The Dentalpreneur Podcast Archives - Dental Success Institute

On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes presents a practical introduction to building a systems-driven dental practice for dental students preparing to enter the profession. He explains why clinical skill alone is not enough to create a profitable, sustainable practice and why dentists need to understand business fundamentals whether they plan to become owners or associates.

Mark breaks down the importance of mission, vision, core values, operational systems, patient experience, human resources, cash flow, and overhead control. He also covers the APE framework, financial phases of practice growth, KPIs, operations manuals, effective meetings, and organizational charts, emphasizing why dentists should strengthen their infrastructure before adding more patients, procedures, or locations.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with David Charnowitz, founder and CEO of DC Dental, to discuss how the dental supply market is changing and what independent practices should understand about purchasing, pricing, and value. David shares how he built DC Dental from a startup into a major independent supplier, why the company focuses heavily on private practices, and how a lean operating model can create more competitive pricing.

They also discuss house brands, distribution strategy, service models, pricing transparency, and the importance of understanding the true value behind every expense in a dental practice. The conversation closes with practical business lessons around reading financial statements, managing costs, and building a more efficient operation.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Cody Boals and Dr. Chris Green present a practical framework for scaling a dental practice during the Dental Success Summit 2026. Using the journey up Mount Everest as a metaphor for practice growth, they break ownership into three stages: clinical, entrepreneurial, and aspirational. They explain what leadership, systems, staffing, provider growth, and operational structure are needed at each level.

They also share deeply personal stories that show why building redundancy and freedom inside a practice matters far beyond production, including the ability to step away when family needs you most. The presentation challenges dentists to define their own vision, grow intentionally, develop stronger leaders, and build a practice that supports the life they actually want.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Allen Gotora presents a powerful framework for bringing the dentist’s world and the team’s world into better alignment during the Dental Success Summit 2026. Drawing from his own leadership journey and a recent dental mission in the Dominican Republic, Allen explains how unclear expectations, weak communication, toxic behavior, and lack of leadership development can create unnecessary division inside a practice.

He breaks down practical ways to strengthen culture, normalize feedback, improve communication, recognize team members, eliminate gossip, and create clearer roles and accountability. The goal is simple but essential: build a practice where doctors and team members understand each other better, lead from their positions, and work together around a shared mission.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes takes the podcast offshore, recording from the ocean in Fiji with Dr. Jeff Clark for a conversation on military dentistry, endodontics, practice ownership, and mission work. Jeff shares how the Navy helped shape his early career, why he ultimately chose endodontics, and how he found the opportunity to return to his hometown in Montana and become a partner in an established specialty practice.

They also discuss aircraft ownership, the flexibility that comes with building the right business, and why mission trips have become such an important part of Jeff’s life. Jeff reflects on the relationships formed through service, the perspective that comes from treating patients with limited access to care, and why experiences like Fiji can make dentistry back home feel simpler and more meaningful.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend Dr. Paul Goodman to reflect on nearly a decade of Dental Nachos and the evolution of the community, business, and relationships built along the way. Paul shares how Dental Nachos grew from a simple Facebook group into a broad dental community, why his original vision for a CE subscription business did not unfold as expected, and how sponsorships, live events, and Dentist Job Connect became important parts of the larger Nacho universe.

They also discuss social media, building authentic communities, hiring associates, the value of comparing multiple candidates, hygiene staffing challenges, and why dentists need to make business decisions based on math instead of emotion.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Taher Dhoon and Dr. Dan Briskie present two different approaches to building a successful implant practice during the Dental Success Summit 2026. Dr. Dhoon shares lessons from growing through acquisition, including how to introduce advanced procedures gradually, train the entire team, improve case acceptance, build clinical confidence, and avoid overwhelming the practice with too much change at once.

Dr. Briskie breaks down his startup journey, covering real estate, equipment, marketing, CRM systems, full-arch growth, staffing, lab workflows, and the importance of matching marketing spend to clinical readiness. Together, they show how thoughtful systems, mentorship, repetition, and clear ownership can help dentists scale advanced services while protecting the practice and the team.

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On today’s episode, Ashley Keith, Sydney Robinson, and Amy Hernandez present a practical framework for moving a dental practice from chaos to control during the Dental Success Summit 2026. They break down how unclear roles, weak workflows, inconsistent billing processes, and poor handoffs can create unnecessary stress, lost revenue, and team burnout.

The presentation covers how to create clearer ownership, build backup systems, improve delegation, strengthen insurance and billing workflows, and connect better systems to stronger case acceptance. They also share simple ways teams can identify bottlenecks, reduce confusion, and implement processes that actually support growth.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Albert Voravong in Fiji during a Smile Outreach International mission to talk about dentistry, entrepreneurship, family, and purpose. Albert shares his parents’ immigration story, his path into dentistry, and how he went from launching a rural startup to building a multi-practice organization in Canada.

They discuss the lessons that came from both successful and difficult practice growth, the importance of strong operational leadership, building the right team, navigating acquisitions, and creating alignment around a long-term vision. Albert also reflects on mission dentistry, the influence of his parents’ sacrifices, and how service has become an important part of defining success beyond business growth.

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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes explores the connection between prioritization, leverage, simplicity, and the people we choose to surround ourselves with. He shares lessons from his travels and mission work, including how service, gratitude, adaptability, and reducing unnecessary complexity have reshaped the way he approaches both business and life.

Mark also challenges listeners to evaluate their first-quarter progress, eliminate negative patterns, improve fulfillment, and focus on no more than a few meaningful priorities at a time. He closes with a practical breakdown of labor efficiency, overhead, profitability, and “the spread,” showing how better stewardship of every dollar can create a stronger, more sustainable dental practice.

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EPISODE RESOURCES

2602: The Systems-Driven Dental Practice

2601: What Dentists Should Know About the Changing Dental Supply Market

2600: Above the Hillary Step: The Lifestyle Practice on Your Terms

2599: The Tale of 2 Worlds in the Dental Office

2598: The Unexpected Path From Endodontics to Mission Work in Fiji

2597: Building Community in a Profession That Can Feel Isolating

2596: Two Philosophies for Building a Surgical Program

2595: From Chaos to Control

2594: From Immigrant Roots to Building a Dental Group With Purpose

2593: The Leadership Habits That Make Work and Life More Sustainable