Top 5 Topics:

- From New York to Nowhere: Life in Rural America, Soon To Be Back In Westchester!

- The Hidden Crisis in Dentistry: Insurance, Fees & Patient Deception

- Comparison is the Thief of Joy: Mental Health in Dentistry

- DSOs, Dental Schools & Debt: The Future of Dentistry at Risk

- Empowering the Next Generation: Why Mentorship Matters MOST

Quotes & Wisdom:

• 15:59 — Dr. Patel: “I was looking for validation and love externally—when really it all comes from within.”

• 16:55 — Dr. Patel: “Sit with your thoughts, figure out your goals, and reverse-engineer your path.”

• 18:27 — Dr. Patel: “Change is hard. Change is scary. But it’s necessary.”

• 20:11 — Dr. Patel: “Think for yourself. Don’t get carried away by ‘everyone is doing it, so I must.’”

• 20:42 — Dr. Patel: “Dentistry still manages to be the best small business in healthcare.”

• 26:05 — Dr. Patel: “I tell patients their dental insurance is a coupon from the 1970s.”

• 48:15 — Dr. Patel: “Being busy and being productive are two different things.”

• 50:22 — Dr. Patel: “Be teachable—constantly. There’s so much out there to learn.”

• 51:46 — Dr. Patel: “Sharing information and data is empowering—and never a bad thing.”

• 52:14 — Dr. Patel: “There is still so much good in this profession.”

• 12:45 — Brendan: “Comparison is the thief of joy… comparing yourself to another has nothing to do with your day-to-day.”

• 46:52 — Brendan: “The American dream is opportunity—hang a shingle, build a practice. We need to protect that.”

Questions: 14:05 — “Residents feel isolated and overwhelmed—what do you think about all that?”

19:52 — “Post-COVID, what focused changes or trends matter most to you—and why?”

21:57 — “What’s a DPO, and how is it different from a DSO?”

37:59 — “With consolidation and more dental schools opening, what have you seen, where is it going, and how does it fizzle out?”

41:18 — “Who actually enforces the ‘dentist-owned practice’ rule—who carries it?”

48:37 — “Where can people follow you, learn from you, and catch your lectures, writing, and soon-to-launch podcast?”

55:50 — “Pregnant patient needs pain control—if ibuprofen is out and Tylenol is in question, what do we give?”

Now available on:

- Dr. Gallagher’s Podcast & YouTube Channel

- Dose of Dental Podcast #179

My watch in this episode = Citizen Promaster Diver Day Date

- 9.2025