
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
The Dentalpreneur Podcast, hosted by Dr. Mark Costes, aims to assemble the greatest minds in dentistry to share valuable lessons for achieving full potential in practice and life. It addresses the frustrations and isolation of dentistry, offering strategies to become more profitable, less stressed, and more fulfilled. The podcast provides free practice-building tips and resources through its website.
Episodes

2618: What Dentists Overlook About Their Legal Responsibilities
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back attorney Evan Sampson to explore the legal risks behind common dental practice decisions. They discuss how AI is raising questions around recording consent, patient privacy, and responsibility for automated chart notes. Evan also highlights potential pitfalls involving insurance billing, routine copay waivers, provider credentialing, and marketing

2617: What 21,000 Implants Teach You About Patient Trust
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Timothy Kosinski to discuss the evolution of implant dentistry and the lessons behind placing more than 21,000 implants. Dr. Kosinski shares his perspective on overtreatment, preserving natural teeth and bone, and choosing treatment based on each patient's needs. He explains how clear communication, patient education, and a trusted team suppo

2616: Economics of a Lifetime Patient
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes breaks down how every patient interaction can influence trust, retention, and referrals. Using a conservative example, he illustrates how a patient's lifetime value could reach $45,000 when referrals are included. He introduces the three E's of energy, empathy, and edification, and explains how teams can apply them from the first phone call through post-op follo

2615: The Implant Complications Every GP Should Prepare For
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Tom Fowle for a webinar on managing complications in implant dentistry. Using real cases, Tom walks through a fractured buccal plate, a sinus perforation, and the factors behind early implant failure. He also explains why tissue, occlusion, and careful treatment planning matter long after an implant is placed. The conversation closes with pract

2614: The Art of Team Onboarding
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes continues his live workshop with a practical look at hiring and onboarding. He explains why asking a new employee to shadow someone for a couple of days rarely prepares them for the job. Mark breaks training into two stages: an introduction to the practice, its people, and its values, followed by training for the specific role. He shares how clear expectations,

2613: Operational Mastery
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes shares part of his live workshop on building a systems driven dental practice. He recalls returning to work just four days after neck surgery because his practices depended on him to keep running—a turning point in how he thought about ownership. Mark explains why clear systems, team involvement, and accountability give owners room to step away. He also walks t

2612: How to Build a Dental Career That Still Feels Good
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes talks with psychotherapist Tiffany Castellanos about anxiety, burnout, and the pressure dentists put on themselves. Tiffany explains how high standards can turn into perfectionism, making it harder to delegate and easier to mistake anxiety for a leadership problem. They also discuss why professional success can feel empty when life outside the practice gets neg

2611: What Should You Ask Before Selling to a DSO?
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes and Dental Success Network co-founder Michael Lomotan answer questions from DSN members. They start with a challenge many practice owners know well: how to hold a team accountable without becoming everyone's reminder system. Mark then looks back at his decision to grow to 16 practices and explains why he would focus on profitability, location, and room to expan

2610: Workshopping Leadership
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes speaks to DSI Mastermind members about the difference between having the right information and putting it to work. He encourages owners to ask for help, take responsibility for what's happening in their practices, and use the experience of the people around them. Mark then breaks down what effective leadership looks like: clear expectations, useful training, r

2609: Is Your PPO Contract Costing You More Than You Think?
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes talks with BoomCloud founder Jordan Comstock about rising practice costs, flat PPO reimbursements, and the write-offs that can quietly erode profits. Jordan explains how patient membership plans can create recurring revenue, strengthen retention, and give owners more freedom to decide which PPO contracts are worth keeping. They cover where to find new members,

2608: Is Hustle Dead?
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes shares how practice owners can make more progress while spending fewer hours at work. He explains why hard work is essential in the early stages of ownership, but can become a habit that holds you back as your practice grows. Mark talks about setting priorities, protecting time for your family, and resisting the urge to chase a new opportunity before you've solv

2607: What to Fix When Your Dental Day Starts Falling Apart
On today's episode, Dr. Aaron Nicholas presents a practical framework for identifying where the dental day starts to go sideways and what to do before small problems turn into full-blown chaos. He breaks down how to create backup protocols for procedures, analyze workflows, schedule with more intention, prepare assistants and operatories, and delegate tasks that do not require doctor time. Aaron

2606: From Office Manager to Helping Dental Practices Modernize Payments
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Bryanna Walker of Flex Dental Solutions to talk about her journey from dental assisting and office management into helping practices modernize their front office systems. Bryanna shares how her years inside dental practices shaped the way she now approaches payment workflows, patient financing, insurance verification, online scheduling, and case p

2605: The Systems Leadership and Risk Issues Dentists Cannot Ignore
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend and Dental Success Network co-founder Michael Lomotan for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges dental practice owners are facing today. Michael shares what he is hearing from dentists around systems, overhead, staffing, technology, AI, exit planning, and financial organization, while reflecting on his own journey from stru

2604: The Mindset Shift That Makes Better Habits Finally Stick
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes explores why lasting transformation starts with identity, not simply goals, motivation, or willpower. He explains how thoughts, behaviors, and small consistent habits provide the evidence your subconscious needs to believe that you are becoming a different version of yourself. Mark breaks down four steps for personal and professional reinvention, including visu

2603: The Payment Processing Mistakes Quietly Eating Into Your Profit
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Chris Sands, founder of Crown Card Services, to unpack the confusing world of dental credit card processing and explain where practices may be losing money without realizing it. Chris breaks down the difference between integrated and interfaced payment systems, how bridge technology is opening up more processor choice, and why locked-in rates, tra

2602: The Systems-Driven Dental Practice
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes presents a practical introduction to building a systems-driven dental practice for dental students preparing to enter the profession. He explains why clinical skill alone is not enough to create a profitable, sustainable practice and why dentists need to understand business fundamentals whether they plan to become owners or associates. Mark breaks down the impo

2601: What Dentists Should Know About the Changing Dental Supply Market
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with David Charnowitz, founder and CEO of DC Dental, to discuss how the dental supply market is changing and what independent practices should understand about purchasing, pricing, and value. David shares how he built DC Dental from a startup into a major independent supplier, why the company focuses heavily on private practices, and how a lean operati

2600: Above the Hillary Step: The Lifestyle Practice on Your Terms
On today's episode, Dr. Cody Boals and Dr. Chris Green present a practical framework for scaling a dental practice during the Dental Success Summit 2026. Using the journey up Mount Everest as a metaphor for practice growth, they break ownership into three stages: clinical, entrepreneurial, and aspirational. They explain what leadership, systems, staffing, provider growth, and operational structure

2599: The Tale of 2 Worlds in the Dental Office
On today's episode, Dr. Allen Gotora presents a powerful framework for bringing the dentist's world and the team's world into better alignment during the Dental Success Summit 2026. Drawing from his own leadership journey and a recent dental mission in the Dominican Republic, Allen explains how unclear expectations, weak communication, toxic behavior, and lack of leadership development can create

2598: The Unexpected Path From Endodontics to Mission Work in Fiji
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes takes the podcast offshore, recording from the ocean in Fiji with Dr. Jeff Clark for a conversation on military dentistry, endodontics, practice ownership, and mission work. Jeff shares how the Navy helped shape his early career, why he ultimately chose endodontics, and how he found the opportunity to return to his hometown in Montana and become a partner in an

2597: Building Community in a Profession That Can Feel Isolating
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend Dr. Paul Goodman to reflect on nearly a decade of Dental Nachos and the evolution of the community, business, and relationships built along the way. Paul shares how Dental Nachos grew from a simple Facebook group into a broad dental community, why his original vision for a CE subscription business did not unfold as expected, and ho

2596: Two Philosophies for Building a Surgical Program
On today's episode, Dr. Taher Dhoon and Dr. Dan Briskie present two different approaches to building a successful implant practice during the Dental Success Summit 2026. Dr. Dhoon shares lessons from growing through acquisition, including how to introduce advanced procedures gradually, train the entire team, improve case acceptance, build clinical confidence, and avoid overwhelming the practice wi

2595: From Chaos to Control
On today's episode, Ashley Keith, Sydney Robinson, and Amy Hernandez present a practical framework for moving a dental practice from chaos to control during the Dental Success Summit 2026. They break down how unclear roles, weak workflows, inconsistent billing processes, and poor handoffs can create unnecessary stress, lost revenue, and team burnout. The presentation covers how to create clearer

2594: From Immigrant Roots to Building a Dental Group With Purpose
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Albert Voravong in Fiji during a Smile Outreach International mission to talk about dentistry, entrepreneurship, family, and purpose. Albert shares his parents' immigration story, his path into dentistry, and how he went from launching a rural startup to building a multi-practice organization in Canada. They discuss the lessons that came fro

2593: The Leadership Habits That Make Work and Life More Sustainable
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes explores the connection between prioritization, leverage, simplicity, and the people we choose to surround ourselves with. He shares lessons from his travels and mission work, including how service, gratitude, adaptability, and reducing unnecessary complexity have reshaped the way he approaches both business and life. Mark also challenges listeners to evaluate

2592: From Cavities to Code: How AI is Revolutionizing the Dental Workspace
On today's episode, Dr. Steve Dove and Dr. Beau Sparkman breaks down practical ways dental teams can move beyond casual AI use and start building repeatable workflows that actually improve the practice. They walk through tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and NotebookLM, explain how to build stronger prompts, and show how AI can support everything from PR responses and Google reviews

2591: Using AI Agents to GSD - A Practical Approach to Patient Relationship Management and Scaling Outreach
On today's episode, Dr. Lior Tamir speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about using AI, systems, and intentional follow-up to grow a more efficient and profitable dental practice. Drawing from his experience building a marketing agency, returning to dentistry, and scaling multiple practices, Dr. Tamir explains why patient experience, social proof, marketing, and a clear sales process are e

2590: From Clinical Burnout to Business Ownership That Works
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes takes the stage at The Practice Launchpad event to share the business lessons he wishes more dentists learned before becoming practice owners. Drawing from his experience owning 16 practices and making nearly every mistake along the way, Mark breaks down why so many dental practices struggle with profitability, leadership, systemization, team retention, and cash

2589: Building Better Dental Payments Without the SaaS Overload
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Mark Rasmussen, CEO and co-founder of Moolah, to unpack the company's journey from general payment processing to a dental-focused technology platform serving thousands of practices. Mark shares how an introduction to the Dental Success Network helped spark Moolah's move into dentistry, why narrowing the company's focus accelerated growth, and how

2588: Recap Reality: Understand the Truth Behind Recapitalization Events
On today's episode, Kyle Francis speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about recap reality and what dentists need to understand before entering a recapitalization event. Kyle breaks down how assets, liabilities, equity, and risk all factor into practice ownership, and explains that recaps can include anything from refinancing debt to selling a majority stake to a private equity-backed group

2587: Milestones In Motion
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes hosts the Milestones in Motion transformation contest during the Dental Success Summit 2026, featuring powerful stories from Dental Success Institute members who have created major growth in their practices and personal lives. Dr. Josh Hall shares how DSI helped him shift from scarcity to abundance, expand into a larger facility, build a stronger team, and creat

2586: How to Choose the Right Practice Exit Path
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Brannon Moncrief of McLerran & Associates for a timely conversation about the current dental transition market, DSO consolidation, and how practice owners should evaluate their exit options. Brannon breaks down why the DSO market has shifted since the white-hot acquisition years of 2021 and 2022, how higher interest rates and more disciplined buyer

2585: How Frenectomies Can Unlock New Patient Care
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Michael Dienberg and Bethany Dienberg for a Dental Success Network webinar on integrating frenectomies into the general dental practice. Dr. Dienberg shares how tongue and lip ties often go undiagnosed in dentistry, despite their connection to breastfeeding challenges, speech concerns, orthodontic relapse, airway issues, tension, migraines, slee

2584: Why Ownership May Be the Best Repayment Strategy
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Mark Johnson, wealth advisor with RBF Wealth Advisors and founder of Student Loans Rx and Dental Wealth Rx, for a practical conversation about student loan repayment, practice ownership, and long-term financial planning for dentists. Mark shares how he first began working with dental students and residents after realizing how little traditional fin

2583: A Breakthrough in Team Training; What I Learned in a Sorority House
On today's episode, Dr. Ben Kacos speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about the evolution of team training, culture, and accountability inside a growing dental practice. Drawing from his experience at Shreveport Dental Solutions, Dr. Kacos shares how his practice moved from informal hallway meetings and undocumented systems to structured growth meetings, alien abduction manuals, onboardin

2582: Partnerships-Navigating Equity, Growth and Retention
On today's episode, Alastair MacDonald joins Dr. Mark Costes during the Dental Success Summit 2026 for a powerful conversation on dental practice partnerships, equity, growth, and retention. Together, they unpack why many partnerships fail, especially when they are built from fear, scarcity, or a desire to retain an associate before that person is truly qualified for ownership. Alastair explains

2581: How AI Can Improve Case Acceptance
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Roza Ghamari, CEO and co-founder of Healink, for a conversation about AI, patient engagement, and solving one of dentistry's biggest challenges: treatment acceptance. Roza shares her journey from studying computer science and working as a technical lead at Google and Meta to launching a healthcare technology company with her brother, a dentist who

2580: The Truth About Going Out of Network
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes answers listener questions from inside DSN in this Ask Me Anything segment. He starts with a deep dive into the realities of transitioning a PPO-heavy practice in a working-class market toward an out-of-network model, including the importance of understanding patient psychology, calculating attrition risk, training the team on unified language, and moving slowly

2579: Why Associates Leave and How To Keep Them
On today's episode, Dr. Paul Goodman, also known as Dr. Nacho, speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about why associate dentists leave and how practice owners can create a more fulfilling, aligned experience for them. With his signature humor and practical communication style, Paul shares how the words dentists use can shape trust, reduce fear, and make the dental office feel less "weird"

2578: Grow for What
On today's episode, Dr. Bill Keith speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about understanding your freedom number and building a practice with a clear destination in mind. Drawing from his background in finance, practice ownership, real estate, and DSO leadership, Dr. Keith explains the difference between retirement and true financial freedom, emphasizing that passive income, not active inco

2577: Protecting Capital in a Chaotic Economy
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Troy W. Eckard for a timely conversation about oil and gas, global energy demand, and how current economic uncertainty is shaping investor behavior. Troy shares why he believes fossil fuels remain essential to modern economies, how geopolitical conflict and supply constraints are impacting energy markets, and why rising oil and gas prices could aff

2576: From Navy Dentistry to Practice Ownership
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Chaz Vittitow, also known as Dr. Chaz, for a conversation about military dentistry, startup ownership, mentorship, and building a career with intention. Dr. Chaz shares how his father's example as a dentist first inspired him to pursue the profession, then walks through his path from the University of Kentucky to serving as a dentist in the U.

2575: How to Keep Your Team Compliant and Supported
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Ralf Tomandl, COO of HR for Health, live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Ralf shares his journey through the dental industry, from his early days with 1-800-DENTIST to helping bring technology-driven HR solutions to dental practices across the country. He and Mark discuss why HR is often overlooked by practice owners, how state-by-state compli

2574: Turning Hygiene Challenges Into Practice Growth
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Wendy Briggs live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Wendy shares her perspective on the current state of dental hygiene, including the ongoing provider shortage, rising wages, temp labor trends, and the growing need for practices to shift from hiring to recruiting. She explains how strong hygiene departments are built through better systems, cle

2573: The Stress-Free Hygiene System
On today's episode, Dr. Addison Killeen speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about building a stress-free hygiene system that creates clarity, consistency, and less decision fatigue inside the practice. He breaks down the real stress many dentists are feeling right now, from staffing shortages to burnout, and explains why weak hygiene systems can spill over into the entire practice. Dr. K

2572: The Daily Money System Every Practice Owner Needs
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Brent Saunier and Chris Sands of Pro-Fi 20/20 and Phase One Dental CPAs for a practical conversation on cash flow planning inside the dental practice. Instead of focusing only on tax strategy, they break down how practice owners can use accounting data, Profit First principles, and daily transfers to better understand where money is going and give e

2571: Training the Next Generation of Dental Assistants
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Dr. Heather Dawn Lawson Myers for an inspiring conversation about leadership, mentorship, team development, and the future of dental assisting. Dr. Lawson Myers shares her journey from Howard University to practicing in Maryland and later building a career in Kingston, Jamaica, where she has served in private practice, dental association leadership

2570: Better Patient Care Starts With Better Questions
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH, live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Michelle shares her unconventional path from dental assistant to hygienist, educator, entrepreneur, speaker, and now independent hygiene practice owner in Colorado. She discusses what it was like to sell everything, travel the country with mobile dental equipment, and eventually

2569: What High-Level Dental Operators Do Differently Pt. 2
On today's episode, Part 2 of the same keynote, Dr. Mark Costes continues his tactical playbook for building a more effective, systemized dental practice. He breaks down the five core steps of leadership, explains how to set clear expectations, and shares practical frameworks for accountability, team meetings, performance reviews, feedback, and KPI tracking. Mark also covers the hidden cost of

2568: What High-Level Dental Operators Do Differently Pt. 1
On today's episode, Part 1 of a two-part keynote, Dr. Mark Costes shares a tactical playbook for leading and operating a high-performing dental practice. Drawing from his experience owning 16 practices—and from the mistakes he made along the way—Mark explains why a practice that cannot run without the owner is ultimately just a job with overhead. He breaks down the current state of dentistry, inc

2567: Collective Intelligence-Unlocking Growth Through AI, Marketing & Operations
On today's episode, Ryan Gross speaks during the Dental Success Summit about how AI, marketing, and operations must work together to help dental practices grow more effectively. Ryan explains that AI is not a magic fix, but a powerful tool that can help teams become more efficient, recognize patterns, and make better decisions when the right people and culture are already in place. He breaks down

2566: How Dentists Can Build Wealth With Intention
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Matt Mulcock, CFP and Managing Partner at Dentist Advisors, for a practical conversation on financial planning throughout the full arc of a dentist's career. Matt breaks down how new graduates should think about student debt, liquidity, retirement savings, and preparing for practice ownership without rushing the process. He and Mark also discuss m

2565: The Real Talk Behind Surgical and Prosthetic Complications
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Dan Briskie and Dr. Thomas Fow for a practical conversation on surgical, prosthetic, and patient management complications in implant dentistry. Together, they discuss what to do when an atraumatic extraction does not go as planned, including how to manage a fractured buccal plate during immediate implant placement. They also break down common p

2564: Building Better Dentists Through Better Education
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Lou Graham live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Lou shares the story behind Catapult Education, the independent education-based company he founded 23 years ago, and how it has grown into a powerful platform with speakers, evaluators, and tens of thousands of subscribers. He and Mark discuss the evolution of dental education, the growing d

2563: The Blackbelt Standard
Dr. Mark Costes presents the 2026 Golden Rhino Award case studies, honoring two standout transformations: Dr. Blake Hamlin and Dr. Collin Myrick, both UT Houston grads who joined DSI feeling successful but stuck and isolated. He walks through their application letters and financial scorecards, showing how each more than tripled their practices in three years—Hamlin from $1.6M to $5.37M, and Myrick

2562: The Back Office Automation Every Practice Owner Should Understand
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Seth Hamson, Head of Customer Experience at Lassie, to explore how AI is changing the way dental practices manage revenue cycle operations. Seth shares how his background in financial technology led him into dentistry, where outdated insurance systems, paper EOBs, manual posting, and overwhelmed billing teams continue to create major bottlenecks f

2561: The Real Tradeoffs Behind De Novo Growth
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes answers a wide range of listener questions in this Ask Me Anything edition, covering everything from managing serious back issues as a dentist to weighing the pros and cons of a de novo startup versus acquiring an existing practice. Mark shares his personal experience with spine surgeries, posture, core strength, ergonomics, and the importance of getting the rig

2560: Courageous Conversations That Build Better Practices
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Katherine Eitel Belt, dentistry's unscripted leadership communications coach, live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Katherine shares her journey from chairside dental assistant to global authority on leadership communication, including the pivotal moment that shaped her approach to helping leaders raise standards with clarity, courage, and comp

2559: The Lease Mistakes That Can Sink Your Dental Practice
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Eric Pook, owner of Cirrus Consulting Group, live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Eric shares how his background in medical and dental entrepreneurship led him into the highly specialized world of dental office lease consulting, and why so many dentists unknowingly sign agreements that can put their practice, profitability, and future transi

2558: How to Find Opportunity in an Uncertain Real Estate Market
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Jacob Vanderslice, co-founder of VanWest Partners, to explore the opportunities, risks, and realities of self-storage investing. Jacob shares how he went from single-family rentals and fix-and-flips to overseeing a portfolio of 42 self-storage properties, why his team targets underperforming facilities, and how operational improvements can increas

2557: The Unfair Advantage - Fireside Chat With Gino Wickman
On today's episode, recorded live at the Dental Success Summit 2026, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Gino Wickman, creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System and author of Traction, Rocket Fuel, and Shine. Gino shares the lessons behind building EOS, the six essential traits of an entrepreneur, and why the right visionary-integrator partnership can transform a growing business. They discuss h

2556: The Capacity Trap That Holds Practices Back
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes answers listener questions in this Ask Me Anything special, covering ownership strategy, practice growth, scaling decisions, and the team of advisors every dental owner should build. Mark shares what he would do differently if he were starting over as a new grad, including avoiding practices that are too small to scale, being cautious with overly rural locations

2555: Fired Up but Going Nowhere- Turn Today into the Day Everything Actually Changes
On today's episode, Dr. Summer Kassmel takes the stage at the Dental Success Summit to help dentists and their teams turn inspiration into real, lasting change. She shares why so many practice owners get caught in the "someday trap," waiting for the right associate, production number, or season of life before building the practice and lifestyle they truly want. Dr. Kassmel breaks down the three k

2554: Evolve - Thriving in Dentistry's New Reality
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes delivers his main stage presentation during the 13th Annual Dental Success Summit, using the story of Jerry the lobster as a powerful metaphor for growth, vulnerability, and the need to shed old ways of operating. Mark reflects on his own journey through academic challenges, practice ownership, burnout, and reinvention, then connects those lessons to the current

2553: Inside a High Tech Dental Practice Built for Education
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Brett Titensor live from Thrive Live 2026 to talk about digital dentistry, technology, and building a practice designed for the future. Brett shares what it was like taking over from his father, working alongside him for 10 years, and bringing new technology into a second-generation practice. He discusses his passion for same-day crowns, guid

2552: Paying Yourself & The Influence You Have Pt. 2
On today's episode, this Part 2 conversation features Jake Conway continuing his April 2026 Mastermind presentation with a deeper look at hygiene performance, owner compensation, cash flow strategy, and practice valuation. Jake explains how hygiene production impacts payroll, fixed costs, doctor production, and overall profitability, while showing how KPIs like perio percentage, fluoride, open hyg

2551: Paying Yourself & The Influence You Have Pt. 1
On today's episode, this Part 1 conversation features Jake Conway presenting during the April 2026 Mastermind and breaking down how practice owners can better understand the numbers that drive their income. Jake explains why a dental practice should be viewed as a source of information rather than an ATM, and how overhead is not a destination but a measurement of how well the office is being run.

2550: Smarter Phones, Better Teams, and Happier Patients
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime dental industry leader Laura Nelson live from Thrive Live in Las Vegas. Laura shares her journey from running the front office in her husband's dental practice to building Front Office Rocks, becoming a trusted voice in dental team training, and now leading AI innovation with Mango Voice. She and Mark discuss why patient experience matte

2549: The Hidden Risks Inside Dental Office Leases
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Jas Banga live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas to talk about one of the most overlooked but critical parts of practice ownership: dental real estate. Jas shares how he went from marketing in the dental world to becoming a leading healthcare real estate advisor, helping dentists across North America make smarter, data-driven decisions around sit

2548: Back to Basics: How to Lead Through Hard Conversations
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Ashlee Hirschfeld for another Back to Basics conversation, this time focused on leadership and difficult conversations. Mark and Ashlee discuss why leadership requires self-awareness, emotional intelligence, clear expectations, and the willingness to address issues before they damage the entire team. They also explore how to approach corrective conv

2547: From Practice Owner to Purpose Driven Leader
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Matt Slivka, owner of Rockside Dental and DSI Black Belt coach, for a conversation about growth, purpose, and the impact dentists can make far beyond the operatory. Matt shares how mentorship and community helped transform his practice from a chaotic startup into a thriving multi-doctor organization, and how that same mindset pushed him to lau

2546: The Dentist's Guide to Beating Overwhelm
On today's episode, we dive into the very real problem of overwhelm in dentistry and why it is not simply about having too much to do. Dr. Mark Costes breaks down how decision fatigue, multitasking, cognitive load, sleep debt, clutter, caffeine, alcohol, and constant content consumption can push practice owners from intentional leadership into reactive survival mode. He also shares practical ways

2545: The Bite Mistake That Can Derail an FMR Case
On today's episode, Dr. Taher Dhoon sits down with Dr. Chris Hill to talk through the systems, lessons, and real-world experience behind predictable full mouth reconstruction. Dr. Hill shares how years of cosmetics, occlusion, TMJ, and reconstruction training shaped his approach, and why having a clear, repeatable system is what helps dentists move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling confident wit

2544: Finding Wellness in a High Pressure Profession
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Christian Pavel live from Thrive Live 2026 in Vegas for a grounding conversation on wellness, burnout, breathwork, and purpose in dentistry. Known as the Dental Yogi, Dr. Pavel shares how yoga, intentional breathing, and holistic health became central to both his personal life and his mission to help dental professionals reconnect with themsel

2543: The Quiet Reinvention: Pt. 2
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes continues his April 2026 Mastermind presentation by exploring the deeper identity shifts required to move out of the hustle trap and into a more sustainable version of success. He shares a powerful eulogy exercise and personal reflections on loss, legacy, and the difference between resume virtues and eulogy virtues. Dr. Costes connects these ideas back to the

2542: The Quiet Reinvention: Pt. 1
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes opens his April 2026 Mastermind talk with an update on the whirlwind first quarter of mission work through SOI, including trips to Guatemala, Fiji, and Honduras, before shifting into the idea of quiet reinvention. He explains how high-performing dentists often become trapped by the very habits that made them successful, especially hustle, grind, overproduction,

2541: Why Dental Teams Are Moving Beyond Plugin Overload
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Jon Padolsky of Flex to explore how dental technology is transforming the front office experience. Jon shares his journey from growing up around dentistry and spending 14 years as a dental office manager to helping practices streamline operations through Flex. The conversation covers the evolution from paper charts and manual reminders to digital

2540: Life Is Just A Bunch Of Relationships
On today's episode, Dr. Allen Gotora shares a powerful message on why relationships are the hidden KPI behind every successful dental practice. Drawing from his own life-changing experience as a high school student in Zimbabwe, where relationships helped him raise funds for a United Nations trip to Sweden, he explains how connection, trust, and intentional communication shape every major outcome i

2539: Helping Dentists Rediscover Joy in Practice
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Doug and Catherine Fettig live from Thrive Live 2026 in Vegas for a conversation on mindset, leadership, and improving the dental experience for both teams and patients. Doug shares how dentists can begin thinking more like CEOs, avoid becoming the bottleneck in their practices, and use simple habits like gratitude and generosity journaling to shift
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