Disability Insurance for Dentists: When You Can’t Practice with Eric D'Hondt

Описание: In this episode, host Jamie Fleischner sits down with Dr. Eric D’Hondt, partner at Greenwood Dental Associates in the Denver metro area, to discuss disability insurance through lived experience.

For dentists, income risk is deeply personal. Clinical work is hands-on, physically demanding, and directly tied to a practitioner’s health. When illness or injury interrupts that ability—even temporarily—the impact can ripple through patients, staff, and the long-term stability of a practice.

Dr. D’Hondt is a nationally recognized clinician specializing in comprehensive, restorative, and esthetic dentistry. A 5280 Top Dentist every year since 2009, he trained at the University of Michigan, completed a General Practice Residency at the University of Colorado, serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and sits on the board of the Dentists Professional Liability Trust. He also lectures nationally on oral cancer management.

But this conversation is not technical. It is practical.

Dr. D’Hondt shares how years of physically demanding clinical work led to severe arthritis in both thumbs, ultimately requiring surgery on each hand. He walks through what it meant to step away from practice, how he managed patient care and staff responsibilities during recovery, and the financial realities of bringing in temporary clinical coverage.

The discussion explores:

• The physical toll of dentistry, including neck, back, and hand injuries
• Why ergonomic advances matter but cannot eliminate all risk
• The emotional weight of facing a potential career-ending diagnosis
• How business overhead expense insurance protects staff, rent, and operating costs
• How partial and own-occupation disability coverage works in real life
• Why early planning and future increase options can make a critical difference
• What younger dentists often overlook about protecting their income

Dr. D’Hondt also reflects on practice ownership, partnership planning, succession strategy, and the growing pressure of private equity in dentistry—all while navigating personal health challenges.

For dentists and other professionals whose income depends on their physical ability to perform, this episode offers a candid look at risk, responsibility, and the importance of protecting both personal and business stability.

This is a grounded conversation about planning ahead, maintaining independence, and ensuring that one unexpected diagnosis does not define a career.