The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

This is a replay of one of our most downloaded episodes. If you’re newer here, this one’s a must-listen. This hour-long episode is exactly what the title promises—Jason’s no-fluff guide to the actual habits, mindsets, and behaviors that define great leadership in a dental practice. Pulled straight from his coaching work and years in the trenches, this isn’t about lofty ideas. It’s about clarity, consistency, and courage. He covers: Why most “leadership problems” are actually clarity problems How to stop being the hero and start building real accountability The danger of trying to be liked instead of respected How to use the “5C’s” and servant leadership in real-world situations Packed with real stories and hard-won lessons, this episode is a roadmap for docs who want to lead without burning out—or bailing out. Whether you’re new to leadership or just tired of feeling stuck, this one’s worth every minute.

This is a replay of one of our most downloaded episodes. If you’re newer here, this one’s a must-listen. In this insightful episode of The Dental Lighthouse, Jason Tanoory sits down with Blake and Colin, two ambitious young dentists who are redefining what it means to succeed early in their careers. The conversation dives into their approaches to managing debt, building strong relationships with banks, and making calculated decisions for growth. Colin shares his bold strategy for leveraging high-risk opportunities to accelerate progress, while Blake offers wisdom on balancing optimism with responsibility in a competitive market. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey, this episode is filled with practical advice and inspiring stories to motivate you.

This is a replay of one of our most downloaded episodes. If you’re newer here, this one’s a must-listen. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of patient care and treatment coordination with Michelle, a seasoned expert in helping patients navigate complex dental decisions. Michelle shares her unique approach to building trust with patients, guiding them through treatment options, and finding creative financing solutions that ensure they receive the care they need. From discussing credit scores and financing plans like Cherry and Compassionate Finance to managing expectations and closing larger treatment cases, Michelle's insights are invaluable for treatment coordinators and dental professionals alike. Tune in to learn how she uses empathetic listening, clear communication, and a natural ability to connect with patients to drive successful case acceptance. Whether you're a new treatment coordinator looking for guidance or a seasoned professional seeking fresh ideas, this episode is packed with actionable tips you can implement right away.

This is a replay of one of our most downloaded episodes. If you’re newer here, this one’s a must-listen.  In this episode of The Dental Lighthouse, host Jason Tanoory welcomes Dr. Paul Goodman, known affectionately as "Dr. Nacho," to discuss the intricacies of dental insurance and the art of managing patient expectations. With years of experience as a practicing dentist and a passion for helping other dental professionals, Dr. Goodman shares his expertise on navigating the often-confusing landscape of insurance coverage. Proven strategies to navigate tough insurance-based questions from our patients They delve into effective communication strategies that can transform challenging conversations about treatment options and costs into opportunities for trust and understanding. Dr. Goodman emphasizes the importance of presenting clear, patient-centered solutions while balancing the realities of insurance limitations. Listeners will gain actionable insights on how to approach insurance discussions with confidence, ensuring patients feel informed and supported in their treatment decisions. Join Jason and Dr. Goodman for this enlightening conversation filled with practical tips and the wisdom gained from years of experience in the dental field. For more information on Dr. Goodman and his resources, visit Dental Nachos. Do you PARTICIPATE with my dental insurance?

Every dentist knows the panic of looking at a once packed schedule and suddenly seeing empty space where production should be. Is this just a seasonal dip, or a warning sign that something upstream has shifted? In this episode, Jason unpacks an email from a doctor who is drowning in hygiene checks and new patients yet somehow watching his production tank. Jason walks through the real culprit behind most schedule slowdowns. Spoiler: it usually isn’t marketing or patient flow. It’s rushed exams, rushed treatment presentations, and a hygiene ratio that quietly sabotages case acceptance long before you notice holes in your calendar. He breaks down the dangers of running three or four hygienists per doctor, the downstream effects on comprehensive dentistry, and why even strong offices can drift into reactive scheduling if they don’t track the right metrics. You’ll learn the two KPIs he insists every doctor monitors weekly. You’ll also hear practical strategies for preventing exam overload, protecting your time, and spotting production dips before they hit your bottom line. If you’ve ever stared at an empty afternoon and thought “What happened?”, this episode gives you the roadmap to diagnose and fix it. Check out thedentallighthouse.com for more information on joining the Better than Yesterday challenge.

Delving into the importance of checklists, the discussion reveals how solid numbers don’t always mean a healthy practice. Real-life scenarios showcase the fallout from missed prescriptions and unchecked tasks, painting a picture of how small oversights can lead to major issues. The host emphasizes that checklists aren’t about micromanagement but rather about enhancing patient experience and team morale. Leadership is redefined as a commitment to sustaining culture and preventing chaos, making checklists crucial for long-term success.

This episode dives straight into one of the most uncomfortable and most common realities of growing a practice. You bring on a new associate who is eager, competent, and settling in well. Then out of nowhere, your existing associate starts to feel threatened. A few passive aggressive comments here, a little eye rolling there, some whispered critiques about clinical work, and suddenly the culture you worked so hard to build has a hairline fracture running right through it. Jason breaks down exactly how to handle that moment before it spreads. You will hear how to communicate the “why” behind hiring, how to set clinical standards without micromanaging, and how to have the tough conversations that too many leaders avoid. He also walks you through the real power of peer-to-peer accountability and the point where you need to “open the kimono” so the team can help you drive behavior change. If you’ve ever onboarded an associate, plan to, or simply want to protect the culture you’ve built, this episode is a masterclass in addressing scarcity mindset, supporting new providers, and leading like an adult when things get messy. Check out thedentallighthouse.com for more information on joining the Better Than Yesterday challenge.

This episode is for the implementers. The people who want to feel better, lead better, and live better without overcomplicating it. Jason breaks down the new Better Than Yesterday Four Futures Challenge, a simple framework built around mind, meaning, muscle, and money that helps you tighten up your habits, get honest about your daily rhythms, and actually improve your life one day at a time. You will hear why we are rolling out a seven day test run in December so you can trip, stumble, learn, and adjust before the full thirty day challenge starts in January. Jason walks through each quadrant in detail, explains the intention behind it, and gives practical examples for both beginners and intermediates. Whether you need help dialing in your mindset, reconnecting with people who matter, moving your body with purpose, or finally understanding your money, this episode gives you a clear starting point. If you want the full template Kenzie built or you want to join us for the challenge, reach out. We will be going through it together inside the Dental Lighthouse community and helping each other stay on track. If you want to join us, please email jason@thedentallighthouse.com or visit thedentallighthouse.com.

What does it really take to grow from one practice to ten thriving locations without losing your mind or your margins? In this episode, Jason sits down with Dr. Hardik Chodavadia, co owner of a ten location group in Austin, Texas, to unpack the real story behind rapid but sustainable growth. From signing his very first lease sight unseen to leading a team of more than 80 people, Dr. Hardik shares what worked, what almost broke the business, and what he would do differently if he had to start again today. They dig into the messy middle of scaling: building from de novo instead of acquisition, bringing on partners, hiring a CEO, and learning how to lead when your role shifts from full time clinician to full time operator. You will hear how they structure their leadership team, use meetings to keep everyone aligned, centralize key functions like phones and billing, and protect culture across multiple locations. You will learn: How Dr. Hardik went from one six operatory startup to ten locations in under ten years The real role of office managers and doctors in leading each practice, and why not every associate should be a “leader of record” What their centralized model looks like for phones, claims, and billing, plus where they still keep things local How they think about mentors, partners, and specialists as they scale clinical services Why meetings, structure, and daily scorecard reviews are non negotiable in a multi location group The biggest risks that keep Dr. Hardik up at night, from marketing and new patient flow to over reliance on “rock star” employees without systems If you are serious about adding locations or turning your single site office into a true group, this conversation gives you a candid, behind the scenes look at what it actually takes.

Payroll feels heavy, team feels “busy,” and your profit is not where it should be. Are you actually overstaffed or just underperforming in the right places? This episode breaks that down so you can stop guessing and start leading. Jason walks through clear, practical benchmarks that tell you if your practice is staffed correctly or bloated, and what to do when the numbers say you have a problem. No drama, just data and hard truths. You will learn: How to use hygiene productivity ratios to see if you are losing money in the back What founder docs and associates should be producing per day to justify their support team The simple monthly “revenue per non dentist employee” metric that exposes overstaffing fast Where admin teams usually get bloated and how to decide what to keep in house vs outsource How to deal with C players, why avoiding those conversations is actually selfish, and how it steals from your family too If you feel trapped by payroll but guilty about cutting staff, this episode gives you a framework to decide with confidence, protect your culture, and pay your true A and B players what they deserve.