Reignite Your Passion for Private Practice at the Exchange 2025

What if one meeting could recharge your spirit, reconnect you with your purpose, and give you a clear roadmap for the future of your practice? 

Welcome to The Exchange—Smile Source’s annual gathering, where independent dentists come together not just to learn, but to lead a movement. This year, from September 10 to 13, over a thousand private practice dentists and their teams will gather in Louisville, Kentucky, to experience something much bigger than continuing education (CE). 

You’ll experience momentum. Unity. Clarity. And a fire that lasts long after the meeting ends.

Three Days for Championing Private Practice—and a Movement You’ll Want to Join

Private practice is not dying. It’s thriving—and it’s evolving. While headlines might tell a different story, the truth is that 86% of the dental market is still comprised of independent practices. And the second golden age of private practice is already taking shape.

Smile Source and ACT Dental have joined forces to champion that future. Together, we’re building something bold and necessary: a community of like-minded professionals who are ready to raise the bar for clinical excellence, leadership, and team culture. But a movement needs momentum, and momentum begins at the Exchange.

In line with the recent merger of Smile Source and ACT Dental, the theme for Exchange 2025 is "Strength Through Connection."

A Lineup That Lights a Fire

This year’s speaker lineup is packed with visionaries who don’t just lecture—they transform. You’ll walk away with tangible strategies, renewed purpose, and a whole lot of inspiration:

• Nate “Utah” Scott, former Blue Angels pilot, will speak on building high-performance teams and cultivating gratitude to drive excellence.
• Katherine Eitel Belt, world-renowned communication coach and ACT Dental mentor, will speak on team alignment and leadership strategies you can implement the very next week.
• Kirk Behrendt, ACT Dental founder, will deliver humor and heart as he reveals the “Better Practice, Better Life” mindset—plus tips to work smarter (not just talk about it).

And don’t miss the live panel discussion on the Future of Private Practice with Kirk, Barrett, Dr. Jeff Osborne, and other leaders. Expect candid insights, honest answers, and a roadmap that proves your best days in dentistry are yet to come.

More Than a Meeting—It’s an Energizing Community

On many days, private dentists feel like they are out there by themselves. But you don’t need to be alone. The way to improve yourself and your practice is to lock arms with other people and gather strength.

Dr. Jeff Osborne, our Smile Source Chief Dental Officer, has participated in 14 Exchanges. He’ll tell you the truth: “It’s not the Kool-Aid—it’s the energy, the family feel, the laughs over dinner, and deep dives in breakout sessions. You aren’t just an attendee. You are a participant, and you will want to participate every year.”

The Exchange isn't like the typical big-box conferences where vendors push their products and speakers talk at you. Instead, you’ll find:

• Affinity groups tailored to where you are on your journey—from emerging practices to million-dollar-plus CEOs.
• Team-focused sessions that empower every member of your team to grow and lead.
• Seventeen hours of CE, gourmet meals, open-bar socials, and meaningful time with your peers—all included in one ticket price.
• A vendor experience that supports private practice instead of vendor sales. First-time attendees are always amazed at the vendors’ focus on sharing information to elevate private practice at all stages of growth.
  
  

“Smile Source’s annual Exchange is the private dentist’s ultimate meeting for rejuvenating mind, body, soul, and the trajectory of practice.”
–Dr. Jeff Osborne, Chief Dental Officer of Smile Source

“Private practice means freedom—the freedom to choose how, when, where, and with whom you practice. But that freedom needs fuel,” says Kirk Behrendt.

This September, give yourself (and your team) the space to reset and reignite. “If you’ve been feeling stuck, if your team needs fresh energy, if you want to believe in your vision of practice and fullest potential—come to Exchange 2025,” says Kirk Behrendt. “You’ll leave believing. You’ll leave on fire.”

Full details and online registration for Exchange 2025 are available here.

“The Exchange is more than a meeting. It’s a movement. And you belong in the room. Because this isn’t just about improving your practice. It’s about believing in it again.” –Kirk Behrendt, ACT Dental Founder