
The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes
The goal of this podcast is to assemble the greatest minds of the dental profession and to pass on their most valuable and succinct lessons, in order to help you to achieve your full potential in practice and in life. Let's face it. Dentistry can be a frustrating and isolating profession... but you don't have to be an island anymore.
It's possible to become more profitable, less stressed and more fulfilled in your career and it's our mission is to help you get there.
For a whole host of free practice building tips and resources, visit our website at TrueDentalSuccess.com
Latest episodes

Mar 21, 2025 • 36min
2208: Why Planning, Not Willpower, Creates Real Change
On today’s episode, Dr, Mark Costes dives into the psychology of success, the power of identity, and how small, consistent changes can create massive long-term results. Learn why focusing on who you want to become rather than just what you want to achieve is the key to sustainable change. Dr. Costes also discusses the impact of accountability, habit stacking, and identity-based goal setting, referencing powerful examples from James Clear’s Atomic Habits and real-world success stories. Plus, he breaks down the importance of financial planning, estate strategies, and legacy-building to secure your future and set your family up for generational wealth. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

10 snips
Mar 20, 2025 • 42min
2207: How to Ditch the Perio Lecture for Good
In this enlightening discussion, Dr. Ben Kacos, a practice owner and black belt coach, unveils transformative strategies for tackling periodontal disease. He highlights the alarming connection between gum infections and systemic health risks, urging a shift in how dental professionals communicate with patients. Utilizing advanced microscopy in dental practices, Dr. Kacos shares how visual aids simplify diagnoses and enhance patient acceptance. His insights promote greater efficiency and understanding in periodontal care, making it a must-listen for dental practitioners!

Mar 19, 2025 • 45min
2206: Shifting from Grind Mode to Growth Mode in Your Practice
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes dives into the reality of hustle culture and why working harder doesn’t always lead to better results. He breaks down the different seasons of entrepreneurship and explains how practice owners can transition from grinding endlessly to optimizing their time and efficiency. By setting clear non-negotiables, leveraging delegation, and focusing on high-value activities, you can achieve more while working less. We also explore common struggles like reactivity, ineffective CEO time, and comparison traps that lead to burnout. Dr. Costes shares practical strategies for maximizing productivity, improving leadership, and creating a well-structured practice. Tune in for insights that will help you work smarter and build a thriving business. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Mar 18, 2025 • 40min
2205: Mastering Leadership in a Workforce Crisis Pt. 2
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes dives into creating a strong dental practice culture and leading with structure. He emphasizes the importance of defining core values and involving the team in their creation to foster true buy-in. Dr. Costes also introduces a Cultural Assessment—a simple way to measure alignment with those values, ensuring that team members are motivated, skilled, and contributing to the practice’s success. He also breaks down performance reviews, effective meetings, and accountability systems to create a productive, drama-free work environment. From structured morning huddles to weekly growth meetings, he shares the PETA framework (Presence, Intention, Time, and Agenda) to ensure every meeting moves the practice forward. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Mar 17, 2025 • 33min
2204: Mastering Leadership in a Workforce Crisis Pt. 1
On today’s episode Dr. Mark Costes explores the challenges of leading a dental team during a workforce shortage. With a 30% decline in healthcare workers since the pandemic, dental practices are struggling to find and retain skilled employees. Dr. Costes shares his own leadership journey—learning from early mistakes, overcoming high turnover, and shifting from a rigid management style to an approach built on structure, inspiration, and accountability. He also introduces key leadership principles, including defining clear expectations, holding team members accountable, and creating a structured approach to leadership. Tune in to hear how the Four Futures Framework—balancing mind, meaning, muscle, and money—can help dentists build thriving businesses while maintaining personal well-being. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Mar 14, 2025 • 43min
2203: The Power of Vendor Negotiations & GPOs
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes chats with Michael Lomotan, co-founder of the Dental Success Network, and Cameron Buhman, DSN’s vendor relations specialist. They dive into the power of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and how DSN helps dentists negotiate better pricing on supplies, lab fees, patient financing, and more—saving members tens of thousands without increasing production. They also break down the dangers of "price creep" and why keeping a close eye on vendor relationships is crucial for maintaining profitability. Dr. Costes shares his newfound love for Formula One and the strategy behind the sport. Tune in for insights on cutting overhead and running a more efficient practice. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Mar 13, 2025 • 48min
2202: Winning at Sleep Dentistry with Smarter Marketing
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Lane Rizzardini, co-owner of Sleep Apnea Leads, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of marketing sleep dentistry. Lane shares why traditional dental marketing approaches often fail for sleep apnea and how creating a separate brand and digital presence can dramatically improve patient acquisition. He also dives into the power of AI-driven follow-ups, automated systems for patient conversion, and the key strategies that help dentists grow their sleep practices efficiently. If you’ve struggled to integrate sleep apnea into your practice or want to attract more high-quality patients without wasting time, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Tune in to learn how the right marketing approach can make all the difference! EPISODE RESOURCES https://sleepapnealeads.com https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Mar 12, 2025 • 28min
2201: How to Scale Success Without Burning Out
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes breaks down the trap of hustle culture and why working harder doesn’t always mean achieving more. He shares how practice owners can transition from grinding endlessly to increasing productivity while working fewer hours. By recognizing different seasons of entrepreneurship, setting clear non-negotiables, and leveraging delegation, you can avoid burnout and maximize efficiency. We also dive into common struggles like reactivity, case acceptance issues, and inefficient CEO time. Dr. Costes offers practical strategies to streamline operations, improve leadership, and create a thriving practice without sacrificing work-life balance. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Mar 11, 2025 • 41min
2200: Escaping Burnout and Elevating Your Practice
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes takes us to the breathtaking shores of Nicaragua for an exclusive look at the Elevation Association retreat. Joined by Dr. Jared Hill and Dr. Dan Nelson, the founders of this unique mastermind group, dive into the mission behind Elevation Association—helping dentists lead with intention, design their ideal lives, and build lasting legacies. Dr. Costes, Dr. Hill, and Dr. Nelson also discuss the power of stepping away from daily practice life to gain clarity, the importance of knowing your numbers, and how to combat burnout by redefining success. Plus, they share the incredible work they're doing with the Dental Legacy Foundation, creating sustainable dental clinics in underserved communities. Tune in for a deep dive into leadership, adventure, and making an impact far beyond the dental chair. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.elevationassociation.com https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

Mar 10, 2025 • 55min
2199: We Want Outcomes
On today’s episode, Jake Conway, a longtime friend of the Dental Success Institute, dives deep into the challenges of goal-setting in dental practices. He breaks down why arbitrary, unrealistic, or narrow goals can hold doctors back—and how shifting focus to systems and outcomes can create lasting success. Jake introduces his 4D Method for setting intentional practice and life goals, emphasizes the importance of awareness in financial stress stages, and provides tactical strategies to optimize hygiene, associates, and overhead. He also explores the power of agreements vs. expectations and how engaging the team in decision-making fosters accountability and ownership. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast
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