Graduating from dental school prepares you to diagnose, restore, and care for patients. It does not prepare you to run a business.
That gap between clinical excellence and ownership readiness is where many young dentists struggle. And it’s exactly the gap Smile Source Exchange 2026 was designed to close.
For new and early-career dentists, the Exchange is more than a conference. It functions as a business school intensive for independent practice ownership, built around a single core belief:
Independence is strongest when it is supported by scale.
At the heart of the Exchange is a powerful lesson: you do not have to choose between independence and efficiency.
Through Smile Source’s national network, new dentists learn to leverage economies of scale that were previously available only to corporate groups. You gain practical strategies to:
This is not theoretical. It is operational ownership training grounded in real numbers.
The Exchange also reframes how new dentists think about patients.
In a 2026 market, patient loyalty is built long before the exam begins. You’ll learn how to implement frictionless entry systems, including digital onboarding and AI-driven diagnostic workflows, that meet modern patient expectations without overwhelming your team.
But technology is only part of the equation.
The Exchange places equal emphasis on team culture and leadership development. Rather than teaching you how to simply hire staff, it shows you how to:
Ownership success is not about doing everything yourself. It’s about building systems that work with you.
Starting a practice in 2026 means navigating increasing regulatory complexity. At the Exchange, you receive direct guidance on:
You don’t want to miss the priceless Affinity Groups—peer-to-peer sessions where new owners can troubleshoot real startup challenges alongside veteran dentists. These sessions remove the isolation of solo ownership and replace it with shared experience, mentorship, and practical solutions.
Smile Source Exchange 2026 is designed to enable you to focus entirely on learning, connecting, and growing.
Event Details
The 2026 feature speakers are Dr. Adam Kimowitz (“Adam K.”) and Christian Coachman (Founder of Digital Smile Design). Both know the business of building a profitable, growing dental practice inside and out!
Kirk Behrendt and I will be providing highly sought-after Business Mastery sessions.
With approximately 1,250 attendees and exclusive vendor pricing opportunities for major equipment purchases, early registration secures both cost savings and access to high-value conversations that directly impact ownership decisions.
The Exchange is not about turning dentists into corporations.
It’s about giving independent dentists the knowledge, systems, and confidence to compete—and win—on their own terms.
If you are ready to move from clinician to confident owner, the Smile Source Exchange 2026 is where your blueprint begins. I look forward to meeting you in person and introducing you to others who can help you launch successfully!