The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes

2540: Life Is Just A Bunch Of Relationships

On today's episode, Dr. Allen Gotora shares a powerful message on why relationships are the hidden KPI behind every successful dental practice. Drawing from his own life-changing experience as a high school student in Zimbabwe, where relationships helped him raise funds for a United Nations trip to Sweden, he explains how connection, trust, and intentional communication shape every major outcome in business and life. He breaks down five key relationship pillars: self, family, team, partners and vendors, and patients. From prioritizing health, spirituality, and self-awareness to protecting family time, nurturing your team, strengthening vendor relationships, and creating deeper patient trust, this episode challenges dentists to look beyond production, collections, and case acceptance to the relationships driving those numbers. Dr. Allen reminds listeners that when life is all said and done, it will not be the KPIs we remember most, but the people closest to us and the connections we built along the way. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES * https://www.truedentalsuccess.com [https://www.truedentalsuccess.com/] * Dental Success Network [https://www.dentalsuccessnetwork.com/] * Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dentalpreneur-podcast-become/id983666208?mt=2&ls=1]

2539: Helping Dentists Rediscover Joy in Practice

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Doug and Catherine Fettig live from Thrive Live 2026 in Vegas for a conversation on mindset, leadership, and improving the dental experience for both teams and patients. Doug shares how dentists can begin thinking more like CEOs, avoid becoming the bottleneck in their practices, and use simple habits like gratitude and generosity journaling to shift their mindset and rediscover joy in the profession. Catherine brings her decades of healthcare and psychiatric mental health experience to the dental space, explaining how dental anxiety impacts patients, teams, and overall practice productivity. She breaks down practical ways practices can support anxious patients before, during, and after appointments through better communication, calming environments, screening tools, and giving patients more choice and control. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES * https://www.dentaldollarsandsense.com [https://www.dentaldollarsandsense.com] * https://www.truedentalsuccess.com [https://www.truedentalsuccess.com/] * Dental Success Network [https://www.dentalsuccessnetwork.com/] * Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dentalpreneur-podcast-become/id983666208?mt=2&ls=1]

2538: You Were Trained To Fix Teeth. Nobody Trained You To Run A Business

On today's episode, Dr. Bill Keith speaks during the April 2026 Mastermind about shifting from the clinical brain to the CEO brain and why practice owners must learn to zoom out, identify patterns, and build teams that can surface problems before they become costly. Drawing from examples in aviation, Toyota manufacturing, hospital operating rooms, Southwest Airlines, and the Challenger disaster, he explains how the people closest to the work often hold the most important information, yet may not feel safe or empowered to speak up. The episode explores how dentists can create psychological safety, use one-on-ones and anonymous feedback, encourage team members to "pull the cord," and build systems that move knowledge from the front lines to leadership. Dr. Keith challenges owners to stop being the hero who solves every issue and instead develop a culture where the team is trusted, heard, and equipped to help the practice grow. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES * https://www.truedentalsuccess.com [https://www.truedentalsuccess.com/] * Dental Success Network [https://www.dentalsuccessnetwork.com/] * Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dentalpreneur-podcast-become/id983666208?mt=2&ls=1]

2537: Oil, Gas, and the New Rules of Economic Uncertainty

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Troy Eckard for a timely conversation on oil and gas, global energy uncertainty, and how current geopolitical tensions are reshaping investor strategy. Troy shares his perspective on the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz, rising oil prices, and why fossil fuels remain critical despite the ongoing push toward alternative energy. He also breaks down why many investors are frozen right now, how inflation and deflationary behavior may affect the broader economy, and why cash flow, liquidity, and real assets matter in uncertain times. The conversation also touches on AI's growing role in oil and gas, from improving drilling accuracy to reducing costs and streamlining data analysis, as well as Troy's advice for investors looking to protect wealth and stay prepared for future opportunities. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES * https://eckardenterprises.com [https://eckardenterprises.com] * https://www.truedentalsuccess.com [https://www.truedentalsuccess.com/] * Dental Success Network [https://www.dentalsuccessnetwork.com/] * Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dentalpreneur-podcast-become/id983666208?mt=2&ls=1]

2536: Why Patient Experience Wins in a Competitive Market

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Parth Patel, owner of Revive Dental in Alpharetta, Georgia, to unpack his journey from associate dentist to owner of a thriving fee-for-service practice. Dr. Patel shares how his early exposure to different practice models helped him clarify the kind of dentistry he wanted to build, one centered on comprehensive care, patient relationships, and a high-touch experience. The conversation explores the realities of staying out of network, how his team communicates value to patients with PPO benefits, and why alignment in language, systems, and culture is critical from the first phone call through long-term retention. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the importance of vision, intentional growth, premium patient experience, and building a practice that can scale without sacrificing identity. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES * https://revivemysmile.com [https://revivemysmile.com] * https://www.truedentalsuccess.com [https://www.truedentalsuccess.com/] * Dental Success Network [https://www.dentalsuccessnetwork.com/] * Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dentalpreneur-podcast-become/id983666208?mt=2&ls=1]