What does it actually take to grow a dental practice from $200K to nearly $500K a month in production? Dr. Blake Hamblin opened up about the mindset shifts, treatment systems, and marketing decisions that fueled massive growth in just one year. If you’re tired of hearing vague advice and want real strategies from a real dentist, this is your playbook.
Breaking the Plateau: Why Dr. Blake Had to Make a Move
Dr. Blake bought a five-operatory, out-of-network practice in Houston in 2019. He quickly realized that while offering more services helped revenue, the physical space itself was limiting growth.
His solution? Build a new 13-op facility across the freeway with visibility and signage. This decision wasn’t just about more space. It was about:
- Doubling the operatories
- Increasing visibility (next to a high-traffic Discount Tire)
- Creating capacity to scale hygiene, specialty, and associate production
Once the location changed, the floodgates opened, but only because systems were ready.
Conversion-Driven Treatment Planning
Dr. Blake doesn’t just treat decay. He uses a financial menu and permission-based presentation style that increases case acceptance without pressure.
Here’s what his team does differently:
- Every patient gets a scan, pano, cone beam, and bitewings
- Doctors ask, “Would you be open to hearing everything I see?”
- A simple financial menu shows what treatment costs monthly using tools like Cherry or Sunbit
This format turns patients into partners and has helped Dr. Blake consistently close high-value cases, from Invisalign to full-mouth rehabs.
Marketing Smarter (Not Just Spending More)
Most practices either spend too little on marketing or too much in the wrong place. Dr. Blake started with a small test budget after burning out from underperforming agencies. But as results came in, he leaned into what was working.
Key lessons:
- Growth-minded practices often outspend their size temporarily
- ROI is a lagging indicator; capacity planning must come first
- Scaling requires patience, reinvestment, and a clear long-term vision
Today, his marketing budget is under 4% of production, but at one point, it was closer to 15% while building the new practice and hiring an associate.
Quick Wins You Can Apply This Month
- Add a financial menu to your case presentation
- Ask permission before presenting treatment to shift the dynamic
- Reserve production blocks in your schedule instead of filling everything
- Treat marketing like an investment, not a one-time expense
- Track ROI by source and team conversion weekly
AI or Tools Tips
Use Google Docs or Sheets to build a simple financial menu that your entire team can use. Embed calculators for treatment cost breakdowns by month and by financing platform. Automate this into your treatment workflow. Download our template here.
Think Smarter
Dentists often try to optimize for personal income before the business is ready. Dr. Blake flipped that script. He reinvested first – in people, in property, and in systems. As a result, production grew, team buy-in improved, and stress decreased. You don’t have to choose between profitability and growth. You just have to choose your priorities in the right order.
Final Thought
Growth doesn’t come from chance. It comes from clarity, discipline, and systems that work even when you’re not in the office. Dr. Blake didn’t just add new patients. He added strategy. That made all the difference.
Final Checklist
- Do you have enough ops to hit your growth goals?
- Are your treatment presentations permission-based?
- Is your financial conversation visual and simple?
- Are you tracking ROI and capacity at the same time?
- Is your schedule optimized for production or just full?
- Have you trained your team to present high-value care?
- Are you reinvesting profit into growth?
- Do you know your marketing cost as a % of production?
