2408: Why Most Dentists Burn Out and What You Can Do Differently Pt. 1
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
Release Date: 12/24/2025
2429: What the NFL, Sleep, and Dentistry Have in Common
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, we bring you Dr. Mark Costes’ second impactful presentation from the Music City SCALE 2025 event. In this talk, Dr. Costes blends tactical strategy with raw vulnerability as he opens up about achieving his lifelong financial goals—only to find himself exhausted, unfulfilled, and deeply unhappy. He shares the pivotal moment that led him to rethink success, prioritize fulfillment, and build a model for personal and professional transformation. You’ll learn about the six foundational areas that determine practice health, how to avoid burnout with smarter...
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2428: Is Selling to a DSO the Right Move for You?
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Bill Keith and Ben Kacos for an in-depth crash course on DSOs—what they are, how they’ve evolved, and why every dentist should understand their growing impact on the profession. This conversation dives into the history of dental consolidation, the rise of private equity in the industry, and what those infamous EBITDA multiples really mean for your practice valuation. The trio compares doctor-to-doctor transitions with DSO sales, laying out the pros, cons, and critical factors like tax strategy, risk mitigation, and personal goals....
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2427: The Untold Journey of an Immigrant CEO in Dentistry
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend and respected dental entrepreneur Tiger Safarov, founder of Zen One. Tiger shares his incredible immigrant journey—from arriving in the U.S. not knowing English to building a thriving dental construction company, and later pivoting to launch a tech platform revolutionizing dental supply management. They dive into Tiger’s inspiration for Zen One, the evolution of the platform from a scrappy startup to a streamlined, AI-powered solution, and his deep commitment to supporting private dental practices in an increasingly...
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2426: Boosting Treatment Acceptance Without Overwhelming Patients
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back DSI Black Belt coach and seasoned dental entrepreneur Dr. Summer Kassmel for a power-packed, tactical conversation on case acceptance. Summer walks us through her step-by-step strategy to improve treatment plan acceptance, starting with clearly defined pillars of care and a unified team approach. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, calibrating with hygienists, and tailoring communication to the patient’s personality without overwhelming them. From managing chief complaints to using analogies patients understand, she...
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2425: What Every Dentist Must Know About Business Before It’s Too Late Pt. 2
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, we continue with part two of Dr. Mark Costes’ compelling first presentation at the Music City SCALE 2025 event. In this segment, Dr. Costes delivers a deep dive into key challenges facing today’s dental practice owners—employee retention, the nationwide hygiene shortage, and the harsh reality of PPOs. He shares actionable strategies to improve team culture, build loyalty through better leadership, and transform non-producers into practice contributors. Drawing on Stoic philosophy, he urges owners to focus only on what they can control—systems, leadership,...
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2424: What Every Dentist Must Know About Business Before It’s Too Late Pt. 1
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, we bring you part one of Dr. Mark Costes’ powerful presentation from the Music City SCALE 2025 event. With decades of experience as a multi-practice owner and founder of the Dental Success Institute, Dr. Costes shares why most dentists hit a wall when trying to “produce their way out” of business problems. He explores the foundational importance of fixing broken infrastructure—like poor systems, leadership gaps, and toxic culture—before chasing growth through production or marketing. You'll also hear how his coaching organization has helped hundreds of...
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2423: DSOs, Doctor Buyers, and the Truth About Dental Transitions
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Dan Van Eps, Senior Director at Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions, for an in-depth look at the world of dental practice sales, valuations, and the often misunderstood role of brokers. With nearly three decades of experience in the dental space—including founding a dental IT company and helping scale Carr Healthcare Realty—Dan brings a rare, well-rounded perspective to what makes practices valuable and how dentists can successfully navigate a sale. From breaking down DSO vs. doctor-to-doctor transactions, to why a $2 million...
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2422: The Truth About Dental Loans and What Banks Really Want
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Steve Steinbrunner of Provide, powered by Fifth Third Bank, for a deep dive into the current state of dental lending. Despite economic uncertainty and mixed signals from the broader market, Steve shares why Provide is seeing record-breaking activity in financing dental startups, acquisitions, ground-up builds, and real estate purchases. They discuss how interest rate trends are actually opening new doors for practice owners, what separates successful borrowers from risky ones, and why bringing in the right advisors is more critical than...
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2421: What It Takes to Run a Mission-Driven, Systemized Practice
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, it’s time for another Ask Me Anything with Dr. Mark Costes. Mark tackles a range of listener-submitted questions—from navigating burnout and prioritizing systems, to selling your practice to a DSO and balancing clinical work with business ownership. He shares his honest take on creating a mission-driven culture through local outreach and global service, and how those efforts have shaped his personal fulfillment. You'll also hear practical strategies for systemization using the Elite Practice Blueprint, tips for managing energy with structure (and coffee), and...
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2420: The Entrepreneur Who Made Going to the Dentist Feel Like Disneyland
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Kami Hoss—orthodontist, author, and founder of The Super Dentists and Supermouth—for an incredible conversation that blends clinical excellence with world-class innovation. Recorded in the new DSI studio, Dr. Hoss shares how he and his wife turned a single pediatric and ortho office in Chula Vista into a multi-location, 24% market-share powerhouse in San Diego, complete with superheroes, slides, movie theaters, and their own ice cream truck-driving villain. But that’s just the beginning. Dr. Hoss also details the creation of...
info_outlineIn today's episode, we dive into Part 1 of Dr. Mark Costes' powerful keynote at the SPEA 2025 event, where he shares the unfiltered truth about the dental profession, what new dentists can expect, and why most practitioners struggle with burnout, finances, and fulfillment. Mark opens up about his journey from being rejected by 20 dental schools to owning 16 practices and founding multiple dental organizations. He talks about the life lessons learned through failure, why systemization and delegation are non-negotiable for success, and how running a practice without knowing your numbers is a recipe for disaster.
Mark also introduces the Four Futures framework—a transformational approach to balance mindset, meaning, muscle, and money—born from personal experience of reaching financial goals but feeling completely unfulfilled. Whether you're a student, associate, or owner, this keynote lays the foundation for building a career and life that’s not just successful, but truly sustainable.
Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!
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