In this episode of the Dental Download, Tarun Agarwal and Dr. Haley Schultz discuss the challenges and opportunities facing young dentists today. They explore the financial burdens of dental school debt, the impact of social media on professional expectations, and the importance of setting realistic career goals. The conversation also touches on the value of mentorship and the evolving landscape of dental practice models.

dental school debt, young dentists, mentorship, dental practice models, social media impact

"Real success is a multi-doctor practice." "Student loan debt is a major concern." "Social media creates unrealistic expectations." "Mentorship accelerates career growth." "Set personal career goals for success." "Understand practice models for better planning." "Negotiate fair compensation as a new dentist." "Continuing education is vital." "Balance work and personal life." "The future of dental practice is evolving."

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: "Production is flat. You need more marketing. You need a better funnel. You need to buy more technology."

In this episode, Dr. Tarun "TBone" Agarwal turns 50 and delivers a brutal reality check to the dental industry: "More" isn't the solution; it's a threat. If you are 45+ and exhausted, the problem isn't your strategy—it's your engine. You are trying to run an A-player team on C-minus fuel, and your practice is paying the "hidden tax" of your own inflammation and fogginess.

It’s time to stop gaslighting yourself and start measuring your Biological ROI.

Energy Audit: Rate your energy on a scale of 1-10 at morning, lunch, and end-of-day.

Remove One Drain: Identify what is killing you (pain-in-the-butt patients, insurance friction, difficult team members) and stop doing it.

Add One Fuel: Fix your sleep, increase your protein, or start your strength training.

The Sniper List: Identify the one move this week that makes the difference.

Join the Community: Download the 3D Dentists App—it's free.

The Mastermind: Surround yourself with growth-oriented individuals to get your energy back.

Direct Message: Tell TBone your biggest "biological leak" on the community platform.

"We aren’t giving up. We’re getting wiser."

Transform Your Dental Practice: Key Strategies for Profit and Freedom in 2026

As we step into 2026, many dental practitioners may feel the pressure of a profit squeeze affecting their practice. But what if the issue is not about working harder or attracting more patients? In this blog post, we’ll explore insights from industry expert Tarun Agarwal on how to shift your mindset from merely leading a production machine to building a profit-driven system, allowing you to reclaim your freedom and financial success.

1. Understanding the Profit Squeeze

In the opening of the podcast, Tarun Agarwal highlights a crucial point: the profit squeeze in dentistry is often not a reflection of laziness or incompetence. Instead, it stems from a lack of effective leadership in managing practice operations. Many dentists find themselves working hard but feeling like they are on a treadmill, leading to self-doubt about their capabilities and the future of their practice. Recognizing this as a leadership challenge rather than a math problem is the first step toward transformation.

2. Three Key Actions for Q1 of 2026

Tarun emphasizes three actionable steps that can make a significant difference in the first quarter of 2026:

- **Stop the Bleeding**: Start by identifying the financial leaks in your practice. Tarun suggests a 60-minute audit to pinpoint areas such as overhead costs, undercharging, and inefficiencies that may be draining your profits. For example, consider questions like "What are we paying for that we don’t use?" or "Where are we leaking chair time?" By focusing on one leak and assigning it a deadline, you start to regain control and belief in your practice.

- **Raise Your Value Per Hour**: The second step is to elevate the value of the services you provide. This can be achieved by focusing on high-value procedures rather than getting caught up in low-margin chaos. For instance, Tarun points out that incorporating dental implants into your practice can significantly increase your average revenue per hour. The key is not just to perform more procedures but to do so with intention and efficiency, ensuring that your schedule reflects this priority.

- **Protect Your Calendar Like a CEO**: Tarun encourages dentists to adopt a leadership mindset by protecting their time. This involves setting aside non-negotiable blocks in your schedule for high-value procedures, new patient access, and leadership activities. For instance, dedicating specific days for implant procedures can help turn your theoretical plans into actionable goals. By prioritizing leadership time, you ensure that you are not merely reacting to the demands of the day but actively shaping the future of your practice.

3. Building Momentum and Belief

The podcast emphasizes that genuine progress comes from creating momentum. Tarun advises focusing on one significant win each week that can protect your margins. This approach fosters a culture of success and gradually rebuilds your belief in the potential of your practice. Remember, it’s not about measuring success by busyness but by the freedom and effectiveness you achieve.

As you embark on 2026, keep in mind that real change does not require overhauling your entire practice. Instead, it calls for a tighter system and a stronger identity as a leader. By implementing these strategies—conducting a profit leak audit, raising your service value, and protecting your schedule—you can transform your dental practice into a thriving business that serves both your patients and your personal life. The goal is not just to survive in dentistry but to build a practice that offers you the freedom and fulfillment you desire.

Key Takeaways:
- Identify and address financial leaks in your practice.
- Focus on high-value procedures to enhance profitability.
- Protect your calendar to prioritize leadership and strategic planning.
- Measure success by the freedom and effectiveness you achieve, not just by busyness.

#Dentistry #ProfitManagement #DentalLeadership #PracticeGrowth #2026Goals #DentistSuccess #DentalImplants #BusinessStrategy

Still making every decision in your practice and wondering why growth feels like chaos? T-Bone is calling it like it is - you don’t need more hands, you need more thinkers. In this episode of Dentistry Made Simple, he breaks down the five rules that separate struggling dentists from thriving leaders.

T-Bone shares hard-earned lessons from his own practice, showing how most dentists accidentally build dependence instead of systems. From defining before you delegate to mastering your core offerings before you expand, this episode is a roadmap to scaling smarter, not harder.

T-Bone’s 5 Rules for Scaling Without Chaos:

Whether you’re stuck at $1M or trying to hit your next ceiling, this episode will challenge you to think differently about growth—and remind you that scaling isn’t about space or staff, it’s about systems and leadership.

Visit 3D-Dentists.com to join the free Pro Community!

Connect with Dr. Tarun Agarwal,DDS 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbonespeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbonespeaks

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbonespeaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbonespeaks

Who is Dr. Tarun Agarwal?

Dr. Tarun Agarwal, DDS is considered one of the top dentists in the country. He is a recognized speaker, author, and dental leader. He has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and News 14 Carolina. Dr. Agarwal has been awarded '40 under 40' Business Leaders by the Triangle Business Journal.

He is regularly invited to teach other dentists around the world and recently built a training center within the practice dedicated to sharing his expertise.

Most importantly he is a dedicated father of three wonderful children. His biggest accolade was being voted 'Best Dad in the World' by 2 of his 3 kids.

Still making every decision in your practice and wondering why growth feels like chaos? T-Bone is calling it like it is—you don’t need more hands, you need more thinkers. In this episode of Dentistry Made Simple, he breaks down the five rules that separate struggling dentists from thriving leaders.

T-Bone shares hard-earned lessons from his own practice, showing how most dentists accidentally build dependence instead of systems. From defining before you delegate to mastering your core offerings before you expand, this episode is a roadmap to scaling smarter, not harder.

T-Bone’s 5 Rules for Scaling Without Chaos:

Whether you’re stuck at $1M or trying to hit your next ceiling, this episode will challenge you to think differently about growth—and remind you that scaling isn’t about space or staff, it’s about systems and leadership.

Visit 3D-Dentists.com to join the free Pro Community!

Connect with Dr. Tarun Agarwal,DDS 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbonespeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbonespeaks

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbonespeaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbonespeaks

Who is Dr. Tarun Agarwal?

Dr. Tarun Agarwal, DDS is considered one of the top dentists in the country. He is a recognized speaker, author, and dental leader. He has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and News 14 Carolina. Dr. Agarwal has been awarded '40 under 40' Business Leaders by the Triangle Business Journal.

He is regularly invited to teach other dentists around the world and recently built a training center within the practice dedicated to sharing his expertise.

Most importantly he is a dedicated father of three wonderful children. His biggest accolade was being voted 'Best Dad in the World' by 2 of his 3 kids.

Feeling like you're grinding every day but your practice isn't growing? Congratulations—you've hit a ceiling. T-Bone starts the episode by saying that every ceiling required him to grow as a leader and transfer some of that leadership to his team to allow the practice to continue to thrive. He and Meredith reframe these plateaus not as problems, but as positive signals for growth and change. T-Bone shares his 26-year career history, detailing the five distinct ceilings he hit and how he broke through.

The Pattern: You must work harder temporarily to gain more revenue and freedom. Scale requires letting go of control and developing leaders to execute your vision.

Visit 3D-Dentists.com to join the free Pro Community!

Connect with Dr. Tarun Agarwal,DDS 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbonespeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbonespeaks

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbonespeaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbonespeaks

Who is Dr. Tarun Agarwal?

Dr. Tarun Agarwal, DDS is considered one of the top dentists in the country. He is a recognized speaker, author, and dental leader. He has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and News 14 Carolina. Dr. Agarwal has been awarded '40 under 40' Business Leaders by the Triangle Business Journal.

He is regularly invited to teach other dentists around the world and recently built a training center within the practice dedicated to sharing his expertise.

Most importantly he is a dedicated father of three wonderful children. His biggest accolade was being voted 'Best Dad in the World' by 2 of his 3 kids.

The 5 Necessary Shifts in Mindset, Clinical Focus, and Leadership Style: Ultimate Guide to Scaling a Dental Practice

Feeling stuck even though you're working harder than ever? This episode walks you through the exact two-day planning framework 3D Dentists uses to take practices from plateaued at $1-1.6M to systematically growing to $2M, $3M, $5M, and beyond. TBone breaks down the 6 core business drivers every practice has, the multi-session planning process, and why most practices are crushing it in 2-3 areas while completely ignoring the others—that's your ceiling.

The 6 Core Business Drivers:

If you want help implementing this framework and taking your practice to the next level, join the 3D Dentists Mastermind or check out our implant training. It's more than CE—it's life and career changing. Visit 3D-Dentists.com to join the free 3D Dentists Pro Community.

Connect with Dr. Tarun Agarwal,DDS 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbonespeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbonespeaks

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbonespeaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbonespeaks

Who is Dr. Tarun Agarwal?

Dr. Tarun Agarwal, DDS is considered one of the top dentists in the country. He is a recognized speaker, author, and dental leader. He has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and News 14 Carolina. Dr. Agarwal has been awarded '40 under 40' Business Leaders by the Triangle Business Journal.

He is regularly invited to teach other dentists around the world and recently built a training center within the practice dedicated to sharing his expertise.

Most importantly he is a dedicated father of three wonderful children. His biggest accolade was being voted 'Best Dad in the World' by 2 of his 3 kids.

Most dentists don’t need more education — they need more implementation.

In this episode, T-Bone and Meredith unpack the hard truth about elite-level CE and why thousands of dentists stay stuck in the same schedule — overwhelmed, overworked, and still doing single-tooth dentistry.

They reveal why collecting certificates doesn’t create confidence, and why your next level isn’t another course — it’s better systems, stronger leadership, and true team alignment.

You’ll learn how to finally turn your continuing education into continuing results.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The 3D Framework:
• Evaluate your readiness and resources
• Align your CE with your practice stage and patient base
• Implement with your team — don’t go it alone

Resources Mentioned:
3D Dentists Mastermind Program — https://3d-dentists.com
Join the free 3D Dentists Pro Community — https://members.3d-dentists.com

Join the 3D Dentists Pro Community for free frameworks, behind-the-scenes insights from practicing dentists, and connect with dentists who are evening the odds.

Connect with Dr. Tarun Agarwal,DDS 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbonespeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbonespeaks

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbonespeaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbonespeaks

Who is Dr. Tarun Agarwal?

Dr. Tarun Agarwal, DDS is considered one of the top dentists in the country. He is a recognized speaker, author, and dental leader. He has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and News 14 Carolina. Dr. Agarwal has been awarded '40 under 40' Business Leaders by the Triangle Business Journal.

He is regularly invited to teach other dentists around the world and recently built a training center within the practice dedicated to sharing his expertise.

Most importantly he is a dedicated father of three wonderful children. His biggest accolade was being voted 'Best Dad in the World' by 2 of his 3 kids.

"Dentists don’t fall behind because of lack of opportunity. They fall behind because they’re stuck in the wrong business model."

T-Bone exposes the real reason most practices stay overwhelmed, overworked, and underpaid—while other dentists hit their monthly production in just 8–10 days doing implants. He breaks down the math, mindset, and model shift that transforms implants from a CE course into a predictable weekly revenue engine.

You’ll learn how to move from 30 low-value appointments to 3 high-value cases without adding more days, more stress, or more insurance headaches. Meredith and T-Bone also walk you through the exact steps to build confidence, create consistency, and convert the implant opportunities already hidden in your schedule.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Links to the things we mentioned

Tooth Replacement Therapy Implant Program (Didactic + Live Patient)

https://3d-dentists.com/live-patient-dental-implant-training/ 

3D Dentists Pro Community (Free)

https://members.3d-dentists.com/ 

TBoneSpeaks.com

https://tboneSpeaks.com 

Join the 3D Dentists Pro Community for free frameworks, behind-the-scenes insights from practicing dentists, and connect with dentists who are evening the odds.

Connect with Dr. Tarun Agarwal,DDS 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbonespeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbonespeaks

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbonespeaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbonespeaks

Who is Dr. Tarun Agarwal?

Dr. Tarun Agarwal, DDS is considered one of the top dentists in the country. He is a recognized speaker, author, and dental leader. He has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and News 14 Carolina. Dr. Agarwal has been awarded '40 under 40' Business Leaders by the Triangle Business Journal.

He is regularly invited to teach other dentists around the world and recently built a training center within the practice dedicated to sharing his expertise.

Most importantly he is a dedicated father of three wonderful children. His biggest accolade was being voted 'Best Dad in the World' by 2 of his 3 kids.

"Patients don't say no to implants. They say no to how you're selling them."

TBone breaks down Nike's $51 billion success secret and shows exactly how to apply their "sell the transformation, not the product" strategy to dental case presentations. Learn the 3-step framework that's helping dentists double their implant acceptance rates without changing fees or adding new equipment.

https://members.3d-dentists.com/

Join the 3D Dentists Pro Community for free frameworks, behind-the-scenes insights from practicing dentists, and connect with dentists who are evening the odds.

Connect with Dr. Tarun Agarwal,DDS 

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbonespeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbonespeaks

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbonespeaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbonespeaks

Who is Dr. Tarun Agarwal?

Dr. Tarun Agarwal, DDS is considered one of the top dentists in the country. He is a recognized speaker, author, and dental leader. He has been featured on CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and News 14 Carolina. Dr. Agarwal has been awarded '40 under 40' Business Leaders by the Triangle Business Journal.

He is regularly invited to teach other dentists around the world and recently built a training center within the practice dedicated to sharing his expertise.

Most importantly he is a dedicated father of three wonderful children. His biggest accolade was being voted 'Best Dad in the World' by 2 of his 3 kids.