Dental Embezzlement Red Flags: How to Protect Your Dental Practice with David Harris (Part 2)

Could small gaps in your practice systems be creating opportunity for theft?‍

In this second conversation on Dental Office Rescue, Linda Kane welcomes back David Harris, CEO of Prosperident and one of the most experienced dental embezzlement investigators in the country.

If you listened to Part 1 (The #1 Financial Threat to Your Dental Practice (And How to Stop It!)) this episode goes deeper into specific red flags to look out for. We explore the day-to-day systems, hiring oversights, and workflow habits that unintentionally make embezzlement easier than most dentists realize.

Why Internal Theft Often Goes Undetected in Dental Offices

A lot of dentists believe they’d “just know” if something was wrong.
David says that’s rarely how it plays out.

“It’s not that they don’t care. It’s that they’re distracted—and somebody is going to take advantage of that.” – David Harris

Most of the practices David investigates aren’t careless. They’re busy—focused on patient care, production, staffing challenges, and keeping the schedule full. Financial oversight often slips into the background, not intentionally, but gradually. That’s exactly where experienced embezzlers tend to find opportunity.

Dental Embezzlement Red Flags You Might Be Missing

During this episode, David outlines warning signs that don’t always feel urgent—but can quietly open the door to fraud:

• No one regularly comparing collections vs. deposits
• One employee handling everything from posting payments to making deposits
• References not checked or verified during hiring
• Job roles so blurred that no one is fully accountable

In one real case shared on the episode, an employee kept a handwritten record of everything she stole—not to hide it, but so she wouldn’t forget. It’s unsettling, but it’s not rare. These situations often arise when systems rely on trust alone, without structure or checks.

Hiring Oversights That Create Hidden Risk

One of the most eye-opening moments in this episode comes from David’s discussion of hiring practices.

He shares that over 70 million Americans—about one in four adults—have a criminal record. That statistic alone doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t be hired. But it does mean practices need to be intentional about what they’re checking for.

David explains that if someone has already been caught for embezzlement or check fraud, that’s information a practice owner should have before giving them access to money.

In fact, he recounts a case where he personally knew an embezzler who had already been caught—yet was still hired by another dental office, where she stole again.

These aren’t scare tactics. They’re reminders that background checks, reference verification, and even drug testing are protective tools—not accusations.

Practical Ways to Protect Your Practice

The good news? Prevention doesn’t mean micromanagement.

David shares clear, realistic steps that work even in small offices:

• Separate financial responsibilities whenever possible
• Compare practice management software reports with actual bank deposits
• Slow down the hiring process enough to run background checks, verify references, and confirm employment history

Consistency—not complexity—is what makes these safeguards effective.

How to Protect Your Dental Practice from Internal Theft

Whether or not you’ve ever suspected an issue, this episode gives you a clearer picture of where risk actually lives—and how to reduce it before it turns into a real problem.

As Linda emphasizes throughout the conversation, protecting your practice isn’t about suspicion. It’s about leadership, structure, and smart delegation.

If you want expert help, David and the Prosperident team specialize in dental embezzlement investigations, audits, and training designed specifically for dental practices.

📞 Contact Prosperident: 888-398-2327
🌐 Visit: www.prosperident.com

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