The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes talks with psychotherapist Tiffany Castellanos about anxiety, burnout, and the pressure dentists put on themselves. Tiffany explains how high standards can turn into perfectionism, making it harder to delegate and easier to mistake anxiety for a leadership problem. 

They also discuss why professional success can feel empty when life outside the practice gets neglected, plus practical ways to interrupt rumination and recognize when it's time to seek support. Tiffany shares what dentists can expect from therapy and how to find an approach that fits their goals.

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On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes and Dental Success Network co-founder Michael Lomotan answer questions from DSN members. They start with a challenge many practice owners know well: how to hold a team accountable without becoming everyone's reminder system. 

Mark then looks back at his decision to grow to 16 practices and explains why he would focus on profitability, location, and room to expand if he were starting over. They close with questions to ask before selling to a DSO, including how the deal is structured and what happens to the portion of the practice's value that isn't p...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes speaks to DSI Mastermind members about the difference between having the right information and putting it to work. He encourages owners to ask for help, take responsibility for what's happening in their practices, and use the experience of the people around them.
 
Mark then breaks down what effective leadership looks like: clear expectations, useful training, regular feedback, and accountability that helps team members grow. He also shares a way to move larger projects forward by defining the outcome, assigning responsibilities, setting deadlines, and checking progress with the team. It's a reminder t...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes talks with BoomCloud founder Jordan Comstock about rising practice costs, flat PPO reimbursements, and the write-offs that can quietly erode profits. Jordan explains how patient membership plans can create recurring revenue, strengthen retention, and give owners more freedom to decide which PPO contracts are worth keeping.
 
They cover where to find new members, from existing patients to local businesses, and how to get a plan started. The conversation also explores how a loyal patient base and predictable revenue could affect a practice's value when it's time to sell.

Be s...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes shares how practice owners can make more progress while spending fewer hours at work. He explains why hard work is essential in the early stages of ownership, but can become a habit that holds you back as your practice grows. Mark talks about setting priorities, protecting time for your family, and resisting the urge to chase a new opportunity before you've solved the problems already in front of you. 

He also walks through the different roles people play in a practice and why creators, providers, and managers need dedicated time to d...

On today's episode, Dr. Aaron Nicholas presents a practical framework for identifying where the dental day starts to go sideways and what to do before small problems turn into full-blown chaos. He breaks down how to create backup protocols for procedures, analyze workflows, schedule with more intention, prepare assistants and operatories, and delegate tasks that do not require doctor time. 

Aaron also explains how morning huddles, decision trees, standardized setups, scripts, and procedure timing can make the day more predictable and productive. The goal is not simply to move faster, but to create systems that help the e...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Bryanna Walker of Flex Dental Solutions to talk about her journey from dental assisting and office management into helping practices modernize their front office systems. Bryanna shares how her years inside dental practices shaped the way she now approaches payment workflows, patient financing, insurance verification, online scheduling, and case presentation. 

They discuss Flex Payments, compliant surcharging, buy now pay later options through Affirm and Klarna, automated payment posting into Open Dental, and the ways technology can reduce manual work and human error. Bryanna also explains how better integration b...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend and Dental Success Network co-founder Michael Lomotan for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges dental practice owners are facing today. Michael shares what he is hearing from dentists around systems, overhead, staffing, technology, AI, exit planning, and financial organization, while reflecting on his own journey from struggling practice owner to building a stronger, more profitable business.
 
They also discuss the evolution of DSN, the value of community and coaching, the importance of leadership, and why risk management, HR compliance, and operational discipline can be just as i...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes explores why lasting transformation starts with identity, not simply goals, motivation, or willpower. He explains how thoughts, behaviors, and small consistent habits provide the evidence your subconscious needs to believe that you are becoming a different version of yourself. 

Mark breaks down four steps for personal and professional reinvention, including visualizing your ideal future, releasing limiting identities, reinforcing new beliefs through action, and creating an environment that supports continued growth. He also examines fixed versus growth mindsets, the power of internal self-talk, accountability, and why surrounding yourself with the right people c...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Chris Sands, founder of Crown Card Services, to unpack the confusing world of dental credit card processing and explain where practices may be losing money without realizing it. Chris breaks down the difference between integrated and interfaced payment systems, how bridge technology is opening up more processor choice, and why locked-in rates, transparent statements, and regular audits matter. 

They also discuss compliant surcharge programs, online payments, text-to-pay, accounts receivable, and how small percentage differences in processing costs can translate into major gains in EBITDA and long-term practice value. T...

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 d...

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. T...

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 t...

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 a...

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 r...

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 m...

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, r...

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' s...

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 d...

On today's episode, Dr. Steve Dove and Dr. Beau Sparkman breaks down practical ways dental teams can move beyond casual AI use and start building repeatable workflows that actually improve the practice. 

They walk through tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and NotebookLM, explain how to build stronger prompts, and show how AI can support everything from PR responses and Google reviews to SOPs, team training, research, and decision-making. They also discuss automations, AI agents, HIPAA considerations, and why the real advantage comes from systemizing AI instead of simply asking random questions.

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On today's episode, Dr. Lior Tamir speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about using AI, systems, and intentional follow-up to grow a more efficient and profitable dental practice. Drawing from his experience building a marketing agency, returning to dentistry, and scaling multiple practices, Dr. Tamir explains why patient experience, social proof, marketing, and a clear sales process are essential for growth. 

He breaks down the hidden opportunity in unscheduled treatment, why most follow-up systems fail, and how practices can use dedicated "setters," scripts, financing conversations, and consistent outreach to help patients move forward with needed care. Dr. T...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes takes the stage at The Practice Launchpad event to share the business lessons he wishes more dentists learned before becoming practice owners. Drawing from his experience owning 16 practices and making nearly every mistake along the way, Mark breaks down why so many dental practices struggle with profitability, leadership, systemization, team retention, and cash flow. 

He explains the importance of building a systems-dependent practice instead of a people-dependent one, creating a strong patient experience, understanding the numbers behind the business, and surrounding yourself with the right support. Mark also shares the Four F...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Mark Rasmussen, CEO and co-founder of Moolah, to unpack the company's journey from general payment processing to a dental-focused technology platform serving thousands of practices. Mark shares how an introduction to the Dental Success Network helped spark Moolah's move into dentistry, why narrowing the company's focus accelerated growth, and how staying committed to simple pricing, no SaaS fees, and strong customer support has shaped the business. 

They also discuss PMS integrations, the shift toward cloud-based software, automated accounts receivable, building a strong visionary-integrator relationship, navigating private equity interest, a...

On today's episode, Kyle Francis speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about recap reality and what dentists need to understand before entering a recapitalization event. Kyle breaks down how assets, liabilities, equity, and risk all factor into practice ownership, and explains that recaps can include anything from refinancing debt to selling a majority stake to a private equity-backed group. 

He clarifies why recap events became so common during the low-interest-rate years, why today's market has created longer hold times and more scrutiny, and how private equity groups evaluate dental platforms using growth, margin improvement, acquisition arbitrage, and d...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes hosts the Milestones in Motion transformation contest during the Dental Success Summit 2026, featuring powerful stories from Dental Success Institute members who have created major growth in their practices and personal lives. Dr. Josh Hall shares how DSI helped him shift from scarcity to abundance, expand into a larger facility, build a stronger team, and create more time for family experiences. 

Dr. Kelly Grubbs and Dr. Marianne Weatherford discuss how partnership, culture, systems, and faith over fear helped them transform Ridge Dental and Aesthetics while navigating real-life challenges. Dr. Andrew Kung and K...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Brannon Moncrief of McLerran & Associates for a timely conversation about the current dental transition market, DSO consolidation, and how practice owners should evaluate their exit options. Brannon breaks down why the DSO market has shifted since the white-hot acquisition years of 2021 and 2022, how higher interest rates and more disciplined buyers have changed valuations and deal structures, and why alignment between sellers and DSOs matters more than ever. 

He also compares DSO affiliations with private doctor-to-doctor sales, explaining how revenue, EBITDA, cash at close, work-back expectations, equity risk, and operational s...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Michael Dienberg and Bethany Dienberg for a Dental Success Network webinar on integrating frenectomies into the general dental practice. Dr. Dienberg shares how tongue and lip ties often go undiagnosed in dentistry, despite their connection to breastfeeding challenges, speech concerns, orthodontic relapse, airway issues, tension, migraines, sleep concerns, and oral dysfunction across patients of all ages. 

Together, Michael and Bethany explain the difference between frenectomies, frenotomies, and frenuloplasties, how CO2 laser releases compare with traditional techniques, and why coordinated care with lactation consultants, speech-language pathologists, myofunctional therapists, p...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Mark Johnson, wealth advisor with RBF Wealth Advisors and founder of Student Loans Rx and Dental Wealth Rx, for a practical conversation about student loan repayment, practice ownership, and long-term financial planning for dentists. Mark shares how he first began working with dental students and residents after realizing how little traditional financial planning addressed the realities of six-figure student loan debt. 

He explains why young dentists should build a financial foundation that includes emergency savings, disability insurance, retirement contributions, and a thoughtful student loan repayment strategy. Mark also discusses t...

On today's episode, Dr. Ben Kacos speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about the evolution of team training, culture, and accountability inside a growing dental practice. Drawing from his experience at Shreveport Dental Solutions, Dr. Kacos shares how his practice moved from informal hallway meetings and undocumented systems to structured growth meetings, alien abduction manuals, onboarding videos, 30-60-90 day goals, tiered compensation, bonuses, and the Big Sister program. 

He explains why team engagement, consistency, clear expectations, and aligned incentives are critical for creating a culture where people grow, take ownership, and hold each other accountable. Dr. K...

On today's episode, Alastair MacDonald joins Dr. Mark Costes during the Dental Success Summit 2026 for a powerful conversation on dental practice partnerships, equity, growth, and retention. Together, they unpack why many partnerships fail, especially when they are built from fear, scarcity, or a desire to retain an associate before that person is truly qualified for ownership. 

Alastair explains the difference between giving equity as a reaction and designing a partnership with clear incentives, contribution, responsibility, authority, and long-term alignment. He also breaks down why high-producing associates are not always the best ownership candidates, how to think about q...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Roza Ghamari, CEO and co-founder of Healink, for a conversation about AI, patient engagement, and solving one of dentistry's biggest challenges: treatment acceptance. Roza shares her journey from studying computer science and working as a technical lead at Google and Meta to launching a healthcare technology company with her brother, a dentist who saw firsthand how many patients left the office with treatment plans but never returned.
 
She explains how Healink gives patients secure, interactive access to their treatment information after the visit, helping them better understand their o...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes answers listener questions from inside DSN in this Ask Me Anything segment. He starts with a deep dive into the realities of transitioning a PPO-heavy practice in a working-class market toward an out-of-network model, including the importance of understanding patient psychology, calculating attrition risk, training the team on unified language, and moving slowly by dropping lower-paying plans first. 

Mark also discusses why execution often breaks down inside practices, emphasizing the need for culture, accountability, simple systems, clear deadlines, and avoiding too many new initiatives at once. He then shares insight on i...

On today's episode, Dr. Paul Goodman, also known as Dr. Nacho, speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about why associate dentists leave and how practice owners can create a more fulfilling, aligned experience for them. With his signature humor and practical communication style, Paul shares how the words dentists use can shape trust, reduce fear, and make the dental office feel less "weird" for patients and team members. 

He breaks down key reasons associate relationships go sideways, from unclear expectations and poor interview processes to lack of mentorship, toxic culture, and pay confusion. Paul also introduces the "M...

On today's episode, Dr. Bill Keith speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about understanding your freedom number and building a practice with a clear destination in mind. Drawing from his background in finance, practice ownership, real estate, and DSO leadership, Dr. Keith explains the difference between retirement and true financial freedom, emphasizing that passive income, not active income, is what creates real optionality. 

He walks through how dentists can calculate the lifestyle they want, gross it up for taxes, apply a safe withdrawal rate, and evaluate how their practice value, real estate, investments, and business cash flow c...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Troy W. Eckard for a timely conversation about oil and gas, global energy demand, and how current economic uncertainty is shaping investor behavior. Troy shares why he believes fossil fuels remain essential to modern economies, how geopolitical conflict and supply constraints are impacting energy markets, and why rising oil and gas prices could affect everything from transportation and utilities to consumer spending and business costs. 

He also discusses the importance of capital preservation, cash flow, tax strategy, and hard-asset investing in a volatile environment. Troy breaks down the difference b...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Chaz Vittitow, also known as Dr. Chaz, for a conversation about military dentistry, startup ownership, mentorship, and building a career with intention. Dr. Chaz shares how his father's example as a dentist first inspired him to pursue the profession, then walks through his path from the University of Kentucky to serving as a dentist in the U.S. Navy across San Diego, Sicily, and Whidbey Island. 

He reflects on the leadership lessons, clinical foundations, and worldview he gained through military service before transitioning into associateship and eventually l...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Ralf Tomandl, COO of HR for Health, live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Ralf shares his journey through the dental industry, from his early days with 1-800-DENTIST to helping bring technology-driven HR solutions to dental practices across the country. He and Mark discuss why HR is often overlooked by practice owners, how state-by-state compliance differences can create major risk, and why employee handbooks, onboarding documents, time tracking, PTO, licensing, and CE management should not be handled manually. 

Ralf also breaks down common HR pitfalls, including W-2 v...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Wendy Briggs live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Wendy shares her perspective on the current state of dental hygiene, including the ongoing provider shortage, rising wages, temp labor trends, and the growing need for practices to shift from hiring to recruiting. She explains how strong hygiene departments are built through better systems, clearer communication, elevated patient care, and compensation models that create wins for the patient, the provider, and the practice. 

Wendy and Mark also discuss assisted hygiene, risk assessment, preventive therapy, periodontal care, treatment advocacy, and h...

On today's episode, Dr. Addison Killeen speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about building a stress-free hygiene system that creates clarity, consistency, and less decision fatigue inside the practice. He breaks down the real stress many dentists are feeling right now, from staffing shortages to burnout, and explains why weak hygiene systems can spill over into the entire practice. 

Dr. Killeen introduces a practical five-by-five method: five meetings over five weeks focused on clinical protocols, standardized verbiage, stronger handoffs, the right hygiene KPIs, and a functional block schedule. He also shares how better systems can help hygienists c...