2383: The Leader in You

On today’s episode, we feature a powerful breakout session presented by Dr. Allen Gotora at this year’s Dental Success Summit. In an inspiring and deeply personal talk, Dr. Gotora shares his journey from Zimbabwe to the U.S., the life-altering moment that ignited his passion for leadership, and how every team member—regardless of title—can lead with purpose and influence.

Drawing from experience, mentorship, and real practice dynamics, he outlines the mindset, behaviors, and habits that define great leaders within a dental organization. Whether it’s accountability, communication, adaptability, or owning your role, Dr. Gotora offers practical strategies for team members to lead from any seat in the office and contribute to a more empowered, productive, and positive culture.

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2382: How Mercury Exposure Could Be Harming Your Team

On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes reconnects with longtime friend and guest Dr. Michelle Jorgensen—holistic health expert, author, and founder of Living Well with Dr. Michelle. Michelle shares her powerful journey from traditional dentistry to health-based care after a near-career-ending health crisis caused by mercury toxicity.

She opens up about her transformation, the science-backed risks of common dental practices like amalgam removal and fluoride exposure, and how she now leads a thriving, purpose-driven practice that attracts patients and dental teams from around the world. Dr. Jorgensen also unpacks the root causes of burnout, infertility, and mental health struggles in dentistry—and why dentists should see themselves as true healthcare providers. If you’re ready to challenge long-held beliefs and make dentistry more fulfilling and impactful, this episode is a must-listen.

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2381: What Makes or Breaks Associate Success in Your Practice

On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes reconnects with the always insightful Dr. Paul Goodman (aka Dr. Nacho) for a fun and candid conversation that covers everything from the power of in-person events to the often overlooked art of recruiting rockstar associates. The two reflect on the recent SuperDentist Boostcamp in Philadelphia, sharing their takeaways on leadership, personal growth, and the need to prioritize human connection over pure profit.

They also tackle one of the most common struggles in private practice: why so many dentists fail to attract the right associate. Spoiler: it’s not the market—it’s your job ad. Dr. Goodman offers real-world examples of high-performing associates, why $600-a-day offers don’t cut it anymore, and what it takes to build a team of loyal, productive clinicians. If you’re serious about growth, building systems, and leading with empathy, this one is a must-listen.

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2380: Leading Without the Sh*tshow: A Guide for Office Managers

On today’s episode, we’re bringing you a dynamic breakout session from the Dental Success Summit 2025, where Sydney Robinson takes the stage with her signature energy and unfiltered honesty. In “Leading Without the Sh*t Show,” Sydney shares her personal evolution from a chaotic, free-spirited front office worker to a powerhouse executive director of operations. She dives into the hard truths about leadership, micromanagement, burnout, and the difference between managing and truly leading a team.

With humor and wisdom, Sydney walks through the role of the office manager, the importance of mastering financials, hiring slow and firing fast, and how to build a culture of empowerment, not dependency. This episode is a masterclass in operational leadership for anyone in dentistry who’s ever felt overwhelmed or under-equipped—and a must-listen for office managers, team leads, and practice owners alike.

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2379: The Truth About Dental Success They Don’t Teach in School

On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes delivers an eye-opening and deeply personal keynote to a dental school audience, sharing the raw truth behind his journey—from 20 dental school rejections to building a multimillion-dollar dental empire. He breaks down the realities of burnout, financial pressure, and physical strain in dentistry while laying out a roadmap to achieving true professional freedom.

With insights from owning 29 practices, launching a thriving consulting network, and establishing a global outreach nonprofit, Dr. Costes outlines the keys to running a high-profit, low-stress practice. Through real-life case studies, the “Four Futures” framework, and his Elite Practice Blueprint, he offers invaluable lessons in leadership, systemization, and mindset that every aspiring dentist needs before entering the real world.

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2378: Own the Narrative: Make Your Practice a Community Pillar

On today’s episode, we drop into a breakout session from the Dental Success Summit 2025 featuring Dr. Cody Boals and Dr. Beau Sparkman. In this high-energy talk, Cody and Beau unpack how storytelling, intentional culture, and community-driven marketing can help you build a truly magnetic dental practice. They explore real-world strategies for creating patient loyalty, empowering your team, and building brand equity that goes beyond discounts and Google ads.

With insights from Donald Miller’s StoryBrand framework, tactical tips on media days, nonprofit partnerships, and even organizing internal committees, this session is filled with practical gems to implement Monday morning. If you’re looking to build a practice that stands for something—and stands out—this is your blueprint.

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2377: Closing Big Cases Without Feeling Salesy

On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Daniel Briskie of the Colorado Surgical Institute, along with industry experts Kim Middleton and Chemenn DeBono, for a masterclass on increasing implant case acceptance—without high-pressure sales tactics. With decades of experience in implant consulting, DSO operations, and Clear Choice leadership, Kim and Chemenn share proven frameworks that transform treatment coordinators into patient advocates.

The trio dives into how to optimize your consult process, reduce patient anxiety, and present treatment in a way that builds trust and emotional value. They also unpack creative financing strategies—including how “waterfall” lending solutions can dramatically increase approval rates and make full-arch treatment more accessible. This episode is packed with real-world scripts, team training tips, and simple process shifts that can lead to a major boost in case acceptance and revenue.

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2376: The New Hiring Playbook for Dental Practices

On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by DSI Black Belt coach and multi-practice owner Dr. Summer Kassmel for a timely conversation on one of the most persistent challenges in dentistry today: hiring and retaining great team members. They dive into practical strategies for thriving in today’s unpredictable labor market—including how to attract high-quality applicants, train non-dental hires effectively using Dental Career Academy, and restructure front office roles for maximum efficiency.

Dr. Kassmel shares how she’s reduced staffing stress in her own practices through strategic outsourcing, automation, and AI-powered tools, all while keeping high-touch human interaction where it matters most. Whether you’re struggling to fill roles or simply want to future-proof your practice, this quick-hit episode is packed with real-world solutions and high-level insights.

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2375: The Truth About DSOs Culture and the Hygiene Crisis

On today’s episode, we’re joined once again by Janet Hagerman, recorded during a timely conversation about the evolving hygiene landscape in group dentistry. As a fractional Chief Hygiene Officer (CHO), Janet partners with emerging DSOs to build hygiene departments that are not just profitable, but also patient-centered and scalable.

Live from Florida, Janet and Dr. Mark Costes discuss the real-world impact of the hygiene shortage, what it takes to create an effective periodontal program, and how DSOs have matured into more doctor- and patient-centric organizations. Janet also unpacks the strategies behind her books Selling Dentistry and Meetings Make Money, and explains why assisted hygiene, KPIs, and strong practice culture are essential for sustainable growth.

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2374: Brand Over Everything

On today’s episode, we bring you a powerful keynote from Joshua Scott, delivered live at the 2025 Dental Success Summit. A longtime friend of the show and founder of Studio 8E8—the top-ranked healthcare marketing agency in the country—Josh unpacks how story-driven creativity is the future of dental marketing.

He shares how his agency grew from a side hustle to serving over 500 practices, why connection and trust are more important than ever, and how you can leverage performance marketing for predictable, scalable growth. With real-world case studies, practical branding tips, and a deep dive into what actually works in 2025’s ever-changing digital landscape, this talk is a must-listen for practice owners ready to level up.

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

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