Why Burnout Is the Conversation We Need to Be Having
Burnout isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a reality for far too many dentists. Whether you’re early in your career or decades into practice ownership, the weight of clinical demands, team leadership, business operations, and patient care can wear you down. In this episode of The Dental Domination Podcast, host Dan Brian sits down with Dr. Ben Friberg, a Wilmington-based dentist, entrepreneur, and author, to talk candidly about burnout, leadership, and what it really takes to build a thriving, fulfilling dental career.
Dr. Friberg’s story is anything but ordinary. With dual degrees in dentistry and business, a background in commercial construction, and a passion for coaching other dental professionals, he brings a refreshing, grounded perspective to the burnout conversation — along with practical strategies dentists can implement now to change their trajectory.
Meet Dr. Ben Friberg: Dentist, Coach, and Author
Dr. Friberg didn’t begin his career in dentistry. In fact, before entering dental school at age 30, he was managing hundreds of employees and running a multi-million dollar painting and construction business. Despite the success, something was missing: purpose.
That search for meaningful impact led him to dentistry. Today, Dr. Friberg owns a wildly successful private practice in Wilmington, NC. He grew his startup practice to over $1 million in its first year and continues to grow it by 20% year-over-year—all while working just three and a half days a week and taking seven weeks of vacation.
But even more importantly, he’s taken what he’s learned and poured it into helping other dentists do the same—without losing themselves in the process. His book, The Seven Figure Practice Blueprint, and his new RESET retreat are designed to guide burned-out or overwhelmed dentists toward a more fulfilling, balanced path.
Why So Many Dentists Feel Burned Out
Dr. Friberg estimates that virtually 100% of the dentists who reach out to him for coaching or consulting are facing burnout at some level.
“They finally get to a point where they realize, ‘I can’t keep doing what I’m doing and expect different results,’” he explains.
Burnout, he says, often stems from a mismatch between the demands of practice ownership and the dentist’s personal well-being. And most of the time, dentists have been conditioned from their education to deprioritize the very habits that prevent burnout.
The Dental School Effect
Dental education, Friberg points out, primes professionals to survive on minimal sleep, poor nutrition, and little to no movement. While this may work in the short sprint of school, it’s unsustainable for the long marathon of a dental career.
“We were the least slept, worst-fed, hardest-working of any of our classmates,” Friberg says. “But now that we’re in the infinite game of dentistry, that doesn’t cut it anymore.”
The “Concrete Life” Framework: Four Foundations for a Thriving Practice
At the core of Dr. Friberg’s coaching is what he calls the “Concrete Life” framework—a simple but powerful metaphor pulled from his construction background. Just like concrete, which is used more than any other building material worldwide, a strong professional life is built on four ingredients:
- Physical Health
- Mental Health
- Financial Health
- Spiritual Health
Only when these elements are aligned and healthy can a dentist show up with the energy, clarity, and confidence to lead their team and grow their practice.
Where to Start: Sleep, Nutrition, and Movement
Dr. Friberg’s first step for anyone battling burnout? Go back to basics.
He emphasizes the importance of sleep, nutrition, and movement—not as a wellness platitude, but as the essential ingredients for high performance.
“Without good sleep, your body produces ghrelin, a hunger hormone that pushes you toward fatty, salty food. So if you want to eat better, you have to sleep better first,” he explains.
He also urges dentists to cut back on common burnout coping mechanisms—like doom scrolling and alcohol—that only compound the problem.
RESET: A Retreat for Dentists Ready to Work On Their Practice
For dentists ready to take action, Dr. Friberg is hosting the RESET retreat—a three-day, small-group experience focused on transforming your practice from the inside out.
RESET stands for:
- Reflect – Reconnect with your goals and assess where you are now.
- Engage – Dive into meaningful goal-setting and self-discovery.
- Strategize – Build actionable leadership, management, and system strategies.
- Execute – Create clear, time-bound plans for implementation.
- Thrive – Define what success looks like and build your path to get there.
Held at a private retreat center near Wilmington, NC, the October event offers an intimate, hands-on experience for just 12 dentists. Participants will leave with three fully built-out strategies: one for leadership, one for business management, and one for system execution. Learn more about the retreat on Dr. Friberg’s website.
“This is about getting outside your practice and changing its trajectory,” says Friberg. “Not just keeping things moving—but making them better.”
The Seven Figure Practice Blueprint
Dr. Friberg’s bestselling book, The Seven Figure Practice Blueprint, is another powerful resource for dentists looking to elevate their practices without sacrificing their well-being. The book walks through leadership, management, and marketing—plus a bonus chapter on profitable philanthropy.
Unlike many practice management books, this one is built for implementation. It includes frameworks and systems dentists can use right away to improve efficiency, culture, profitability, and impact.
One Final Takeaway: Don’t Go It Alone
If there’s one message Dr. Friberg hopes listeners will take from this episode, it’s this:
“It’s crazy to think that just because you have a DDS, you know how to run a business. You don’t have to do this alone.”
Like professional athletes, elite dentists need coaches, mentors, and teammates to guide them. Whether it’s through a retreat, a book, or one-on-one coaching, investing in your growth is not just helpful—it’s essential.
TLDR: Episode Summary
In this episode of The Dental Domination Podcast, Dr. Ben Friberg shares his journey from construction executive to seven-figure dentist, and the hard-earned lessons he now uses to coach others through burnout and business overwhelm. The conversation covers:
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Burnout affects nearly every dentist at some level—but it’s solvable.
- The “Concrete Life” framework emphasizes physical, mental, financial, and spiritual health.
- Sleep, nutrition, and movement are foundational and non-negotiable.
- Coping mechanisms like alcohol and social media worsen stress over time.
- The RESET retreat helps dentists work on their business, not just in it.
- The Seven Figure Practice Blueprint offers practical, implementable systems for growth.
- You don’t have to run your practice alone — coaching and accountability make the difference.
Ready to Build a More Sustainable, Successful Dental Practice?
Schedule your free strategy call with DentalScapes today and let’s explore how innovative online marketing solutions can help you scale your growth—without burning out in the process.