The Difference Between Filling a Shift and Protecting a Practice
Why how coverage is handled matters more than most people realize.
Stepping Back Into a Familiar Practice
This week, I stepped back into the first practice I ever owned.
Same operatories. Same flow. Same kind of patients. Different role.
I wasn’t the owner or long-term doctor anymore. I was there to provide temporary coverage. And almost immediately, I was reminded of something that doesn’t get talked about enough in dentistry.
The Quiet Temptation of “Easy” Coverage
When you’re working as a temp, there’s an unspoken temptation to take the easy road.
It would be easy to:
Avoid harder diagnostic conversations
Skip over findings that won’t be treated today
Leave future decisions for the returning doctor
Not out of laziness or lack of care.
But out of politeness. Out of caution. Out of not wanting to overstep. Sometimes it feels simpler to just get through the day, keep things moving, and stay in your lane.
The Truth About Deferred Diagnosis
Here’s the reality most of us know but rarely say out loud:
When diagnosis is delayed, it doesn’t disappear.
It just becomes someone else’s harder conversation later.
Patients may feel blindsided when a returning doctor brings something up that “wasn’t mentioned before.” Teams are left to explain gaps, and trust has to be rebuilt rather than reinforced.
And none of that is fair to the patient or the dentist returning to their practice.
What Protecting a Practice Actually Looks Like
Protecting a practice isn’t about doing everything today.
It’s about:
Educating patients clearly and calmly
Documenting thoughtfully
Being mindful of future appointments and treatment sequencing
Speaking in a way that supports the returning doctor’s plan of care
It’s about continuity. You’re not selling treatment. You’re preserving clarity and trust.
Patients Feel the Difference
Patients can sense when something is being avoided.
They may not know the clinical details, but they know when a conversation feels incomplete. And, they deserve honest education, even if treatment happens later.
Clear, respectful communication builds confidence even when the doctor is temporary. That confidence carries forward.
Filling a Shift vs. Protecting a Practice
Filling a shift keeps the schedule moving.
Protecting a practice keeps the foundation intact.
Temporary support should never create long-term cleanup.
The real value of coverage isn’t just showing up — it’s stewarding what comes next.
A Quiet Standard
When a dentist steps away, they’re trusting someone with more than a calendar.
They’re trusting their patients. Their team. And the conversations that shape future care.
That’s the standard I hold myself to every time I step into an office. Temporary support should feel seamless for patients, teams, and the dentist who returns.