The Dentalpreneur Podcast Archives - Dental Success Institute

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 production studio and collaborative team space.

He and Dr. Costes also reflect on the annual Murph workout, the discipline of fitness, and the lessons that carry over into entrepreneurship. The conversation then turns to AI’s growing impact on marketing, where Joshua explains why technology should make agencies more human, not less, by freeing teams to focus on strategy, measurement, client relationships, and better decision-making. They also unpack the challenges of hiring, leadership, client service, and protecting trust as a company scales.

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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, and why production alone does not make someone a strong business partner.

He and Dr. Costes also unpack the shifting economics of dentistry, the rising pressure from DSOs, and the importance of building dynamic, values-aligned partnerships that can grow with the business over time. The episode also previews their upcoming Dental Success Summit session, where they will go even deeper into frameworks for creating healthier, more strategic partnership paths.

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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 major upgrade.

They share how their experience at Overjet led them to build an AI-first platform designed to streamline credentialing, claims, provider data, and payer-provider communication. The conversation dives into the opportunity cost of waiting 90 to 120 days for a new associate to be credentialed, how Lightspun’s partnership with the ADA and CAQH is helping standardize provider data, and why reducing administrative waste could free teams to focus more on patient care, relationships, and practice growth.

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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 limited hygiene availability. They also discuss the risks of relying on generic AI prompts, why implementation still matters more than information, and how practices can use collective intelligence to attract better patients and improve case acceptance.

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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 online.

Paul also shares advice for young dentists, including the importance of understanding practice numbers, building strong clinical fundamentals, and getting legal guidance before signing associate contracts. The conversation wraps with a look at associate-owner harmony and the realities of transitioning a PPO-driven practice to an out-of-network model.

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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 highlights why dentists need accurate, timely financials not just for tax compliance, but for practice valuation, lending, growth, and making smart acquisition decisions. From seller-side chaos to buyer-side red flags, this episode is a powerful reminder that prevention in accounting is just as important as prevention in dentistry.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down live at Thrive Live with Dr. Uche Odiatu for a high-energy conversation about whole-body health, patient connection, and why dentistry has the power to go far beyond fixing teeth. Dr. Odiatu shares his philosophy on using movement, sleep, nutrition, stress management, breathwork, and even light exposure to help patients and providers live with more energy and vitality.

He explains how dentists can shift from being “tooth mechanics” to trusted health advocates by listening deeper, asking better questions, and connecting oral health to the bigger picture of inflammation, lifestyle, and longevity. From simple breathing tools to sustainable fitness habits and the power of moderation, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for dentists who want to improve their own health while creating a more meaningful impact chairside.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dave and Josh Stech to explore private lending, family offices, and how dentists can build wealth beyond the chair. Dave shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a respected real estate forecaster and investor, while Josh explains how his background in real estate, technology, and lending helped shape their approach to teaching others how to “be the bank.”

They break down how private lending works, why collateral and borrower vetting matter, and how dentists can use this strategy to create passive, recurring income without taking on the same operational burden as owning real estate. The conversation also covers market timing, family office principles, loan funds, and the importance of getting educated before putting capital to work.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Aaron Nicholas continues the conversation with practical systems for protecting the schedule when things go wrong. From difficult extractions and blocked endo cases to patients who won’t get numb, bleeding that interrupts impressions, and hygiene exams that run too long, Dr. Nicholas focuses on building decision trees so the team knows exactly what to do next.

He also shares how better room setups, assistant training, procedure-specific carts, morning huddles, and scheduling guidelines can help the entire practice stay prepared, reduce wasted motion, and create more opportunities for same-day care. The episode wraps with strategies for front office communication, financial arrangements, and consistent scripts that keep patients moving forward with treatment.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Aaron Nicholas dives into what causes a dental practice day to go sideways—and how to bring it back under control. He breaks down the biggest gaps that create chaos, from unclear ownership and poor scheduling to clinical flow issues and inconsistent systems.

Dr. Nicholas explains why hygiene should never be treated as an inconvenience, how same-day treatment can unlock major production, and why writing out exact procedure flows can reveal hidden inefficiencies that slow doctors and teams down. He also covers how delegation, batching steps, tracking appointment flow, and measuring procedure times can help teams create smoother, more productive days without simply “working faster.”

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2526: AI, Leadership, and the Next Era of Dentistry

2525: The Hidden Cost of Giving Away Ownership Too Soon

2524: Why Credentialing Is Costing Your Practice More Than You Think

2523: The New Rules for Getting Better Patients

2522: Why Associates Leave and What Owners Miss

2521: The Red Flags Every Dental Buyer Should Catch

2520: The Total Health Conversation Dentists Are Missing

2519: How Dentists Can Think Like the Bank

2518: Where Does The Day Go Sideways Pt. 2

2517: Where Does The Day Go Sideways Pt. 1