The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes

2555: Fired Up but Going Nowhere- Turn Today into the Day Everything Actually Changes

On today's episode, Dr. Summer Kassmel takes the stage at the Dental Success Summit to help dentists and their teams turn inspiration into real, lasting change. She shares why so many practice owners get caught in the "someday trap," waiting for the right associate, production number, or season of life before building the practice and lifestyle they truly want. Dr. Kassmel breaks down the three keys to fighting the pull of status quo: getting clear on what you want and why it matters, understanding the short-term price of meaningful change, and leading first as the doctor or practice leader. She also offers a practical communication framework for holding standards with grace, creating alignment, and choosing one focused "Monday move" that can help transform your practice for good. 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]

2554: Evolve - Thriving in Dentistry's New Reality

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes delivers his main stage presentation during the 13th Annual Dental Success Summit, using the story of Jerry the lobster as a powerful metaphor for growth, vulnerability, and the need to shed old ways of operating. Mark reflects on his own journey through academic challenges, practice ownership, burnout, and reinvention, then connects those lessons to the current state of dentistry. He breaks down the major headwinds facing the profession, including staffing shortages, rising wages, flat PPO reimbursements, declining practice ownership, margin compression, burnout, and the growing divide between elite independent practices and those stuck in the middle. Mark also introduces the frameworks DSI uses to help dentists build stronger systems, better leadership, healthier lives, and more scalable practices, reminding owners that what got them here will not get them where they want to go next. 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]

2553: Inside a High Tech Dental Practice Built for Education

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Brett Titensor live from Thrive Live 2026 to talk about digital dentistry, technology, and building a practice designed for the future. Brett shares what it was like taking over from his father, working alongside him for 10 years, and bringing new technology into a second-generation practice. He discusses his passion for same-day crowns, guided implants, 3D printing, surgical guides, full-arch workflows, and how delegating digital processes to the team can make advanced dentistry more efficient and scalable. Brett also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the new facility he is building in the Dallas area, which will combine a dental practice with an education center where dentists can see real workflows from start to finish in a live clinical setting. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES * https://www.titensordental.com [https://www.titensordental.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]

2552: Paying Yourself & The Influence You Have Pt. 2

On today's episode, this Part 2 conversation features Jake Conway continuing his April 2026 Mastermind presentation with a deeper look at hygiene performance, owner compensation, cash flow strategy, and practice valuation. Jake explains how hygiene production impacts payroll, fixed costs, doctor production, and overall profitability, while showing how KPIs like perio percentage, fluoride, open hygiene time, exam mix, and production-to-pay ratios can reveal the true causes behind underperformance. He also outlines how owners can think about paying themselves as both clinicians and owner-operators, including W-2 salary, distributions, gap pay, break-even targets, and capital reserves. The session wraps with a practical look at practice valuations, adjusted net income, EBITDA, doctor-to-doctor sales, and how owner production can directly influence the value of a practice in a DSO or private equity transaction. 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]

2551: Paying Yourself & The Influence You Have Pt. 1

On today's episode, this Part 1 conversation features Jake Conway presenting during the April 2026 Mastermind and breaking down how practice owners can better understand the numbers that drive their income. Jake explains why a dental practice should be viewed as a source of information rather than an ATM, and how overhead is not a destination but a measurement of how well the office is being run. He walks through the difference between fixed and variable costs, the symptom-cause-solution approach to diagnosing financial issues, and how management reporting differs from tax reporting. Jake also reviews how cash flows through a practice, from collections and overhead to available funds, and encourages owners to use their reports as investigative tools to identify opportunities, improve decision-making, and create more influence over their pay. 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]