Growth in Dentistry: A Dental Intelligence Podcast

Steve Jensen sits down with Matt Coggin, President and CEO of Spear Education, to discuss major trends shaping dentistry and how dental practices can navigate them successfully. Matt shares insights on practice consolidation, consumerism, digital transformation, and the challenges of training associates. Listen in to hear about:Major trends in dentistryThe challenge for dentists entering the workforce out of collegeThe gap between learning new procedures and implementing them in the practiceGrowth vs. operating expensesWhat drives success in dental practices...and so much more!Get in touch with Matt and the team at Spear: mcoggin@speareducation.com or https://www.speareducation.com. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

Jon Harris from Fortune Management is back on the Growth in Dentistry podcast to discuss practice valuations, market trends, and strategies for building valuable dental practices. Jon shares his expertise on what makes practices valuable, how to structure acquisitions, and the importance of operational efficiency in today's changing market.Listen in to hear more about:Market Trends & Valuations: How rising interest rates, inflation, and market volatility have impacted practice valuations and deal structuresUnderstanding Practice Value: Why cash flow matters more than revenue, and how two practices collecting the same amount can have vastly different valuationsDeal Structures: Five ways to bridge valuation gapsMulti-Location Strategy: Why DSOs and private practices are pursuing multiple locations to spread margins and increase profitabilityCash Flow Drivers: The five key areas that drive cash flow in a dental practice Hygiene Optimization: How to calculate the impact of adding hygiene columns and prioritizing patients with unscheduled treatmentBuilding Value: Three main strategies to increase practice value: optimize capacity, expand clinical suite, and create a workplace culture that attracts talent...and so much more!Connect with Jon: (423) 579-3775 or jonharris@fortunemgmt.com. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode, host Steve Jensen sits down with Ryan Menacho from Firegang Marketing to discuss a powerful framework for dental practice growth. Ryan shares the three-component model that has helped practices across the country attract more patients and build thriving businesses: differentiation, visibility, and conversion.Listen in to hear more about:The Firegang Three-Component Model: Understanding the three pillars of dental practice marketing successHow to stand out in your market through money, time, and convenienceMaking your practice known through strategic marketing channelsTurning phone calls into booked appointments with proven techniquesHow to control phone conversations and avoid saying "no"Addressing the hidden opportunity cost of unanswered calls…and so much more!Head over to http://www.firegang.com to set up your FREE Practice Growth call. And request your FREE copy of the Practice Growth book: https://go.firegang.com/pgexpanded-optin. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: http://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

Evan Lazarus is back on the podcast! In this episode, Steve Jensen sits down with the CEO and founder of Simple Impact Media to discuss what it really takes to grow a dental practice through marketing. Evan brings a unique perspective to dental marketing, combining his background as a former COO of a hedge fund with his data-driven approach to practice growth.Listen in to hear about:What makes the ideal marketing clientWhy focusing solely on new patient acquisition is a mistakeThe importance of understanding key metrics like annual patient value, conversion rates, and diagnostic percentagesHow to develop a comprehensive growth strategy rather than just implementing isolated tacticsRealistic expectations for marketing investment based on practice goalsThe critical factors that determine whether a practice is ready to benefit from marketing spendHow to approach marketing as an ongoing strategy rather than a quick fix…and so much more!Connect with Evan at www.simpleimpactmedia.com. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, host Steve Jensen sits down with Olivia Smith from OS Dental Consulting to tackle one of dentistry's most persistent challenges: improving case acceptance. With case acceptance rates trending downward across the industry, Olivia shares her expertise from working with over 100 practices to reveal the real barriers preventing patients from saying yes to treatment—and how to overcome them.We discussed:Industry trends: Declining case acceptance ratesCommon Barriers to case acceptanceThe importance of comprehensive presentationTeam member rolesFinancial conversationsLab case management…and so much more!Guest Bio: Olivia Smith is the founder of OS Dental Consulting and has been in dentistry for over 11 years. With a background in marketing and business management, she has worked with over 100 practices across the country and spent the last 7 years coaching practices to improve their systems, case acceptance, and overall growth. Olivia specializes in helping practices identify barriers in their patient journey and implementing systems that lead to 15-20% increases in case acceptance.Connect with Olivia at olivia@osdentalconsulting.com or visit her website, www.osdentalconsulting.com. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode of Growth in Dentistry, host Steve Jensen sits down with Dr. Avi Patel to explore how clear aligners can transform a general dental practice. Dr. Patel shares his journey from burnout to building a thriving practice centered around clear aligner therapy, demonstrating how this service can improve profitability, work-life balance, and patient care simultaneously.Listen in to hear more about:Why Dr. Patel chose dentistryHis early career challengesThe clear aligner turning point and its impact on practice and lifestyleThe “Gateway Effect” of aligners into other forms of dentistryTeaching and mentorship…and so much more!Connect with Dr. Avi Patel:His website: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-avi-patel-clearaligner-advisor/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor.avi/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doctoraviSee a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

Tune in to this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, where host Steve Jensen sits down with Katherine Eitel Belt, founder and CEO of LionSpeak, to discuss managing tough conversations in dental practices. With over 35 years of experience as a keynote speaker and communication coach, Katherine shares her proven framework for having courageous conversations that solve problems while strengthening relationships.Key topics covered in this episode:Why most people avoid difficult conversations and the cost of avoidance in dental practicesThe importance of emotional state and taking ownership before engaging in tough conversationsThe ARCH Framework: A four-step process for having productive, courageous conversationsThe Three-Conversation Leadership TierCulture and Communication: How communication skills directly impact practice culture and employee retention...and so much more!Interested in learning more about Katherine Eitel Belt and her work at LionSpeak? Visit their website: www.lionspeak.net. Download your free ARCH Framework: https://www.lionspeak.net/courageous/. Connect with Katherine: info@lionspeak.net. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this deep dive episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, Dr. Simone Ellis shares her remarkable journey in dentistry - from deciding to become a dentist at age 7 to building a successful cosmetic dental practice and becoming a coach and speaker. Dr. Ellis discusses the challenges of transitioning from being a clinician to an entrepreneur and the mindset shifts that helped her overcome early struggles.Listen in to hear about:Dr. Ellis's early inspiration in dentistry and how it led to her career in dentistryHer bold business move to open a practice from scratchHer struggles as an entrepreneur and how they led to a breakthrough in practice ownershipHow Dr. Ellis promotes leadership development in her team…and so much more!About Dr. Simone Ellis:Dr. Simone Ellis has been running a successful cosmetic dental practice for 15 years. After just one year as an associate, she opened her own practice and has since become a dental coach and speaker. She hosts her own podcast called "Beyond the Chair."Connect with Dr. Ellis: https://www.drsimoneellis.com. Catch up on Dr. Ellis's podcast: https://www.drsimoneellis.com/beyond-the-chair-podcast.See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode, Steve Jensen speaks with Sara Hansen about the often overlooked gold mine of internal marketing in dental practices. Sara shares her expertise on how practices can grow significantly by focusing on existing patients rather than spending thousands on external marketing campaigns. Listen in to this episode to hear about:The untapped potential of internal marketingThe Three R's approach: Referrals, reviews, and reactivationSara's patient reactivation strategyUtilizing practice management software to identify and target specific patient segmentsThe ROI of internal marketing…and so much more!Interested in learning more from PDA? Check out their website: https://productivedentist.com/.Get connected with Phoenix Dental Agency: https://phoenixdentalagency.com/.Connect with Sara: sara@phoenixdentalagency.com.See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, host Steve Jensen interviews Wendy Briggs, RDH and renowned hygiene coach. They discuss the changing landscape of dental hygiene, including rising costs and wages, and how to transform hygiene departments into profitable centers while delivering exceptional patient care.Listen to this episode to learn about:The changing economics of hygiene - Hygienist salaries rising and the financial pressure that creates on practicesThe three critical roles of hygieneThe Doctor-Hygienist partnershipElevating preventive carePeriodontal therapy…and so much more!Want to learn more from Wendy and The Team Training Institute team?Check out their website to learn about the different trainings and courses they offer: https://www.theteamtraininginstitute.com/Listen to The Team Training Institute podcast: https://www.theteamtraininginstitute.com/podcastSee a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode of Growth in Dentistry, host Steve Jensen interviews Dr. Sarah Blair, a successful dentist who transitioned from clinical practice to helping other dental practices thrive. Dr. Blair shares her journey from dental school to practice ownership, where she tripled her practice revenues within five years.Jump in to hear us discuss:Dr. Blair's unique path to dentistry, including prior experience in the service industry and dental assistingThe importance of practice ownership preparation and investment in technology, marketing, and trainingCommon challenges dental practices face, including lack of role clarity and financial awarenessThe significance of data-driven decision-making in dental practice managementBalance between metrics and team culture in practice leadership…and so much more!For more information about practice development and coaching, visit www.indiepractices.com. And to take the quiz for your scorecard, click “Get Your Scorecard” in the top righthand corner of the website to get started.Interested in connecting directly with Dr. Blair? Email sarah@indiepractices.com. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, host Steve Jensen interviews Ashley Boaz, CEO of Mint Conceptions, who also serves as Chief Human Resource Officer and COO of a dental group. With over 20 years of experience in dentistry, she has held nearly every role in a dental practice, from dental assistant to hygienist to management. Tune in to hear valuable insights on enhancing the patient experience through improved communication, trust-building, and understanding patient needs.Listen in to hear Ashley and Steve chat about:Communicating well and building trust with your teamUnderstanding patient needsAppointment timingWho should be having financial conversations with patients…and so much more!Want to learn more from Ashley and Mint Conceptions? Visit https://www.mintconceptions.com. And take the Discovery Assessment here: https://mintconceptions.scoreapp.com/.See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, hosts Steve Jensen and Nate Baker, DI Enterprise Account Executive, interview Dr. Brad Hughes, CEO of Vision Dental Partners. Dr. Hughes shares his journey from starting as a solo practitioner in 2007 to building a successful dental group that received the "Emerging Dental Group to Watch" award from Group Dentistry Now for 2025.Listen in to hear more about:Dr. Hughes' career journeyHis practice growth strategy and how he spent six years focused on tripling the revenue of his single location before expanding to additional practicesHis growth philosophy: increase new patients, increase the size of the purchase, and increase the frequency of the purchaseTeam Building: the importance of shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset focused on team development…and so much more!See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

Welcome to this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast! In this episode, Steve chats with Lauren Anderson, Managing Director at Rain Global, discussing innovative staffing solutions for dental practices facing rising costs and retention challenges.Listen in to hear about:Rising staffing costs in dentistryThe challenge of replacing experienced staff with new hires requiring extensive trainingBenefits of remote workers for administrative tasks and which tasks can be outsourced well…and so much more!Want to learn more about Rain Global? Visit their website: www.rainglobal.comOr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/rain-global-dental/See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

Join us for a deep dive into the current state and future of dentistry with Perrin DesPortes, featuring insights on practice growth, industry trends, and successful business strategies.We discuss:Industry consolidation trends and the impact of private equity in dentistryEvolution from traditional solo practices to multi-provider modelsImportance of expanded services and convenient hours for modern patientsMarketing strategies and patient conversion fundamentalsBuilding sustainable dental practices for the future...and so much more!Connect with Perrin and learn more about the Next Level Executive Program: https://thenextlevelexecutive.com/.Visit get.dentalintel.net/podcast for a demo of Dental Intelligence and receive a $50 gift card.

On this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, our expert guests Eric Roman and Josey Sewell dive deep into the growing trend of associate dentists in practices and the challenges faced by both associates and practice owners. Keep listening to hear their solutions for better associate-owner relationships. We discuss:The current state of dental practicesThe shift towards multiple dentists per location rather than single-doctor practicesCommon challenges in associate-owner relationships…and so much more!Want to learn more from Eric and Josey? Check out their FREE virtual masterclass on June 6, 2025: https://drericjroman.com/vle-vip. Want to get in touch and learn more? Visit https://drericjroman.com. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, Dr. Danny Snyder shares his journey through mental health challenges in dentistry and his path to healing. He discusses his transition from practice ownership to becoming an associate dentist, and how EMDR therapy helped him overcome childhood dental trauma that was affecting his professional life.Listen in to hear about:Dr. Snyder's journey from dental school to practice ownershipMental health challenges in dentistry and the importance of seeking helpThe role of EMDR therapy in helping treat some forms of anxietyTransition from practice ownership to associate dentistry…and so much more!Want to check out the Slate Flosser for yourself? Head to slateflosser.com. Interested in learning more about DI? Get a $50 gift card by scheduling a demo of Dental Intelligence at get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Growth in Dentistry Podcast, we welcome back Melinda Heryford, a seasoned practice management consultant with over three decades of experience in dentistry, who owns Melinda Heryford, Inc. Practice Management Consulting. Drawing from her extensive background working with hundreds of dental practices, Melinda shares invaluable insights on transforming dental practices from reactive firefighting operations into proactive, system-driven organizations that deliver exceptional patient care while maintaining healthy business metrics.Listen in to hear about:Moving from reactive "firefighting" to proactive practice managementThe importance of implementing simple, effective systemsFocus on WIG (Wildly Important Goal) and MITs (Most Important Things)Using data and KPIs to measure practice performanceCommon practice management challengesResources MentionedWebsite: practicemanagementconsulting.comContact: melinda@melindaheryford.comSpecial offer: "Switch it to Solve it" tool for improving accounts receivable (email Melinda to receive the resource)See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast

Dr. Ben Friberg is back on the Growth in Dentistry podcast to share insights on practice management, culture, and leadership in dentistry. His practice achieves exceptional results with a small team while maintaining work-life balance. Listen in to this episode to see how!We discuss:Dr. Friberg's exceptional practice metrics, including a 90%+ hygiene reappointment rate and only 27 clinical hours per week while being able to take 7 weeks of vacation during the year and keep collections highThe importance of creating the culture of your practice and how accountability and clear expectations can make that betterMarketing tips to hone in onThe value of coaching and mentorship, community and peer learning...and more!For more opportunities to connect with Dr. Friberg, visit his website: https://www.drbenfriberg.com/. His new book, "The Seven Figure Practice Blueprint for Dentists: How to Lead, Manage, and Market a Fulfilling Practice," is available May 20, 2025. Follow the link for more information: https://www.drbenfriberg.com/book. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.

In this deep dive episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, hosts Steve Jensen and Adam Smith talk with Kirk Teachout and Zach Shelley about running successful dental practices. Dive into this episode to hear the two contrasting yet successful approaches to practice management.Listen in to hear about:Zach and Kirk’s approaches to practice managementKey performance metric trackingPatient experience highlights…and more!Interested in connecting further with Kirk and Zach? Check out Kirk’s website: https://dentalscheduletemplate.com/.Interested in joining Zach’s Facebook group, you can do so here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15i5UvC3Cx/. See a demo of DI and get a $50 gift card: https://get.dentalintel.net/podcast.