The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

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.

Join Dr. Jason Tanoory and the ever-unique Dr. Paul Goodman (aka "Dr. Nachos") in this dynamic episode of the Dental Lighthouse Podcast. What starts as a role-reversing interview quickly becomes a rich, candid conversation about leadership, systems, mentorship, and the everyday “brain damage” of running a dental practice. With humor, humility, and hard-earned insight, Jason and Paul unpack everything from real-time feedback and CEO time to onboarding associates and building a team culture rooted in empathy, honesty, and servant leadership. If you're a dentist, leader, or someone striving to create impact through service, this episode will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to lead with intention.

You fought to get out of the chair. You finally carved out real CEO time. Now you're staring at your calendar like a dog that caught the car. What the hell are you supposed to do with this time? In this episode, Jason breaks down exactly how to think about—and use—your CEO time, starting with two foundational principles: vision and scorecards. He unpacks why clarity beats urgency, why texting your team at 10pm is a leadership fail, and how to use your time to move the business—not just your to-do list—forward. This one's especially relevant for docs transitioning out of clinical, scaling their practices, or just trying to stop reacting and start leading.

When a rock-solid associate saw her schedule tank, she assumed it was bad luck or uneven exam distribution. But a quick data dive told a different story. In this episode, Jason unpacks a one-on-one coaching conversation about why production drops often have less to do with patient “yeses” and more to do with how much treatment is actually being presented. You’ll learn how to think like a scientist with your scorecard, how to diagnose production slumps, and why running behind today might just save your schedule next month. This episode is packed with tactical wisdom for doctors who want to take more ownership over their numbers without falling into the victim trap.

Just because you can add another doctor doesn’t mean it’s the smart move. In this episode, Jason shares a coaching story about a doc who expanded too soon and ended up with two under booked doctors and not enough hygiene to support them. It’s a common trap for growing practices that haven’t fully thought through the math, the ratios, or the realities of day-to-day scheduling. Jason breaks down when it makes sense to bring on a second provider and when you're better off adding a hygienist and grinding it out. He shares tactical ways to manage the short-term chaos, like adjusting your schedule, using bypass exam protocols, and making smart trade-offs. If your practice is at that tipping point, this episode could save you from an expensive misstep.

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 week, Jason sits down with bestselling author and dentist Dr. Addison Killeen to talk about his newest release, The Shift—a leadership fable packed with real stories and actionable business lessons. Known for his system-heavy guides, Addison steps into a more personal, story-driven format to help young dental leaders navigate ownership, burnout, and the messy reality of building great teams. They talk about what inspired the book, why storytelling is such a powerful teaching tool, and how Addison weaves hard-earned lessons from real practices (and even welding shops) into a framework anyone can use. If you’re a new practice owner, a department lead, or just trying to figure out what kind of leader you want to be—this episode will hit home. Get ready for practical wisdom, a few laughs, and some seriously good reasons to order the book before the day’s over.  Link to purchase The Shift by Dr. Addison Killeen 

In Part Two, Jason continues answering big-picture leadership questions from the next generation of dentists—questions that matter more than any CE course ever could. He dives deeper into building real authority (not just a title), how to stop feeling like the bottleneck in your practice, and what most docs get wrong about accountability. Whether you’re months from ownership or already feeling the weight of a team looking to you for direction, this episode will help you lead with more clarity, confidence, and connection. Missed Part One? Go back and catch it first—then come back ready for round two.

In this episode, Jason tackles real questions from early-career dentists who are hungry to lead—before they feel fully “ready.” From earning trust with seasoned team members, to navigating tension with owners and mentors, to knowing when (and how) to start building leadership depth, this conversation cuts through the noise. If you're thinking about ownership, culture, or how to avoid the landmines most docs don’t see coming until it’s too late—this one’s for you. This is Part One of the conversation, so stay tuned for more insights in Part Two dropping next week.