On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes talks with Dr. Chris Green and Steve Steinbrunner about what it really takes to start or buy a dental practice. They break down the importance of choosing the right location, understanding your market, and surrounding yourself with the right team before making major decisions.
The conversation also covers budgeting, lending, construction costs, equipment, marketing, and working capital. Dr. Green and Steve share why a clear financial plan can help doctors avoid expensive mistakes, stay prepared during the startup process, and set the practice up for long-term growth.
Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!
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EPISODE RESOURCES
On today’s episode, Summer continues the discussion by diving into the language, mindset, and team systems that support better case acceptance. She shares how to personalize urgency around what matters most to each patient, whether that’s time, finances, comfort, aesthetics, longevity, or dental anxiety.
Summer also emphasizes the importance of nonverbal communication, slowing down in the operatory, using intraoral photos, guiding patients through phased treatment, and making sure the entire team reinforces the doctor’s clinical conviction. From calibrating with hygienists to role-playing patient objections and celebrating wins, this episode highlights how treatment acceptance becomes a whole-team effort rooted in trust, clarity, and patient advocacy.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes introduces Summer for a powerful conversation on improving treatment acceptance by understanding why patients really say no. Summer breaks down how many patients decline care not simply because of money, but because they don’t fully see the value, urgency, or consequences of waiting.
She explains why a strong philosophy of care is the foundation for confident treatment presentation, and how doctors can move away from hedging, over-explaining, or presenting treatment as optional. By helping patients understand what is happening in their mouth, why it matters, and what could happen if they wait, dentists can lead with clarity, confidence, and a true commitment to patient health.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Jordon Comstock, founder and CEO of BoomCloud, for a deep dive into the power of recurring revenue in dentistry. Jordon breaks down why dental membership programs are still underutilized, even after a decade of proving their value, and explains how they can help practices reduce dependence on PPOs, improve patient loyalty, and create more predictable cash flow.
Mark and Jordon discuss the pressure insurance has placed on practice margins, the difference between cash, PPO, and membership patients, and why membership patients often represent the highest quality revenue for a dental business. They also explore the compounding effect of monthly recurring revenue, how it changes the way practice owners think about growth, and why the best operators are building systems that allow them to stop starting every month at zero.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Dr. Lior Tamir, practicing dentist, entrepreneur, and founder of The Dental App. They dive into Lior’s innovative approach to navigating PPO challenges through an administrative and concierge-style model, while still maintaining transparency, ethics, and high-quality patient care. Lior shares how this model has helped him reinvest in his team, improve the patient experience, and build a more sustainable business in one of the most competitive markets in the country.
The conversation also explores the future of dental practice management, including real-time analytics, CRM-style patient follow-up, cloud-based systems, and the rise of AI agents that can help automate tasks like recall, treatment follow-up, claims, and administrative workflows. From building better business tools to creating a more efficient and human-centered dental office, this episode is packed with forward-thinking ideas for practice owners who want to stay ahead.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Brannon Moncrief of McLerran & Associates to unpack the current state of dental practice transitions, valuations, and DSO affiliation. Brannon explains the key differences between doctor-to-doctor sales and DSO deals, including when a smaller practice may be better suited for a private buyer and when a larger, multi-provider practice may benefit from exploring the DSO route.
They also discuss why younger dentists are selling earlier than previous generations, how inflation and staffing pressures are impacting EBITDA, and what sellers need to understand about cash at close, deal structure, platform opportunities, strategic buyers, and recap potential. Brannon also emphasizes the importance of having the right sell-side advisor to avoid bad actors, protect long-term outcomes, and make sure the deal aligns with the doctor’s personal and professional goals.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes and Ashlee Hirschfeld kick off a back-to-basics conversation on operational systemization and why even experienced practice owners need to revisit the fundamentals. They break down how DSN’s belt system measures practice growth across culture, leadership, systemization, and overhead, then dig into what it really takes to build strong organizational charts, effective operations manuals, and simple protocols that create consistency without overwhelming the team.
The episode also explores the power of difficult conversations, how to spot recurring breakdowns in the practice, and practical ways to get the team bought into systems that make the business healthier, more scalable, and less dependent on the doctor.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Ben Miraglia, VP of GP Clinical Education at CandidPro, to explore how general dentists can successfully integrate clear aligners into everyday practice. Dr. Miraglia shares how his background in restorative and implant dentistry led him to clear aligners, and why an expansive, non-extraction approach helped him eliminate common frustrations like excessive IPR, too many attachments, poor tracking, and difficult finishes.
They discuss how CandidPro’s orthodontist-led treatment planning, remote monitoring, AI-supported tracking, and reduced chair time can make aligner therapy more predictable, profitable, and enjoyable for both doctors and patients. Dr. Miraglia also explains why clear aligners should be a team sport, how to improve patient compliance, and why GPs should start with simple cases before moving into more advanced treatment.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes joins Joshua DeVries on The Patient Experience Blueprint to discuss how dental practices can create more intentional, human-centered systems that build trust and improve case acceptance. Mark shares lessons from his unconventional path into dentistry, the failures that shaped his approach to practice ownership, and why clinical skill alone is not enough to create a thriving, patient-centered business.
They explore how trust starts with the team, why every patient touchpoint matters, and how practices can use systems without becoming cold or robotic. Mark also breaks down the importance of mapping the patient journey, improving communication at each transition, focusing on retention as much as acquisition, and creating a culture where patients feel cared for rather than processed.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes answers listener questions in this Ask Mark Anything segment, covering everything from adding specialists to protecting profitability during expansion. He breaks down how to evaluate the true cost per procedure before bringing in a specialist, why top-line revenue does not always translate into practice value, and how to calculate whether keeping specialty procedures in-house is actually profitable.
Mark also discusses scaling revenue versus improving profitability, the importance of tracking attrition and reactivation, and why patient experience remains essential for retention. He closes with practical advice on associate ramp-up timelines, the “valley of death” production range, mentorship, and where to save money during buildouts without sacrificing long-term efficiency.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Summer Kassmel to unpack one of the most common frustrations in dental practice ownership: the disconnect between owner doctors and associate doctors. They discuss why owners often expect associates to think, work, and hustle the same way they do, and why that assumption can quickly create misalignment, resentment, and underperformance.
Summer shares how to define expectations before hiring, ask better questions during interviews, clarify non-negotiables, and create a stronger onboarding process that gives associates a real path to success. They also talk through what to do when the relationship is already strained, including how to take ownership, reset expectations, discuss financial goals, and have direct conversations without creating defensiveness.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Chris Sands, co-founder of Crown Card Services and Pro-Fi 20/20, to unpack the often-overlooked world of credit card processing fees in dentistry. Chris explains how merchant fees quietly chip away at profitability, EBITDA, and even practice valuation, while sharing why more dental offices are exploring compliant surcharge programs to recover 70–90% of card fees.
They also dive into the difference between rates and fees, the importance of PCI compliance, state-by-state surcharge restrictions, and how PPO contracts may create additional challenges for practices trying to pass fees along to patients. Chris also breaks down why software integration can come with a massive hidden cost, how bridge solutions may help practices avoid inflated processing rates, and why startups and first-time buyers may have an advantage by implementing these systems from day one.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Ben Kacos and Dr. Bill Keith for part two of their conversation on preparing a dental practice for partnership. They get tactical about the steps owners should take before entering a process, including cleaning up the books, separating personal and business expenses, identifying legitimate add-backs, and understanding how normalized profitability impacts valuation.
The group also discusses capital expenditures, debt structure, merchant fees, financing fees, and why every dollar saved can multiply significantly in a future transaction. They close by exploring how teams can benefit from partnership through improved health insurance, training, HR support, and carefully structured equity or incentive opportunities for key team members.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Wayde Elliott, a former dentist whose clinical career ended suddenly after a neck injury during a crown prep forced him out of practice. Wayde shares his journey from barely making it into dental school to owning a successful practice for 20 years, and how a patient planted the seed that eventually led him into self-storage development.
He and Mark discuss the golden handcuffs of dentistry, the importance of disability insurance, and why dentists need to think beyond income generated solely by their own two hands. Wayde also breaks down why self-storage can be a compelling real estate asset class, including its recession resistance, low labor demands, tax advantages through cost segregation, and potential for strong investor returns.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes celebrates a major milestone for the Dentalpreneur Podcast: 2,500 episodes. Broadcasting from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas, Mark sits down with Steve Hollingsworth, owner of EnLightning Media and the producer, editor, media director, and behind-the-scenes force who helps keep the podcast running five days a week without missing a post. Steve shares his journey from making skateboarding videos as a teenager to working in broadcast, aerial cinematography, live streaming, and eventually building a media business that now supports Dentalpreneur and dental practices across the country.
Mark and Steve pull back the curtain on the systems, team, and strategy required to produce consistent long-form, medium-form, and short-form content at scale, while also discussing why organic content has been one of the biggest drivers of growth for the Dental Success Companies. They reflect on the power of education-based marketing, the reach of the podcast around the world, and the people who make the entire operation possible.
Tune in to the full conversation for a behind-the-scenes look at the Dentalpreneur Podcast!
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Max Shore from Lassie to explore one of the most frustrating and overlooked areas in dentistry—revenue cycle management. They discuss why billing, collections, and insurance follow-up remain such major pain points for practices, how AI is beginning to automate repetitive financial workflows, and what it takes to build a system that improves accuracy, speeds up collections, and reduces administrative burden.
Max also shares insights from working with thousands of practice owners, along with Lassie’s bigger vision for the future of dental billing, insurance verification, and practice finance automation.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Matt Mulcock of Dentist Advisors for a wide-ranging conversation about the financial realities dentists are facing right now. They discuss consumer confidence, economic uncertainty, tax planning, retirement strategies, Roth conversions, donor-advised funds, and what it really takes to build long-term wealth while still enjoying life along the way.
Matt also shares how Dentist Advisors is expanding its support for dentists across every stage of their career, from new grads to practice owners preparing for major transitions.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Addison Killeen and Ryan Gross to unpack what practice owners can do when hygiene is full, staffing is tight, and growth starts to stall. They explore how to shift marketing toward higher-value patients such as emergency, implant, sedation, and full-mouth reconstruction cases, while creating systems that keep doctor production strong even when hygiene becomes the bottleneck.
The conversation also highlights insights from Addison’s new Complete Dental Hygiene Manual, including practical ways to optimize hygiene operations, navigate staffing shortages, and rethink growth strategy in today’s dental economy.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Taher Dhoon and Dr. Dan Briskie of the Colorado Surgical Institute to break down what it really takes to manage surgical implant cases the right way from evaluation through long-term maintenance. They dive into practical pre-op and post-op protocols, medication strategies, patient communication systems, suturing tips, and ways to reduce unnecessary follow-up visits while improving outcomes.
The conversation also covers healing abutments versus cover screws, incision management, immediate loading philosophy, and how better workflows can create a smoother experience for both the patient and the practice.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Collin Myrick to talk about his journey from dental school graduate during the chaos of 2020 to building a fast-growing dental organization in Northwest Florida. Collin shares how an early mentor helped steer him away from medicine and toward dentistry, where he found the perfect blend of hands-on healing, entrepreneurship, and family-centered balance. He also opens up about buying his first small-town practice, scaling from a single four-operatory office into a multi-location group, and why faith, service, and long-term vision remain at the center of every decision he makes.
Mark and Collin also dive into the realities of leadership, culture, and growth at scale. They discuss the importance of mission, vision, and core values, how to attract the right people, and why meaningful community impact can become a practice’s greatest competitive advantage. From Give Kids a Smile Day to building an organization where team members feel connected to a bigger purpose, this conversation is packed with insight for dentists who want to grow without losing sight of what matters most.
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On today’s episode, we’re featuring Dr. Mark Costes’ live talk from ASDA 2026, where he delivers a powerful and deeply personal message to dental students about resilience, failure, and redefining success. Mark shares his journey from being rejected by 20 dental schools to eventually building multiple practices and a thriving career, emphasizing that his greatest lessons came from mistakes—not easy wins.
He challenges the traditional definition of success in dentistry, highlighting the dangers of burnout and the importance of mastering not just clinical skills, but also business, leadership, and self-awareness. Through his “Four Futures” framework, he explains why true fulfillment comes from balancing mental health, relationships, physical well-being, and financial success. This talk is both a reality check and an inspiring roadmap for young dentists looking to build a career that offers not just income—but freedom and purpose.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes answers powerful questions from high-level operators in this Ask Me Anything session, focusing on the real challenges of scaling dental practices. He dives into overcoming founder dependency, building a strong executive team, and creating systems that drive accountability without sacrificing culture.
Mark also shares practical strategies for adding production days without burning out your team, structuring lean and profitable schedules, and transitioning out of the day-to-day firefighting role. From leadership development to operational efficiency, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help practice owners grow sustainably while maintaining control and clarity.
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On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Tom Fow and Dr. Dan Briskie to discuss dental implant complications and how to avoid them. They cover case selection, patient health, surgical technique, prosthetic planning, primary stability, drilling mistakes, cover screw risks, pterygoid implants, and reducing cantilevers in full arch cases.
The conversation highlights how better planning, communication, and understanding of biology and biomechanics can help clinicians reduce failures and create more predictable implant outcomes.
Enjoyed this conversation? Take it further.
Everything Dan and Tom talked about in this episode — complications, case planning, drilling protocols, cover screws, pterygoids — is exactly what we dig into at the CSI Implant Complications Course in San Diego.
This is where Dan and Tom open up their real case files, walk you through what went wrong, and give you the frameworks to handle it confidently in your own practice.
May 28-29, 2026 | San Diego, CA
Save 20% with code COMPLICATIONS20
Bring a colleague and you both save 25%
Visit www.coloradosurgicalinstitute.com or call Chris at (970) 410-6148 to grab your spot.
EPISODE RESOURCES
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with precious metals expert David Morgan to break down the role of gold and silver in protecting and growing wealth. David shares his decades of experience in finance, explaining why all fiat currencies eventually fail and how the shift away from the gold standard has accelerated inflation.
He dives into the importance of using precious metals as a hedge—not a gamble—and outlines practical strategies for getting started, including portfolio allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and balancing physical metals with mining equities. The conversation also explores real-world considerations like storage, borrowing against metals, and generating income through leasing or equities. This episode delivers a clear, grounded perspective on how dentists and high-income professionals can safeguard their financial future in an uncertain economic landscape.
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EPISODE RESOURCES
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costas sits down with Dr. Barry Oulton, The Confident Dentist, to explore the real key to case acceptance—effective communication. Barry shares his journey from running a successful practice to becoming a global coach, driven by both professional success and deeply personal challenges.
He breaks down how understanding patient psychology, NLP principles, and emotional drivers can dramatically improve trust, connection, and treatment acceptance without relying on outdated sales tactics. From future pacing to identifying how patients process information, Barry reveals how aligning communication with each patient’s mindset leads to better decisions and stronger relationships. This episode highlights how mastering communication doesn’t just grow your practice—it transforms your impact both professionally and personally.
Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!
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