The PPO Problem: A Profitability Crisis in Dentistry

Many dental practices are producing more than ever—yet taking home less. Rising overhead, staffing costs, and reimbursement pressure have turned PPO participation into a growing profitability crisis that most practices feel but don’t fully understand.

For years, PPO contracts were treated as a volume strategy. Today, they are a margin problem. Unmanaged fee schedules, silent reductions, and outdated assumptions about leverage quietly erode profitability, forcing practices to work harder just to maintain the same income.

In this webinar, Dr. Scott Leune is joined by Natalie Suda, Sr. Account Manager at PPO Profits, for a direct conversation about how PPO participation is impacting dental practice profitability—and what practice owners can do to regain control. This session focuses on clarity, strategy, and decision-making, not fear or blanket recommendations.

This is not a session about dropping all PPOs. It’s a leadership-level discussion about understanding the real financial impact of PPO participation and building a deliberate strategy that supports long-term sustainability.

What This Session Covers

• Why PPO participation has become a profitability crisis for many practices
• How fee schedules quietly reduce margins over time
• The difference between production growth and profit growth
• Common misconceptions about PPO leverage and negotiating power
• When PPO renegotiation makes sense—and when it doesn’t
• How to evaluate PPO participation strategically instead of emotionally
• What realistic margin recovery looks like in real practices
• How smarter PPO management supports long-term stability and growth

Who Should Attend

• Dental practice owners participating in PPO plans
• Practices experiencing margin pressure despite strong production
• Leaders responsible for financial strategy and reimbursement decisions
• Dentists unsure which PPOs help or hurt profitability
• Practices seeking a clearer, data-driven approach to PPO participation