What it takes to build and grow a successful dental practice
Running a business takes more than technical expertise. Whether you’re an orthodontist, an accountant, or a lawyer, success requires more than just being good at your craft—it requires learning how to actually run a business. That’s what Dr. Christian Johnson had to figure out. She went to school to become an orthodontist, but building and scaling her own practice required a completely different skill set. On After the First Million, we talked about leadership, business growth, and why delegation is critical to success.
From College Athletics to Running a Business
Dr. Johnson’s path to entrepreneurship started on the track.
“During our off season, we would have two-a-day practices. We'd have practice in the morning before class, then you would go to class, and you'd have to come right back after and go back to practice. And so I was one of the college students that had to take 8am classes. There was no choice because I had to be done by a certain time in time for our afternoon practice.”
That experience taught her discipline and time management—skills that proved invaluable when she launched her own practice.
Why Technical Skills Don’t Equal Business Success
Going to dental school teaches you how to be an orthodontist. It doesn’t teach you how to run a business.
“As a part of that curriculum, there are a few courses that you get on practice management, building a practice, but at the time, a lot of the information is so high level over your head, you're like, what are you even talking about?”
For Dr. Johnson, the biggest challenge in starting her own practice was figuring out the business side—how to hire the right people, set up systems, and track the right metrics.
“What are the metrics I'm looking at to make sure this business is actually a business and doing well?”
Delegation Isn’t Optional—It’s Necessary
Many entrepreneurs struggle with letting go of control. Dr. Johnson learned early that scaling meant trusting others to take ownership.
“There are certain things that you're not going to be able to do anymore that you're going to have to trust somebody else to do. Whether that's in your personal life or even in your work life where we can't do it all, we have to learn to be able to delegate.”
But effective delegation requires strong leadership and training.
“When you delegate, I think the biggest thing is that did you train well enough is when you delegate, they're able to take the role and make it their own and trust them to do it. And not micromanage around that.”
The Power of Building a Strong Team
No one builds a business alone. For Dr. Johnson, surrounding herself with the right people has been crucial to her success.
“You have to be willing to allow your team around you to support you, be open to their ideas, but also to empower them because it's going to take all the pieces moving in one direction for the ship to go in the right direction. You can't have people going in different ways, and your ship's just staying stagnant.”
She also believes in pushing her team to grow beyond their comfort zones.
“I know you don't like to do this, but I'm going to push you to do it so that you can grow, because you can use these skills at this job, maybe, and a social club that you're in, maybe. You know, if you decide one day that you want to start a business or you go work somewhere else, I want you to feel like you've been empowered and you've learned something since you've been here.”
The Future of Orthodontics—and All Service Industries
Dr. Johnson sees two major trends shaping the future of orthodontics: customization and technology.
“Orthodontics, medicine, pediatric dentistry, number one, are going to this very boutique feel. Nobody wants mass customization anymore. They want to feel like this is a personalized treatment plan. You came up with this plan with me in mind.”
AI and automation are also changing the industry, making practices more efficient and reducing unnecessary visits.
“When you're using these customized treatment options, when you're using AI or use technology in your practice, number one, it creates more time in your practice. It creates less time or visits that the patient has to come to your office because that's what's expensive. It’s the chair time that’s expensive.”
Lessons for Any Entrepreneur
Dr. Johnson’s journey from athlete to orthodontist to business owner is full of lessons that apply across industries:
- Your technical skills won’t automatically make you a successful business owner. Running a business requires a completely different skill set.
- Delegation is key to growth. You can’t scale if you don’t trust others to take ownership.
- Your team is everything. Empowering your employees to grow and lead is the best way to build a strong, sustainable business.
- Technology is reshaping service industries. Whether in dentistry, law, or accounting, businesses that embrace efficiency and automation will have a competitive edge.
The Bottom Line
If you’re building a business beyond the first million, learning how to shift from technician to CEO is critical. Dr. Johnson’s story is proof that with the right mindset, discipline, and team, scaling successfully is possible.
Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to my interview with Dr. Christian Johnson on After the First Million, wherever you get your podcasts.
