Shared Practices | Your Dental Roadmap through Practice Ownership
Dr. Richard Low | Shared Practices Network
A bootcamp in small business ownership and practice management for dentists, giving the new graduate a roadmap to successful practice ownership. We interview the best dentists, experts, consultants and more on our weekly show. Here's the topics we will be covering in our 8 Seasons:
1. First Years as a Dentist
2. Think Like a Business Owner
3. Money and Numbers
4. Startups, Acquisitions, and Partnerships
5. Internal Systems
6. Marketing & Growth
7. Leadership, Vision and Culture
8. Beyond Dentistry
Go to SharedPractices.com to download the 8 Season Roadmap.
1. First Years as a Dentist
2. Think Like a Business Owner
3. Money and Numbers
4. Startups, Acquisitions, and Partnerships
5. Internal Systems
6. Marketing & Growth
7. Leadership, Vision and Culture
8. Beyond Dentistry
Go to SharedPractices.com to download the 8 Season Roadmap.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 10, 2025 • 36min
Ask George - Going Beyond the Clinical: Using AI in Practice Management
Discover how AI is revolutionizing dental practice management with tools for co-diagnosis and automated SOP creation. Learn about the capabilities of large language models and how they enhance patient trust. Explore practical uses like generating authentic marketing content and analyzing patient reviews for brand messaging. The conversation delves into practical steps for adopting AI, from call performance scoring to automating clinical notes. Embrace a future where AI can streamline workflows and enhance team performance!
Nov 3, 2025 • 42min
Taking the PPO Power Back: Clint Johnson’s Guide to Smarter Contracts
Clint Johnson, Founder of Profitable PPOs and expert in PPO contract optimization, joins the discussion to tackle the complexities of insurance in dental practices. He shares strategies for climbing the 'PPO Profit Ladder,' emphasizing the importance of optimizing existing contracts rather than adding more PPOs. Listeners learn about hidden costs, necessary data for analyzing impact, and how to simplify operations. Clint reassures that systematic optimization can significantly enhance profitability, all while maintaining patient satisfaction.
Oct 27, 2025 • 41min
Practice Under Water with George – Scuba Steve Part 2
In Part 2 of this Practice Under Water interview, George helps Scuba Steve unpack the deeper reasons he doesn’t love walking into his practice—despite impressive growth and income. Together, they explore team alignment, systems, environment, and the foundational role of pride in private practice ownership. A candid and tactical conversation for any dentist seeking fulfillment in ownership.
Oct 20, 2025 • 44min
Practice Under Water with George – Scuba Steve Part 1
In this episode of Practice Under Water, George speaks with “Scuba Steve,” a dentist who purchased a struggling fee-for-service practice and quickly doubled production. They explore Steve’s unconventional ownership journey, his challenges with infrastructure, hiring, and practice culture, and preview key decisions about whether to stay solo or expand. A must-listen for anyone navigating the early years of ownership.
Oct 13, 2025 • 31min
Coaches Corner - Chart Merger
In this Coaches Corner, Richard and Caitlin break down everything you need to know about chart acquisitions—how to negotiate the deal, analyze if it's the right move for your practice, and operationally prepare your team for the incoming patient load. Whether you're eyeing growth or simply curious about creative acquisition models, this episode provides clarity on a complex topic.
Oct 6, 2025 • 34min
Ask George - Mastering New Patient Growth
Join Richard and George as they dive into a real-world fee-for-service case study, uncovering the secrets to boosting new patient flow, overcoming hygiene bottlenecks, and scaling without sacrificing patient relationships. If you want to transform efficiency, retention, and profitability in your practice, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Sep 29, 2025 • 33min
Never Miss a Call Again: AI Solutions for Dental Practices
In this insightful discussion, Richard May, VP of Business Development at Mango Voice, reveals how AI is revolutionizing dental practices. He shares how their AI phone solutions transcribe and summarize calls, ensuring no lead is missed. Richard explains the benefits of their AI receptionist, Margo, which handles after-hours calls and improves lead tracking. The conversation also touches on sentiment analysis for enhancing call quality and the struggle of human call centers, highlighting how AI is bridging the gap in dental service.
Sep 22, 2025 • 34min
Practice Under Water with George - Tom Part 2
Tom’s back—and he’s ready to take control of his schedule. George helps him ditch the dreaded Fridays, streamline his hours, and plan a smart path toward a group practice, all while keeping his sanity (and family time) intact.
Sep 15, 2025 • 41min
Practice Under Water with George - Tom Part 1
In this Practice Under Water episode, George sits down with Tom, a Canadian dentist navigating the challenges of ownership, financial pressure, and work-life balance. With high new patient flow and untapped expansion potential, Tom faces a critical crossroads: pursue group practice now or optimize his solo practice for sustainability and personal goals. This episode explores the nuanced considerations of timing, clinical growth, and long-term strategy.
Sep 8, 2025 • 40min
Ask George - Making the Right Call: Tough Decisions in Practice Ownership
In this episode of Ask George, Richard and George discuss the difficult decisions that come with dental practice ownership. They cover real-life examples of failed partnerships, premature hiring, and costly expansions, offering insights on how to navigate and recover from these challenges.
