In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune breaks down how to staff a dental practice efficiently at every stage—from the early days of a startup with one assistant and a single front office team member to a mature, high-performing practice with multiple hygienists, assistants, and virtual support. He explains when to expand, how to balance roles across the front and back office, and why each doctor needs a specific ratio of operatories, team members, and hygiene columns to operate smoothly. You’ll learn how to use virtual assistants to control overhead, avoid overstaffing traps, and create a staffing model that keeps your schedule full, your team aligned, and your practice running at its highest potential.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune exposes the hidden pricing structures that leave private dentists paying more for supplies and labs than the largest DSOs. He breaks down how corporate distributors and traditional buying groups have quietly maintained inflated costs through exclusive contracts, nondisclosure agreements, and overlapping ownership—keeping independent practices at a disadvantage. Dr. Leune explains why it’s time for private dentists to rethink how they buy, what’s really driving pricing inequities across the industry, and how shifting to modern, privately held suppliers through focused alliances like the Private Dental Alliance (PDA) can finally level the playing field. This is a must-listen for any dentist ready to take control of their costs and reclaim their competitive edge.
Dental teams want—and deserve—to be paid more. The challenge is that practices are also facing higher costs across the board, from supplies and labs to rent and debt. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains how practices can afford to pay top salaries without sacrificing profitability. He shares how maintaining healthy ratios, maximizing hygiene production, improving case acceptance, filling schedule gaps, and implementing a simple weekly bonus plan can create a practice where team members are paid at the highest levels, owners stay profitable, and everyone wins.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explores how virtual assistants are reshaping the modern dental practice. He breaks down why overburdened front desks, rising staffing costs, and hiring challenges make the VA-supported model so powerful. From insurance verification and patient recalls to answering missed calls and streamlining workflows, listeners will learn how practices can offload non-clinical tasks to highly trained virtual team members at a fraction of the cost. This model not only reduces stress for in-office teams but also drives profitability, elevates patient care, and creates sustainable growth for practices of all sizes.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune explores how dentistry is evolving around the world—and why the U.S. remains years ahead when it comes to the business side of practice ownership. From the rise of DSOs in Australia and Canada to untapped opportunities across Europe and beyond, Scott explains what non-U.S. dentists can learn from the American model to accelerate growth and scale more effectively. He also shares stories of dentists who applied U.S.-based business strategies abroad and multiplied their success, offering a roadmap for anyone looking to stay ahead in the rapidly changing global dental landscape.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune talks with Irene Janku—hygienist, educator, and practice owner in Toronto—about one of the most unconventional but thought-provoking models in dentistry: hygienist-owned practices. Together, they explore how this model works legally and financially, what it means for dentists and hygienists working side by side, and why it could reshape how practices are structured and staffed. From funding hurdles to systemization to the potential of dentist-hygienist partnerships, this conversation challenges assumptions and opens the door to new possibilities for independent dentistry.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune tackles one of the most important questions in the profession: does dentistry still make sense as a career? With record-high student debt, stagnant associate pay, and rising stress, many young dentists feel stuck in roles that limit income, autonomy, and fulfillment. Scott contrasts the challenges of associateships with the opportunities of practice ownership, making the case for why ownership remains the clearest path to building wealth, freedom, and long-term satisfaction. Whether you’re a student, an associate, or an owner, this episode will reshape the way you think about the future of your career.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott sits down with Ophir Tanz, founder and CEO of Pearl, to explore how AI is transforming dental practices—from radiology that detects more disease to automated charting, treatment planning, and real-time claims. These tools reduce inefficiencies, minimize errors, and build greater patient trust. They also look ahead to 3D imaging, ambient note-taking, and practice management intelligence that could free dentists to focus more on patient
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains why most dental exams are inconsistent and miss valuable treatment opportunities. He introduces a structured assessment protocol for the hygiene chair that standardizes preventive, Perio, Ortho, Implant, Sleep, and Cosmetic evaluations. By following this “recipe” for thorough exams, practices can improve patient care, capture more specialty cases, and create a reliable system that boosts both efficiency and profitability.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune tackles one of the toughest challenges in private practice ownership: building fair and effective associate agreements. Drawing from years of experience, he breaks down the 10 most important elements to include—tiered compensation, lab fee adjustments, guarantees, notice clauses, CE commitments, referral expectations, column load management, supply and lab agreements, weekly performance reviews, and profit-sharing opportunities. Whether you’ve been burned by a past associate arrangement or you’re preparing to bring on your first one, this conversation will give you a clear framework to protect your practice while keeping agreements ethical, balanced, and attractive to top-performing dentists
In this inspiring episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with comedian, author, and motivational speaker Zach Anner to explore how resilience, humor, and community can transform life’s toughest challenges into opportunities. Born with cerebral palsy, Zach shares his journey from winning Oprah’s reality show and creating viral YouTube content to writing for television and becoming an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Together, Scott and Zach discuss the power of “joyful grit,” the importance of narrating your own story, and why connection and vulnerability are essential for leaders and entrepreneurs alike. Whether in dentistry or everyday life, this conversation is a reminder that challenges don’t define us—they give us the tools to thrive.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with top motivational speaker Laura Gassner Otting to share how practice owners can reset their goals, strengthen leadership, and retain top talent. Drawing from decades of experience interviewing high-performing executives, Laura explains how to align your “three buckets” of money, freedom, and passion, and create a culture where employees feel truly seen, valued, and engaged. Packed with mindset shifts and actionable strategies, this conversation offers a blueprint for keeping your team motivated and your career moving forward.
Scott talks with Rob Bay, co-founder of Dental Intelligence and current chairman of Alta.Ai, about how practices can save time, improve hygiene production, and reduce burnout without adding staff. They explore the systems and strategies that are reshaping clinical efficiency and giving doctors and teams more time to focus on what matters most—patients.
This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with conflict resolution expert Gabe Karp—TEDx speaker, author of Don’t Get Mad at Penguins, and former trial lawyer—for a powerful conversation about confronting conflict in dental practices. Together, they explore why ignoring issues fuels burnout, how to reframe tough conversations, and the simple weekly meeting that could transform your culture. If you're tired of walking on eggshells and ready to lead with clarity and courage, this episode is for you.
This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Erin Stafford—author of The Type A Trap, social psychologist, and former head of marketing for a $11B healthcare company—for a candid conversation about high achievement, burnout, and how to reclaim your life without sacrificing success. Erin shares her own journey from burnout to balance and offers practical tools to help dentists stay productive, fulfilled, and emotionally healthy—even under pressure. If you’ve ever felt “miserably successful,” this one’s for you.
This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Dr. Rebecca Heiss—biologist, stress expert, and author of Instinct—to explore why so many dental professionals feel stuck in survival mode. They dive into how our evolutionary wiring impacts decision-making, leadership, and burnout—and what you can do to break the cycle. From fear-based habits to building intentional routines, this episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to lead with more clarity, confidence, and calm.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune talks with Jana Macon, President of Curve Dental, about how AI and cloud-based technology are rapidly transforming the way dental practices operate. From automating insurance verification and scheduling to streamlining clinical notes and claims processing, Jana shares what’s coming—and what’s already here. They also dive into why outdated systems are driving away top talent, how digital expectations are reshaping patient behavior, and what practice owners must do now to stay competitive in an AI-enabled world.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune breaks down the single most effective tool he’s used to retain high-performing associates and team leaders—profits interests. He explains how this strategy allows owners to share in profits without giving up equity or control, all while incentivizing long-term loyalty and performance. Whether you're looking to reward your best people or create a growth-aligned culture, this episode offers a practical roadmap to retaining talent without breaking the bank.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Ryan Estis—keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of Prepare for Impact—to discuss the shift from command-and-control management to human-centered leadership. They explore how building trust, investing in employee growth, and leading with empathy can help dental practice owners improve team engagement, reduce turnover, and increase patient loyalty. Packed with actionable insights, this conversation is a must-listen for dentists ready to lead more effectively and scale their business through people-first leadership.
In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune asks a question most dentists overlook: Are you happy? He explores the disconnect many practice owners feel between outward success and inner fulfillment—and why achieving more isn’t always the answer. If your practice is thriving but something still feels off, this episode is for you.
