2002: Creating A Leadership Team Pt. 2
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
Release Date: 06/07/2024
2340: What Every Practice Owner Needs to Know About Recaps
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Brannon Moncrief, Principal and CEO of McLerran & Associates, for a deep dive into the current state of the DSO consolidation and private equity landscape. They explore how rising interest rates and a cooling capital market over the last 24 months have forced DSOs to become more disciplined and focused on operational excellence. Brannon shares insights into why joint venture models are gaining popularity, the challenges of recapitalizing DSOs with mixed deal structures, and what practice owners need to know about realistic valuation...
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2339: Secrets to Longevity and Fulfillment in Dentistry
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes interviews Dr. Allan Mohr, a seasoned dentist with over four decades of experience and a passion for mentoring the next generation. Dr. Mohr shares his journey from general dentistry to building a successful fee-for-service cosmetic and restorative practice, highlighting the pivotal role continuing education and mentorship played in his career. They discuss how to find your niche, market a high-end practice, overcome the challenges of student debt, and invest in yourself early and often. Dr. Mohr also talks about the fulfillment he finds in teaching...
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2338: The Future of Early Caries Detection in Dentistry
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with the multifaceted Jessica Woods—MPH, RDH, and Senior VP at BlueCheck Dental—for a lively and unexpected conversation straight from Thrive Live in Las Vegas. Jessica discusses her role in bringing Blue Check to the market, a protein-based diagnostic product that helps detect early demineralization and promotes minimally invasive dentistry. Beyond teeth, Jessica shares her passion for wine and cheese, detailing her journey from clinical hygiene to becoming a certified sommelier and cheese professional. They chat about the science...
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2337: The Untold Truth About Fluoride & the Rise of Hydroxyapatite
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Vladimir Vukicevic, a serial tech entrepreneur turned wellness founder and the CEO of Better & Better, a sustainable, fluoride-free toothpaste and oral care brand. Vlad shares his incredible backstory—from surviving childhood bone cancer in Eastern Europe to launching and selling multiple startups before founding Better & Better. He explains how his personal health journey sparked a passion for clean living and preventative wellness, and why toothpaste became his next big mission. The two dive deep into the fluoride vs....
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2336: The Secrets Behind a 100-Patient Opening Day
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes DSI Black Belt Coach and startup expert Dr. Chris Green for a high-energy conversation packed with real-world wisdom. Fresh off the Dental Success Summit, they reflect on the event’s outstanding energy, powerful breakout sessions, and the rising interest in startup practices. Chris breaks down the core pillars of successful startups—planning, project execution, and practice building—while sharing actionable strategies to overcome decision fatigue and generate real patient momentum before opening day. From avoiding poor demographic...
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2335: The Fast Track to High-Value Dentistry Without Referrals
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Ben Kacos for a powerful and tactical conversation on what it really takes to evolve from a standard general dentist to a Super GP. Dr. Kacos shares his personal journey of 700% growth by strategically adding advanced clinical procedures like surgical extractions, socket grafting, molar endo, and IV sedation. Together, they break down the path of clinical progression—starting with strong communication skills and moving into more complex treatments—and explain how expanding your skill set directly impacts production, patient loyalty,...
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2334: The Business Case for Membership Plans in Dental Practices
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Jane Levy, co-founder and CEO of Plan Forward, for a powerful conversation on how dental membership plans can help practices take control of their revenue and reduce dependence on underperforming insurance plans. Jane shares her unique path from Wall Street investor to dental tech entrepreneur, including her pivotal encounters at Henry Schein and Jarvis Analytics. She breaks down the structure and strategy behind successful membership plans, explains why they outperform traditional discount models, and offers insight into the potential for...
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2333: Scaling Impact Without Burning Out as a Dental Entrepreneur
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with his longtime friend and DSI Black Belt Coach, Dr. Taher Dhoon, for a deeply reflective and inspiring conversation on redefining legacy, creating balance, and building sustainable impact. From humble beginnings to scaling a $5M+ practice, Dr. Dhoon shares how his perspective has evolved over the years—from chasing traditional success metrics to prioritizing meaningful relationships, cultural roots, and purposeful living. The two discuss the origins and explosive growth of the Colorado Surgical Institute, their shared journey in...
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2332: Solving the Dental Revenue Puzzle with AI
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Vishal Bhalla, founder and CEO of Wieldy.ai, an innovative AI platform transforming revenue cycle management in dental practices. Vishal shares how observing inefficiencies in his brother-in-law’s orthodontic offices during the pandemic sparked the idea for Wieldy. With a background in AI and machine learning, he explains how Wieldy's suite of AI agents automates claims posting, denial management, EFT reconciliation, and is soon expanding into insurance verification. The conversation covers how AI is reducing manual labor, improving...
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2331: Turning Full-Arch Leads Into Life-Changing Cases
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by sales strategist and full-arch consultant Stacy Farley, who shares her inspiring journey from corporate sales to becoming a key driver behind one of the most successful single-location implant centers in the U.S. Stacy breaks down the often-overlooked steps of the full-arch patient journey, from lead generation and call center strategies to clinical handoffs and closing high-dollar cases with empathy and purpose. She explains how her sales approach, rooted in personal motivation and genuine care, helped scale her father's practice from...
info_outlineOn today’s episode, Dr. Summer Kassmel continues her discourse on empowering leadership within dental practices from her presentation at DSS 2024. She delved into the importance of audit systems in maintaining the integrity of office protocols, stressing the need for regular checks to ensure consistency and accountability. Dr. Kassmel explained how rotating audit responsibilities among dental assistants (DAs) not only helps in maintaining standards but also cultivates a culture of peer-to-peer accountability.
Expanding on leadership development, she advised against hastily assigning titles to emerging leaders, emphasizing instead the observation of their ability to manage projects and uphold standards consistently. This approach, she suggested, prepares them for leadership by gradually increasing their responsibilities, thereby diffusing power within the practice and strengthening team dynamics.
Dr. Kassmel also discussed the identification and nurturing of potential leaders, focusing on traits like high accountability, internal motivation, and healthy empathy. These qualities, she argued, are crucial for leaders who can sustain high standards without constant external motivation. She highlighted the importance of humility and active listening in leadership, skills that enhance team communication and effectiveness.
Towards the end of her talk, Dr. Kassmel touched on the concept of "disciplined empowerment," which involves trusting leaders to make decisions and holding them accountable for results rather than processes. She shared personal experiences and insights into the challenges of leadership, including the need for honest communication and maintaining high standards to ensure patient care quality.
Dr. Kassmel concluded by reflecting on the personal and professional growth that comes from creating a leadership team that not only meets but exceeds the cultural and operational goals of a dental practice. She offered her leadership packet for further guidance, reinforcing her commitment to developing effective leaders in the dental industry.
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