• Staffing shortages and economic volatility create new pressures for dental practices.
  • AI-powered claims technology speeds payment processing and cuts revenue losses.
  • Wealth creation involves both practice optimization and personal financial management.
  • Financial partnerships help practices manage tariffs, supply costs, and operations.
  • Financial literacy serves as the foundation for practice success.

The National Dental Association (NDA) Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, brought healthcare leaders together to discuss the industry's most pressing issues. PNC Bank's strong presence at the event, one of the premier gatherings for Black dental professionals, showcased its dedication to helping diverse dental practices navigate today's economy. Shannon Page is a Senior Healthcare Relationship Manager who has spent the last 13 years helping doctors in private practice with PNC Healthcare Business Banking. She spoke with BlackDoctor.org, the nation's largest health and wellness destination for Black Americans, reaching 26 million people monthly, about financial strategies that work in today's environment.[1] The interview, conducted by Dr. Ashanti Carter, BlackDoctor.org's Chief Academic Liaison, focused on practical solutions for practice challenges facing diverse healthcare providers.

"It's a humbling experience, honestly, to have the opportunity for my career to intersect with my passion, which is to elevate as I educate," Page shared. Her core message: "Financial literacy is the foundation of economic empowerment." This philosophy drives PNC Healthcare's approach, with over $40 billion in capital dedicated to the healthcare industry, a team of 100+ healthcare professionals across 41 states and D.C., and relationships with over 70% of the top 100 payers and providers.

The Current State of Dental Practice Economics

Dental practices today face converging forces that affect both daily operations and future planning. Page identified three critical areas that echo PNC Healthcare's 2025 Provider Survey findings.

First, workforce shortages persist nationwide. "Labor is a critical component for healthcare practices, and there still seems to be a lot of shortages with staffing, which stymies growth," Page explained. The consequences multiply: "employee burnout, which increases errors... decreases employee morale, and then ultimately we're seeing a reduction in patient satisfaction."

Second, market volatility creates planning difficulties. Page pointed to tariff implementation, explaining that "tariffs are taxes. So that is going to result in an increase in the cost of supplies, equipment." She also noted a potential "supply chain disruption" that will "put pressure on operational costs." 

Third, interest rate questions complicate financial planning. "We're not really sure what the Fed's going to do as it relates to dropping rates," Page noted. "You have these two X factors, interest rates... what's going to happen, as well as what the impact of the tariffs is going to be, and healthcare practitioners are forced to make the best decision they can when the picture still really isn't clear."

These issues interconnect: a practice dealing with staff shortages may struggle to negotiate vendor terms or upgrade technology. Rising supply costs can force choices between service quality and financial stability.

Creating Long-Term Wealth for Practice Owners

Practice success means more than operational profits; it means building financial security for families. Page described PNC's dual approach to wealth creation.

"When you think about generational wealth, I think about that in two parts. So the first part is the build part, and that's definitely where PNC Healthcare comes into play," she explained. "We're helping practices think through how they can generate assets, and they do that from a lot of the different financial solutions that we can offer."

The second component involves PNC's Private Bank services. "And then we couple that with our PNC's private bank, which is essentially our wealth management group. And it's a team of experts that assists people on the personal side with transitioning those assets from the business to the personal side. They help them with their banking, estate planning, succession planning, and financial planning."

But value goes beyond products: "It's not just the private bank that's helping to grow those assets, but it's also that access that that individual gets to those experts and that transfer of that intellectual capital that they're going to get."

When asked about her best financial advice, Page offered timeless guidance: "Don't keep up with the Joneses. You know, just live beneath your means, and in a practical manner, that means don't spend more than you earn."

Moving Forward: Partnership in Today's Economy

Today's dental practices need more than basic banking services. 

Success requires both new tools and proven financial practices. As practices implement AI-powered claims systems, they must also track performance metrics and pursue measured growth. Strong financial partnerships provide both the technology and expertise to manage these dual priorities.