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 Huffaker sits down with Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva, founder and CEO of MB2 Dental, to explore what happens when dental organizations shift their focus to empowering practitioners instead of just driving profits. Tune in to find out how a "bunch of knucklehead dentists" built an 800+ practice organization without compromising clinical autonomy, how his unique childhood across three continents shaped his innovative leadership approaches, and why success in dentistry comes down to treating people right. We all need a reminder of what really matters; this is the reminder every dental professional needs.

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 with Janet Hagerman, a leading voice in dental sales, DSO Fractional Chief Hygiene Officer and case acceptance coach, to explore the evolution of dental hygiene leadership and the art of ethical case presentation. Tune in for fascinating insights on why case acceptance rates hover at 30-50%, how to tailor treatment conversations to patient values, and proven strategies for building consistent hygiene protocols across multiple practices. From implementing assisted hygiene models to leveraging KPIs effectively, this episode leaves no stone unturned for leaders looking to elevate their hygiene departments and improve patient care outcomes. In some cases, experience really IS the best teacher.

What if you could optimize your dental practice's revenue cycle management while actually improving patient experience? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Chrissy Bridgeman, a self-proclaimed "Revenue Cycle Janitor" and CEO of MODPractice, to explore the sweet spot for centralizing billing operations, the truth about AI in dental billing, and how to achieve a 95% first-time claims acceptance rate. Whether you're running a single practice or managing multiple locations, this conversation delivers practical insights on creating efficient billing processes without sacrificing patient relationships.

What if the key to scaling a dental group wasn’t just capital or systems - but alignment? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Dr. Alex Giannini, Chief Strategy Officer at Aligned Dental Partners, to unpack the evolution of dental group practices - from early DSOs to today’s capital-rich landscape. Dr. Giannini shares how he turned one struggling office into a thriving network, revealing the frameworks behind sustainable growth, the pitfalls that derail most DSOs after practice #4, and why aligning values between doctors, investors, and leadership teams is the true differentiator in long-term success. Whether you’re building your first group or leading a fast-growing organization, this episode delivers hard-earned lessons from a true DSO pioneer.

Being the new kid on the block can be a daunting affair - especially in today’s dental landscape. But if you’re Jeremy Livengood, CEO of Seva Dental, it’s an exciting journey of focused culture-building that drives growth and impact. He joins Mike Huffaker on the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show to explore the power of culture-first leadership, managing practice transitions with empathy, and implementing technology changes that drive real results. Tune in for surprising emotional truths about dental business transactions, the reasons why dental tech shouldn’t become your crutch and a lot more unique perspectives. The conversation proves that unsurprisingly, even in an era of tech dominance, dentistry can’t afford to lose its personal touch.

Are you using all the data available at your fingertips to its optimal potential? 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 Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dan Hosler, CEO of Allied OMS, to explore strategic practice growth in today's market. From securing private equity investment to implementing AI solutions and maintaining strong referral networks, Dan shares practical insights on balancing innovation with operational excellence. Whatever your priority - practice expansion, technology integration, or improving your bottom line, this conversation offers actionable strategies for navigating the evolving healthcare landscape.

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 Show, host Mike Huffaker welcomes Saam Zarrabi, DDS, CEO of Rodeo Dental, to explore scaling a dental practice from single-location operations to a thriving 50-office organization and why people-centricity has everything to do with it. Tune in to learn how his team reduced patient wait times by 20% through strategic change management, discover the evolution of leadership roles in growing DSOs, and uncover practical insights on implementing new processes at scale. This conversation proves that putting people first takes your business to first place.

What if you could build a successful DSO while maintaining true doctor autonomy? In this episode The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Dr. Peter Theurer, CEO of Bridge Dental Group, to explore how he scaled to 26 locations in just two years through a unique doctor-led partnership model. From securing initial capital and building the right leadership team to creating win-win acquisition strategies, Dr. Theurer shares candid insights about growing a DSO that prioritizes clinical independence while delivering meaningful practice support. Whether you're considering a DSO partnership or building your own group, this episode reveals practical strategies for scaling without sacrificing practitioner autonomy.

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 Mike sits down with Leslie Soto, Vice President, Operations of Five Point Dental Specialists, to explore how to drive organic growth across 68 locations spanning oral surgery, orthodontics, and general dentistry. Tune in for practical insights on harmonizing different specialties under one roof, leveraging technology for better operations, and maintaining a strong organizational culture during periods of change. This episode offers valuable perspectives on balancing growth with stability while keeping patient care at the forefront.

What if your dental practice was both recession-proof and tech-forward? Well, that would mean it’s set to thrive in today’s dentistry landscape. In this episode, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Mike Friguletto, CEO of Beacon Oral Specialists, to explore what it takes to scale a practice to 107 locations while maintaining strong referral relationships, leveraging AI for practice optimization, and navigating generational transitions in oral surgery practices. Tune in to discover why maintaining that crucial "first five minutes" of patient experience could be the key to practice success, why AI is no match for the human touch and how digital transformation can drive practice growth rather than hinder it. We’re living in changing times, but remember - you’ve got to take it one step at a time.

Dentistry is seeing some tough days - but is it worth sticking around and riding the wave of a $200 billion industry? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Steve Bilt, CEO of Smile Brands, to explore the current state of the dental industry, strategies for sustainable growth, and the future of AI in dentistry. Tune in for practical and game-changing insights on navigating market turbulence while building a dental business that stands the test of time. From “why building a business ‘you'll never sell’ creates the strongest foundation”, to “leveraging market challenges as opportunities”, and “why the DSO model continues to bridge crucial gaps in dental care accessibility”, he talks about it all. Tune in for a pragmatic reminder of the potential of dentistry - today and in the future.

What if you could build a dental organization focused on preserving local practices while delivering exceptional growth? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dr. Greg White, President and CEO of PepperPointe Partnerships, to explore a unique doctor-owned DSO model that’s achieving 50% profitability increases across its practices and has grown to support over 130 locations while protecting doctor ownership, patient care, and local community roots. This conversation highlights that dental technology is shifting from being a cost center to becoming a true business enabler.

As dental practitioners, you surely put your blood, sweat, tears and years into growing your practice. But do you invest enough capital into protecting your practice with robust IT and security systems? The latest episode of The Dental Economist Show uncovers the reality of dental security today and why 70% of dental practices are at risk of a security breach. Tune in to hear host Mike Huffaker and Tom Barberio, Chief Information Officer at Thinc Forward, chat about the evolving landscape of dental technology and IT security - from how practices can avoid common technology pitfalls and effectively plan for infrastructure updates to how they can leverage the shift to cloud-based solutions. This conversation highlights that dental technology is shifting from being a cost center to becoming a true business enabler.

“Take care of yourself so you can take care of others,” is a common adage that everyone would do well to remember. Especially healthcare professionals. This episode of The Dental Economist Show examines healthcare and leadership through a different lens, as host Mike Huffaker welcomes Tim Perreria - Founder & Men’s Coach, PER Wellness, and a mental health advocate walking across America to raise awareness for men's mental health and the 34,000 men who die by suicide annually. In this deeply personal conversation, Tim shares his personal journey through depression, corporate burnout, and transformation, offering valuable insights on leadership, vulnerability, and the power of accepting help. In an age of dentistry where every DSO is trying to scale, grow and compete, empathetic leadership and mental health advocacy are critical to professional, patient and business health. Tune in to learn why the most impactful changes often start with leaders who are brave enough to go first and show up authentically.

What happens when the world goes to sleep? A legacy DSO conference gets built. Tune into the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show with host, Mike Huffaker, as he welcomes Brian Colao, Director of Dykema's DSO Industry Group, and DSO big shot, to explore the upcoming Dykema Definitive DSO Conference. Together they unpack the ins and outs of the iconic conference - from maximizing networking opportunities and navigating a record-breaking 2,400+ attendance to insider tips on must-see sessions. Brian shares exclusive insights about the event's legendary production value, star-studded lineup including John McEnroe, and how the conference has evolved to become dental's premier networking and educational experience. On the surface, this is a conversation about a mammoth DSO conference. But at its core, it’s a conversation that will leave you excited about the opportunities in the dental industry.

In many cases, it helps to follow the roadmap to success laid down by those before us. In most cases, it helps to observe what people have done differently, and be inspired by the uniqueness of it all! The latest episode of The Dental Economist Show with host Mike Huffaker brings a dynamic conversation to the table as Mike sits down with Dr. Dr. Alex Sharp, CEO of Shared Practices Group, to explore how a dental podcast evolved into a thriving 38-location DSO. From pioneering a fully remote dental support organization to mastering denture and implant-focused practices, discover why "going deep" beats "going wide" in today's dental landscape. From how to build a scalable culture across remote teams to the surprising reasons why human capital remains the cornerstone of dental success, this episode brings unique insights to scaling your dental practice in today’s day and age, without compromising on excellence.

This is the dream - put your core values front and centre, get culture right and watch your dental practice flourish. This is reality - dental practices get comfortable, complacent and resistant to change, causing them to stagnate. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker welcomes Len Schiavone, CEO of CORDENTAL Group, to explore the strategies that enable the dream. Tune in for actionable insights on how dental practices can innovate faster than traditional healthcare, why patient education and trust-building are critical for treatment acceptance, and how emerging AI technologies are reshaping dental operations. This conversation offers fresh perspectives on why dentistry is uniquely positioned to lead healthcare innovation and how practices can balance profitability with purpose.

For healthcare providers, insurance is a necessary business strategy. For patients, it’s stress inducing and often, unsupportive. In this episode, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Ben Baenen, Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences at West Monroe, to explore the evolving landscape of dental technology, real-time claims processing, and the impact of AI on the industry. Discover how collaboration between payers and providers is reshaping the dental ecosystem, why data standardization matters more than ever, and what emerging trends like membership plans mean for the future of dental benefits. Trust erosion and friction are all too familiar in the world of dental insurance claims. But the right technology adoption, practice operations and industry innovation can take us ahead of the curve.

In any relationship, the foundation of trust makes or breaks the success and longevity of it. So, why should dental practices and the relationship between the practice, its professionals and customers, be any different? In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker welcomes Mark Musso, CEO of Specialty Smile Partners, to explore leadership lessons from retail to dentistry, building trust in DSO partnerships, and navigating industry evolution. Mark brings invaluable mentorship philosophies to the conversation, offering actionable insights into AI implementation, strategies to scale while maintaining quality patient care and the critical importance of transparency. Tune in for a reminder on why it’s vital to set the tone early on and start building the foundation of trust from Day 1, in dentistry and in life.

Giving back is rarely seen as the road to success, but in Emily Letran’s case, that’s exactly what happened. In this episode of The Dental Economist, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dr. Emily Letran, a remarkable dentist and now Executive Coach, who journeyed from being a refugee to establishing herself as a successful practice owner and philanthropy leader. Join her and host Mike Huffaker as they explore the power of clarity in decision-making, strategies for preventing burnout, and how embracing new technologies while maintaining human connection can drive practice growth. Whether you're seeking to scale your practice or find more fulfillment in dentistry, this conversation delivers practical insights on letting go, building strong teams, and creating sustainable success. As it turns out - slowing down might be the key to moving forward in your dental journey.