1983: Practice Management Education
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
Release Date: 05/13/2024
2440: 21-Day Challenge to Transform Your Mind, Body, and Practice
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, recorded live at the October 2025 DSI Mastermind, Dr. Mark Costes unveils a powerful 21-day Four Futures Challenge designed to reset your mindset, strengthen relationships, improve physical health, and gain financial clarity. With practical habits like daily breathwork, love bombs, movement, and a Friday social media fast, this challenge is both achievable and transformative. The episode also explores deeper conversations around associate accountability, team training, and the realities of leadership in dental practices. DSI Black Belt coaches share insights from...
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2439: The Science Behind Mercury Removal & Root Canal Alternatives
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Dr. Paul O’Malley, a pioneer in holistic and biomimetic dentistry with over 25 years of clinical and entrepreneurial experience. Dr. O’Malley shares his evolution from traditional full-mouth reconstructions to a minimally invasive, adhesive-based philosophy grounded in oral-systemic health. The two dive into root canal controversies, the science of mercury removal, and how dentists can reduce the need for endodontic treatment by preserving the pulp through proper restorative protocols. Dr. O’Malley also discusses the founding of Great...
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2438: How to Save Thousands on Credit Card Fees in Your Practice
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Steven Patala and Roman Shtimerman of NadaPayments, the company leading the charge in compliant credit card surcharging for dental practices. They discuss how their solution is helping thousands of practices eliminate a top 10 line item on the P&L by shifting credit card fees back to patients—without damaging patient trust or experience. Steven and Roman break down the difference between compliant surcharging and dual pricing, how to roll this out effectively in your practice, and why most patients are already used to this model....
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2437: The Marketing Mistakes That Kill New Patient Flow
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Ryan Gross, founder and CEO of CMO Share, for an insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of dental marketing, operations, and how to thrive in uncertain economic times. They discuss the critical importance of aligning marketing strategies with operational capacity, how to maximize ROI by tracking the right metrics, and the power of Google Analytics over analog systems. Ryan shares how his experience with Disney and data-driven thinking shaped CMO Share's unique approach to dental marketing. They dive into the different...
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2436: How High-Income Doctors & Dentists Can Legally Pay Less in Taxes
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Alexis Gallati, founder of Cerebral Tax Advisors and author of Advanced Tax Planning for Medical Professionals. Alexis brings a wealth of knowledge on proactive, high-level tax strategies tailored specifically for medical and dental professionals. The conversation covers everything from tax-saving tactics for W2 earners like short-term rentals and oil & gas investments, to advanced planning opportunities for business owners, including entity structuring, paying your children, and maximizing retirement contributions through backdoor and...
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2435: The Case for Mentors in Modern Dental Startups
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by DSI Black Belt coach and co-founder of The Practice Launchpad, Dr. Chris Green, for an in-depth conversation on startup success in today’s challenging dental landscape. Chris shares his journey of building a ground-up dental practice from a shell, highlighting lessons learned around construction, IT, design, and avoiding costly rookie mistakes. The duo also explores why the fundamentals of a successful startup haven’t changed, despite the rise in costs and consolidation across the industry. They emphasize the importance of...
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2434: Why Most Dentists Dread Switching CPAs and Why You Shouldn't
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friends and financial experts Brent Saunier and Chris Sands of Profi2020 to unpack some of the most overlooked yet critical financial decisions dentists face. From the often misunderstood process of switching CPA firms and the emotional roadblocks that come with onboarding, to the dangers of outgrowing your entity structure without knowing it, this episode is packed with practical advice and real client stories. The trio dives into why clarity around your finances is essential for long-term success, how to vet a great CPA,...
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2433: Why Paper Referrals Are Holding Dentistry Back
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Brian Bhaskar, a newly minted oral and maxillofacial surgeon, third-generation dentist, and founder of Sindi, a digital referral management platform designed to modernize how dentists communicate. Dr. Bhaskar shares his journey from Division I basketball at Gonzaga to completing a six-year oral surgery residency at the University of Washington, and how firsthand frustrations with outdated referral systems inspired him to build a HIPAA-compliant, cloud-based solution for seamless collaboration between general dentists and specialists. The...
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2432: Why Early Career Dentists Need a New Learning Model
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Vishal Sharma, Director of Clinical Education and Operations at Spear Education, to explore the evolving landscape of dental education. Dr. Sharma shares his journey from building and scaling private practices to leading clinical education initiatives across DSOs, and now helping shape the next generation of learning at Spear. The conversation dives deep into hybrid education models, the growing role of AI in diagnostics and training, challenges facing early career dentists, and why blending in-person mentorship with virtual and self-paced...
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2431: Navigating Growth Curves Without Burning Out Your Team
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend and marketing leader Joshua Scott for a wide-ranging conversation that blends entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Josh shares what it’s really like to scale a company through a “building year,” why infrastructure equity matters more than short-term profit, and how navigating overlapping growth curves can feel both challenging and energizing. They dive into predictable success, avoiding shiny-object syndrome, balancing ambition with fulfillment, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the...
info_outlineOn today’s episode, we have a crossover from "Hi, I'm Dr." featuring Dr. Mark Costes, hosted by Akhil Chawla. Mark delves into his journey from clinical dentistry to a broader focus on entrepreneurship and education. Graduating from Marquette University in 2002 and starting his practice in Arizona, Mark quickly transitioned from an associate to owning his first of many dental practices. Over the years, he expanded his operations across Arizona and California, eventually owning 16 practices. Despite this success, Mark found his true passion in the business aspects of dentistry rather than clinical practice, leading him to found the Dental Success Institute in 2012, which focuses on coaching and consulting for dental practices.
Throughout the interview, Mark discusses the challenges and insights he gained from managing multiple practices, emphasizing the importance of systems over reliance on individual personnel. He also highlights his shift towards education and philanthropy, particularly through his involvement with the Colorado Surgical Institute and founding Smile Outreach International.
Akhil and Mark explore the intricacies of dental practice management, the impact of dental insurance on the industry, and the future of dental service organizations (DSOs). They discuss the importance of balancing business acumen with clinical skills and how dentists can better position themselves as entrepreneurs. The conversation also touches on the need for systemic changes in dental education and the insurance landscape to better support both practitioners and patients.
This episode provides valuable insights for dentists who are looking to expand their professional horizons beyond clinical work and into areas like business management, education, and entrepreneurship within the dental industry.
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