2432: Why Early Career Dentists Need a New Learning Model
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
Release Date: 01/27/2026
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to completing a six-year oral surgery residency at the University of Washington, and how firsthand frustrations with outdated referral systems inspired him to build a HIPAA-compliant, cloud-based solution for seamless collaboration between general dentists and specialists.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...
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2430: The Disney Playbook for Dental Marketing Success
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
On today’s episode, Ryan Gross, founder of CMO Share, reveals how his background in experiential marketing—from zoos to Disney—perfectly translates into the world of dental marketing. He shares how understanding human behavior, data-driven decisions, and simple brand visibility tactics can significantly grow a practice. Ryan breaks down everything from choosing the right name and logo to leveraging brochures, shirts, and local partnerships for powerful brand repetition. He explains why operational efficiency drives marketing ROI, how missed phone calls are costing you thousands,...
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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,...
info_outlineOn 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 learning is the future of dentistry. They also discuss how technology, efficiency, and accountability are redefining both clinical excellence and career satisfaction for today’s dentists.
Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!
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