The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
The goal of this podcast is to assemble the greatest minds of the dental profession and to pass on their most valuable and succinct lessons, in order to help you to achieve your full potential in practice and in life. Let's face it. Dentistry can be a frustrating and isolating profession... but you don't have to be an island anymore. It's possible to become more profitable, less stressed and more fulfilled in your career and it's our mission is to help you get there. For a whole host of free practice building tips and resources, visit our website at TrueDentalSuccess...
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2428: Is Selling to a DSO the Right Move for You?
<p>On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Bill Keith and Ben Kacos for an in-depth crash course on DSOs—what they are, how they've evolved, and why every dentist should understand their growing impact on the profession. This conversation dives into the history of dental consolidation, the rise of private equity in the industry, and what those infamous EBITDA multiples really mean for your practice valuation. </p> <p>The trio compares doctor-to-doctor transitions with DSO sales, laying out the pros, cons, and critical factors like tax strategy, risk mitigation, and personal goals. With real-world insights, valuation math, and...
2427: The Untold Journey of an Immigrant CEO in Dentistry
<p>On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend and respected dental entrepreneur Tiger Safarov, founder of Zen One. Tiger shares his incredible immigrant journey—from arriving in the U.S. not knowing English to building a thriving dental construction company, and later pivoting to launch a tech platform revolutionizing dental supply management. </p> <p>They dive into Tiger's inspiration for Zen One, the evolution of the platform from a scrappy startup to a streamlined, AI-powered solution, and his deep commitment to supporting private dental practices in an increasingly DSO-dominated industry. With a strong emphasis on integrity, inn...
2426: Boosting Treatment Acceptance Without Overwhelming Patients
<p>On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back DSI Black Belt coach and seasoned dental entrepreneur Dr. Summer Kassmel for a power-packed, tactical conversation on case acceptance. Summer walks us through her step-by-step strategy to improve treatment plan acceptance, starting with clearly defined pillars of care and a unified team approach. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, calibrating with hygienists, and tailoring communication to the patient's personality without overwhelming them.<br /> <br /> From managing chief complaints to using analogies patients understand, she explains how to prioritize treatment effectively and guide patients toward long-term oral health. Summer also shares how g...
2425: What Every Dentist Must Know About Business Before It's Too Late Pt. 2
<p>On today's episode, we continue with part two of Dr. Mark Costes' compelling first presentation at the Music City SCALE 2025 event. In this segment, Dr. Costes delivers a deep dive into key challenges facing today's dental practice owners—employee retention, the nationwide hygiene shortage, and the harsh reality of PPOs. He shares actionable strategies to improve team culture, build loyalty through better leadership, and transform non-producers into practice contributors.<br /> <br /> Drawing on Stoic philosophy, he urges owners to focus only on what they can control—systems, leadership, and culture—while tuning out the noise. You'll also hear powerful data on...
2424: What Every Dentist Must Know About Business Before It's Too Late Pt. 1
<p>On today's episode, we bring you part one of Dr. Mark Costes' powerful presentation from the Music City SCALE 2025 event. With decades of experience as a multi-practice owner and founder of the Dental Success Institute, Dr. Costes shares why most dentists hit a wall when trying to "produce their way out" of business problems. </p> <p>He explores the foundational importance of fixing broken infrastructure—like poor systems, leadership gaps, and toxic culture—before chasing growth through production or marketing. You'll also hear how his coaching organization has helped hundreds of practices increase profitability, reduce overhead, and give owners the f...
2423: DSOs, Doctor Buyers, and the Truth About Dental Transitions
<p>On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Dan Van Eps, Senior Director at Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions, for an in-depth look at the world of dental practice sales, valuations, and the often misunderstood role of brokers. With nearly three decades of experience in the dental space—including founding a dental IT company and helping scale Carr Healthcare Realty—Dan brings a rare, well-rounded perspective to what makes practices valuable and how dentists can successfully navigate a sale. </p> <p>From breaking down DSO vs. doctor-to-doctor transactions, to why a $2 million practice isn't always worth what you think, this conve...
2422: The Truth About Dental Loans and What Banks Really Want
<p>On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Steve Steinbrunner of Provide, powered by Fifth Third Bank, for a deep dive into the current state of dental lending. Despite economic uncertainty and mixed signals from the broader market, Steve shares why Provide is seeing record-breaking activity in financing dental startups, acquisitions, ground-up builds, and real estate purchases. They discuss how interest rate trends are actually opening new doors for practice owners, what separates successful borrowers from risky ones, and why bringing in the right advisors is more critical than ever. </p> <p>Steve also offers key insights for d...
2421: What It Takes to Run a Mission-Driven, Systemized Practice
<p>On today's episode, it's time for another Ask Me Anything with Dr. Mark Costes. Mark tackles a range of listener-submitted questions—from navigating burnout and prioritizing systems, to selling your practice to a DSO and balancing clinical work with business ownership. He shares his honest take on creating a mission-driven culture through local outreach and global service, and how those efforts have shaped his personal fulfillment. </p> <p>You'll also hear practical strategies for systemization using the Elite Practice Blueprint, tips for managing energy with structure (and coffee), and how to incorporate free dental days without leaving your office. It...
2420: The Entrepreneur Who Made Going to the Dentist Feel Like Disneyland
<p>On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Kami Hoss—orthodontist, author, and founder of The Super Dentists and Supermouth—for an incredible conversation that blends clinical excellence with world-class innovation. Recorded in the new DSI studio, Dr. Hoss shares how he and his wife turned a single pediatric and ortho office in Chula Vista into a multi-location, 24% market-share powerhouse in San Diego, complete with superheroes, slides, movie theaters, and their own ice cream truck-driving villain. But that's just the beginning. </p> <p>Dr. Hoss also details the creation of Supermouth, a revolutionary oral care company with over...
2419: How to Legally Pay Less in Taxes Using Real Estate and R&D
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back tax and accounting experts Brent Sonnier and Chris Sands from ProFi 2020 and Phase 1 Financial to tackle some of dentistry's most advanced and impactful tax strategies. Whether you're preparing for a major liquidity event, trying to reduce your W-2 tax liability, or just looking to be more strategic with your investments, this episode is packed with high-level insights. The trio covers bonus depreciation, the mechanics and timing of cost segregation, oil and gas investments, R&D tax credits, and the true pros and cons of short-term rentals. Mark also shares some personal experiences—bot...
