The Tooth Sleuth Podcast

The Tooth Sleuth podcast is hosted by Greg Essenmacher, Principal at GnA consult. "Helping Dentists and Dental Professionals Maximize Their Potential"—From vision to execution-creating business strategies that work!Want to Grow Your Full Arch Practice?-Book a Discover Call here:www.DentalConsult4u.comOr email:[email protected]

Live and Die by Your Core Values | Ep. 171 | Dr. Anushka Gaglani 10/14/2026

Live and Die by Your Core Values | Ep. 171 | Dr. Anushka Gaglani Core values on a poster don't build a company. Core values you hire and fire by do. This episode is about holding a high standard while you grow, and getting people to follow you there. Greg sits down with Dr. Anushka Gaglani, co-founder and co-CEO of Areo Dental Group, a multi-location dental organization across Illinois and Indiana. They talk accountability without burnout, how Areo moved patient follow-up to a call center, the mentor and career-path structure behind their teams, and how her thinking on leadership and debt has changed as the group has scaled. They discuss: - Why Areo hires and terminates based on its core values, and what happens to the whole industry when practices lower the standard - Rolling out change one priority at a time: build the habit, hold people accountable, then move to the next thing - Moving follow-up on unscheduled treatment from the practices to a call center, and holding a 100% follow-up rate for months - The "handoff, hand up": why the follow-up call has to carry something specific from the patient's visit - Taking non-patient tasks out of the office so teams can deliver a boutique experience at group scale - A mentor for every new hire and a clear career path from assistant to patient care ambassador, and practice leader to director of operations - Moving from "tell" to "sell" to "collaborate," and why people get on board once they understand the why - How business school changed her view of debt, calculated risk, and growing fast enough to create careers, not just jobs - What the Sleuth is Going On: a puppy with a secret, smiles with character, and the case for calling it a teethbrush A candid look at what it takes to scale a dental group without losing the standard or the people. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Anushka Gaglani is the co-founder and co-CEO of Areo Dental Group, a multi-location dental organization serving communities across Illinois and Indiana. A dentist by training, she stepped away from clinical practice to focus on building and scaling the organization, developing leaders, and creating the systems that let teams and practices grow. She is pursuing her Executive MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is known for LinkedIn content that makes operators stop and think. She brings an operator's view of accountability, culture, and the real pressure of being responsible for hundreds of team members' paychecks. LINKS & NEXT STEPS - Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com - Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/43290444

Hire for the Vision, Not the Vacancy | Ep. 170 | Brian Passell 09/30/2026

Hire for the Vision, Not the Vacancy | Ep. 170 | Brian Passell Most practices hire to fill a gap. The ones that grow hire to build a future. This episode is about why the right "who" matters more than any system you'll ever install. Greg sits down with Brian Passell, PhD, an industrial-organizational psychologist with DDS Recruit and the son of a Phoenix periodontist. They dig into why recruiting should start with the owner's goals instead of a job description, what fear-based hiring really costs a practice, and why leadership at the top decides whether a great hire stays. They discuss: - Why Brian treats recruiting as a byproduct of strategy, starting every conversation with the owner's business and career goals, not the open role - Tossing out the "booked five weeks out" rule for adding an associate, and the many real reasons to bring on another provider - Creating optionality for doctor owners so they can think like a CEO, whether they're early career or planning an exit - Culture defined simply: what we value around here and how we do what we do - Why systems break, and how the right people carry a team through the internet going down, a missing case, or a full shutdown - The most common hiring mistake: grabbing the first warm body out of fear, and the damage it leaves behind - The hard truth that sometimes the problem is the boss, and why leadership starts at the top - What the Sleuth is Going On: a Tex-Mex barber, experience lines, and the plaque disclosing tablets Brian wishes he'd invented A clear look at why the people you choose, and the leader you become, shape the practice you end up with. ABOUT THE GUEST Brian Passell, PhD is an industrial-organizational psychologist with DDS Recruit, where he helps dental practice owners reach their business goals by finding associates, specialists, and team members who fit their vision and culture. Before focusing on dentistry, he spent 10 years in Big Four consulting and management in the energy sector. Brian grew up in the industry as the son of a periodontist who practiced in Phoenix for decades. He brings a psychologist's lens to hiring, culture, and leadership, and a straight answer on why the owner's goals should drive every hire. LINKS & NEXT STEPS - Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com - Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 - Connect with Brian: https://ddsrecruit.net | [email protected] /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/43098868

Risk Before Reward: Building Real Partnerships in Dental Education | Ep. 169 | Dr. Rick Kapitan 09/16/2026

Risk Before Reward: Building Real Partnerships in Dental Education | Ep. 169 | Dr. Rick Kapitan He renamed his own academy mid-conversation and it says everything about how he picks partners, trains surgeons, and decides who gets access to his cell phone number. Real partnership isn't about filling a room, it's about matching philosophy before you match calendars. Greg sits down with Dr. Rick Kapitan, oral maxillofacial surgeon and founder of the Clinicians Implant Academy (CIA), to unpack what separates a real educational partnership from a transactional one. Rick shares his "risk before reward" filter for choosing collaborators, his approach to building an academy around ongoing mentorship instead of one-off lectures, and the personal journey that reshaped why he gives back both in his Charlotte practice and on mission trips abroad. They discuss: - Why Greg suggested Rick rename his program from Clinicians Implant Academy to Connections Implant Academy - The "risk first vs. reward first" filter Rick uses to decide which companies and platforms are worth partnering with - Why one-off lectures create "data transmission" but not real education and how a curriculum-based academy changes that - How consistency across a whole team (not just the founder) signals a partnership is built to last - Rick's shift from viewing mission work as a "penance" to doing it from a place of joy - What his cadaver lab partnership with Endurance Experience Anatomy looks like behind the scenes - CIA's 2027 roadmap: more course offerings, live patient participation, and regional roadshows - Why Rick puts his personal cell phone and email on every slide he presents Bottom line: the practices and partners who last are the ones who choose relationship over transaction, every time. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Rick Kapitan is an oral maxillofacial surgeon based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the founder of the Clinicians Implant Academy (CIA), a hands-on training program for oral surgeons and clinicians. He also serves as director of the Carolinas Center for Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery and is a new partner of GnA Consulting. Rick is known for building education around long-term mentorship rather than one-off lectures, and for a partner-selection philosophy rooted in shared values over shared logos. Outside the OR, he's spent years doing cleft-palate surgical mission work internationally, including recent trips to Guatemala. LINKS & NEXT STEPS - Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com - Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/42927327

Why DSOs Are Leaving Patient Volume on the Table | Ep. 168 | Sam Gaynes 09/02/2026

Why DSOs Are Leaving Patient Volume on the Table | Ep. 168 | Sam Gaynes Patients don't choose org names. They choose people. And yet most dental groups are building brand equity at the organization level while leaving their individual doctors invisible online. In this episode of Tooth Sleuth, Greg sits down with Sam Gaynes, Enterprise Account Executive at rater8, for a sharp conversation on online reputation, AI search, and why the way DSOs think about doctor visibility is costing them new patients and full arch cases they don't even know they're losing. They discuss: - Why DSOs under-invest in individual doctor profiles and why that's a strategic mistake - The 10-20% of patients who search specifically for a provider -- not a location -- and what happens when that doctor is invisible online - How rater8's algorithm automatically distributes patient reviews across multiple platforms to match where they're most needed - Why AI is now reading Healthgrades, WebMD, Vitals, and verified listings -- not just Google -- and what that means for practices - The shift from Google as a search engine to Google as an answer engine, and how AI overviews are changing where patients land - How sentiment signals across the web -- not just star ratings -- determine what AI recommends to prospective patients - Why 95% of patients rate five stars but only the unhappy 1-2% are motivated enough to leave a review without being asked - The order of operations in healthcare marketing: reviews are not a final step, they are the foundation everything else builds on This episode is a clear-eyed look at what dental groups are missing in their online strategy -- and the practical framework to fix it. ABOUT THE GUEST Sam Gaynes is an Enterprise Account Executive at rater8, a healthcare reputation platform that helps dental practices and DSOs build provider visibility, generate consistent patient reviews, and increase discoverability across both traditional and AI-driven searches. Based in Venice, CA, Sam has spent over a decade in healthcare technology, holding roles from sales to VP of Partnerships at rater8, giving him a ground-level view of how online reputation is built, lost, and recovered at scale across multi-location dental groups. Sam is also a videographer, which shapes how he thinks about storytelling and how providers present themselves to the world. He brings a rare combination of operational understanding and marketing insight to a topic most dental groups underestimate until it starts costing them cases. LINKS & NEXT STEPS Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 Learn more about rater8: https://www.rater8.com /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/42716125

Stop Treating Supplies Like a Set-It-and-Forget-It: The Procurement Playbook for Growing Dental Groups | Ep. 167 | Brad Freeman 08/19/2026

Stop Treating Supplies Like a Set-It-and-Forget-It: The Procurement Playbook for Growing Dental Groups | Ep. 167 | Brad Freeman Industry average for supply spend is five to six percent of collections. Most growing groups are running eight, nine, ten. And once it compounds, it is very hard to reel back. That's the problem Brad Freeman built Source Club to solve - and he is one of the few people in dental who actually came up in the supply chain before he started selling into it. Brad Freeman is the founder and owner of Source Club, a hybrid GPO and outsourced procurement solution serving around 600 dental practices across the country - from single-location private practices to multi-site emerging groups. In this episode, he and Greg Essenmacher break down what procurement discipline actually looks like at the practice level, why formulary compliance is the wrong goal, what the real number is, and how Source Club helps smaller groups compete on pricing against the largest DSOs in the country. They discuss: - Why dental supply spend is quietly running 8-10% of collections at many growing groups - and why that number is so hard to fix once it gets out of hand - The difference between a formulary and an ordering list - and why an 8,000-line-item formulary at a 40-location group is just a list with a different name - Why the goal is never formulary compliance - it is budgetary compliance, and how that reframe changes how groups manage procurement entirely - The pricing discrepancy between a 1-2 location practice and a 250-location DSO - and how Source Club gives smaller groups access to the same leverage - How to standardize composite purchasing across a 3-location group and save $40-50k a year in the process - and why most practice owners don't have that conversation with their doctors - The two-to-three-million-dollar threshold: when it makes sense to hire a dedicated procurement manager, and why Source Club's clients are choosing to keep them on even after crossing it - Why Source Club charges a membership fee and takes zero commission on products - and what that means for the advice they can give - How the ordering frequency alone - going from twice a week to twice a month - can clean up a practice's cash flow and inventory management - The acquisition-growth challenge: why practices growing through acquisition inherit purchasing chaos, and how formulary strategy has to adapt when doctors get to keep their clinical preferences The bottom line: supply spend goes directly to your bottom line when you save it. No marketing funnel, no conversion rate, no show rate. Every dollar saved is a dollar kept. Most practices are not treating it that way. ABOUT THE GUEST Brad Freeman is the founder and owner of Source Club, a hybrid group purchasing organization and outsourced procurement management company serving approximately 600 dental practices across the United States. Before starting Source Club in 2020, Brad spent nearly a decade inside dental supply chain and procurement - including a role managing procurement for a 200-location DSO on the West Coast. He is a self-described supply chain nerd, not a dental product salesman, and built Source Club specifically to give private practices and small emerging groups access to the pricing leverage and procurement infrastructure that previously only existed at the DSO level. Brad is known for his no-nonsense, operator-to-operator communication style and his willingness to show practices exactly what they would save before asking them to sign anything. Source Club offers a free savings analysis to any practice or group considering membership and is reachable at sourceclub.io. LINKS & NEXT STEPS Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 Contact Brad Freeman directly: [email protected] Source Club website: https://sourceclub.io /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/42487175

Reviews, Rankings, and the Rules That Just Changed: Dr. Len Tau Returns | Ep. 166 08/05/2026

Reviews, Rankings, and the Rules That Just Changed: Dr. Len Tau Returns | Ep. 166 Seven hundred reviews and convinced you're ranking. You're not. You're just looking at yourself on your own Wi-Fi. That's one of the most expensive misconceptions in dental online reputation - and it's one Len Tau has been correcting for years across 11,000 practices. He's back on the Tooth Sleuth for a second time, and this episode is sharper than the first. Dr. Len Tau is a dentist, speaker, author, host of the Raving Patients podcast, and dental division lead at BirdEye. He is also the founder of Supercharge, the fastest-growing team-and-business focused dental event in the country. In this episode, he and Greg Essenmacher dig into the Google review rule changes that just hit in April 2025, what practices are still doing wrong, the velocity metric that matters more than volume, and what it actually takes to build an event that sells out vendor slots years in advance. They discuss: - The biggest myth in dental reputation management: why review count does not equal ranking - and what actually moves the needle on Google Maps - Why velocity beats volume - and the three-month-old practice with 42 reviews that was outranking an established practice with 500 - The April 2025 Google rule changes that most practices don't know about yet: why team member name-dropping in reviews is now a red flag, and why tap devices in the office need to go in the drawer permanently - Why reviews done inside the physical office are now a liability - and how to get reviews done at home instead - The Yelp loophole that still works in California - and why Meta reviews are essentially irrelevant - The negative Google review removal service Len launched in February: 300 reviews removed, $450 per removal, no charge unless it comes down - Supercharge: what the event is, why it's team-and-business focused with zero clinical content, and what's coming September 25-27 in Fort Lauderdale - including an eighties-themed concert and a yacht party that came back - Two standout products Len can't stop recommending: First In for scheduling and Sinch Pay for practice payment infrastructure - Len's personal health journey - the daily 5K walking habit, a bone-on-bone hip diagnosis at 52, and what staying active looks like when the body starts pushing back The bottom line: the rules around Google reviews just changed. If you haven't updated your strategy, you're not just falling behind - you may be actively getting yourself penalized. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Len Tau is a dentist, speaker, author, and the dental division lead at BirdEye, the reputation management platform used by over 11,000 dental practices across the US, Canada, and Mexico. He is the host of the Raving Patients podcast and the founder of Supercharge, a business and leadership-focused dental event now in its fourth year. After 23 years in private practice, Len retired from clinical dentistry in 2022 and shifted his full focus to helping practices build the reputation infrastructure and business systems that drive sustainable growth. He also runs reviewsdoctor.com, a negative Google review removal service that operates on a pay-per-removal model. Len is known for translating complex reputation and marketing strategy into immediately actionable practice advice - and for building one of the most in-demand events in dental, where vendor spots regularly sell out years in advance. He is a return guest on the Tooth Sleuth Podcast. LINKS & NEXT STEPS Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 Supercharge event registration (use code RAVING to save $100): https://superchargedentalpractice.com Negative Google review removal: https://reviewsdoctor.com /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/42326490

Competing Against Yourself: How Dr. Simon Oh Thinks About Full Arch, Follow-Up, and What It Actually Means to Change a Life | Ep. 165 07/22/2026

Competing Against Yourself: How Dr. Simon Oh Thinks About Full Arch, Follow-Up, and What It Actually Means to Change a Life | Ep. 165 Most full arch surgeons measure success at final restoration delivery. Simon Oh is still seeing the same patients eight years later. That long view - what it actually reveals about complication patterns, outcomes, and clinical truth - is what separates the chest pounders from the operators who are genuinely trying to get better. Dr. Simon Oh is a full arch and All-on-X surgeon, co-founder of ORCAA, co-founder and surgical lead at Smart Arches, and one of the most grounded voices in implant dentistry. In this episode, he and Greg Essenmacher go deep on the clinical mindset behind real full arch mastery, the mental health dimension of edentulism that most practices never address, the life-altering impact of what this surgery actually does for patients, and what it means to compete against yourself instead of the surgeon next to you. They discuss: - Why full arch case volume numbers at conferences are almost always inflated - and what the mindset behind the chest-pounding culture actually costs surgeons long-term - The two buckets of people in full arch: those competing against others and those competing against themselves - and why Simon is firmly in the second - How eight years of long-term follow-up has made Simon a better surgeon than any single technique or training course could - The mental health and comorbidity dimension of edentulism that is almost never discussed: depression, dental phobia, social isolation, and the "dental orphan" patient population - Why full arch is life-altering and not just life-changing - and the patient who came in that day not to look better, but just to be able to keep up with his friends at dinner - How COVID accelerated patient isolation and what that means for the full arch patient population showing up to consults today - The Smart Arches model: six locations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland - and what the first three years have looked like building a surgical group from the ground up - What Simon tells every doctor entering full arch: be responsible, be self-critical, and know that you are holding your patient's livelihood in your hands The bottom line: full arch surgery done right is not a volume play. It is a long game - and the surgeons who understand that are the ones worth listening to. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Simon Oh is a full arch and All-on-X surgeon, co-founder of ORCAA, and co-founder and surgical lead at Smart Arches, a multi-location full arch practice group operating across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. With approximately eight years of full arch experience, Simon has built his clinical reputation not on volume claims but on long-term patient follow-up, honest self-assessment, and a commitment to understanding what actually works over time. He is also active on Instagram with over 30,000 followers, where his feed reflects the same unfiltered, authentic approach he brings to clinical practice. Simon is known for his grounded, competition-against-self philosophy in a specialty often dominated by performance posturing. He brings a rare combination of surgical depth and intellectual humility to the full arch conversation - and his work at Smart Arches reflects a deliberate effort to build a surgical group on a foundation of clinical integrity rather than speed to scale. LINKS & NEXT STEPS Learn more: Book a call: /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/42183835

The Lead Management Gap: Why Full Arch Practices Lose Cases Before the Consultation | Ep. 164 | Tim Hines 07/08/2026

The Lead Management Gap: Why Full Arch Practices Lose Cases Before the Consultation | Ep. 164 | Tim Hines The marketing didn't fail. The lead management did. That's the conversation most full arch practices never have - because it's easier to blame the ad spend than to look at what happens after the lead comes in. Tim Hines is the founder and president of Brightline Dental Lead Management and a four-time entrepreneur. His company sits in the gap between lead capture and consultation booked - providing dedicated patient advocates who work full arch and big case leads until they convert or go cold. In this episode, he and Greg Essenmacher break down exactly where practices are losing cases they've already paid to generate, and what a human-first lead management model actually looks like inside a high-volume full arch operation. They discuss: - Why the biggest area of attrition in full arch is not marketing or closing - it's the lead management stage in between, where most practices have no real system - The "director of first impressions" model: how Brightline trains patient advocates to conversationally sell the consult in a single 10 to 15 minute phone call - Why Brightline runs a one-to-one advocate-to-practice model rather than a call center - and what a patient actually experiences when they always reach the same person - How AI is being used inside Brightline to remove manual friction from call notes and scheduling - freeing advocates to focus on the human side of the conversation - The three-tier AI spectrum: mechanical AI, thinking AI, and feeling AI - and why full arch lead management belongs firmly in the human-first category - Why practices default to blaming their marketing partner when cases aren't converting - and what the data actually shows about where the ball gets dropped - The volume and touch-point reality of full arch lead management: multiple attempts, multiple platforms, and the speed-to-lead window that decides whether the lead ever converts - What it means to do things that don't scale - and why Brightline has built its entire model around the belief that this one thing cannot be automated The bottom line: you can have great marketing and a great closer. If the gap between them is unmanaged, you're losing cases you already paid for. ABOUT THE GUEST Tim Hines is the founder and president of Brightline Dental Lead Management, a company specializing in dedicated patient advocate services for full arch and big case dental practices. A four-time entrepreneur, Tim entered the dental industry through his wife's two-decade career in dental office administration and built Brightline around a simple belief: the lead management stage is where full arch cases are won or lost, and that stage requires real humans, not bots. He is also the author of The Marketing Starter and host of the Marketing Starter Podcast, focused on entrepreneurial thinking across industries. Tim is known for his position that high-value, high-trust cases cannot be managed by automated systems - and for building a company structure that operationalizes that belief at scale. His one-to-one patient advocate model is a direct challenge to the call center approach, and his team comes exclusively from dental backgrounds to ensure they can represent a practice credibly from the first call. Learn more: /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/42007300

What Doctors Don't Know Is Costing Them Millions: The Sell-Side Truth About Practice Valuation | Ep. 163 | Ben Ellis 06/24/2026

What Doctors Don't Know Is Costing Them Millions: The Sell-Side Truth About Practice Valuation | Ep. 163 | Ben Ellis Most dental practice owners only sell once. That's exactly why they lose. The information gap between a prepared buyer and an unprepared seller is where practice value disappears — and it's a gap most brokers have zero incentive to close. Ben Ellis is a former investment banker, M&A executive, and founder of Ellis & Associates, a sell-side advisory firm focused on helping dental practice owners get deals they actually deserve. With a career spanning capital raising, corporate acquisitions inside large PE-backed dental platforms, and investment banking at major institutions, Ben now sits exclusively on the doctor's side of the table — and he has seen every angle of how these deals go wrong. They discuss: - How a group of 70 doctors sold for $50 million when the buyer would have paid $100 million — and what those doctors never knew about their own valuation - The four things most practice owners never do before going to market: proper profit calculation, buyer underwriting knowledge, competitive process, and non-headline term negotiation - How adding a single full arch case per week translates to a 30-40% increase in practice sale value through EBITDA multiples - Why the support structure around a selling doctor matters as much as the deal terms — and what straight, honest counsel actually looks like in an M&A process - The "control freak" operator pattern: how owners unknowingly shut down their teams' feedback loops and what that costs them at the table - Why secrecy is almost always necessary in a sale process and how to navigate it without destroying team trust - The desire and execution equation: why there's no magic formula for building practice value, just want and work - Why Ben left two decades of corporate finance to go independent — and what he'd tell anyone sitting on the fence about doing the same The bottom line: you get one swing at selling the practice you've spent a career building. Show up prepared. ABOUT THE GUEST Ben Ellis is the founder of Ellis & Associates, a sell-side advisory firm that helps dental practice owners prepare for and execute the sale of their practices. His background spans all three sides of the transaction — as a capital raiser, a buyer running M&A departments inside large DSO and private equity platforms, and as an investment banker at major institutions. He comes from a family of clinicians and has channeled that background into advocacy for the doctors who are most often the least prepared person at the closing table. Ben is known for bringing institutional-grade deal perspective to independent practice owners who would otherwise have no access to it. His work centers on closing the information gap between what buyers know and what sellers don't — covering valuation preparation, competitive process management, and the real terms that determine deal quality beyond the headline number. LINKS & NEXT STEPS Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/41791960

TTS-162 - The Human Side of the Handoff: Guiding Teams Through Practice Transitions | Christine Diehl 06/10/2026

TTS-162 - The Human Side of the Handoff: Guiding Teams Through Practice Transitions | Christine Diehl When a dental practice sells, the numbers get handled. The people don't. That gap — between what brokers and lawyers manage and what actually determines whether a transition succeeds — is exactly where Christine Diehl works. Christine Diehl is a dental hygienist of over 30 years, published author of The Heart of the Handoff, podcaster, and founder of Dynamic Team Transitions. In this episode, she and Greg Essenmacher dig into the emotional and operational reality of dental practice transitions — what buying doctors get wrong, what selling doctors overlook, and why the first 90 days define everything. They discuss: - Why most dental team members experience a practice acquisition as a grief process — and why new owners need to understand that before making any moves - The critical difference between a smooth transition and a chaotic one: having an interpreter for the human side of the deal - How Christine works with both the selling and buying doctor before day one — and why the selling doctor's role in the handoff is more important than most realize - The real cost of firing and replacing a dental team: up to 15% patient base attrition and a breakdown of the trust patients have with the practice - Why the first 90 days should be about listening, not restructuring — and what happens when buying doctors move too fast - How confidential one-on-ones and structured team surveys surface the real culture of a practice before problems compound - The LEAD and BRIDGE frameworks from The Heart of the Handoff and how they give new owners a practical lens for conflict, communication, and culture - The "don't trust too early" principle: why sharing your plans with the wrong person before trust is established can unravel an entire team overnight The bottom line: the human infrastructure of a dental practice is its most undervalued asset — and the most expensive to lose. ABOUT THE GUEST Christine Diehl is a registered dental hygienist with over three decades of clinical experience and the founder of Dynamic Team Transitions, a consulting practice focused on helping dental teams and practice owners navigate acquisitions and ownership changes. She is also the author of The Heart of the Handoff, a practical guide for buying and selling doctors on managing the people side of practice transitions. She hosts The DSO Hygienist podcast and continues to practice clinically. Christine is known for her ability to bridge the gap between the business mechanics of a dental acquisition and the emotional reality experienced by the team. She brings a ground-level clinical perspective to high-stakes transitions — one that brokers, lawyers, and PE-backed operators rarely account for. Her work centers on the belief that the team you inherit is an asset, not an obstacle. LINKS & NEXT STEPS Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/41599315

TTS-161 - When the CEO Role Almost Cost Him Everything | Ep. 161 | Dr. Richard Low 05/27/2026

TTS-161 - When the CEO Role Almost Cost Him Everything | Ep. 161 | Dr. Richard Low Some doctors build empires on paper while everything behind the scenes is falling apart -- Dr. Richard Low lived it and chose to talk about it. What happens when the biggest opportunity of your life becomes the thing that's destroying you. Dr. Richard Low went from podcasting in his closet to CEO of 35 denture and implant offices -- not by ambition, but by circumstance. In this episode, he sits down with Greg Essenmacher to talk about what it actually cost him: his marriage, his mental health, his faith -- and what it took to walk away and rebuild. They discuss: - The reality of scaling a full arch DSO to 35 offices in two years and why growth that fast creates more fires than it solves - Hdow ADHD and an executive function disorder collided with the CEO role at the worst possible time - Why the "successful doctor" identity makes it harder, not easier, to admit you're struggling - The Thanksgiving morning at 4am when Dr. Low realized he was starting to respect himself again - Why a fitness program became a broken mariage and mental health lifeline - How Next Level Fathers -- now 60 dentists -- pulls men out of silent struggle through accountability and vulnerability - What self-awareness actually means when you're the visionary in the wrong role - Greg's framework for answering "How are you?" -- mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally The dental industry doesn't talk enough about what it costs to build -- this episode is the conversation that fills that silence. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Richard Low is a dentist, former CEO of Shared Practices Group -- a chain of 35 denture and implant offices across the US -- and founder of Next Level Fathers, a men's accountability and performance group built specifically for male dentists. He is also the original host of the Shared Practices podcast, which he launched from his closet during dental school. Dr. Low is known for living his story publicly -- including the parts most doctors hide. His vulnerability around burnout, marriage, mental health, and faith has built a community of dentists who are done pretending everything is fine and ready to do the real work. LINKS & NEXT STEPS Learn more: https://www.dentalconsult4u.com Book a call: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/du9K0a2re1K4eBBk8fI7 TAGS dentist burnout, mental health in dentistry, dental group practice, full arch implants, DSO growth, ceo mindset, self-awareness leadership, mens wellness, next level fathers, dental podcast, work life balance dentistry, practice ownership, ADHD entrepreneur, vulnerability in leadership, Greg Essenmacher /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/41440065

TTS-160 Why Full-Arch Fails Without Human Connection (Lead → Close Systems) | Ep.160 | Naiara Wireman & Sarah Bogard" 05/16/2026

TTS-160 Why Full-Arch Fails Without Human Connection (Lead → Close Systems) | Ep.160 | Naiara Wireman & Sarah Bogard" Why Full-Arch Fails Without Human Connection (Lead → Close Systems) | Sarah Bogard & Naiara Wireman | TTS #160 Most practices don’t have a lead problem. They have a conversion system problem. In this episode of Tooth Sleuth, Greg sits down with two of the core operators inside GnA Consulting: Naiara Wireman – Lead Call & Conversion Systems Sarah Bogard – Case Acceptance & Closing Strategy This is not theory. This is the real breakdown of what actually happens between lead → consult → close, and why most practices lose cases before the patient ever sits in the chair. Key themes: Why AI cannot replace human connection in full-arch The difference between transactional vs relational lead handling How poor communication creates “micro fractures of trust” Why most teams don’t understand their own differentiation The role of authority and clarity in the doctor’s consult Why empathy (done correctly) increases show rate and case acceptance How misaligned messaging destroys conversion across the patient journey If you are running full-arch marketing and not seeing consistent case acceptance, this episode will show you exactly where things are breaking. AI can support systems, but it cannot replace emotional intelligence in high-ticket decisions Most practices lack alignment between marketing, lead call, and consult Patients need to feel understood before they are willing to move forward Empathy is not “feeling bad” — it is entering the patient’s reality and guiding them out Inconsistent messaging creates doubt and lowers case acceptance Doctors must lead with clarity, not overwhelm with options Teams need to understand the practice’s true differentiation to communicate value Full-arch success is built on trust, not just clinical capability About the Guests Sarah Bogard leads the closing division at GnA Consulting, specializing in case acceptance strategy, treatment coordinator training, and patient communication systems. Naiara Wireman leads the lead conversion division, focusing on turning inbound leads into qualified, committed consultations through structured human-first communication. Together, they manage the most critical part of the full-arch funnel: conversion. Links & CTA 🌐 Learn more: 📅 Book a strategy call: Tags full arch dentistry, case acceptance, dental marketing, dental conversion, lead call training, treatment coordinator, dental consulting, patient experience, dental sales, GnA Consulting, dental systems, full arch implants, dental leadership /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/41318835

TTS-159 Mindset, Marketing, and Patient Connection in Dentistry | Ep.159 | Matt Brown | 04/29/2026

Full-Arch, Workflow, and Patient Selection in Dentistry | Ep.158 | Dr. Steven Nelson | 04/15/2026

Full-Arch, Workflow, and Patient Selection in Dentistry | Ep.158 | Dr. Steven Nelson | Full-arch growth is not just about implants. It’s about patient selection, workflow efficiency, clinical judgment, and knowing when not to push a case into a fixed solution. In this episode of Tooth Sleuth, Greg sits down with Dr. Steven Nelson, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and founder of Fusion Implant Center, to talk through the real-world dynamics of modern full-arch practice. They discuss: The difference between referral-driven and direct-to-consumer full-arch cases Why patient selection matters more than hype How digital workflows have changed efficiency in full-arch treatment Why some patients need a different starting point before full-arch How Steven balances traditional oral surgery with a dedicated implant center model What mentorship and resident education look like in today’s clinical environment This conversation gives a grounded look at what it takes to build a modern full-arch model without losing clinical judgment in the process. Key Takeaways Full-arch treatment is not the answer for every patient Direct-to-consumer patients require more diagnosis, education, and discernment Efficient workflows improve both treatment delivery and patient experience The surgeon’s role in early patient engagement can strengthen trust and case clarity Mentorship and exposure matter for developing the next generation of clinicians Technology only matters if it improves execution, speed, and predictability About the Guest Dr. Steven Nelson is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon based in Louisiana. He practices with Louisiana Oral Surgery Center and is a founder of Fusion Implant Center, where he focuses on full-arch implant treatment alongside traditional oral surgery procedures. His work blends surgical precision, digital workflow integration, and a strong commitment to education through resident mentorship. Links & Next Steps 🌐 Learn more: 📅 Book a call: /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/40866930

TTS- 157 Grit, Leadership, and Human Connection in Dentistry | Ep.157 | Danielle Krammer 04/01/2026

TTS- 157 Grit, Leadership, and Human Connection in Dentistry | Ep.157 | Danielle Krammer Show Notes + Video Description Title Grit, Leadership, and Human Connection in Dentistry | Danielle Kramer | Tooth Sleuth Podcast #157 Description Success in dentistry is not built on systems alone. It is built on grit, leadership, human connection, and the willingness to keep moving when things get hard. In this episode of Tooth Sleuth, Greg sits down with Danielle Kramer to talk about what it really takes to lead in dentistry, support teams, build meaningful businesses, and stay grounded in service. They discuss: Why sports mindset translates so well into business and leadership What grit actually looks like in dental operations Why so many dental teams feel like they are sinking How Danielle built businesses around real market needs The importance of patient connection in a world pushing automation Why premium service still wins when the ROI is clear The role of community outreach, behavioral health, and giving back This conversation is direct, practical, and full of perspective for anyone leading a team, building a business, or trying to create something meaningful inside dentistry. Key Takeaways Grit is one of the most valuable traits in dentistry and business Teams often fail because they were never shown what success should look like Human connection still matters, especially in patient communication Premium service works when the value is clear and measurable Great businesses are often built by solving a real problem in the market Leadership includes giving back beyond the business itself Resilience is not theory — it is a daily decision About the Guest Danielle Kramer is the CEO and founder of Easy Dental Solutions and a leader in dental operations, coaching, and support services. She also leads Blueprint RCM and The Schedule Squad, helping practices improve patient connection, scheduling performance, and operational consistency. Beyond dentistry, Danielle is deeply involved in community outreach through Safe Streets AZ, supporting individuals facing addiction, housing instability, and barriers to rebuilding their lives. Links & Next Steps 🌐 Learn more: 📅 Book a call: /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/40675270

TTS- 156 Why Most Dentists Stay Stuck (And How to Fix It) | EP. 156 | Dr. Alan G. Stern 03/25/2026

TTS- 156 Why Most Dentists Stay Stuck (And How to Fix It) | EP. 156 | Dr. Alan G. Stern Why Most Dentists Stay Stuck (And How to Fix It) | EP. 156 | Dr. Alan G. Stern Most dentists don’t struggle because of clinical skill. They struggle because of misalignment, poor guidance, and lack of real systems. In this episode, Dr. Alan G. Stern breaks down the realities behind building a successful dental career—from early rejection and financial setbacks to long-term growth and fulfillment. This is a direct conversation on: Why adversity is often the turning point—not the setback How to choose the right consultant (and avoid costly mistakes) The difference between activity and actual progress in a practice Why most coaching fails—and what actually works The role of purpose, team alignment, and personal responsibility in growth Dr. Stern also shares hard-earned lessons from decades in practice, including financial mistakes, leadership challenges, and what it really takes to build something sustainable. If you’re trying to grow, scale, or simply regain control of your practice—this episode forces clarity. Key Takeaways Adversity is often the catalyst for real growth—not the obstacle Most consultants identify problems—but don’t provide systems If a coach doesn’t understand your specific model, they’re the wrong fit Growth requires alignment: doctor + team + systems You can’t want results more than your patients—or your clients—do Burnout in dentistry is real, but it’s not inevitable About the Guest Dr. Alan G. Stern is a former practicing dentist and coach focused on helping dentists overcome burnout, reconnect with purpose, and build a more fulfilling career. After 40+ years in dentistry—including major financial setbacks and recovery—he now works with dentists to create clarity, confidence, and long-term sustainability. Next Steps 🌐 Learn more: 📅 Book a call: /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/40598620

TTS- 155 Patient Financing in Dentistry: Compliance, Trust & Case Acceptance | Ep. 155 | Nancy Kay Coy 03/18/2026

TTS- 155 Patient Financing in Dentistry: Compliance, Trust & Case Acceptance | Ep. 155 | Nancy Kay Coy How should dental practices approach patient financing without creating compliance risk or damaging trust? In this episode of Tooth Sleuth, Greg Essenmacher sits down with Nancy Kay Coy, healthcare finance strategist, author, and founder of Finance Rx®, to discuss the realities of patient financing in dentistry and why the financial conversation has become one of the most important parts of case acceptance. They explore why relying on one lender creates a single point of failure, how different states are increasing scrutiny around financial conversations, and why practices must stop treating financing like a sales script and start approaching it as a structured, patient-centered process. Nancy also shares insights from more than three decades in healthcare lending, including how providers can reduce risk, improve affordability, and guide patients toward treatment through better financial education, stronger systems, and more responsible communication. If you're a dentist, treatment coordinator, practice owner, or group leader trying to improve case acceptance for high-ticket treatment without compromising compliance, this conversation offers a practical and timely perspective. You’ll learn: • Why one lender creates risk in patient financing • How compliance issues are affecting dental practices • Why financial conversations should be patient-centered, not sales-driven • How better financing structures can improve case acceptance • Why treatment coordinators need stronger financial education • How affordability impacts patient care and long-term outcomes For dentists, practice owners, treatment coordinators, and emerging groups looking to improve case acceptance, reduce compliance exposure, and structure better patient financing systems, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the most overlooked areas of practice growth. Subscribe to Tooth Sleuth for expert conversations on dental practice growth, leadership, case acceptance, and the future of implant dentistry. /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/40505910

TTS- 154 DSO vs Private Group: Increasing EBITDA in Dentistry | TTS-154 w/ Rick Cromar 03/10/2026

End to End Marketing Visibility in Dentistry | TTS-153 w/ Harsh Bansal 03/04/2026

TTS- 152 Buy Back Time w/Dr. Rehan Shahid 02/25/2026

TTS- 150 Find Your Voice w/Marissa Gonzales 02/18/2026

TTS-151 – Wealth Protection: Advanced Planning, Confidence, and Making Your Hard Work Pay Off w/ Tim McNeely 02/10/2026

TTS-151 – Wealth Protection: Advanced Planning, Confidence, and Making Your Hard Work Pay Off w/ Tim McNeely In this episode of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, Greg Essenmacher sits down with wealth strategist and family office advisor Tim McNeely for a candid, eye-opening conversation about money, complexity, and why building wealth without protecting it often creates more problems than solutions. Tim shares how many high-performing dental entrepreneurs unknowingly lose 20–30% of their net worth over time due to fragmented advice, siloed advisors, and investment-only thinking. Together, Greg and Tim unpack what true wealth management really means—and why advanced planning, stress testing, and coordination matter just as much as growth. The conversation also turns deeply personal as Tim shares the moment he and his wife faced a life-altering health scare—and how proper wealth protection allowed him to stay emotionally present instead of financially panicked. This episode is essential listening for any dentist, owner, or entrepreneur who wants confidence, clarity, and control over their financial future. Key Topics Covered Why “more money” often creates more complexity Wealth fragmentation and the hidden cost of siloed advisors Investment performance vs. true wealth management Advanced planning and the four pillars of wealth strategy Tax efficiency and keeping more of what you earn Stress testing your financial plan before it’s too late Family office models and coordinated advisory teams Protecting income, lifestyle, and legacy Being financially prepared for life’s unexpected moments Key Takeaways ✔ Growth without planning creates risk ✔ Fragmented advice quietly erodes wealth ✔ Advanced planning creates confidence ✔ Protection enables presence during crisis ✔ Wealth should support your life—not complicate it About the Guest Tim McNeely is a wealth strategist and family office advisor who helps dental entrepreneurs create more time, more money, and more confidence. He specializes in advanced planning strategies that go beyond investments—focusing on protection, coordination, and long-term outcomes. Tim is also the author of Dental Wealth Nation, a practical guide for dentists looking to turn income into lasting wealth. 🔗 Website: timmcneely.com 📘 Book: Dental Wealth Nation About the Host Greg Essenmacher is the founder of GnA Consult and host of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, where he explores the business, leadership, and human side of dentistry—helping practices grow with intention, clarity, and sustainability. /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/40054155

TTS-149 – Passion of the Procedure: Purpose, Grit, and the Art of Extraction w/ Extraction Jackson 02/04/2026

TTS-149 – Passion of the Procedure: Purpose, Grit, and the Art of Extraction w/ Extraction Jackson In this episode of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, Greg Essenmacher sits down with Dr. Julia L. Jackson — better known as “Extraction Jackson” — for a powerful, deeply human conversation about passion, purpose, grit, and what it truly means to love the work you do. As a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, educator, and founder of the International Implant Institute, Dr. Jackson shares her journey of becoming one of the few female African-American OMS surgeons in the profession, navigating resistance, redefining success, and choosing clinical excellence over distraction. This episode goes far beyond extractions. It explores: Why loving the procedure matters How education, mindset, and faith fuel growth The evolution from clinician to teacher and leader Patient experience through empathy and connection Finding your own path — without shortcuts If you’ve ever questioned your next step, your purpose, or how to grow without losing yourself, this conversation will resonate. Key Topics Covered Passion as the foundation of clinical excellence Being a female OMS and breaking industry barriers Grit, determination, and staying focused on the goal Teaching atraumatic extractions as the gateway to implants The evolution from clinician to educator Business of dentistry vs. ownership Patient-centered thinking: “remember the tooth is attached to a person” Faith, persistence, and stepping into your calling Key Takeaways ✔ Passion fuels mastery ✔ There are many paths to success in dentistry ✔ Clinical excellence and empathy go hand-in-hand ✔ Education empowers confidence ✔ Growth is an evolution — not a pivot About the Guest Dr. Julia L. Jackson (“Extraction Jackson”) is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, educator, and founder of the International Implant Institute. With nearly two decades of clinical experience, she is known for her passion for extractions, implant education, and empowering clinicians through hands-on and online learning. She also provides concierge chairside surgical services and international education programs focused on clinical excellence and professional growth. 🔗 Websites: 📧 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram: @socket_grafting_girl About the Host Greg Essenmacher is the founder of GnA Consult and host of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, where he explores the leadership, business, and human side of dentistry—helping practices improve patient experience, case acceptance, and long-term sustainability. /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/39985310

TTS- 148 Handpiece Repair w/Dicky Ball 01/29/2026

TTS- 148 Handpiece Repair w/Dicky Ball In this episode of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, Greg Essenmacher sits down with Dicky Ball, co-founder of Summit Handpiece Express, for a refreshingly real conversation about dentistry’s most overlooked “tool”—and why systems, maintenance, and team communication matter more than most practices realize. What starts as a discussion about dental handpiece repair quickly evolves into a deeper conversation about SOPs, handoff and hand-up communication, team accountability, and how small breakdowns behind the scenes can quietly destroy efficiency, profitability, and patient experience. Dicky shares how Summit Handpiece Express was built on speed, transparency, and education—not just repairs—and why their goal is actually to see fewer handpieces, not more. From common maintenance mistakes to real-world examples of how one missing protocol can cost practices thousands, this episode draws powerful parallels between operational discipline and long-term success. If you care about patient experience, profitability, and protecting your investments, this episode is a must-listen. Key Topics Covered Dicky Ball’s path from construction to dental entrepreneurship Why traditional handpiece repair turnaround times fail practices The real cost of poor maintenance and missing SOPs Autoclaving, lubrication, and why handpieces fail prematurely How staff turnover and poor handoffs destroy equipment (and margins) Educating teams to protect investments—not just fix problems The connection between tools, systems, and patient experience Preventing chairside failures before they happen Key Takeaways ✔ Speed and transparency change the customer experience ✔ SOPs only work when they’re shared, followed, and revisited ✔ Maintenance is cheaper than constant repair ✔ Team handoffs protect profitability ✔ Great vendors educate—they don’t just invoice About the Guest Dicky Ball is the co-founder of Summit Handpiece Express, a dental handpiece repair company known for fast turnaround times, quality parts, and a white-glove customer experience. Factory-trained and certified, Dicky and his team focus on helping practices extend the life of their equipment through education, proper maintenance, and clear communication. Summit Handpiece Express repairs high-speed, low-speed, surgical, endo, perio, air-driven, and electric handpieces—without the long waits and inflated costs common in the industry. 🔗 Website: summithandpieceexpress.com About the Host Greg Essenmacher is the founder of GnA Consult and host of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, where he explores the systems, leadership, and human behaviors that drive case acceptance, patient experience, and sustainable growth in dentistry. Greg helps practices capture, convert, and close more complex cases through clarity, structure, and intentional communication. /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/39923115

TTS 147 – NBA to M&A: Building, Failing, Scaling, and Selling with Elijah Desmond 01/21/2026

TTS 147 – NBA to M&A: Building, Failing, Scaling, and Selling with Elijah Desmond In this episode of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, Greg Essenmacher sits down with entrepreneur, hygienist-turned-broker, and co-CEO of Dental Pitch Brokerage, Elijah Desmond, for a candid conversation about business, failure, partnerships, and preparing dental practices—especially implant and full-arch practices—for successful exits. From Elijah’s early days in dentistry to building (and failing) multiple businesses, this episode explores the real lessons behind entrepreneurship and what it actually takes to scale with intention. Elijah also shares practical insights into today’s M&A landscape, including what buyers are looking for, how owners should prepare years in advance, and why systems, hygiene, and diversification dramatically impact valuation. The conversation closes with Elijah’s powerful “why”—using business success as a platform to save kids’ lives through youth motivational work around the world. This is a must-listen for practice owners who want to grow smart, lead well, and build something that lasts. Key Topics Covered Transitioning from clinical dentistry into entrepreneurship Lessons learned from building—and failing—multiple businesses Why friends-and-family money can complicate startups Choosing the right business partners (and avoiding the wrong ones) Preparing implant and full-arch practices for sale Why hygiene increases buyer demand—even in implant-focused practices Avoiding single-provider risk and building scalable systems Realistic expectations for today’s M&A market and exit structures Turning success into impact beyond dentistry Key Takeaways ✔ Failure is tuition, not defeat ✔ Partners should complement—not duplicate—your skill set ✔ Exit planning starts years before the sale ✔ Systems and hygiene create leverage ✔ Purpose-driven leadership changes everything About the Guest Elijah Desmond is the co-CEO of Dental Pitch Brokerage, a sell-side advisory firm helping dental professionals maximize practice value and negotiate ideal exit terms. A former dental hygienist and lifelong entrepreneur, Elijah has built, scaled, and exited multiple businesses and is the founder of Backstage Mastermind. Beyond dentistry, Elijah is a motivational speaker dedicated to saving kids’ lives through youth outreach and nonprofit work. 🔗 Website: dentalpitchbrokerage.com 📧 Email: [email protected] About the Host Greg Essenmacher is the founder of GnA Consult and host of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, where he explores the business, leadership, and human side of dentistry—helping practices grow with intention, alignment, and sustainability. /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/39793640

TTS- 146 T.E.A.M. w/Martin Mendelson 01/14/2026

TTS- 146 T.E.A.M. w/Martin Mendelson In this episode of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, Greg Essenmacher welcomes back Dr. Martin Mendelson for a powerful second conversation—one that dives deep into mindset, leadership, and the thoughts that quietly shape our lives and practices. Dr. Mendelson, a dentist-turned-coach and author of One Move Makes All the Difference, breaks down why happiness leads to success (not the other way around), how the space between stimulus and response determines our outcomes, and why teams thrive when psychological safety and accountability coexist. This episode blends neuroscience, emotional intelligence, real-world leadership tools, and humor—offering practical frameworks clinicians and teams can apply immediately. If you’ve ever felt stuck reacting instead of responding, or sensed your team could be healthier, calmer, and more aligned—this conversation is for you. Key Topics Covered Why happiness is the driver of success—not the reward The TEAM framework: Thoughts → Emotions → Actions → Results Responding vs. reacting under stress The power of the pause between stimulus and response Creating psychological safety and accountability within teams Preventing “jumping to catastrophe” in leadership and communication Why mindset work is essential for sustainable growth in dentistry Insights from Martin’s new book One Move Makes All the Difference Key Takeaways ✔ Mindset always precedes outcomes ✔ Small pauses can create massive change ✔ Strong cultures are built intentionally, not accidentally ✔ Leadership begins between your ears About the Guest Dr. Martin Mendelson is a speaker, certified coach, and author of One Move Makes All the Difference: How to Find Your Power and Transform Your Life. With experience spanning clinical dentistry, education, emotional intelligence, and happiness studies, Martin helps individuals and teams get out of their own way and lead with clarity, intention, and purpose. 🔗 Website: martinmendelson.com 📘 Book: One Move Makes All the Difference (available wherever books are sold) About the Host Greg Essenmacher is the founder of GnA Consult and host of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, where he explores the business, leadership, and human side of dentistry—helping teams improve patient experience, case acceptance, and long-term sustainability. /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/39714530

145 All Comes Down to Me w/Dr. Farokh Jiveh 01/07/2026

145 All Comes Down to Me w/Dr. Farokh Jiveh In this powerful episode of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, Greg Essenmacher sits down with cosmetic dentist and educator Dr. Farokh Jiveh for a deeply honest conversation about personal transformation, leadership, and what truly drives patient connection and case acceptance. Dr. J shares his journey from outward success and inner burnout to alignment, clarity, and purpose—and how that shift changed everything from how he leads his team to how patients experience care. This episode goes far beyond techniques and procedures. It’s about presence, energy, listening, and why dentistry is ultimately a human experience before it’s ever a clinical one. If you’ve ever felt successful on paper but disconnected in practice—or wondered why some teams and doctors thrive while others struggle—this conversation will resonate. 🔑 Key Topics Covered The hidden cost of comfort and “success on paper” Why leadership always starts with self-leadership How inner chaos shows up in your practice and your team The difference between fixing patients and truly listening to them Why patients will tell you their treatment plan—if you’re present Alignment, energy, and their impact on case acceptance Letting go of ego, control, and attachment to outcomes Dentistry as a feeling-based, human-centered experience 💡 Key Takeaways ✔ You can’t lead others until you learn to lead yourself ✔ Case acceptance improves when patients feel heard, not sold ✔ Alignment creates trust—for teams and patients alike ✔ Dentistry isn’t just about what you do; it’s about how you show up 👤 About the Guest Dr. Farokh Jiveh is a cosmetic dentist, educator, and founder of Palm Beach Dental Academy. Known for his immersive, one-on-one mentoring approach, Dr. J teaches dentists how to master cosmetic dentistry while emphasizing presence, leadership, and authentic patient connection. His teaching philosophy focuses on helping clinicians shorten their learning curve—not just clinically, but personally—so they can practice with confidence, clarity, and alignment. 🔗 Learn more: PalmBeachDentalAcademy.com /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/39619490

TTS-144 Human Capital – w/ Gabriel Hofmann 12/31/2025

TTS- 143 Culture Strategist Leah Roling 12/24/2025

Episode: TTS-142 Men’s Apparel to Master GTM w/ Ian Miller 12/17/2025

Episode: TTS-142 Men’s Apparel to Master GTM w/ Ian Miller In this episode of The Tooth Sleuth Podcast, Greg sits down with Ian Miller—entrepreneur, apparel expert, and GTM operator—to explore the unexpected overlap between men’s fashion and building a market strategy that actually works. What starts as a conversation about fit, fabric, and confidence quickly shifts into a masterclass on positioning, clarity, and the discipline behind a clean go-to-market motion. They open with a story about Ian’s early days in apparel—learning the difference between style and identity—and move into a candid discussion on momentum, leadership, and why most GTM problems are really communication problems. Together, Greg and Ian unpack: From Apparel to GTM: How understanding fit, form, and function in clothing gave Ian the foundation to build customer-centric strategies that scale. Building a Repeatable Motion: Ian’s framework for removing noise, simplifying decisions, and creating a go-to-market engine teams can actually execute on. Confidence as a Business Tool: The psychology of dressing well and how presence, clarity, and intention translate directly into sales, leadership, and patient experience. When to Pivot (and When to Double Down): Lessons from apparel manufacturing that taught Ian how to manage risk, read early signals, and course-correct before it’s expensive. Ian’s story blends creativity with operational insight, showing how the same principles that define a great wardrobe—fit, coherence, and consistency—are the ones behind every successful GTM strategy. Through his journey across fashion, entrepreneurship, and systems thinking, he demonstrates that style isn't superficial; it’s a strategic lens that shapes how teams move, sell, and lead. 👉 Tune in now to learn how to sharpen your GTM motion, build trust through clarity, and use presence as a competitive advantage. #ToothSleuth #GTMStrategy #PatientExperience #GnAConsult #Leadership #BrandAlignment #BusinessGrowth /episode/index/show/c6d3f7be-2e7d-4276-b0de-e2332b2adac8/id/39413340

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