Why Team Conflict Hurts Dental Practices w/ Dina Lynch Eisenberg

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of team conflict in dental practices with expert Dina Lynch Eisenberg.

In this episode, we sit down with Dina Lynch Eisenberg, JD, EMBA, CEO and Founder of Talkola, to unpack a problem many dental practices feel but rarely name: shadow friction. Dina brings over 30 years of experience as a mediator, organizational ombuds, and former healthcare attorney, having resolved more than 6,000 workplace conflicts for organizations like Bank of America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Coca-Cola, and Twitter. Now, through Talkola, she’s helping leaders use science-backed AI to practice difficult conversations before tension quietly erodes culture, performance, and profitability. Together, we explore: → What “shadow friction” looks like inside dental practices, even when things seem “mostly fine” → Why dentists struggle with hard conversations and what really happens when issues are avoided → How unspoken tension impacts patient experience, front-desk flow, hygiene schedules, and team morale → The real financial cost of unresolved conflict, from turnover to lost production → Dina’s FACTS framework for navigating tough conversations without HR training or a psychology degree → Why practicing difficult conversations builds confidence and transforms…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Aditi Agarwal

Guest: Dina Lynch Eisenberg

Topics covered

• team conflict
• dental practices
• communication
• leadership
• workplace culture
• patient experience

Keywords

• shadow friction
• difficult conversations
• FACTS framework
• workplace conflicts
• dental leadership
• patient care
• organizational culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Talkola, Bank of America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Coca-Cola, Twitter

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