Navigating Dental Insurance: Insights from Dr. Travis Campbell

By Dr. Reza Ardalan, Host of the Dental Slang Podcast

Dental insurance can feel like a tangled web of rules, contracts and affiliations. In this episode of the Dental Slang Podcast, I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Travis Campbell, better known in dentistry as The Dental Insurance Guy. Travis has built a reputation for simplifying one of the most frustrating aspects of practice ownership: managing insurance in a way that benefits both patients and providers.

Inside this Episode:

Travis points out that one of the most common problems he sees is over-enrollment in networks. “It creates a spaghetti plate of affiliations you have to navigate,” he explained. His advice? Keep it simple—limit participation to three insurance companies. Two of those can serve as umbrella plans, giving you access to multiple insurers at higher fee schedules, which not only simplifies the administrative side but also maximizes revenue.

Negotiating with insurance companies, he reminded me, isn’t just about the contract. It’s about relationships. While going at it alone rarely moves the needle, experienced negotiators who know the right contacts can make a significant impact. As Travis put it: “It’s who you know.”

Deciding Whether to Stay In-Network

We also discussed the decision dentists face about remaining in-network versus going out-of-network. The real purpose of being in-network is marketing—bringing patients through the door. If your practice is already full, those contracts may not serve you anymore. Dropping low-paying plans can reduce pressure, increase fees, and improve the overall patient experience.

The key, though, is understanding your practice’s financials. With dentistry’s high fixed costs and low variable costs, you need to know your break-even point before you can make informed choices.

Leveraging Documentation for Efficiency

Another big takeaway from our conversation was the importance of visual documentation. Travis is a huge advocate for intraoral photos; taken before, during and after procedures. For the cost of a camera and a few seconds of time, photos can transform case acceptance, simplify appeals, and protect your practice legally. As he put it, “Visual documentation solves many problems in the office for the cost of $300 and ten seconds.”

The Dental Insurance Guy

At DentalInsuranceGuy.com, dentists can access free resources as well as member-exclusive content, including 40+ on-demand videos, live monthly sessions, daily Q&A, and direct feedback on case documentation. Membership starts at just $29 a month, making it an affordable way to get personalized support. “My goal wasn’t to make a ton of money,” he told me. “It was to make a change in the industry and help people understand what needs to be done to make their life easier.”

Staying Updated

Travis continues to be active in the dental community, especially on Facebook, where he engages daily with dentists looking for clarity on insurance issues. His focused, no-nonsense approach makes him one of the most approachable experts in this space.

For dentists looking to simplify their insurance participation, improve documentation practices, and run more profitable practices, Dr. Campbell’s strategies are invaluable.

To hear the full conversation, head over to DentalSlang.com and listen to the episode:

Navigating Dental Insurance: Insights from Travis Campbell.