Money Misbeliefs in Dentistry: Lessons from Thou Shall Prosper

“The more good you do for others, the more money you should expect to earn — because money is simply a certificate of appreciation.”
— Rabbi Daniel Lapin

When it comes to money, few voices are as clear and timeless as Rabbi Daniel Lapin in Thou Shall Prosper. His premise is simple: money is not about greed, but about service. It’s a reflection of the value we bring into the lives of others.

In dentistry, our beliefs about money are constantly put to the test — especially during financial arrangements with patients. Too often, dentists and team members unintentionally project their own financial fears or assumptions onto patients. Others drop fees at the first sign of hesitation. Lapin calls these “money misbeliefs,” and they can sabotage both confidence and prosperity.

Below are some of his most powerful insights, reframed for dentistry:

1. Your Fee Reflects Value — Not Your Comfort

“Making money is the result of being obsessively preoccupied with the needs of others.”
Your fee isn’t about what you feel comfortable charging. It’s about the life-changing value you bring to your patients.

2. Discounting Devalues Your Work

“When you undercharge, you are really announcing to the world that you don’t believe your service is valuable.”
Dropping fees tells patients — even unconsciously — that their oral health and your expertise aren’t worth much.

3. Prosperity = Service

“Money is a measure of how much you have served your fellow human being.”
When you discount under pressure, you undermine that very measure. Fees are a way of honoring the service you provide.

4. Fee-Cutting Is Self-Sabotage

“Those who are uncomfortable with money will always sabotage their own prosperity.”
Discounting isn’t generosity — it’s often discomfort with your own worth.

5. Respect Starts With You

“People respect you in proportion to how much you respect yourself.”
Holding firm on fees isn’t greed. It’s leadership. Patients trust confidence.

6. Dentistry Is Service, Not a Transaction

“Business is about creating wealth by serving others, not about extracting money from them.”
Fees reinforce that dentistry is a life-improving service, not a commodity to bargain for.

7. Success Enables Generosity

“You can’t do good until you’ve done well.”
Charging appropriately allows you to reinvest, care for more patients, and build a thriving practice.

8. Confidence = Integrity

“If you truly believe you are providing value, charging appropriately is an act of integrity, not greed.”
Patients take their cues from your certainty. If you waver, resistance grows.

9. Don’t Inflict Your Fears

“Never project your own financial fears onto others — you deny them the dignity of deciding for themselves what they value.”
Patients deserve the choice. Don’t take it from them by assuming they can’t afford care.

10. Prosperity Flows From Belief

“Prosperity flows from believing that what you do improves people’s lives.”
When you undervalue your work, you rob both yourself and your patients of what’s possible.

Reframing Resistance

Instead of seeing patient resistance as a signal to cave, recognize it as a normal step in the decision-making process. Resistance doesn’t mean no; it means “help me understand the value.”

Holding steady — with calm confidence — gives patients the reassurance they need. When you believe in the worth of your care, patients are far more likely to believe in it too.

✅ Takeaway: Money in dentistry isn’t about greed. It’s about honoring the true value of your expertise, respecting yourself, and giving patients the dignity of choosing. When you stop discounting, you start serving at a higher level — and both you and your patients win.