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
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
2538: You Were Trained To Fix Teeth. Nobody Trained You To Run A Business
On today's episode, Dr. Bill Keith speaks during the April 2026 Mastermind about shifting from the clinical brain to the CEO brain and why practice owners must learn to zoom out, identify patterns, and build teams that can surface problems before they become costly. Drawing from examples in aviation, Toyota manufacturing, hospital operating rooms, Southwest Airlines, and the Challenger disaster, h
2537: Oil, Gas, and the New Rules of Economic Uncertainty
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Troy Eckard for a timely conversation on oil and gas, global energy uncertainty, and how current geopolitical tensions are reshaping investor strategy. Troy shares his perspective on the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz, rising oil prices, and why fossil fuels remain critical despite the ongoing push toward alternative energy. He also breaks down
2536: Why Patient Experience Wins in a Competitive Market
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Parth Patel, owner of Revive Dental in Alpharetta, Georgia, to unpack his journey from associate dentist to owner of a thriving fee-for-service practice. Dr. Patel shares how his early exposure to different practice models helped him clarify the kind of dentistry he wanted to build, one centered on comprehensive care, patient relationships, an
2535: The AI Fix for Dental Billing Headaches
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Shreyas Parab, co-founder and CEO of Daydream, to talk about how AI is reshaping dental revenue cycle management. Shreyas shares how growing up in his mother's dental practice gave him firsthand experience with the stress, complexity, and financial impact of insurance billing. After stepping in to run her practice during a family health crisis, he
2534: The Hidden Value of a Full-Service Dental Partner
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Alan Withall, senior sales consultant with Henry Schein, live from Thrive Live in Las Vegas. Alan shares how he found his way into dentistry, why he became passionate about helping dentists launch startups, and how building the right network of advisors can make the process far less overwhelming. Mark and Alan talk through the realities of startu
2533: Back to Basics: What Gets Measured Gets Managed
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Ashlee Hirschfeld for another installment of the Back to Basics series, this time focusing on the numbers every dental practice owner must know. Mark and Ashlee discuss why even experienced owners benefit from revisiting the fundamentals, especially when so many dentists feel overwhelmed by reports, spreadsheets, overhead, and profitability. They b
2532: Creating Community in a Lonely Profession
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Lilly Larsen live from Thrive Live 2026 in Vegas to talk about how she has carved out a unique, relationship-driven role as a Henry Schein field sales consultant. Lilly shares how she entered dental from a non-clinical background, leaned into her marketing experience, and built a business-minded approach that goes far beyond supplies and equipment
2531: The Smart Way to Handle Team Bonuses
On today's episode, Mark answers questions from the DSN community, covering some of the most common challenges practice owners and young dentists face. He breaks down why bonus systems based only on production or collections can quickly become risky, and explains how to structure incentives around the overall health of the practice instead. He also shares guidance on handling years when raises may
2530: Breathing The Same Air - Live From DSS 2026
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes shares a special message for everyone gathered at DSS 2026. After 11 years and 2,500 episodes of the Dentalpreneur Podcast, Mark reflects on the journey from a closet recording setup to a movement built on community, leadership, discipline, and service. This heartfelt episode is a reminder that real transformation happens when we take action, show up for ourselv
2529: The Culture Formula Behind a $9 Million Practice
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Bill Keith live from Thrive Live in Las Vegas to talk about the journey from accounting cubicles to building a massive, high-performing dental practice in Kansas City. Bill shares how he transitioned into dentistry, bought his father's practice, expanded into a 23-operatory facility, and grew the business from $2.7 million to nearly $9 milli
2528: Back to Basics With the Lifetime Patient Experience
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes and Ashlee Hirschfeld continue the Back to Basics series with a conversation on lifetime patient experience. They discuss why every patient interaction matters, how one great experience can lead to years of loyalty and referrals, and why practices need to intentionally map out each touchpoint in the patient journey. Mark and Ashlee also cover the importance of p
2527: What AI Still Can't Replace in Dental Coaching
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is interviewed by Jordon Comstock on the Navigating Dental Insurance Podcast for a conversation about AI, coaching, and the changing realities of running a dental practice. Mark and Jordon discuss why information has become a commodity, how AI can be a powerful tool when paired with the right data, and why human support, accountability, and real-world implementa
2526: AI, Leadership, and the Next Era of Dentistry
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes catches up with longtime friend and returning guest Joshua Scott, owner and CEO of Studio 8E8, for a wide-ranging conversation on growth, leadership, AI, and the realities of scaling a people-driven business. Joshua shares the vision behind Studio 8E8's new 11,000-square-foot headquarters, including the long road from finding land to building a dedicated product
2525: The Hidden Cost of Giving Away Ownership Too Soon
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back longtime friend, mentor, and returning guest Alastair Macdonald for a deep conversation on dental partnerships, practice ownership, and the costly mistakes many dentists make when trying to retain associates. Alastair shares why selling equity too early can create long-term problems, how fear-based decisions often lead to bad partnership structures
2524: Why Credentialing Is Costing Your Practice More Than You Think
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Shaju Puthussery and Deepak Ramaswamy, co-founders of Lightspun, to unpack one of dentistry's least glamorous but most costly problems: insurance administration. From credentialing delays and paper claims to fragmented payer workflows and manual back-office bottlenecks, Shaju and Deepak explain why the "plumbing" of dentistry is overdue for a majo
2523: The New Rules for Getting Better Patients
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Ryan Gross, CEO of CMOShare, to talk about the rapid evolution of AI in dental marketing and how practices can use smarter data to drive real revenue growth. Ryan explains how AI can connect marketing, phone data, practice management software, and financials to uncover what is actually holding a practice back, from poor call conversion to limite
2522: Why Associates Leave and What Owners Miss
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Paul Goodman, founder of Dental Nachos and Dentist Job Connect, for a candid conversation on connection, career growth, and the real challenges dentists face behind the scenes. They discuss why dentistry can feel lonely, the value of getting into the right rooms, and how live events create collaboration and mentorship that cannot be replicated
2521: The Red Flags Every Dental Buyer Should Catch
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Brent Saunnier and Chris Sands, co-founders of Profi Dental CPAs, for a deep dive into the real-world consequences of neglecting your accounting. They unpack a cautionary case involving years of unfiled tax returns, unreliable books, IRS notices, and six-figure cleanup costs before even knowing whether additional taxes are owed. The conversation
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