The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

In Part 2 of this bonus and incentive series, Dr. Jason dives into team-based reward systems—what works, what fails, and how to design plans that actually improve performance and protect profitability. You’ll learn: Why “set a random goal and hope for the best” bonus systems backfire How to calculate your BAM (Bareass Minimum) number so your team understands what it takes to break even Simple frameworks for profit-sharing that reward ownership thinking, not entitlement How to protect cash flow while building a transparent, high-accountability culture What conversations start happening when your team actually knows the numbers From arbitrary production goals to data-driven profit sharing, Jason shares how his own practices have evolved—mistakes, wins, and all. If you’ve ever struggled to balance motivation with money, this episode will help you build a system that drives results without draining your bottom line.

When it comes to bonuses and incentive plans, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula—and the wrong plan can tank culture just as fast as it boosts production. In this episode, Dr. Jason breaks down what actually works when rewarding individuals in your practice—dentists, hygienists, assistants, and office managers—and why the key is matching the right system to the right people. You’ll learn: The incentive structures that motivate A and B players (and why they flop for C players) Simple, transparent ways to bonus hygienists, associates, and managers without wrecking cash flow How to tie rewards to behaviors that benefit patients, the team, and the practice equally Where most practices go wrong with profit sharing and “motivational carrots” This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Next up: how to design team-wide incentives that build alignment and accountability instead of resentment. If you’re ready to move beyond cookie-cutter bonus plans and start rewarding what actually drives growth, this one’s for you.

Dr. Jason sits down with Ryan Gross of CMO Share to talk real numbers and real moves when patient demand gets price sensitive. Using multi-year call and search data, Ryan explains why more patients now lead with cost and insurance questions and what winning practices do on their websites, phones, and schedules to keep conversion high. You’ll learn: Which pages to upgrade first so AI and Google surface your answers when patients ask “how much” and “does it hurt.” How to add clear fee ranges and financing on service pages without scaring people off. The exact phone language that saves price-shopping calls instead of losing them. Why visible online availability boosts traffic and calls, even if most patients still book by phone. Capacity plays that create “yes, today” options without wrecking your ops. When to cut, when to double down, and how to stay aggressive while everyone else retreats. If you want a simple plan to protect growth when wallets tighten, this episode gives you the levers and the scripts.

In this episode, Dr. Jason sits down with his longtime accountant and tax strategist, Scott Haberman (CPA, Eide Bailly), to unpack one of the most common questions in dentistry: “Should I start a DSO?” Together they break down what a DSO actually is, when it makes sense to form one, and the key mistakes owners make when scaling beyond a single practice. From equity and efficiency to tax implications and partner dynamics, this is a candid, real-world look at what it takes to grow responsibly. You’ll learn: When to consider creating a DSO—and when not to How multi-location owners can clean up “messy books” and clarify profitability What equity and ownership structures actually look like in practice Whether DSOs offer real tax advantages or just extra headaches Why clarity, communication, and clean agreements matter more than ever If you’ve ever wondered whether a DSO could streamline your operations or just complicate your life, this conversation will help you see the full picture—no sugarcoating, just strategy.

Note takers have opinions. Recordings have receipts. In this episode, Dr. Jason lays out why hitting “record” on every team meeting, 1:1, and quick check-in is the simplest way to boost clarity, coaching, and follow-through. He covers the big four: perception vs reality, building better leaders with real feedback, keeping part-timers in the loop, and turning talk into action items that actually get done. Then he walks through the how with permission, tools, access control, and a clean workflow so nothing slips. You’ll get: A repeatable system for recording, summarizing, and assigning next steps How to coach with empathy while still saying the uncomfortable thing clearly A way to share only the right clips with the right people The privacy and consent guardrails that keep you safe Perfect for: owners and ops leads who want fewer “Wait, that’s not what I heard” moments and more measurable progress.

Not every “busting at the seams” practice needs a bigger building. In this episode, Dr. Jason coaches a young owner who’s winning on paper but questioning whether expansion is worth the debt, stress, and time tradeoffs. They dig into the real why behind growth, how to spot FOMO in your decision making, and smart ways to create progress without adding ops or headcount. You’ll hear: A simple test to know if you actually want expansion or just feel pressured How to grow fulfillment, EBITDA, and team capability inside your current four walls The “season” mindset for big moves and how to protect family time while you build When to pass on great opportunities and trust another will appear Practical delegation moves that buy back hours before you spend dollars Perfect for: owners at capacity who crave progress but refuse to mortgage their peace just to keep up.

Your front desk is glued to Instagram, your schedule is leaking, and your A-players are quietly fuming. In this episode, Dr. Jason breaks down a real listener email and walks through a simple path from chaos to consistency. You will learn the difference between triangular accountability and peer to peer accountability, how to define “winning” for the front desk so expectations are crystal clear, and when to offer grace vs when to set consequences. If you have ever lightened someone’s workload to “help” and accidentally punished your rock stars, this one will sting in the best way. You’ll get: A quick script to shift from tattling to peer accountability A checklist to reset standards for phone use and align to core values How to tie behavior to metrics so coaching is objective, not emotional When to escalate from coaching to write up to part ways A reminder to protect culture by not redesigning systems around C players Perfect for: owners and leads who want a focused, no drama plan to get phones down and productivity up.

In this episode of the Dental Lighthouse Podcast, Dr. Jason sits down with Corey, a young dentist from North Carolina, who is navigating the all-too-familiar “ceilings of complexity.” From maxing out physical space and operatories to stretching leadership bandwidth and balancing family, faith, and personal health, Corey shares what it’s really like to grow a practice while trying not to lose yourself in the process. Together, they unpack what happens when growth collides with capacity—how to recognize culture cracks before adding an associate, why morning huddles and leadership delegation matter more than ever, and how to protect your time so you can lead both inside the office and at home. If you’ve ever felt stuck between expanding your practice and protecting your peace, this conversation will give you clarity, perspective, and the courage to push through to your next level.

If your practice is growing but accountability feels like it’s slipping through the cracks, this episode is for you. Jason dives into the real, practical steps for defining exactly what your leads should be doing day in and day out. Using a case study of a large, successful practice on the verge of expansion, he unpacks how to bring structure to the front desk and beyond—without flipping everything upside down. You’ll learn: Why accountability charts and clearly defined “hats” matter The 80/20 split of leadership vs. patient-facing tasks for leads How checklists, scorecards, and meetings drive accountability What effective one-on-ones look like (and how they build trust) How to empower leads to actually lead instead of running every issue back to the doctors This is not about cookie-cutter consulting. It’s about building systems that fit your unique practice while giving your team the tools, clarity, and confidence to step into leadership roles.

What happens when you're on the other side of the patient experience—and it goes sideways? In this episode, Dr. Jason shares a personal story about a frustrating hospital visit that left him stewing in a changing room for nearly an hour. From missed MRI scans to poorly managed expectations, this experience becomes a powerful analogy for common mistakes made in dental practices every day. You’ll learn: Why small oversights—like not checking a scan before a patient leaves—can create outsized damage to trust and perceived competence. How to handle mistakes with urgency and empathy, including working around patient schedules. The overlooked power of proactive communication and managing expectations in real time. Why a simple, thoughtful gesture (like a $10 gift card) can help repair a frayed patient relationship. This episode is a crash course in turning service breakdowns into leadership and systems breakthroughs. If you want to improve your patient experience, start here.