Dr. Larry Benz on Why Caring Without Connection Causes Burnout in Dentistry
What if empathy, connection, and communication were treated as clinical skills—not soft extras? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host CRO Mike Huffaker of Planet DDS speaks with Dr. Larry Benz, CEO of Dental Care Alliance and author of Called to Care for dentistry, about the relationship between human connection, patient outcomes, provider wellbeing, and business performance.
Dr. Benz brings a unique perspective shaped by more than thirty years in multi-site healthcare. A physical therapist by training, he built and scaled Confluent Health into an 800-plus clinic network before joining Dental Care Alliance’s board in 2024 and becoming CEO within a year.
Larry explains the research behind Called to Care, including how provider empathy and relational connection can affect clinical outcomes, case acceptance, retention, referrals, and workplace culture. He also introduces the idea of “calcification”—the gradual emotional hardening that can cause providers to see a patient as a procedure rather than a person—and why connection is a critical antidote to burnout.
The conversation also explores dental anxiety, the power of language in the operatory, and why the profession must stop allowing insurance limitations to define treatment conversations. Larry shares how DCA paired operational and cultural transformation with its recent balance-sheet restructuring, and why he believes the most important capital investment a DSO can make is in its people.
The Real Cure for Dentist Burnout
About The Dental Economist Show
Don’t miss insightful conversations with industry experts on the latest trends and top strategies to grow your DSO or dental group. Tune in to The Dental Economist Show each week as we meet at the intersection of profit and purpose.
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