Podcast
The Dental Marketer
Hosted by Michael Arias · EN
dental marketing ideas and strategies to attract quality patients to dentist.
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From Stolen Idea to Media Win: A Founder’s Lesson in Fast Action | David Jenyns | FF
3w agoTap to summarizeHave you ever felt devastated when someone beat you to a brilliant idea? In this episode of Fail Forward, David Jenyns talks about his venture of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) wood sale and how it got hijacked by a stranger who went on to become a close friend. While you unwind the twist and turns in his story, you'll realize how acting quickly on your ideas can prevent others from beating you to the punch. This episode provides concrete proof that it's not about who came up with the idea first; it's about who took the initiative and executed it effectively. Dive in to learn about turning disappointments into wins and even long-term friendships!Listen to David's Other Episodes Here:302: David Jenyns | SYSTEMology: Create Time, Reduce Errors and Scale Your Profits with Proven Business Systems – The Dental Marketer PodcastConquer Resistance: Empower Your Team with Effective System Strategies | David Jenyns | MME – The Dental Marketer PodcastHost: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →Transparent Pricing: How Insurance-Free Dental Practices Build Patient Trust | Dr. Parth Kansagra | 607
3w agoTap to summarizeCan you still win patient loyalty when you walk away from insurance contracts?Dr. Parth Kansagra did just that, launching a premium-priced, insurance-free dental practice in Orange County against all conventional wisdom. Dr. Kansagra shares why he walked away from burnout and chose the hard road of building a practice on his own terms, leaning on his MBA skills, strong patient communication, and a vision for comprehensive patient care.He unpacks the pivotal moment that inspired him to drop insurances cold turkey, then takes us behind the scenes of his high-touch transition: spending months meeting every patient face-to-face to personally explain the new model. Dr. Kansagra gets real about the financial and emotional stress of entrepreneurship, how losing insurance-driven patients opened doors for true cosmetic-focused care, and the steps he took to make premium pricing feel trustworthy with transparent menus, longer exams, and even a six-year warranty. Listen in for honest lessons on patient relationships, marketing that actually works, and how building real trust became his not-so-secret advantage.What You'll Learn in This Episode:How dropping insurance transformed patient relationships and practice cultureStrategies for communicating change and building trust with existing patientsThe financial realities and risks of going insurance-free from day oneWhy personalized attention became the cornerstone of Dr. Kansagra’s approachTips for converting bargain-seekers into loyal, high-value patientsUnexpected growth tactics: Groupon whitening offers, memberships, and “social media scholarships”Building a transparent fee structure including warranties and easy refund policiesThe importance of direct doctor access (and giving out his Google number!)How “banked” membership plans and referral networks can drive real growthPress play to learn how Dr. Kansagra builds real trust in his practice!Sponsors:Oryx: All-In-One Cloud-Based Dental Software Created by Dentists for Dentists. Patient engagement, clinical, and practice management software that helps your dental practice grow without compromise. Click or copy and paste the link here for a special offer! https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/oryx/Click here for a special offer!Guest: Dr. Parth KansagraPractice Name: Bespoke Dental StudiosCheck out Parth's Media:Practice: https://bespokedentalstudios.com/Juma (Heathcare Wallet for Patients): https://getjuma.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.parthk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drparthkansagra/Host: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →When Disaster Hits: Keeping Your Dental Practice Open After a Flood | Dr. Sonny Spera | FF
4w agoTap to summarizeWhat would you do if your high-performing practice was flooded and couldn't operate?Dr. Sonny Spera faced exactly this in 2006 when a disastrous flood wiped out one of his three dental offices. Amid the chaos, Dr. Spera showed exemplary leadership by ensuring no team member lost hours and every patient received their care. The key? Pioneering solutions, resilience, and a shared commitment to their dental family. Dive into this episode to discover how, even when catastrophe strikes your practice, you can roll up your sleeves and pave your own path forward. Gain insights on turning disaster into a strengthening growth experience. Listen now to learn how to handle unexpected setbacks while preserving your team's stability and commitment.Listen to Sonny's Other Episodes Here:340: Dr. Sonny Spera | Progressive Dental – The Dental Marketer PodcastMMM [Insurance] If You Want To Cut Out Your Worst Paying Insurances, Do This! – The Dental Marketer PodcastHost: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →Keeping Peace and Profit in a Spouse-Owned Dental Office | Eva Baughman | 606
4w agoTap to summarizeCan you protect both your marriage and your margins while building a dental practice from scratch?In this episode, Eva Baughman of Clearwater Dentistry in Greeley, Colorado, shares the behind-the-scenes story of launching a practice with her husband just before the pandemic hit and how she transitioned from a non-dental background to becoming the financial strategist their office needed. Eva unpacks the path her husband took from serving as a military dentist in Germany to stepping into ownership for the freedom to care for patients on his own terms. This journey demanded Eva step in, shoulder-to-shoulder, to shape the practice into a sustainable, patient-focused team.Central to this conversation is Eva’s candid look at managing insurance-heavy operations in a brand-new community. She walks us through her step-by-step approach to mastering local demographics, mapping employer insurance plans, and using those insights to negotiate stronger PPO contracts, sidestepping third-party headaches wherever possible. Eva also details her hands-on methods for tracking expenses, building airtight claims systems, and empowering her team (all while protecting work-life boundaries as both a spouse and business partner.) Whether you’re a dental entrepreneur, office manager, or anyone seeking better insurance and cash flow management, Eva’s real-life experiences offer practical takeaways for turning your practice from stressful to sustainable.What You'll Learn in This Episode:How to objectively assess your local market and maximize insurance contracting power.Ways to prevent insurance from controlling the patient conversation and keep care patient-centered.Smart strategies for tracking practice expenses and improving cash flow predictability.How to build a claims system that minimizes rejections and supports faster payments.The benefits of negotiating direct PPO contracts and periodically reassessing terms.Why understanding insurer requirements leads to better documentation and estimates.Tips for hiring and team-building in a startup practice.Navigating the unique dynamics of running a spouse-owned office.Setting boundaries to protect your family time while still growing your practice.Tune in now to hear Eva's story on building a practice from scratch with her husband and the ins and outs of everyday operations!Sponsors:Net32: Founded by a dentist, for dentists. Net32 is the leading online marketplace for dental supplies, helping dental and medical professionals save on high-quality products for over 25 years. Start saving today at: https://www.net32.com/dentalmarketerClick here for a special offer!Guest: Eva BaughmanPractice Name: Clearwater DentistryCheck out Eva's Media:Practice: https://clearwaterdentistry.net/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eva_baughman14/Email: evabrigitte14@gmail.comDental Spouses in Business Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17Tw64FJiu/Host: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →Redefining Boundaries: Are You Being Compassionate with Your Team or Avoiding Conflict? | Dr. Adrian Cummins | FF
May 4Tap to summarizeCould you be mistaking tolerance for compassion as a practice owner? In this Fail Forward episode, Dr. Adrian Cummins from Cummins Dental Group shares a critical setback he experienced in his practice due to a lack of firm boundaries and leadership clarity. Listen as he illuminates how tolerating substandard performances led to not just revenue loss, but a depletion of peace and time, which act as the backbone of every flourishing practice. He shows how he turned confrontations into clarity, creating firm boundaries, making standards concrete, and utilizing leadership meetings effectively to foster accountability. If you're looking to grow your practice and your team without compromising your peace of mind, this episode is a must-listen!Listen to Adrian's Other Episodes Here:328: Dr. Adrian Cummins | Cummins Dental Group – The Dental Marketer Podcast"What is 1 thing You Wish You Knew Before You Opened Your Start-up/ Acquisition?" – The Dental Marketer PodcastHost: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →AI Is Already Sending Patients to Dental Offices (And Most Dentists Don’t Realize It Yet) | 605
Apr 30Tap to summarizeHow are patients really finding their next dentist? It’s not through endless Googling anymore.This episode uncovers a dramatic shift: instead of comparing offices online, more people are now simply asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini, "Who should I call for dental implants or a toothache?" The AI returns just a couple of names, and with zero hesitation, patients make the call (often within a minute.)Michael breaks down real data from CallRail, revealing how these AI-fueled phone calls, though still a small percentage, represent a wave of ultra-high-intent patients who skip traditional browsing and choose the first AI-recommended office. You'll discover which tools are actually driving these calls (hint: ChatGPT is leading by a landslide), why this trend mirrors the early rise of smartphone searches, and why it pays to make your practice information clear, consistent, and ready for action. If you want your phone to ring next time someone asks AI to help find them a dentist, this episode is your essential guide.What You'll Learn in This Episode:How AI chat tools are redesigning the path patients take to choose a dentistThe latest CallRail data showing real-world AI-generated business callsWhich AI tools (like ChatGPT and Perplexity) are influencing dental patient decisionsWhy AI-referred calls are more likely to be high-intent (and how that matters)How this shift compares to the early days of mobile searchPractical steps to make your dental practice more "AI-ready"The importance of consistent business listings and clear service descriptionsWhy answering your phone quickly matters more than everHow tracking calls can help you see which marketing sources are workingWhat other industries are doing as AI changes the referral landscapeDon’t get left behind! Hit play now to make sure your dental practice is ready for the new era of AI-driven patient calls.Sponsors:CallRail: Call tracking + AI that turns calls into campaigns that convert, quality patients, and cost savings. Click our link to start a free trial today! https://sta.mx/vz69Click here for a special offer!Check Out the Article From This Episode (Updated with More Data):Article: https://www.callrail.com/blog/20m-calls-reveal-future-of-customer-discoveryHost: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Subscribe on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →Transitioning Ownership to Your Associate: When the Sale Falls Apart | Dr. David Phelps | FF
Apr 27Tap to summarizeHave you considered selling your practice to your associate? Listen to this episode before you do!This episode of the "Fail Forward" series takes you on a journey with Dr. David Phelps, as he shares a significant setback he faced in selling his practice, where due to his hurried decision, he ended up selling to an associate with excellent clinical skills, but lacking business knowledge. This lack of insight led to volatility and loss of staff and patients; forcing him to retake control. But the silver lining? This was a transformational moment that pressured him to take a different approach in recruitment and empowering associates while gradually transitioning into ownership, resulting in the sale he aimed at. Listening to this episode will teach you how to navigate associate transitions more effectively while avoiding common pitfalls.Listen to David's Other Episodes Here:361: Dr. David Phelps | The Best & Worst Things You Can Do as a Practice Owner Who's Trying to Accumulate Wealth – The Dental Marketer PodcastHost: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →Building a Local Dental Brand That Stands Out in Any Location | Dr. Chaz Vittitow | 604
Apr 23Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to turn a neighborhood dental practice into a must-visit brand no matter the competition next door?In this episode, Dr. Chaz Vittitow shares the real story of launching and growing The Local Dentist in a market packed with competitors all while balancing family life with four kids and navigating today’s unique challenges for dentists. Chaz explains the origin of his practice’s name and how it shaped everything from branding to partnering with local businesses. He also digs into the seldom-discussed realities: intense staffing pressures, skyrocketing expenses, and the myth that owning a practice guarantees financial success.Chaz reveals how he grew by aggressively marketing, earning patient referrals, and, most notably, breaking free from PPO insurance networks, once facing $500–$600K annual write-offs on $1.1M collected. He delivers a practical guide for dropping insurance: scripting patient conversations, offering membership alternatives, and controlling the story to retain quality care (and your best patients). Through powerful communication tweaks and lessons learned on team-building, leadership, and profitability, Chaz equips us with a blueprint to build not just a profitable practice, but a truly resilient one.What You'll Learn in This Episode:How to craft a dental brand that resonates in your community and stands outThe key differences (and new complexities) of dental ownership today versus prior generationsCreative growth strategies for practices in saturated markets, from ground-level marketing to referral systemsWhy and how to drop insurance networks without losing your patient base (or your mind)The real financial impact of insurance write-offs (and how to regain control)Step-by-step tactics for transitioning patients off PPO plans, minimizing attrition and complaintsTransformative language and communication shifts that boost case acceptance and patient loyaltyOperational insights: hiring, team training, profitability strategies, and smart tech adoptionTune in to learn how Dr. Chaz builds an unstoppable brand that resonates with his local community!Sponsors:Net32: Founded by a dentist, for dentists. Net32 is the leading online marketplace for dental supplies, helping dental and medical professionals save on high-quality products for over 25 years. Start saving today at: https://www.net32.com/dentalmarketerClick here for a special offer!Oryx: All-In-One Cloud-Based Dental Software Created by Dentists for Dentists. Patient engagement, clinical, and practice management software that helps your dental practice grow without compromise. Click or copy and paste the link here for a special offer! https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/oryx/Click here for a special offer!Guest: Dr. Chaz VittitowPractice Name: The Local DentistCheck out Chaz's Media:Practice: https://localdentistbellingham.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/localdentist_bham/The Dental Jumpstart YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJvqs2_HMAkGq2ki__Gv-jQHost: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →Have The Talk: Mastering Difficult Conversations with Your Team | Dr. Paul Etchison | FF
Apr 20Tap to summarizeFeeling a rift between your team and struggling on how to address it? Join Dr. Paul Etchison of the Dental Practice Heroes Podcast as he recounts a challenging situation that sparked real change in his practice. Sharing his story of tension between the front desk and clinical teams, Paul opens up about stalling, fumbling, and ultimately succeeding in having a much-needed conversation. He reveals how the magic of validating one's perspective (even without agreeing completely) can bring down walls and pave the way for constructive solutions. Tap into this episode if you want to improve your communication, leadership skills, and overall practice dynamics! You'll learn that difficult conversations are not obstacles but the gateway to better relationships, growth, and success in your dental practice.Check out Paul's Media:Website: https://www.dentalpracticeheroes.com/Podcast: https://www.dentalpracticeheroes.com/podcastListen to Paul's Other Episodes Here:479: Are You on the Road to Effective Dental Leadership? The Blueprint for Teamwork | Dr. Paul Etchison – The Dental Marketer Podcast300: Dr. Paul Etchison | Nelson Ridge Family Dental – The Dental Marketer PodcastMMM [Internal Marketing] Small Details That Make a Big Difference in Team Communication – The Dental Marketer PodcastThe First Episode of 2023 & The Advice and Reflections Some of Our Guests Have Had! – The Dental Marketer Podcast"What is 1 thing You Wish You Knew Before You Opened Your Start-up/ Acquisition?" – The Dental Marketer Podcast455: Dr. Paul Etchison | Achieving Peace of Mind: Embracing Delegation for a Harmonious Dental Team – The Dental Marketer PodcastHost: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
Transcribe →Bridging Front and Back: The Critical Role of Patient Care Coordinators | Dr. Jaspreet Gill | 603
Apr 16Tap to summarizeDiscover the practice-changing power of a unified team guiding every patient from check-in to checkout!In this episode, Dr. Jaspreet Gill opens up about the mental and strategic balancing act of guiding Countryside Smiles, sharing how time, patient experience, and ROI intertwine in daily decisions around hiring, technology, and workflow design. You'll hear firsthand how the focus shifted from setting up operations to facing nuanced choices: should you invest in tech, hire another team member, or build the next system to scale? Dr. Gill brings clarity to what it means to “pick your headaches wisely,” ensuring every move supports both the patients and her team.What sets her practice apart? Around year two, Dr. Gill rewrote the playbook by unifying the traditionally divided front and back office, creating patient care coordinators who guide each person seamlessly from intake through billing and beyond. This personalized model, made possible with cloud-based tech and a hand-picked team, eliminates friction and elevates quality care. She dives into performance-based incentives, salary solutions to retain talent, and hyperlocal marketing, all while sustaining profit, minimizing turnover, and keeping compassion at the center. Whether you’re a new practice owner or aiming to future-proof your office, Dr. Gill’s candid insights and tested strategies offer a blueprint for sustainable and human-centered growth!What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How to evaluate owner-level decisions for ROI in time, money, and care qualityThe step-by-step breakdown of a patient care coordinator workflow modelStrategies for reducing communication gaps between clinical and administrative staffWhy selective hiring and performance-based bonuses matter for retentionHow to implement cloud-based systems for efficiency and fewer software headachesApproaches to detailed insurance verification for upfront financial transparencySecrets to profitable marketing within your immediate community radiusTips for managing team compensation and benefits to lower turnoverBuilding a brand rooted in personal connection: asking patients “What’s your story?”Ready for practical strategies that put people before processes? Listen now for real-world lessons on practice ownership!Sponsors:Net32: Founded by a dentist, for dentists. Net32 is the leading online marketplace for dental supplies, helping dental and medical professionals save on high-quality products for over 25 years. Start saving today at: https://www.net32.com/dentalmarketerClick here for a special offer!Guest: Dr. Jaspreet GillPractice Name: Countryside SmilesCheck out Jaspreet's Media:Practice: https://countrysidesmiles.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CountrysidesmilesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/countrysidesmiles/Host: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer SocietyLove the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod
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