The Dentalpreneur Podcast Archives - Dental Success Institute

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 ourselves, and step into rooms with people who understand the path we are on.

To everyone at the Summit today, and to everyone listening, welcome—we are so grateful for you!

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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 million in revenue.

Mark and Bill dive into the realities of scaling, including hygiene capacity, doctor leadership, culture protection, compensation, staffing challenges, and why putting the right people in the right seats matters more than simply filling positions. They also explore Bill’s doctor equity model, how he keeps associates engaged, and the intentional systems that allow him to step out of day-to-day clinical work while continuing to grow the practice.

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

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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 phone etiquette, consistent patient handoffs, post-op calls, patient recognition, and grassroots relationship-building in the community. From creating raving fans to reconnecting with local businesses, this episode is a reminder that strong systems and genuine human connection are still the foundation of practice growth.

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

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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 implementation still matter more than ever.

They also dig into rising practice costs, wage inflation, flat PPO reimbursements, the importance of knowing your numbers, and why dentists need to be intentional about patient attraction, systems, leadership, and profitability. The conversation highlights where AI can elevate teams, where it still falls short, and why great coaching remains essential in helping practice owners turn information into action.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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2530: Breathing The Same Air – Live From DSS 2026

2529: The Culture Formula Behind a $9 Million Practice

2528: Back to Basics With the Lifetime Patient Experience

2527: What AI Still Can’t Replace in Dental Coaching

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