Clinical Confessions

Building a High-Tech Dental Practice from Scratch

In this episode, Dr. Meena Barsoum sits down with Dr. Shant Aharonian, a Los Angeles-based cosmetic and restorative dentist, to share how he launched a scratch startup practice during COVID and scaled it using digital dentistry and 3D printing. You’ll learn: ✅ How Dr. Shant built a high-tech practice from the ground up ✅ Why he invested in scanners, mills, and 3D printers from day one ✅ The role of SprintRay Pro2 and Midas in delivering same-day dentistry ✅ How digital workflows like intraoral scanning, CAD/CAM, and AI-driven software change the patient experience ✅ Lessons for new grads and seasoned dentists about adopting technology and staying adaptable 👉 If you’re curious about digital dentistry, CAD/CAM, 3D printing, or running a modern dental startup, this episode is packed with insights you can use in your own practice. 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY] – Introduction 01:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=60s] – Dr. Shant’s background: USC, early exposure to CAD/CAM & digital dentistry 03:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=220s] – Starting a scratch practice in Burbank during COVID 07:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=420s] – Going all-in on digital from day one: scanners, mills & 3D printing 10:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=630s] – Financing, startup risks & investing in technology first 13:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=780s] – Growing through patient experience & digital workflows 21:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=1260s] – Technology investments: trios, Omnicam, CBCT 25:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=1500s] – Challenges of leaving associateships & going all-in on ownership 28:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=1680s] – Early struggles, temptations to quit & how Dr. Shant pushed through 31:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=1860s] – Balancing practice growth with lecturing & teaching digital dentistry 34:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=2040s] – How Midas changed his approach to restorative dentistry 38:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=2310s] – Same-day workflows & the future of additive manufacturing in dentistry 43:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=2580s] – The rise of AI, cloud-based CAD, and the “liberation of CAD” 49:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=2970s] – Dr. Shant's advice to new grads and dentists entering digital dentistry 51:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrA3Ig7iqY&t=3060s] – Closing thoughts & takeaways