Securing Your Practice and Team: Essential Insurance Policies for Dentists

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, recorded live from the Southwest Dental Conference, Herb Ford from Brown and Brown (formerly Wallace Specialty) joins Ash to discuss the common misconceptions about insurance coverage for dental practices. They discuss the critical differences between general liability, cyber, and professional liability insurance, emphasizing that many practice owners may be less protected than they realize. Herb offers real-world examples of how insufficient or misunderstood coverage can leave practices exposed to significant risks, especially with increasing cyber-attacks and the complexities around group benefits and business operations.Herb also talks about the role of umbrella insurance and how it offers additional liability protection—but not for every type of coverage, such as property damage. The episode provides practical advice on how and why dental professionals should consider group policies, disability insurance for staff, and key person coverage to maintain practice continuity. The discussion wraps up with tips for protecting both personal and business assets and recommendations for addressing gaps in current insurance strategies.To connect with Herb, you can call him at: 972-663-5195Or email him at herb {at} bbrown.comKey Topics Discussed:General liability, cyber, and professional liability insurance: what’s covered and what isn’tCybersecurity, cyber insurance, and why IT providers are not a substitute for insuranceThe purpose and limits of umbrella insurance for dental practices and individualsGroup benefits for dental practice staff, including health, disability, and life insuranceDisability, business overhead, and payroll protection insurance to maintain business continuityThe importance of entity professional liability coverage for practices with multiple associatesBusiness interruption and extra expense insurance for property-related disruptionsEmployee dishonesty and theft coveragePractical advice for practice owners on assessing and improving current insurance coverage