The Dentalpreneur Podcast Archives - Dental Success Institute

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 create more time for family experiences.

Dr. Kelly Grubbs and Dr. Marianne Weatherford discuss how partnership, culture, systems, and faith over fear helped them transform Ridge Dental and Aesthetics while navigating real-life challenges. Dr. Andrew Kung and Kathy Lin share how Vitality Dental evolved from a scratch startup into a healthier, more team-led practice, while Dr. Mary Margaret Vaughn tells her inspiring story of taking big leaps before feeling ready, expanding her practice, building systems, growing her team, and creating more freedom while raising two sets of twins.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 buyers have changed valuations and deal structures, and why alignment between sellers and DSOs matters more than ever.

He also compares DSO affiliations with private doctor-to-doctor sales, explaining how revenue, EBITDA, cash at close, work-back expectations, equity risk, and operational support all factor into the decision. Together, Mark and Brannon discuss when a private sale may make more sense, when a DSO deal may be worth exploring, and why understanding both the economics and the “why” behind a sale is essential for making the right transition decision.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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, sleep concerns, and oral dysfunction across patients of all ages.

Together, Michael and Bethany explain the difference between frenectomies, frenotomies, and frenuloplasties, how CO2 laser releases compare with traditional techniques, and why coordinated care with lactation consultants, speech-language pathologists, myofunctional therapists, pediatric providers, and bodywork professionals can help create better outcomes. They also discuss practical implementation, including consult flow, post-op care, medical and dental billing considerations, referral networks, patient education, and how general dentists can begin identifying tongue and lip ties already present in their existing patient base.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 financial planning addressed the realities of six-figure student loan debt.

He explains why young dentists should build a financial foundation that includes emergency savings, disability insurance, retirement contributions, and a thoughtful student loan repayment strategy. Mark also discusses the new repayment assistance plan, why practice ownership can be one of the most powerful ways to accelerate income and pay down debt, and how dentists can begin preparing financially, clinically, and emotionally to become owners within a few years of graduation.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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, onboarding videos, 30-60-90 day goals, tiered compensation, bonuses, and the Big Sister program.

He explains why team engagement, consistency, clear expectations, and aligned incentives are critical for creating a culture where people grow, take ownership, and hold each other accountable. Dr. Kacos also discusses how morning huddles, quarterly retreats, assisted hygiene, review systems, and same-day dentistry have helped his team become more self-governing, more productive, and more committed to the shared vision of the practice.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 the difference between giving equity as a reaction and designing a partnership with clear incentives, contribution, responsibility, authority, and long-term alignment. He also breaks down why high-producing associates are not always the best ownership candidates, how to think about qualification versus qualities, and why owners must use math, structure, and honest conversations to determine whether partnership, increased compensation, or another path makes the most sense.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 saw firsthand how many patients left the office with treatment plans but never returned.

She explains how Healink gives patients secure, interactive access to their treatment information after the visit, helping them better understand their oral health, review pending care, request appointments, and stay engaged without relying solely on manual follow-up calls. Roza also discusses how AI, automation, and smart patient nudges can reduce front office workload, improve reactivation, lower no-shows, and create a more modern, trust-building patient experience.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 by dropping lower-paying plans first.

Mark also discusses why execution often breaks down inside practices, emphasizing the need for culture, accountability, simple systems, clear deadlines, and avoiding too many new initiatives at once. He then shares insight on identifying and nurturing key team members, building contagious vision, creating a workplace people want to stay in, and using hands-on training to strengthen front office performance. The episode also highlights Smile Outreach International’s mission, how clinic locations are chosen, and what’s ahead for upcoming DSN events and the annual gala.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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” for patients and team members.

He breaks down key reasons associate relationships go sideways, from unclear expectations and poor interview processes to lack of mentorship, toxic culture, and pay confusion. Paul also introduces the “M&Ms” that matter most to associate dentists: money, mentorship, morale, and meeting expectations, while encouraging owners to create better systems, more transparency, stronger training, and a culture that helps associates thrive.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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 income, is what creates real optionality.

He walks through how dentists can calculate the lifestyle they want, gross it up for taxes, apply a safe withdrawal rate, and evaluate how their practice value, real estate, investments, and business cash flow contribute to that number. Dr. Keith also shares his own journey from buying his father’s practice and scaling it, to joining Dental Success Institute, building Dental Success Partners, and choosing a path that gave him more freedom to do the work he loves.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

2587: Milestones In Motion

2586: How to Choose the Right Practice Exit Path

2585: How Frenectomies Can Unlock New Patient Care

2584: Why Ownership May Be the Best Repayment Strategy

2583: A Breakthrough in Team Training; What I Learned in a Sorority House

2582: Partnerships-Navigating Equity, Growth and Retention

2581: How AI Can Improve Case Acceptance

2580: The Truth About Going Out of Network

2579: Why Associates Leave and How To Keep Them

2578: Grow for What