The Dentist Behind the System

Meet Dr. Jerry Burns.

Owner of Burns Aesthetic and General Dentistry and creator of the 5 Steps to Yes communication system.

Since graduating from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1998, Dr. Burns has built his career around two connected priorities, delivering excellent clinical care and helping patients confidently understand the treatment they need.

  • 1998 Indiana University School of Dentistry
  • $5M Practice built through better communication
  • 5 Steps A repeatable patient communication system

Built in Practice. Proven in Conversation.

Early in his career, Dr. Burns followed the traditional path of investing heavily in continuing education, advanced procedures, and clinical training. But over time, he discovered that even excellent dentistry could fall short when patients did not fully understand their diagnosis, their options, or why treatment mattered.

The challenge was not the quality of care being recommended. The challenge was the lack of a clear, repeatable system for presenting that care.

Through years of study, testing, and real-world application inside his own practice, Dr. Burns developed the 5 Steps to Yes, a structured communication framework designed to help dentists and teams guide patients through better treatment conversations.

The framework was built in practice, not in theory. Burns Aesthetic and General Dentistry grew to nearly $5 million in annual revenue, while doctors and teams trained in the system produced measurable improvements in treatment acceptance and case presentation consistency.

Dr. Burns has also been deeply involved in charitable dentistry through Feed My Starving Children, traveling internationally, including surgical missions in the Dominican Republic, to provide free dental services to communities in need.

Today, he teaches dentists and dental teams how to create a repeatable communication system that removes guesswork from treatment presentations, helps patients make informed decisions, and allows practices to grow without sacrificing trust.

01 What is 5 Steps to Yes?

5 Steps to Yes is a structured patient-communication system for dentists and dental teams. It helps patients understand their condition, connect treatment to what matters to them, and make informed decisions with confidence. The framework can be used for everything from routine restorative care to comprehensive treatment plans.

02 What does Dr. Burns teach?

Dr. Jerry Burns teaches dentists, treatment coordinators, and dental teams how to communicate more effectively with patients. His programs focus on patient psychology, treatment presentation, case acceptance, team alignment, leadership, and building a consistent consultation process that does not feel sales-driven.

03 Is Dr. Burns available for speaking?

Yes. Dr. Jerry Burns is available to speak at dental conferences, study clubs, dental associations, private-practice events, and leadership meetings. Presentations can be customized around patient communication, case acceptance, team implementation, and practice growth.

04 How does the framework improve case acceptance?

The framework gives the practice a repeatable process for guiding treatment conversations in the right order. It helps patients feel understood, recognize why the diagnosis matters, and build confidence in the recommended care. It also gives the team a shared approach that can create greater consistency across patient interactions.

Everything You Need to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore the Programs

One proven system. Four ways to implement it.

Every practice starts in a different place. Explore the four levels of education, guidance and hands-on support, then choose the path that fits where your team is today and where you want to go.

Tier 1

Core Framework

Learn the complete 5 Steps to Yes consultation system and begin applying it at your own pace.

Best for learning the foundation.

Tier 2

Implementation Mastery

Turn the framework into consistent behavior with added structure, feedback and accountability.

Best for confident, consistent execution.

Tier 3

Elite Practice Transformation

Create deeper, practice-wide change with higher-level guidance and implementation support.

Best for measurable whole-practice change.

Tier 4

Implementation Workshops

Bring the system directly to your team through focused, hands-on training and application.

Best for immersive team implementation.

Not sure which level is right for your practice?

Explore the Program Options

A Clear Next Step for Your Practice

Not Sure Which Path Is Right? Let’s Find Out.

In a complimentary 15-minute consultation, Dr. Burns will help you identify where treatment conversations may be breaking down, what the opportunity could be, and which level of support best fits your practice.

01
Identify the opportunitySee what your current case-acceptance patterns may be telling you.
02
Find the constraintExplore where communication or consistency may be breaking down.
03
Choose the right pathDetermine which level of training and support best fits your goals.
  • 15 focused minutes
  • No pressure or obligation
  • A clearer direction

Built in Practice, Not in Theory

Tested Where It Matters. Real Patient Conversations.

The 5 Steps to Yes system was developed, applied, and refined inside active dental practices. These examples reflect Dr. Burns’ direct experience implementing and teaching the framework.

Practice Growth Experience

Nearly $5M

Annual Practice Revenue

Implemented inside a dental practice that grew to nearly $5 million in annual revenue.

$4M+

Startup Growth in Three Years

Applied at a startup practice that grew from zero patients to more than $4 million in revenue within three years.

3×

Revenue Growth and Practice Sale

Implemented at a purchased practice that tripled revenue and later sold for three times its original purchase price.

System Adoption and Training

20+

Associate Doctors

Used successfully by more than 20 associate doctors, including multiple associates producing more than $200,000 per month.

150+

Team Members Trained

Taught to approximately 15 to 20 private-practice owners and more than 150 dental team members.

The opportunity is not limited to one practice model. The same communication framework can be applied across practice sizes, providers, and case types to create a more consistent patient experience.

Calculate Your Opportunity

These are examples from Dr. Burns’ experience and are provided for context only. Individual practice results vary and are not guaranteed.

REAL EXPERIENCES

What Dental Professionals Say About 5 Steps to Yes

  • One of the most valuable things I was privileged to learn was the concept of doing nothing presented to pts sincerely really helps them Understand and feel taken care of by us a professionals vs trying to convince them to do what we want to do. Also HOW you do this is what Jerry Burns is a master at. Thank you!

    — Frank Nelson DDS

  • I just doubled my average monthly production from 100k to 200k. It really came down to one thing, following the 5 Steps to Yes System

    — Dr. Matthew Catuna

  • The 5 Steps to Yes has been a game changer for me in presenting treatment. What I love most is how versatile and easy to use it is. It is now to the point where if a case does not close, the first thing I assess is if I missed any of the 5 steps.

    — Dr. Anthony Boesl

  • “After 22 years in dentistry, I’ve spent the last 7 years using The 5 Steps and I only wish I had it sooner. It completely changed how I present treatment. It makes conversations with patients clearer, easier, and far more effective. When you actually follow the Five Steps, success stops feeling unpredictable, it becomes repeatable.”

    Amy Barela (Clinical Director)

Free Introduction Training

Ready to turn more “I’ll think about it” into Yes?

See how the 5 Steps to Yes framework helps you build patient trust, create clarity and make case acceptance more predictable.

Start the Free Training
Free access. Practical training. No pressure-based selling.