TTS 128- Napkin Ai or Not
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
Rivers Morrell Show Notes Napkin AI or Not? The Truth About Dental Data with Rivers Morrell 🎧 Episode Summary: Most dental AI products are overhyped. Rivers Morrell is not. In this episode of The Tooth Sleuth, Greg sits down with Rivers Morrell, CEO and founder of Hey Donto, to break down what real AI in dentistry looks like—and why most of what's out there is just "napkin AI." From building the first self-healing API for dental practice data to enabling true FHIR compliance, Rivers and his team are doing what billion-dollar health systems couldn’t. And they’re doing it with...
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TTS 127 - Not Just Another Consultant: The Story Behind GnA
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
🎙 Episode Snapshot What’s the bridge between awareness and real, lasting change in your practice? In Part 3 of Why GnA, Greg Esenmacher gets personal—sharing the biggest challenges he’s faced as a founder, the role of acceptance in creating sustainable action, and why empathy, leadership, and accountability are at the core of every successful Full Arch practice. From building a brand that connects emotionally with patients to fostering team culture that drives case acceptance, this episode dives deep into the human side of scaling. Whether you’re a practice owner, a DSO exec,...
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TTS 126- M&A It's a Team Game
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
🎙 Episode Snapshot Selling or buying a dental practice? It’s not just about the numbers—it’s about timing, fit, and legacy. In this episode, Greg Esenmacher sits down with David Cohen, founder of Cohen Law Firm, to unpack what really happens during dental practice sales—whether you’re selling to a DSO or private buyer. With 300+ transactions a year under his belt, David shares insider tips on building the right team, avoiding costly mistakes, and ensuring your sale aligns with your goals and values. Whether you’re a solo practice owner, an emerging group, or a DSO...
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TTS 125 -Not Just Another Consultant: The Story Behind GnA
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
🎙 Episode Snapshot What does it take to truly master the business of Full Arch? In Part 2 of Why GnA, Greg Esenmacher dives deeper with John Stamper into the 360° approach that sets GNA Consult apart—from hands-on surgical experience to understanding the financial heartbeat of a practice. From hidden arches in your pipeline to knowing exactly when to scale, Greg shares why clinical knowledge is only half the equation—and how operational insight, accountability, and custom solutions can transform results. Whether you’re running a GP practice, leading a DSO, or...
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TTS 124 - Three Keys to Procurement Advancements
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
You can’t build a high-performing DSO—or even a profitable single location—without tight procurement systems. In this episode, Greg sits down with Karla-Marie Santiago, MBA, an operations and procurement powerhouse, to unpack how procurement strategy can make or break growth in the dental industry. From equipment forecasting to vendor alignment to e-procurement tech, Karla drops practical, real-world insight for DSOs ready to stop winging it and start optimizing. EPISODE SNAPSHOT With 15+ years in healthcare and a decade in dental operations, Karla-Marie Santiago has led procurement...
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TTS 123 - Not Just Another Consultant: The Story Behind GnA - Pt 1
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
🎙️ Episode Snapshot Ever wonder how someone goes from rental cars to leading the full arch revolution in dentistry? In this episode, the mic flips on Tooth Sleuth host Greg Esenmacher as John Stamper takes over to uncover the story behind GNA Consult, the challenges Greg faced starting out, and what it really takes to grow a full arch empire from the ground up. From sobering turning points to surgical sales breakthroughs, this episode is packed with laughs, leadership gems, and lessons for anyone serious about scaling their practice. Whether you’re a DSO exec, GP practice owner, or just...
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TTS 122- Reprogramming Responsibly
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
What happens when you stop viewing full arch as just a procedure—and start treating it like a lifelong commitment? In this episode, Greg sits down with Anjuli Avis, RDH, to break down how practices can reprogram their mindset around implant dentistry. Anjuli brings years of experience in hygiene, operations, and education to the mic to explore how dental teams can show up more responsibly—for patients, for outcomes, and for each other. EPISODE SNAPSHOT Anjuli Avis, also known as The Hustle Hygienist, joins the Tooth Sleuth Podcast for a powerful conversation about what it really means to...
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TTS 121 - No More Permission Slips
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
💥 Episode Summary: In this vulnerable and empowering conversation, Greg welcomes back Brandi Marzolino to the podcast for a deep dive into what it really means to lead as a woman in today’s world — especially in the dental industry. Brandi gets real about her personal journey through burnout, self-abandonment, and recovery — and how it led her to create The Lead(Her)ship Experience, a 6-month immersive program launching in August 2025 for women in dentistry and beyond. Together, Greg and Brandi break down the myth that leadership is just about business strategy. They explore how...
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TTS120- Don't Poo Poo the Woo Woo
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
🎙️ Tooth Sleuth Podcast – Episode 120 Title: Don’t Poo Poo the Woo Woo: What Burnout, Energy & Career Freedom Really Look Like Guest: Dr. Laura Brenner, Career Coach | Founder of Dentist Side Gigs | Ex-Dentist | Woo Woo Whisperer 🔍 Episode Snapshot Feeling stuck in your dental career? Tired of the burnout buzzword, but know something’s off? Dr. Laura Brenner is back—yes, back!—to join Greg for an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation about what it really means to walk away from a career that doesn’t serve you anymore. From closet career shame to...
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TTS119-Beyond the Drill: Emergency Preparedness in Dental Practices
The Tooth Sleuth Podcast
Title: Beyond the Drill: Emergency Preparedness in Dental Practices In this episode 119 of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, Greg sits down with dental anesthesiologist Dr. Richard Marn to tackle a critical topic: emergency preparedness in dentistry. With one patient dying each day from medical events in dental settings, this isn’t just important—it’s urgent. Dr. Marn breaks down the four pillars every dental team needs in place: infrastructure, competency, culture, and habit. They explore how to build psychological safety, the value of daily huddles, and why team...
info_outlineYou can’t build a high-performing DSO—or even a profitable single location—without tight procurement systems. In this episode, Greg sits down with Karla-Marie Santiago, MBA, an operations and procurement powerhouse, to unpack how procurement strategy can make or break growth in the dental industry. From equipment forecasting to vendor alignment to e-procurement tech, Karla drops practical, real-world insight for DSOs ready to stop winging it and start optimizing.
EPISODE SNAPSHOT
With 15+ years in healthcare and a decade in dental operations, Karla-Marie Santiago has led procurement strategies across dental education, nonprofits, and DSOs. In this conversation, she and Greg break down why procurement isn’t a back-office function—it’s a strategic driver. Whether you’re adding implants, building de novos, or trying to lower overhead, Karla makes the case that knowing your inventory, streamlining platforms, and aligning vendor partnerships is mission-critical.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
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Why procurement must be aligned with operations and finance
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How to forecast equipment needs (replacement vs. growth)
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What centralized procurement can unlock for scaling practices
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What to ask vendors beyond pricing—and why that matters
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What to look for in an e-procurement platform (think: Amazon for your ops team)
MIC DROP MOMENT
“Operations and procurement are directly co-related. You can’t run ops without the supplies, tech, and equipment that make care possible.” – Karla-Marie Santiago
RESOURCES MENTIONED
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E-procurement platforms (Method, Torch Dental, etc.)
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Annual capital planning strategies
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Why invoice and inventory integration is essential for DSOs
WHERE TO LEARN MORE
📨 Connect with Karla on LinkedIn: Karla-Marie Santiago
📬 Consulting inquiries: [email protected]