Shows / The Dental Economist Show
The Dental Economist Show
Hi, dental economists! I’m Mike Huffaker, and this is the Dental Economist Show, where you can join me and my guests in a conversation about the business of dentistry. Get ready to reconsider everything you think you know about growing your dental business as we exchange different ideas and meet at the intersection of profit and purpose.
Episodes
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Sara Mahmood on Building a Founder-Led Dental Group Without Selling Your Soul
In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker speaks with Dr. Sara Mahmood, founder of Brush 365, about building a multi-location group on…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Larry Benz on Why Caring Without Connection Is What Burns Dentists Out
What if empathy, connection, and communication were treated as clinical skills—not soft extras? Check out Dr Larry Benz’ book at…
The Dental Economist ShowTrevor Maurer on Why Oral Surgery Is Consolidating Faster Than General Dentistry Did
What does it take to scale an oral surgery platform without losing sight of the patient, the referral relationship, or the people delivering care? In this…
- The Dental Economist Show
Dr. Adriatik Rama on Building a Debt-Free Doctor-Led DSO That Grows Every Practice It Touches
What does it take to build a multi-practice dental organization that protects clinical independence, keeps doctors at the center of decision-making, and still…
The Dental Economist ShowDavid Meece & Ryan Torresan on Leading Through Influence in a DSO
How do you scale a dental organisation without losing the culture, trust, and people-first approach that made it successful in the first place? In this episode…
The Dental Economist ShowJulianne O'Connor & Michael Keeter on Mindset Habits That Separate the Top One Percent in Dentistry
What does it take to build meaningful influence, lead high-performing teams, and create a career that does not come at the expense of fulfillment? In this…
The Dental Economist ShowTom Terronez on the Patient Data Question Every Dental Group Should Be Able to Answer But Can't
Can your practice confidently explain where patient data goes after it is collected? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker speaks…
The Dental Economist ShowKyle Welch on Why DSO Operators Are Being Blamed for a Problem They Didn't Create
Why DSO Operators Are Being Blamed for a Problem They Didn't Create Why has the DSO deal market stalled even as demand for dental care remains strong? In this…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Shilpi Priyadarshini on Building Clinical Systems That Help Dentists and Patients Win
What does it take to help clinicians deliver more consistent care, build confidence in the chair, and grow into effective leaders? In this episode of The…
The Dental Economist ShowBob Fontana on Why Getting Bigger is Easy, Getting Better is Hard
What does it take to build a dental organization that expands access for millions of patients while creating lasting opportunity for providers and teams? In…
The Dental Economist ShowChris Moxon on How BCG Sees the Future of the DSO Market
What will separate the next generation of winning DSOs from the roll-up models of the past? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker…
The Dental Economist ShowDavid Murphy on What Buyers Are Really Looking for When They Evaluate a DSO
What separates a DSO that is ready for a successful capital event from one that is not? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker speaks…
The Dental Economist ShowSpecial Edition: Steve Bilt & Andrew Smith on the Colorado Ruling That Every DSO in America Should Be Watching
What happens when a state dental board introduces rules that could fundamentally change how DSOs support dental practices? In this special breaking-news…
The Dental Economist ShowRahma Samow on Simplifying Care Delivery and Growing ClearChoice Into a Platform of Hope
What does it take to make complex dental care more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike…
The Dental Economist ShowStephen Thorne on Moving Dentistry From Sick Care to Preventive Healthcare
How do you transform dentistry from treating teeth to improving whole-body health? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Farzeela Rupani on Taking Dentist Churn From 60 Percent to 11 Percent in Three Years
Colosseum Dental, one of Europe's largest dental organizations with 650 clinics across 11 countries, faced a staggering 60% dentist churn rate in its UK…
The Dental Economist ShowReimaginging RCM - Paul Kaiser and Drew Hamilton
What if a dental asset sat at the center of the universe for the entire dental market? We’re unpacking it all in this special live edition of The Dental…
The Dental Economist ShowKeith Miller on What Dentists Should Ask Before Partnering With a DSO
How do dental practice owners separate empty corporate promises from stable, long-term growth? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker…
The Dental Economist ShowDykema DSO Conference Edition with Brian Colao
The premier legal and business platform for the DSO industry, Dykema, has established itself as the leading collaborative engine for dental group growth. How…
The Dental Economist ShowLeslie Espinola on Why Most Dental Practices Fail for Business Reasons Not Clinical Ones
With 35 years in the dental industry, Leslie Espinola has seen practices thrive and fail from every angle. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host…
The Dental Economist ShowJoe Feldsien on Why PDS Health Bet on the Mouth Body Connection Before Anyone Else
PDS Health, one of the most innovative DSOs in the country, has been quietly building what might be the boldest bet in modern dentistry a fully integrated…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Arwinder Judge on Developing Doctors and Driving Clinical Excellence Across Aspen Dental
Aspen Dental is the largest branded DSO in the United States, and behind its clinical excellence is a leadership structure most organizations only dream about…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Ankoo Raina on Why Dentistry Needs to Stop Recommending and Start Prescribing
Jefferson Dental and Orthodontics has been delivering high-quality, affordable care to underserved communities across Texas since 1967 and their clinical…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Trey Mueller on Leading Clinical Excellence Through a DSO Restructuring
Dental Care Alliance (DCA), one of the largest dental support organizations in the country, is navigating a pivotal moment—having just completed a major…
The Dental Economist ShowRobert “RJ” Jerome on How Heartland Dental Makes Technology Decisions at Scale
Heartland Dental—the largest DSO in the U.S. with nearly 2,000 locations—operates at extraordinary scale, and in this episode of The Dental Economist Show…
The Dental Economist ShowDavid Meece on Building a DSO Where Profit Follows People
Texas-based DSO, Pearl Street Dental Partners, has built one of the most distinctive dental organizations in the country by making one radical bet: that profit…
The Dental Economist ShowGuy Ellis on What DSO Investors Get Wrong About Value Creation
Guy Ellis has served in more than 60 chairman, board, and C-suite roles across three continents, bringing a global perspective to the dental industry. In this…
The Dental Economist ShowEric Giesecke on What AI First Actually Means for Dental Software
What does it really mean to build a DSO around support, not control? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Matt…
The Dental Economist ShowJon Fidler on What Really Makes or Breaks a DSO Executive Hire
What does it really take to make or break a DSO executive hire? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Jon Fidler…
The Dental Economist ShowMatt Hendrick on Building a DSO Where Support Beats Control
What does it really mean to build a DSO around support, not control? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Matt…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Lincoln Harris on Solving the Clinical Confidence Gap in Dentistry
What does it take to solve the clinical confidence gap holding dentistry back? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Scott Asnis on Patient Advocacy and the Future of DSOs
Dental 365 has grown from a two-practice operation to over 170 locations across the Northeast not by following the traditional DSO playbook, but by…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Victoria Yu on Redefining DSO Partnership and Ownership
What does it really mean to build a DSO that puts clinicians first? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dr…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Cindy Roark on Clinical Innovation and AI in Modern Dentistry
From private practice on Nantucket to the C-suite of one of the nation's most innovative DSOs, Dr. Cindy Roark has built a career defined by curiosity…
The Dental Economist ShowAstronaut Sara Sabry on Discipline, Resilience, and Pursuing the Impossible
What does it take to pursue the truly impossible? In this special episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker steps outside the dental world to…
The Dental Economist ShowKara Kelley on Hiring, Retention, and Compliance in Dental Practices
In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Kara Kelley founder and CEO of Clinical HR. Clinical HR is a specialized…
The Dental Economist ShowTodd Cruse & Alayna Brent on Scaling a Specialty DSO Without Breaking Culture
Chord Specialty Dental Partners is redefining what it means to scale a DSO without losing the human touch. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host…
The Dental Economist ShowClayton Russell on Operational Strategy Inside a 400+ Practice DSO
Clayton Russell, Vice President of Operational Strategy at Dental Care Alliance, one of the largest DSOs in the industry, joins host Mike Huffaker to discuss…
The Dental Economist ShowDavid McNeil on AI vs SaaS: Vertical Expertise & Software Survival
Weave's Chief Revenue Officer, David McNeil, joins The Dental Economist Show to explore how technology is transforming dental practice operations. With over 25…
The Dental Economist ShowWardah Inam on Building The Most Advanced AI Platform for Dentistry
One doesn’t get to $80M in funding without being revolutionary. That’s the story of Wardah Inam-led Overjet, and we’re unpacking it in the latest episode of…
The Dental Economist ShowDr Sameer Puri on Scaling Dental Practices Without Losing Clinical Autonomy
Have you ever wondered why some dental practices thrive after joining a DSO while others struggle to grow? In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show…
The Dental Economist ShowJeff Leger on the Bold Strategy Putting 123 Dentist in the Lead
Canadian DSO, 123 Dentist, has become the country’s fastest-growing dental organization. How? We’re unpacking it all in this episode of The Dental Economist…
The Dental Economist ShowAndrew Smith on What’s in Store for DSOs in 2026
Have you ever thought about how DSOs have fundamentally shifted and redefined the dental market as a whole? In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show…
The Dental Economist ShowBrian Colao on The DSO-Success Secrets of 2026 and Mistakes to Leave Behind in 2025
For many dental professionals, 2025 was the year of survival. And, thriving in 2026 is going to take a complete shift on every front - leadership, technology…
The Dental Economist ShowPractice Integration, Patient Convenience & Automation: The Year That Changed Dentistry (Part 2)
Practice integration, patient convenience and automation are all set to take over the dental landscape in 2026 (among other big trends) and we’re unpacking it…
The Dental Economist ShowIT, AI & Aesthetics: The Year That Changed Dentistry (Part 1)
As the year in dentistry comes to a close, there’s A LOT to unpack. Join us for a retrospective on the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show as host…
The Dental Economist ShowFred Joyal on The Regret Economy & Why Not Trying Hurts More Than Failing
What if building genuine trust and boldness in how you connect with your patients is the main key to growing your dental practice? In this episode of The…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Manrina Rhode on How Personal Brand Built the World's Most Luxe Dental Clinic
What does it take to build the world’s most luxe dental clinic? Hustle, a killer personal brand and Manrina Rhode’s unbeatable strategies. In the latest…
The Dental Economist ShowPat Bauer on How Heartland Dental Scaled From 8 to 1,900 Practices Without Losing Soul: The 100th Episode
When a DSO legend like Pat Bauer, President and CEO of Heartland Dental, tells you to lead with kindness, you listen. In the 100th episode of The Dental…
The Dental Economist ShowStephenie Goddard on Why Vulnerable Leadership Scales Dental Businesses Faster
In today’s ever-evolving dental landscape, it can be hard to put a finger on one’s real competitive advantage. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show…
The Dental Economist ShowNathan James on Taking the Leap, Trusting Dental Tech and Embracing the Future
Dental’s in flight mode when it comes to AI and it needs to step into embrace mode. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, we explore why and how…
The Dental Economist ShowDr. Chris Steven Villanueva on How MB2 Dental Keeps Growing Despite Market Shifts
Contrary to popular belief, keeping your eye solely on profit-making often limits a practice’s growth. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike…
The Dental Economist ShowJanet Hagerman on The Biggest Industry Taboos in Dental Sales & How to Break Them
Every dental practice is only as good as the number of people who know it is. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down…
The Dental Economist ShowHow Chrissy Bridgeman Transformed Dental Billing Chaos Into 90% Clean Claims Success
Optimizing a dental organization’s revenue cycle takes more than software - it takes strategy, systems, and people. In this episode of The Dental Economist…
The Dental Economist ShowAlex Giannini on The $16,000 Lesson That Changed His Approach to Dental Management
Scaling a dental organization takes more than ambition - it takes alignment. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike dives deep with Dr. Alex…
The Dental Economist ShowJeremy Livengood on Breaking Into Dental With a Bang: Strong Culture, Good People & Transparency
Being the new kid on the block can be a daunting affair - especially in today’s dental landscape. Not if you’re Jeremy Livengood, CEO of Seva Dental, though…
The Dental Economist ShowDan Hosler on The Real-Time Revolution & Why Daily Data Changes Everything
In today’s day and age, you can and must leverage the power of AI and data-driven decisions to scale your healthcare practice. In this episode of The Dental…
The Dental Economist ShowSaam Zarrabi, DDS on The 5 Communication Breakdowns Killing Your Practice Flow & How to Fix It
In the hustle and bustle of dentistry, it can be easy to lose sight of one simple yet crucial fact: Dentistry is a people’s business. In the latest episode of…
The Dental Economist ShowPeter Theurer on Dentist-Led vs. Finance-Led DSOs and the Blueprint for 26-Location Success
Building a fast-growing DSO isn’t just about capital or acquisitions - it’s about people. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down…
The Dental Economist ShowLeslie Soto on The Power of The Counter Intuitive ‘Face-to-Face’ Strategy of Patient Experience
What does it take to run a multi-speciality dental business successfully, without ever losing the ‘why’? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host…