecessary appeals. Dentists should invest in the latest CDT manual every year.
Why Doctors Need to Know Their Numbers
Many dentists have no idea how much money they’re losing due to insurance inefficiencies.
"Doctors will tell me, ‘Oh, I have someone handling that,’ but when I ask them how much they have outstanding in insurance claims, they don’t know," Linda says.
A few key reports every dentist should check regularly: 🔹 Insurance Aging Report – Shows unpaid claims over 30, 60, or 90+ days. Anything over 60 days is a red flag. 🔹 Procedures Not Billed Report – Helps identify treatments that were performed but never submitted to insurance. 🔹 Collections Breakdown – Shows how much revenue is coming from insurance vs. private pay and where adjustments are happening.
Training Matters: Investing in Your Team Pays Off
With insurance becoming more complex, investing in proper training for your team is one of the smartest moves you can make.
"Insurance isn't something you learn once and forget. It changes constantly—just like dental procedures do," Teresa explains. "A well-trained team means fewer mistakes, better collections, and a smoother-running practice."
What’s Next?
The Dental Office Rescue podcast is all about helping dentists take control of their business and finances. In every episode, Linda Kane brings in industry experts to share practical, real-world strategies to boost revenue, improve efficiency, and protect practices from financial risks.
📅 New episodes drop every other Wednesday! Subscribe now to stay updated.
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I can't recommend Zeroed-In Dental Solutions enough.
I've been working with Zeroed-In Dental Solutions for a little over 4 months now, and I have to say they are amazing! I brought in Linda Kane and her team into my new acquisition/startup when original staff created a huge billing mess. Handing the reigns over to Zeroed-In Dental Solutions is probably the single-best decision I made. The team has great work ethic, communication, attitude, dedication, and capability. Setting up with Zeroed-In was really easy, and they work around the clock to send, follow up, and clean up claims for you. I was also going through a software transition from Eaglesoft to Curve Dental and they knew exactly how to handle that situation as well and keep things accurate. They'll even verify insurances and handle patient billing for you as well. Everything is very professional from the team and they bring really good energy and a great attitude too! They make you want to bring them into your practice and keep them as your own personal team. I was deciding between a few billing/RCM teams when I was looking for one, and to be honest, they all kind of sound the same, right? But talking to Linda and Zeroed-In, they stood out with their expertise and capability, and I am really glad I chose them over everyone else. It has made a huge difference for my practice and is a lot less work and hassle for me day-to-day as well. Overall, I can't recommend Zeroed-In Dental Solutions enough and you'll love working with them and enjoy the benefits it brings to you and your practice.
I have piece of mind that our patients are getting the best.
Linda and Michelle are extremely knowledgeable and professional allies to have on your side! Working with Zeroed is a breeze, and I have piece of mind that our patients are getting the best service possible from this team. Highly recommend!
They have taken extra time to make our business better.
Very, very, very pleased with the zeroed in team. If I could give more stars I would do it. Linda and Michelle have been extraordinary in their care and help for our team. They have taken extra time to make our business better and more successful. Because of their extraordinary efforts, I have changed the way I practice dentistry and it has reshaped my views. I would not hesitate recommending their services! Thanks Linda and Michelle!!!
