Just a Couple of Dentists

We’ve been through enough crappy contracts and smooth-talking “experts” to know better...so we brought on Sean Hamel from Art of Dental Marketing to break down how to spot the difference between someone who actually knows how to grow your practice… and someone who just knows how to sell you a retainer. In this episode: Why most marketers obsess over visibility instead of conversion (aka, why your phone still isn’t ringing) How “pain-free dentistry” and beach-walking stock families are ruining your message The red flags we wish we’d spotted sooner What to actually ask before you sign anything 🎧 Listen now 📬Subscribe to Alex's newsletter at coupleofdentists.com

Kevin Tallman, CEO of Mango Voice, is shaking up the dental industry with innovative AI solutions. He dives into how AI can handle missed calls, automate documentation, and improve patient interactions. Tallman discusses the strengths and limitations of AI, shedding light on what to watch for when selecting AI vendors. He emphasizes the potential for AI to transform appointment scheduling and patient engagement while cautioning against generic solutions that might not fit dental practices. Discover the future of AI in revolutionizing operations and enhancing service efficiency!

Josh Carpenter is a dentist in Washington who decided to shake things up: he built a restaurant and pickleball courts — a passion project that turned into a $5 million community hub. In this episode, we break down: How he juggled a startup dental practice and a surprise military investigation The real challenges of the restaurant biz vs. running a dental office What makes pickleball so addictive (and expensive) Why Josh’s goal wasn’t just profit — and what he’d do differently next time 👉Make sure to subscribe to Just a Couple of Dentists!

In this episode, we sit down with our longtime friend Dr. Trent McCord—who didn’t just build a successful practice near Bentonville, Arkansas… he also started a nonprofit arm that now sees 50+ patients a day, giving away hundreds of thousands in dentistry to those who need it most. We talk about everything from bourbon-fueled CE courses (yes, really) to the time Trent was so nervous he threw up before his very first patient. He shares how he pushed through anxiety, built an insanely giving culture at his office, and what it actually takes to start something like this. If you’ve ever wanted to give back through dentistry—this one’s worth a listen. Subscribe and send it to a friend who’d be into it.

What’s harder—building a practice or building a building? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Josh Cochran, a dentist who built and acquired 6 practices in just 8 years—all while developing a 16,000 sq ft medical plaza to house one of them. Today, Josh is involved in over $170 million in real estate development and shares the exact mindset shifts and financial frameworks that helped him scale. Josh breaks down: Why you should either go big or stay solo (no in-between) How he combined practice growth with real estate development The “dentist game” vs. the “real estate game” How to know when you're in growth mode vs. preservation mode If you’ve ever asked, Should I own my building? or Am I playing the right game? — this one’s for you. 📬 Subscribe to Alex’s newsletter, Just Two Minutes → coupleofdentists.com

We’ve been through almost as many dental marketing agencies as hygienists—and that’s saying something. So this week, we brought on Michael from Wonderist to answer the question every dentist asks: “Is my marketing actually working?” We cover: Why dentists keep switching agencies What ROI actually looks like (and how to measure it) The $88 new patient offer trap Why tracking your leads matters more than the ads themselves How your front desk might be sabotaging your marketing The one mindset shift that will change how you approach marketing forever 📩 Subscribe to Just Two Minutes, Alex’s bite-sized newsletter packed with sarcasm and solid tips: https://j2m.beehiiv.com/subscribe 👂Listen in—and maybe fire your 6th marketing agency after.

Last episode, we sat down with Carrie and Tessa from Dental Insurance Services to talk about how insurance saved us when we got hacked. But what actually causes these attacks? And how do you prevent them in the first place? This week, we’re keeping the “we got hacked” theme alive and bringing on Reuben Kamp, founder of Darkhorse Tech and our go-to IT expert, to walk us through exactly how dental practices get hacked—and what you can do right now to avoid it. We cover: How our practice got hacked (and why it spread to 60 others) What our IT company should have done Cloud-based vs. local server: Which is safer? How remote tools like ScreenConnect can be dangerous Why your Keurig might be your cybersecurity weak point What a proper backup actually looks like The role AI plays in phishing attacks (and defense) How a bad IT setup can wipe out your entire practice If you own, run, or work in a dental office—this is required listening. One click could shut you down for months… unless you know what to look for. 🔗 Subscribe and check out more at coupleofdentists.com

What happens when your dental office gets hacked five months into your startup—and you’re staring down a $50,000 ransom? In this episode, Eric and Alex share the real story of how a cyberattack locked Eric's entire practice out of Open Dental, and how he found out the hard way that relying on your IT company isn’t enough. Joined by Carrie and Tessa from DIS, we dive into wild (and very real) stories of cyberattacks, lawsuits, and unexpected claims—and the insurance policies that saved practices from total disaster. If you’ve ever said, “That’ll never happen to me,” this one’s for you.

This was one of the very first episodes we recorded — back when we were still figuring out how to turn the mic on and not talk over each other (still working on that, honestly). We’ve only been doing this podcast thing for 4 months, so naturally, this one’s from... 3 months ago. Basically prehistoric. We look back on our dental school days — what we wish we knew, what we definitely didn’t need to stress about, and what actually matters once you graduate and start practicing. 🎙 In this episode, we talk about: Why you should shadow everyone — not just the dentist The lie that is the Krebs cycle How to build your network early (without being weird) Letting go of what other people think Why "working hard" is better than "playing it cool" And whether we’d actually go to dental school again… Whether you’re pre-dental, in dental school, or just love watching people roast their younger selves, you’re gonna like this one. Hit subscribe to hear more unfiltered advice, stories, and strategies from two dentists who’ve made all the mistakes — so you don’t have to.

In this episode of "Just a Couple of Dentists," Eric and Alex dive deep into the evolving landscape of dental hygiene and practice management, particularly in light of recent legislative changes in Arizona. We kick off the conversation by discussing the newly passed law that allows Oral Prevention Assistants (OPAs) to perform cleanings under the supervision of a dentist or hygienist. This change aims to address the ongoing shortage of hygienists, a problem that has been exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic. As we share our personal experiences, we candidly express our frustrations with the current state of dental hygiene staffing. Eric reveals his struggles with retaining hygienists, often facing high turnover rates and the challenges of competing with temp agencies that drive up wages. We explore the financial implications of these staffing issues, particularly for practices that rely heavily on insurance reimbursements, which have not kept pace with rising labor costs. To provide a fresh perspective, we welcome Dr. Graham Dersley, a dentist with a wealth of experience in practice management and a history of navigating the challenges of dental startups. Graham shares his journey from acquiring a small practice to developing multiple startups, emphasizing the importance of adapting marketing strategies to attract patients who need more than just routine cleanings. He advocates for a shift in focus from hygiene-heavy practices to those that prioritize restorative and emergency care, which can lead to more sustainable revenue streams. We also explore the idea of separating hygiene services from clinical care, drawing parallels to other industries like nail salons and medical spas. This model could allow patients to receive cleanings without the pressure of a dental exam, making dental care more accessible and less intimidating. As we wrap up the episode, we reflect on the broader implications of these changes for the dental industry. We discuss the potential for a new model of care that prioritizes patient comfort and convenience while still ensuring high-quality treatment. This episode is packed with insights, strategies, and a healthy dose of humor as we navigate the complexities of modern dentistry. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to subscribe for more!