July 30, 2026

What Dentists Get Wrong About Payment Processing | Humpday Happy Hour™ with Scotti Mazikowski

For many dental practices, payment processing is viewed as a necessary back-office function. But what if it's actually impacting your practice's efficiency, cash flow, and patient experience more than you realize? This week on Humpday Happy Hour™, we're joined by Scotti Mazikowski, Head of Payments at Curve Dental. With a background spanning marketing, dental technology, and payments infrastructure, Scotti brings a unique perspective on how modern payment solutions can help practices simplify operations while creating a better experience for both teams and patients. In this episode, we explore the misconceptions surrounding payment processing, including how processing rates and hidden fees work, why embedded payments are changing the way practices manage collections, and how disconnected systems can create unnecessary work for the front desk. Scotti also shares how integrated payment solutions can streamline reconciliation, improve cash flow, and make it easier for patients to move forward with treatment. Whether you're evaluating your current payment system or simply looking for ways to improve your practice's financial workflow, this conversation offers practical insights into turning payments from a routine transaction into a strategic advantage. Special thanks to Curve Dental for partnering with us on this episode of Humpday Happy Hour™. Join us every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET. #Dentistry #CurveDental #DentalPracticeManagement #DentalTechnology #dentalpracticetips 0:00 Intro 9:00 Chad Dermatology Update 14:50 Dental News 22:30 Scotti Mazikowski Intro 26:00 Curve's Mission 35:00 What does Curve do differently? 38:00 Surcharging 46:00 Patient Payment Options 53:00 What Curve is changing 59:30 Payment Plans 1:03:00 Closing Thoughts