The Dentalpreneur Podcast Archives - Dental Success Institute

On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Nathan Raborn, a senior wealth manager at Eckard Enterprises who brings a unique perspective on alternative investments after spending over a decade in the oil and gas sector at ExxonMobil. Nathan shares how he transitioned from managing short-term and mid-term rental properties to focusing almost entirely on mineral rights and working interest investments. He explains why real estate wasn’t delivering the cash flow he expected, and how oil and gas opened up new possibilities for passive income, portfolio diversification, and significant tax advantages.

You’ll hear a clear breakdown of mineral rights vs. working interests, real-world returns, tax strategies (including Roth conversions and 1031 exchanges), and how Eckard differentiates itself in a space often filled with bad actors. This is a must-listen for high-income earners looking to keep more of what they earn and grow wealth through alternative channels.

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EPISODE RESOURCES

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On today’s episode, Dr. Dan Brisky and Dr. Tom Pfau dive deep into real-world implant complications and the critical lessons that come with them. From a mispositioned anterior implant that required swallowing pride and starting over, to incision openings in full-arch cases that demanded creative solutions like Botox for excessive muscle activity, they break down what went wrong, how they fixed it, and how to prevent similar issues.

The conversation covers flapless pitfalls, the importance of tactile verification with a ball probe, suture technique nuances, managing tissue dehiscence, preventing bone loss, and even navigating high-stress moments like retrieving displaced root tips and broken burs from the sinus. This candid discussion emphasizes preparation, humility, surgical fundamentals, and having the confidence—and support system—to manage complications the right way.

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EPISODE RESOURCES

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On today’s episode, recorded live at Voices of Dentistry 2026, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with DSI Black Belt coach and tech entrepreneur Dr. Deren Flesher. They dive into Deren’s latest venture, Airo Dental, an AI-powered platform starting with a smart scheduling assistant built to handle missed calls, after-hours requests, and overflow—without replacing your front desk team. They discuss real-world applications, AI’s limitations, and where the future of dental tech is headed.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Ashley Keith, Chief Operating Officer of Keith and Associates Dentistry in Mission, Kansas. With a powerhouse practice of over 50 team members and 23 operatories, Ashley shares her journey from healthcare tech and HR at Cerner to leading operations, marketing, and training at one of the most systemized, patient-centric dental offices in the country.

The conversation dives into how she and her husband, Dr. Bill Keith, scaled rapidly while maintaining culture, consistency, and care quality. Ashley breaks down her approach to hiring for personality over resume, creating digital training resources, and holding weekly calibration meetings to align clinical and operational teams. She also talks about her new role as a DSI Black Belt coach, what she’s seeing in coaching calls, and why delegation without leadership is a recipe for disaster.

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EPISODE RESOURCES

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On today’s episode, we continue our deep dive into overcoming overwhelm and restoring mental clarity in high-pressure clinical and business environments. Mark unpacks actionable strategies, including batching decisions, minimizing clutter, improving sleep hygiene, and building systems that reduce cognitive load. He explains the link between physical environment, digital inputs, and mental fatigue—while also highlighting the role of movement and recovery in regaining creative and strategic thinking.

In the second half, Mark shifts into leadership and case acceptance, exploring the crucial mindset shift from price-based presentations to value-based conversations. He challenges listeners to build internal team buy-in and emphasizes the ethical responsibility of getting patients to say “yes” to treatment. From empowerment through delegation to moral conviction in clinical care, this episode provides both mindset and tactical takeaways for every growth-focused dental professional.

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EPISODE RESOURCES

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On today’s episode, we dive into one of the most common but misunderstood challenges in dentistry and entrepreneurship: overwhelm—the “O word.” Mark Costes shares why he bans this word at DSI events and how our internal language and mindset can powerfully shape our lived reality. He breaks down the physiology of overwhelm, explains the mental toll of decision fatigue, multitasking, and cognitive overload, and shares personal stories from the early, chaotic days of juggling multiple businesses.

You’ll also learn about the importance of structured delegation, how to build filters to prioritize effectively, and the impact of unclosed loops on our mental bandwidth. From the neuroscience of task-switching to the power of the default mode network, this episode lays the foundation for reclaiming clarity, energy, and intentional leadership.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Andrew Kokabi, owner of Brookhaven Family Dentistry and a true example of grit, growth, and purpose-driven leadership. From his early days in a three-operatory practice with no paycheck, to leading a thriving 17-op fee-for-service operation with plans to expand to 30, Dr. Kokabi shares his deeply personal journey. He talks about how his upbringing as the child of Iranian immigrants shaped his business mindset, the painful but transformative experience of burnout, and the pivotal role the Dentalpreneur Podcast played in reigniting his passion and vision.

The conversation dives deep into creating a strong culture, onboarding associates with aligned philosophies, tracking performance, building patient loyalty, and giving back to the community in creative, meaningful ways. You’ll also hear about Dr. Kokabi’s vision for long-term impact—both in dentistry and through empowering underserved populations.

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On today’s episode, recorded live at Voices of Dentistry 2026, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Drs. Eric Appelsies and Alex Kantor, the duo behind the podcast Just a Couple of Dentists. They share how podcasting helped them build community, stay curious, and keep perspective as they navigate practice ownership and young family life. The conversation explores burnout, doing mission work to reconnect with dentistry, and the challenges of wearing every hat as a business owner. They also give a sneak peek into their upcoming tech projects aimed at solving real operational pain points in dental practices.

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On today’s episode, we continue our conversation with dental attorney Evan Sampson as he and Dr. Mark Costes tackle the real-world legal challenges practice owners face. In Part 2, they unpack best practices for avoiding PPO audits, how to properly dismiss a patient, the right way to handle informed consent, and what to do when it’s time to fire an employee—especially during riskier situations like pregnancy. Evan offers practical, step-by-step advice to help dentists stay compliant and avoid unnecessary legal exposure, no matter what state they practice in.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with dental attorney Evan Sampson for a deep dive into the legal issues dentists face every day—often without realizing it. In Part 1, Evan shares his journey from litigator to dental-focused counsel and how his unique background helps him proactively guide practice owners through employment law, regulatory compliance, and contract issues. From the legal missteps that commonly trigger lawsuits to tips for setting up strong employment policies and handbooks, this conversation is packed with real-world insight to help dentists avoid costly mistakes.

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

EPISODE RESOURCES

2451: Turning Real Estate into Oil Royalties and Monthly Cash Flow

2450: Surgical Saves and Near Misses in Full Arch Dentistry

2449: Solving Missed Calls and Overflow with AI

2448: How to Run a 50-Person Dental Powerhouse

2447: Overcoming the “O” Word Pt. 2

2446: Overcoming the “O” Word Pt. 1

2445: Lessons from a Dental CEO Who Started with a Typewriter

2444: What Two Startup Docs Learned from Launching a Podcast

2443: How to Protect Your Dental Practice from Legal Trouble Pt. 2

2442: How to Protect Your Dental Practice from Legal Trouble Pt. 1