Start Your Dental Practice

The art of answering the phone with Cory Pinegar

Hey Ambitious Dentists, I hope you're having a great week and continuing to navigate these challenging times.  Today I'm excited to share my conversation with Cory Pinegar, CEO of Callforce, who dives deep into the art of answering the phone and how to develop the right phone system for your practice. Having talked to many dentists over the years, I know that one of the most difficult things to "get right" is how you handle your phones, especially when you're starting out.  Here's ju...

Episode 119: Should You Consider A Dental Membership Plan?

Hey there Ambitious Dentists, I hope you and your loved ones continue to stay healthy and safe. I know that for some, the last thing you might want to do is listen to a dental podcast, but if you're looking for a quick break from the chaos of the last few months, I think you'll really enjoy today's episode. Today I sit down with previous SYDP guest, Jordon Comstock, CEO of BoomCloud, a dental membership plan software that has helped hundreds of dentists successfully implement membershi...

How To Get More Patients During Times of Uncertainty With Dan Delmain

Hey Ambitious Dentists, On behalf of the entire Tooth & Coin team, I hope you and your loved ones are doing well in these incredibly difficult times and are staying safe and sound.  While many are struggling around the world, I know it’s an especially challenging time for dentists specifically.  I originally recorded this interview with Dan Delmain a few weeks ago, but given the recent events with the Coronavirus I believe you’ll find today’s interview especially relevant.  While the...

Episode 117: Why Most Dentists Struggle With Case Acceptance With Alex Nottingham

Hey Ambitious Dentists, Jonathan here. Apologies for it being so quiet on the podcasting front, as my team and I were heads down rebranding DentistMetrics into what is now Tooth and Coin.  It was a ton of hard work, and I couldn’t be more happy with how things have turned out. Thanks to my amazing team and all the support from the SYDP community.  Today I’m incredibly excited to get back into the swing of things by welcoming back a previous SYDP guest Alex Nottingham CEO and founder of...

How To Acquire A Dental Practice Successfully With Paul Sletten

Hey Ambitious Dentists, One of the most common questions I get in talking with dentist practice owners all over the country is how to acquire a dental practice successfully. As you likely know, there's a massive difference between thinking about acquiring a practice and actually taking action on your plan. Today I'm incredibly excited to sit down with Paul Sletten founder of the Sletten group. Paul has been in business for over forty years and is, without a doubt, one of the most knowl...

The ROI of Ortho With Dr. Amanda Wilson

Hey Ambitious Dentists, Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week. Whether you’re fresh out of dental school or have been running your general dental practice for years, you’ve likely at one time considered adding ortho to your practice. Is it worth it? How do you even go about getting started? Maybe you’re an orthodontist now, who is looking to get more out of your offering. Today I’m incredibly excited to sit down with today’s guest Dr. Amanda Wilson, founder of Straight Smile So...

The Best Way To Save For Your Kid’s Higher Education As A Dental Practice Owner

Hey ambitious dentists, We have a special treat for you today with a guest interview covering a topic I know is on a lot of our SYDP listener's minds. Saving for your kids higher education. With college tuition rising with no signs of slowing down, and the US having over a trillion dollars in student loan debt,  it can be a challenge knowing not only how much you should invest in the future of your children, but the most effective way to do so according to your situation. Today I’m e...

Must Have Ingredients of An Effective Dental Practice Website

Today we have another exciting treat for you, as I sit down with Jeff Gladnick, CEO of GreatDentalWebsites. Jeff was one of the first guests we had on the SYDP podcast when we launched just a few years ago, and I’m excited to have him back on the show to share the latest best practices for your dental website and marketing efforts. Jeff is one of the very first people I really connected with in the dental industry, and he’s genuinely one of the most stand up guys in the dental space. ...

SYDP’s Very First Guest Jayme Amos Returns

Hey Ambitious Dentists, When my team and I launched the SYDP podcast over three years ago, we had no idea that we would be able to build such an amazing SYDP community. Since launch, we’ve had over 100+ guests on the show, each of which shared their unique take on how to build a thriving and profitable dental practice. Today I’m incredibly excited to share that I recently sat down with our very first SYDP guest Jayme Amos.  Jayme is an incredibly successful dental practice consultant a...

Should You Buy A House or Dental Practice? My Guest Appearance on The Dental Amigos Podcast

Hey Ambitious Dentists!   Happy Wednesday! I have a special treat for you today. Recently I had the honor of being interviewed by the incredible Dr. Paul Goodman and attorney Rob Montgomery on The Dental Amigos Podcast.   It’s always fun being on the other side of the mic for a change, and Dr. Paul and Rob are really great guys doing amazing things in the dental industry.   Dr. Paul also runs the incredibly popular Dental Nachos online community and brand which I know many of you...

Retirement Planning 101

Hey Ambitious Dentists!   Today I’m incredibly excited to share an interview on a topic that I believe isn’t talked about enough in the dental space.   The topic?   Financial planning and retirement, specifically for dentists.   Now, for those of you who are ready to close out your browser or shut down your podcast app because you’re just getting started as a dentist, it’s never too early to start planning for your financial future and retirement.   I know this topic can ...

Dental Economics and Effective Practice Management

Hey Ambitious Dentists Do you always feel like you’re playing catchup on learning the latest best practices for running a successful dental practice?   Whether it’s taking yet another training, or listening to the top rated dental podcasts, it can often be a challenge to keep up.   While putting in the work daily is part of running a thriving practice, knowing the “big wins” for getting the best results can help take your practice to the next level.   Which is why I'm very exci...

How To Buy A Dental Practice With Dr. Paul Goodman

Hey Ambitious Dentists! One of the most requested topics I receive from the SYDP community to cover on the podcast is the nitty gritty in and outs of buying a dental practice. Whether you’re looking to buy your very first practice or eyeing practice #2 or #3, it always seems there’s plenty to improve throughout the process to help ensure you walk away with a great deal. Today, I’m incredibly excited to have Dr. Paul Goodman, of Dental Nachos fame, on the show. It turns, Dr. Paul know...

Lessons From Growing Multiple Dental Practices With Dr. Hunter Smith

Hey Ambitious Dentists!   Happy New Year! I hope you a wonderful 2018 and even better 2019!   First off, I want to say thank you to all of you who reached out about our latest SYDP podcast episode with Kiera Dent. I always enjoy hearing about the key takeaways our listeners gain from the show.   After the  minor SYDP hiatus in 2018, it’s great to be back behind the mic and getting to share my conversations with our incredible guests.   One of the best parts about running the ...

Optimizing Your Dental Practice Performance With Kiera Dent

Hey Ambitious dentists! I hope you had a wonderful holiday! Can you believe there's only a week left of 2018? We have a really great SYDP episode for you today, with our previous star guest Kiera Dent rejoining the show sharing how to optimize your dental practice. But first, to address the elephant in the room. You may have noticed it's been relatively quiet on the podcast front this year. I've received dozens of emails asking about the pause of the show, and I couldn't be more grat...

HR Fundamentals With Chris Lessard

When starting your dental practice, the list of things you “need to do” is virtually endless. You need to hire your first employee. You need to setup your website. You need to find the perfect office location. And in all the chaos of getting things up and running, many dentists neglect one of the most important components of successful dental practice. Human Resources. Which is a huge mistake. While HR can often be complicated and overwhelming, the truth is, not having the right foun...

Mastering Dental Insurance 101 with Teresa Duncan

Hello ambitious dentists, Have you ever been to a conference or event and have just one speaker blow you away? Not just because of their knowledge of the subject, but their stage presence as well? While recently attending a course by my friend Jayme Amos, I had the pleasure of hearing Teresa Duncan take the stage and share everything she knew about dental insurance. And she was that one “amazing” speaker for me. As a dental CPA, I’m certainly not an expert when it comes to dental ins...

How Having Emotional Intelligence Can Make You A Better Dentist and Practice Owner

Hello, ambitious dentists, Whether you’re just starting your dental practice career, or have been growing your practice for a while, you probably have experienced the many ups and downs that come with being a practice owner. And the truth is, it’s not easy. As we’ve said many times here on SYDP, there are some things dental school just doesn’t teach you… which is why I’m excited to have today’s guest Dr. Shakila Angadi on the show. Right out of dental school, Dr. Shakila quickly real...

Using The 80/20 Rule For Your Dental Practice With Dr. Graham Dersley

Happy New Years ambitious dentists! I hope you were able to finish 2017 on a strong note, and are ready for a great new year! To kick off the show in 2018, I’m excited to welcome two-time guest DR. Graham Dersley back on SYDP. He’s seen some incredible success since he was last on the show and continues to build the ever popular Practice on Fire community. I think you’ll find his approach on how to build a successful dental practice perfect for starting the new year strong. Here are a ...

Dentistry and Tax Reform On The Dentalprenuer Podcast

Ambitious dentists, Hey ambitious dentists, Jonathan VanHorn here, I hope you have some exciting plans lined up for the holidays and get to enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation. I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by the man, the myth, the legend Dr. Mark Costes himself on the Dentalpreneur Podcast and had a ton of fun. If you have some spare time while you’re preparing meals or out and about shopping, give the interview a listen. The episode is reposted with Dr. Co...

Tracking The Right Metrics And Empowering Your Dental Practice Staff With Kiera Dent

Can we get an encore? Today I am very excited to have dental consultant Kiera Dent back on the SYDP podcast for episode 101. You may remember when we had Kiera on the show for episode 92 where she shared how to choose the right dental consultant for your practice. And since we last talked a few months ago, it’s safe to say she’s done more than most people do in years.  She’s currently involved in a handful of really cool projects, as well as continuing to run her own business, dental pla...

7 Lessons I've Learned from 100+ Hours of Interviewing the World's Best Dental Practice Owners And Consultants

Ambitious dentists, Today I am very excited to share with you episode 100 of the Start Your Dental Practice podcast. What an incredible journey it has been. When I started the SYDP podcast just a few years ago, I had no idea what to expect, and I couldn’t be more happy with the community we have built. I’m incredibly grateful for the support of the DentistMetrics team, my friends and family, the amazing guests, and all those who have tuned into SYDP. I’ve learned a lot over the last f...

Dental Practice Management In Your Pocket With Dr. Dolby

Hello ambitious dentists, Today I’m very excited to share with you my conversation with Dr. Mike Dolby, founder of Practice in Your Pocket which helps you clearly understand the areas in which your dental practice is underperforming through leveraging technology. A practicing dentist himself, Dr. Dolby has an incredibly unique take on what it takes to build a successful practice in the year 2017, and he holds nothing back into today’s interview. Here are a few things you'll discover in...

HR Fundamentals For Your Dental Practice

Hello ambitious dentists, Today I have a fantastic interview with Samantha Leonard co-founder of Stream Dental which provides services to help dentists solve the age-old problem of HR. For most dentists, HR remains an unsolved mystery and if we’re being honest, is very often an afterthought in the endless list of todos throughout your day. Heck, despite being so important, even simply defining HR can be a struggle for many dentists. But it’s no secret, human resources are important, an...

Living The Dream: Dr. Ashley Joves' Journey To Running Her Successful Dental Practice

Hello ambitious dentists, For many dental practice owners, running a practice is often a lifelong dream. Despite the thousands of hours of education and hard work, there’s no better feeling than knowing you help your patients ultimately live a better life. But as we know, the journey to running a practice is filled with both ups and downs, and you don’t always get to hear about everything that goes into making a dream, reality. Which is why I’m so excited to share today’s incredibly in...

Podcasts of Dentistry With Dr. Panks Dhingra

Hey, ambitious dentists, I have a really special treat for you today. Today, I’m on the other side of the mic yet again with Dr. Panks Dhingra. Dr. Dhingra and I recently became friends, when he reached out to learn a little more about the “dental podcasting community.” And he has recently launched a really cool platform called Podcasts of Dentistry. Basically, it’s like a search engine where you can find all of your favorite podcasts by dental professionals by searching their name on ...

The Alan Mead Experience

[This interview was published with permission from Alan Mead] Interested in attending the voices of the dentistry event? Use vod200 get 200 dollars off of 897 -- the discount goes until October 18th. Hey ambitious dentists,  I recently had a great time being on the other side of the mic with Alan Mead on the Alan Mead Dental Experience podcast. Alan Mead likely doesn't need much of introduction, as he's one of the most respected people in the dental industry and is a cohost of the very...

Why You Need To Take Time Off

Hey ambitious dentists, I have a super short episode for you today, but I think the message is incredibly powerful. Today I wanted to share a few quick thoughts on the power of vacation. It's no secret that building a successful dental practice requires a ton of time and energy, but I genuinely believe taking time off can be a powerful tool to not only recharge but also come back fresh and motivated when you return. So if you are one of those dentists who could use a little break, I th...

Do You REALLY Need A Dental CPA?

Hey ambitious dentists, I hope you had a relaxing Labor Day weekend and were able to put your extra day off to good use. I know I really enjoyed spending time with family and friends.   Today I wanted to share a self-hosted episode where I talk about the differences between a general CPA and a dental CPA, and how to choose which one is right for you.   Over the last few months, I've noticed a slight uptick in the amount of emails I've received asking for which route to take.   ...

How To Increase Your Case Acceptance Through Intelligent Dental Intel

Hey Ambitious Dentists, I have a really exciting interview for you today, with the one and only Weston Lunsford, CEO of Dental Intel… Dental Intel is one of the most popular tools used by dentists to help track the metrics and numbers that matter, so you can focus on dentistry. In addition to running Dental Intel, Weston is very active in the dental community and is always looking for ways to help dentists make breakthroughs in their practice. As a numbers guy myself, I couldn’t be m...

Quality Patient Financing For Your Dental Practice

Ever run into this problem? A patient comes into your office with a major tooth ache. Within minutes you know they need a procedure done. Problem is… the procedure is a bit on the expensive side. You explain the situation to your patient, and the patient agrees, they WANT the treatment... But simply can’t afford the cost. So they ask you to do the minimal amount to make the pain go away. Of course, within a few months, they will be back sitting in the chair right where they started. T...

How To Build A Top Performing Team For Your Dental Practice

Whether you’re just about to start your dental practice or looking to take your current practice to the next level, it all starts with building a good team. In dental school, you learned how to fill a cavity and spent thousands of hours studying dentistry… but I’m guessing you didn’t have to take a course on how to build a great team. Which is why I’m so excited to introduce today’s guest  Alex Nottingham, CEO of All-Star Dental Academy. For those of you who haven’t heard of Alex, he i...

How To Choose The Right Consultant For Your Dental Practice With Kiera Dent

How To Acquire A Dental Practice Part 2

Today I'm really excited to be sharing part two of my self-hosted episode on how to acquire a dental practice. There's a lot that goes into buying a practice successfully, and in today's episode, I'll expand on what it takes to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. If you enjoy these self-hosted episodes, be sure to let me know what you would like me to cover in the future and I will do my best to do so! We also only have a few more weeks to enter the "4 Books Every Dentist Mu...

Nifty Thrifty Dentists - Time Tested Strategies For Building A Successful Dental Practice

One of my favorite ways to stay “up to date” with the dental industry is to be active in a few high-value Facebook groups. And though “social media” often gets a bad rap for being a waste of time, I often find the discussions and comments highly valuable. When done correctly, Facebook groups help you stay on top of the latest trends and build meaningful connections with other dentists and professionals. Were it not for Facebook groups, I wouldn’t be introducing today’s two very special g...

How To Acquire A Dental Practice 101

As we gear up for some exciting new changes coming to the SYDP podcast, I wanted to share a self-hosted episode I put together discussing everything you need to know about how to acquire a dental practice. Having talked with dozens of dentists about the process, I think you'll find this solo episode a great resource if you're in the process of acquiring your first practice or needing some guidance. Even if you've already had a few acquisitions under your belt, I cover some common mistake...

How To Negotiate Your Dental Practice Lease Like A Pro

Aside from graduating dental school, there are very few moments in the course of your dental career that are more important than when you sign the lease for your 1st (or 3rd) dental practice location. It’s scary. It’s exciting. And if we’re being honest, a little overwhelming. Did you pay too much? Did you choose the right location? Did you protect yourself legally if anything goes wrong? At the same time, purchasing a practice means you have tremendous opportunity to grow and scale yo...

How To Pay Off Your Student Loans With Travis Hornsby

Chances are if you’re listening to this podcast, you have some student loan debt. Having worked exclusively with dentists for most of my professional career, it’s not common for me to see aspiring practice owners coming out of school with 400-500k in student loan debt, and that’s only for a dental license! While we can debate whether or not the large costs are justified, the reality is, without a student loan plan of attack, you’ll be stuck making payments for the rest of your life. Wh...

How To Create, Organize, And Automate Your In-House Dental Practice Membership Plan With Jordan Comstock

According to recent statistics, 55% of American’s don’t have dental insurance. And if your practice is only serving the 45% of patients that do, you’re leaving a ton of money (and profit) on the table. One way to serve those without insurance is to offer an in-house membership plan, but when done improperly, it can often be more of a headache than a plus. Fortunately, there’s a method to the madness when it comes to in-house membership plans, which is why I’m excited to have today’s gues...

Mastering The Art of Dental Insurance, Negotiation, And Carrier Relationship Management With Harold Gornbein

As technology continues to transform the dental industry, the world of insurance and credentialing has become increasingly complex. As a result, dentists are spending more and more of their valuable time trying to figure things out. And if we’re being honest, most dentists don’t exactly get excited about dealing with insurance and properly codifying their services. Which is why I’m so excited about today’s SYDP guest Harold Gornbein, Harold is the founder of Apex Reimbursement Specialist...

How To Create A Family Friendly Dental Practice With Dr. Darold Opp

One of the best parts about running the Start Your Dental Practice podcast is all the interesting opportunities that it has created for me, both personally and professionally. I get emails and phone calls from listeners all the time sharing their successes, failures, and all the big things they want to accomplish. It’s such a great feeling and an incredible honor. On occasion, some listeners will reach out in hopes of coming on the show and to pitch their latest product or service, but a...

How To Transform Your Dental Practice Through Office Design With Cheryl Janis

There are many things that go into building a successful dental practice. Good marketing helps get patients in the door. A high-quality team makes sure things run smoothly. And delivering great service ensures your patients leave happy. But there’s a huge factor, that many small businesses owners, especially dental practices, often neglect, that can have a huge impact on your bottom line. What’s that? Your office design. Look, the second your patients step into your office, you w...

Dental SEO That Works With Justin Morgan

We all know, getting on the front page of Google or Bing can have a huge impact on your business, especially when it comes to getting more patients in the chair. But how exactly can you improve your practices SEO? That’s not quite as clear. With no shortage of SEO advice and grand promises from shady marketers, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction with regard to SEO. Which is why I always love talking with marketers and SEO experts who have the results to show. Justin Mo...

How to Grow Your Dental Practice to Six Million a Year in Collections

Anyone can grow a successful practice with the right strategy, attitude, and a little bit of luck. I truly believe that. But being a dentist is about more than just padding your pockets. It’s about service. It’s about community. It’s about making a difference, while also building a life of financial freedom. No one starts their dental practice wanting to just get by. But unfortunately, that’s exactly where many practices end up. And I want to help change that. Of course, everyone has d...

How To Invest In Your 401K The Right Way If You’re A Dental Practice Owner With Tom Zgainer Part II

It turns out, many dentist practice owners need help getting their retirement plans in order, based on the incredible response we received from SYDP 75 with Tom Zgainer from America’s Best 401k. I received dozens of personal emails from SYDP listeners saying how informative the episode was and how it really helped them to start thinking about their future. And I wanted to have Tom back on the show to dive deeper. In today’s episode, we get a little more technical and go in depth on eve...

How To Work Less While Still Growing Your Dental Practice With Justin Short

Do you count down the seconds on the clock until you can go home? Are you feeling burned out with all the work you’re putting into your dental practice? Do you feel like you have no time for anything else? If you’re like most dental practice owners, you probably answered yes. Look… everyone has a different reason for starting a dental practice, and while it is incredibly rewarding at times, it’s also a never-ending grind. Make no mistake, running a successful practice is hard work, but...

Episode 77: Dental Practice Marketing - The Power of Patient Reviews With Dr. Shawn Van De Vyver

As a dental practice owner trying to grow your business, you’re always on the lookout for new ways to get patients in the door. But let’s be honest, with so many options, it can be just a little bit overwhelming. I’ve even experienced this myself, with my business DentistMetrics. How many times have you heard the following from a friend or colleague. “You need to be on Facebook.” “You need to be running Google ads.” “You need to be on Instagram… Snapchat.. Or the latest marketing...

How To Increase Your Recurring Revenue For Your Dental Practice With Dr. John Montoya

One of the hardest parts about running a dental practice is keeping a consistent revenue stream coming in month after month. Some months you might do great.. And the next month.. Not so much. This often leads to an incredible amount of stress and lost productivity. Of course, you can always ramp up your marketing and referral efforts, but sometimes that’s just not enough. Fortunately there are other ways to ensure the lights stay on while staying sane. Today I’m excited to share my c...

Crafting The Perfect Retirement Plan As A Dental Practice Owner with Tom Zgainer

As we say time and time again here at Start Your Dental Practice, building a successful practice is many years of hard work. And where there’s no shortage of tips and strategies to help take your practice to the next level.. There’s something that isn’t often talked about in the dental space. The topic? Retirement. Look, even if you just graduated and are just now beginning your journey.. Or if you’ve been at it for a decade -- it’s never too early (or too late) to get your ducks in ...

The Millennial Effect: How To Grow Your Dental Practice In A Millennial Focused World With Dr. Sullivan

You don’t need a dental CPA who runs a podcast to tell you that the world of dentistry is changing. And changing fast. New ways to market, constantly changing best practices, and an increasingly competitive landscape. And for the millennials who are just getting out of school, things can get a little overwhelming. While corporate dentistry is thriving, if you want to start and grow your practice today you better be prepared to join the Wild Wild West.. But the truth is, with the right ...