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
Dec 15, 2025 • 36min
Coaches Corner - Teachability Wins: Hiring, Training, and Standards of Care that Stick
Tired of choosing between a great personality and plug-and-play experience? Richard and Caitlin show how real-world SOPs let you hire for attitude, train the skills, and stop feeling held hostage by turnover. Plus: easy ways to draft manuals with AI and keep a steady pipeline of candidates.
Dec 8, 2025 • 43min
Practice Under Water with George – Thor Part 2
In Part 2 of Thor’s return to Practice Under Water, George and Thor tackle the complexities of scaling a thriving $2.5M practice. From facility constraints to associate performance and insurance strategy, this episode offers a real-time masterclass in transitioning from hustle-based growth to systems-driven sustainability.
4 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 41min
Practice Under Water with George – Thor Part 1
Join the discussion as Thor shares his incredible journey, growing his dental practice from $700K to $2.5M in just four years. Explore the marketing strategies that fueled this patient influx—think engaging reviews and effective mailers. Thrilling insights into staff dynamics arise as Thor navigates hiring an associate and tweaking schedules. Discover the delicate balance between income and lifestyle goals, and unpack the potential for Thor to embrace a pseudo-specialist role. It's a riveting blend of ambition, strategy, and the art of patient care!
Nov 24, 2025 • 42min
Ask George - The Ownership Reset
Kickstart 2026 with a robust plan! Dive into the key elements of establishing a clear practice vision and identifying your biggest bottleneck. Discover the concept of the productive solo and smart solo paths for optimizing revenue while balancing associate dynamics. Learn about the importance of aligning your team with your chosen avatar and the necessity of a consistent meeting rhythm to drive growth. Understand that growth is non-linear and requires patience, with an encouraging reminder to focus on bottlenecks for ongoing success.
Nov 17, 2025 • 38min
Coaches Corner - Turning Strategic Vision Into Operational Excellence
Discover the four-part framework for enhancing practice vision—anatomy/scale, philosophy of care, team culture, and life design. Hear how clear communication fosters buy-in and reduces burnout. Explore tools like practice avatars to visualize growth and the importance of aligning team culture with practice goals. Richard and Caitlin emphasize using vision to guide staffing needs and prevent complacency. They highlight the emotional impact of vision clarity and suggest ongoing communication strategies for sustained success.
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.
