Love Your Practice

As female dental practice owners, we love helping others and putting others first. However, we often forget that we also need to set boundaries and take care of ourselves so we can serve our employees and patients in beneficial ways. In this episode, I welcome Dr. Laura Brenner who helps dental practice owners recognize what burnout looks like and make important decisions regarding continuing on their journey as a dental practice owner … or not.

As dental practice owners, we often create and carry great levels of stress which can lead to burnout! We sometimes compromise how we want to serve because we try to conform to how we believe others are viewing us. However, as leaders, it is essential to give ourselves permission to design our practices the way we want them to be. And this includes trusting others to do their jobs. Situations may arise that are beyond our control, but we have to give ourselves the grace to know that we can do things better in the future. Taking time to create boundaries and define how we want to serve others in our lives can create clarity and help us define how we, along with our employees and patients, can be winners.

Are you ready to design and plan your life right now according to where you are right now? Why wait? Listen to this episode so you can start living right now, and you may be surprised at what doors open to you because you are serving in the capacity you want!

Highlights from this episode:

• How burnout happens within dental practice ownership
• The predictability of the brain and how it wants us to conform for our safety
• Defining how you want to serve and creating boundaries
• It's okay to say, "No."
• Giving yourself permission to run your practice the way you want to
• Being a leader and trusting others around you to do their jobs
• The art of developing yourself right now

Resources and links mentioned:

• Laura Brenner's website: Lolabees Career Coaching (contains the link to her free guide "6 Reasons You're Burnt Out in Your Dental Career")
• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

Is your brain giving you a hard time? Is it telling you something is dangerous that really is not dangerous? If so, know that this happens to the best of us! In this episode, I look at some of my struggles as a dental practice owner of 15 years and discuss how coaching can help all of us who are female dental practice owners.

We all have many elements of our work lives that can cause stress. And our brains often feed into that stress and can cause us to spiral into worrying about things that, in reality, we may not need to be stressing over. This is natural because human brains have evolved into showing us potential dangers in our lives. However, we can choose to look at frightening situations in new ways. This changing of our perspectives can lift the weight of worry in profound ways.

What are you worrying about? Chances are that how you are looking at your situation could be changed! This episode will help you recognize ways to handle situations without the worry so you can enjoy your practice ownership in a more intentional way. Listen now, and put yourself on the best path to loving your practice!

Highlights from this episode:

• Stresses associated with a slowdown in a practice
• How quickly our brains can switch to very negative thoughts
• Ways that coaching helps dental practice owners
• Recognizing that it is okay to worry about our practices and that worrying is natural
• The benefits of looking at the facts of situations we are facing to change our perspectives

Resources and links mentioned:

• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

When you went through dental school, did you have much training in endodontics? If you're like most of us, you probably didn't, and my guest today is on a mission to change that! Sonia Chopra, DDS became a board-certified endodontist as a result of her own personal dental experience and healing process. She is a TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, and founder of Ballantyne Endodontics in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode, Dr. Chopra shares details of her path to endodontics and passion to improve endodontic education within dentistry.

Her mission of "helping dentists fully understand and fully embody and embrace endo as a critical part of dentistry and building their practice" is how her award-winning business, E-School: Everyday Endo Made Easy, was founded. This Online Endodontic Continuing Education for Dentists is revolutionizing continuing education through simple, tangible lessons so dentists can properly diagnose patients.

We need to offer the best care to patients, and there are many hidden ROIs on learning endodontic care. Dr. Chopra's education program offers three primary iterations: an 8-10 week program with coaching calls, independent study, and E-school Live that incorporates in-person training for doctors to work under Dr. Chopra's supervision on patients who receive their necessary treatments at extremely discounted prices.

As dental practice owners we carry an emotional burden. We absorb much of our patients' energy through the contagious nature of human emotions. So, Dr. Chopra also offers a coaching program for current endodontists and general dentists to help us free up time so we can take better care of ourselves as well as our patients. It is time to change our culture so we can offer our best care to our patients! Listen to this episode now to hear about increasing your knowledge, improving your practice, and valuable information if you are considering selling your practice!

Highlights from this episode:

• Looking at the culture within academics regarding endodontics
• Exploring the hesitancy to offer endodontic care in dental practices
• Why learning endodontics is essential for a dental practice
• Diagnosis: How critical it is to get your patients to the proper specialists
• The benefits of learning within a community
• How different your life as a practice owner can be with some key changes
• The difficulties, realities, and challenges facing dentists who sell to DSOs

Resources and links mentioned:

• Dr. Chopra's Instagram: SoniaChopraDDS
• Dr. Chopra's website: SoniaChopraDDS.com
• Dr. Chopra's E-school: Everyday Endo Made Easy
• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauramach
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

On this special episode of The Fee For Service dental podcast with Dr. Sonny Spera, you will hear an update on what happened in Dr. Mach's office as a result of going fee for service. Listen now to learn more. Resources and links for Dr. Laura Mach:

• Link to FFS Episode
• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauramach
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see! ~ Laura

On this special episode of The Fee For Service dental podcast with Dr. Sonny Spera, Drs. Mach and Spera discuss how difficult it is for dentists to mentally face the concept of going fee for service. And, more importantly, what you can do to overcome those blocks. Listen in on this exciting podcast presentation with Dr. Laura being on the guest side of the podcast.

Listen now to learn more.

Resources and links for Dr. Laura Mach:

• Link to Episode on FFS Podcast
• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauramach
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

In this captivating podcast episode, I welcome Dr. Maggie Augustyn, DDS, FICOI, FAAIP, a dental practice owner and inspirational woman. We dive into various topics, including the importance of finding joy in work, overcoming burnout, and learning from Maggie's courageous battle with cancer. Join us as we discuss adapting to changes in both work and life, and how Maggie found her true purpose - helping dental professionals feel understood and less alone.

Dive into this engaging conversation to uncover the unique challenges faced by dental practice owners and gain insight into Maggie Augustyn's journey as a dental professional, writer, and advocate. Find the inspiration to embrace change, work through fears, and build a strong support system for a successful career! Don't miss out on this enlightening episode – check the show notes below for Maggie's articles in Dentistry Today and follow her on Facebook and Instagram for more insights.

Dr. Maggie Augustyn, DDS, FICOI, FAAIP is a practicing general dentist, author, and inspirational speaker. She is committed to helping people achieve their full potential, both physically and mentally. She is a strong advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken publicly about her own experiences with mental illness. Dr. Augustyn is passionate about creating a world where everyone feels accepted and included.

Highlights from this episode:

• Pros and Cons of Dental practice
• Overcoming the challenges of partnership
• Adapting to change
• Navigating burnout and motivation
• Mental health and the role of social media
• Leadership, accountability, and consistency
• The importance of investing in coaching

Resources and links mentioned:

Where to find Maggie Augustyn, DDS, FICOI, FAAIP

• Dentistry Today Column: Mindful Moments
• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/maggie.augustyn
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.maggieaugustyn/

Where to find Dr. Laura Mach

• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauramach
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

What is your story? Have you clarified your "why" within your brand? My guest on this episode is Joanna Scott, who, together with her husband, manages Studio 8e8: Dentistry's Story-Driven Marketing Agency based in Columbus, Ohio. Joanna says, "We all have a unique story, and we're all on a mission to make the world a better place, especially as women." This episode will help bring clarity to you as a practice owner so you can effectively communicate your story with your patients as you market your practice!

Simply put, story and connection build trust with patients. Joanna notes, "Dentistry is an inspiring profession … full of humans serving humans," and we all love and remember stories - especially those about people in our lives. Do your patients know your story? If not, now is the time to change this because we all have unique qualities that can connect us with the right patients for us.

Joanna's company works to develop a custom digital presence for dentists so we can do a better job of telling patients who we really are. In this episode she shares information about what we should expect from our marketing agencies, the questions we should ask, and the importance of our websites and custom photography, video and more. Listen now to hear great tips and resources to showcase our stories, connect with our current and future patients, and establish trust with patients as we move forward with our practices!

Highlights from this episode:

• The importance of being motivated by the relationships around us
• Understanding that our teams are not our tribes and how that makes us better leaders
• What story-driven marketing is and how it can improve relationships between dentists and patients
• Stories are remembered so much more than facts
• Three common mistakes with marketing and ways to avoid these mistakes
• How to showcase brands and values

Resources and links mentioned:

• Joanna's Studio 8e8 website: S8E8.com
• Joanna's Instagram: @joannafscott
• 13 Questions To Ask Your Dental Marketing Company
• Guide To Story-Driven Marketing
• Client story: Dr. Gigi of Livingston Family Orthodontics in Livingston, NJ
• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauramach
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 6686

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

Do you feel as though your dental practice is not only recognizing but also celebrating diversity? For a closer look at this vital topic, I welcome experienced dental practitioners Karese Laguerre, RDH, and Chris "Love" Williams, RDH, to this episode. Both feel as though diversity is missing from our industry and are organizing an amazing experience for all to learn more about this topic. In this episode, we delve into diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace and patient culture.

Karese is a Myofunctional Therapist, author, and founder of The Myo Spot, a practice through which she uses teletherapy to help clients overcome tongue ties, TMJ disorders, sleep apnea, grinding, anxiety, and various breathing and orofacial dysfunction. Chris "Love" Williams is a United States Air Force combat veteran turned dental hygienist, entrepreneur, speaker, and life coach. As an accomplished professional and motivational speaker, Chris inspires audiences with his unique perspective and infectious enthusiasm and has a personal mission to impact 1 million people. Together, Karese and Chris share a passion for celebrating diversity and have co-founded The Dental Culture Con, an interactive virtual conference that will be happening June 15 -17, 2023.

"There is a person attached to these teeth" is a saying that Karese likes to say, and this is so true as we show understanding and empathy to the various populations we serve within our dental practices. It is important to celebrate the differences that people have. Within our industry, patients are more likely to show up to their appointments and respect our dental practices when we respect them as humans.

Chris says they are working to promote the "peaceful harmony of connectedness" that people genuinely want to feel. Regarding the conference he says, "The goal is for people to know how to connect with others who are different." As dental practice owners, it is important to create offices that are inviting to all. As we advertise, showing diversity demonstrates our welcomeness to all within our communities. And this applies to staffing as well, as we work to create environments that retain our current staff and attract new, diverse team members. It's important to include and represent everyone and celebrate them in the best way possible.

Are you ready to learn more about celebrating our differences and all the ways those appear in our lives? If you think culture is important to your business and your life, you are invited to attend The Dental Culture Con! Listen to this episode for more information about the event and a greater understanding of diversity and how it can impact our dental practices!

Highlights from this episode:

• Why it is important for dental practice owners to pay attention to diversity
• In a time where there are employee shortages in our industry, the need to build a culture where people are celebrated because they are different
• Ways to communicate welcomeness to our practices
• How culture will be discussed in the upcoming conference and how to build it within your practice
• Bringing the five love languages into our practices and getting the most from our employees
• The importance of recognizing why people enter dentistry

Resources and links mentioned:

• Event website: Dentalcuturecon.com
• Karese's book: Accomplished: How to Sleep Better, Eliminate Burnout and Execute Goals
• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauramach
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

Are you afraid to break free from insurance contracts and practice dentistry on your own terms? This episode will help you learn how you can face and overcome this fear! One of the amazing people in dentistry is my guest on this episode, dental coach Angela Davis-Sullivan. Angela has over 30 years of experience in the industry, and she coaches dental practices on how to exit their insurance contracts. Are you envisioning your practice without contracts? Angela discusses ways to determine if your practice is ready - right now - to drop your insurance contracts.

As practice owners, we buy our jobs, and then we sometimes PAY to be in-network. This can put caps on our income … but this episode will help you see how to get out from under those insurance contracts! It is time to BE HAPPY about the money you are making in your practice. This exit process requires bravery to create a strategy to inform the team and patients that you are moving away from insurance contracts. And, ultimately, this is best for the patients. Stepping away from insurance requires a mind shift in how we look at each day; it's a matter of thinking about the patients we can actually serve and help each and every day. This process can be stressful, but it is vital to trust the process and celebrate the wins as they happen. Don't be a slave to dental insurance companies - get your freedom back! Listen to this episode now to learn how you can change your perspective and develop the confidence it takes to overcome the fear of taking this big step for your practice!

Highlights from this episode:

• What dental insurance really is - a coupon
• Factors that determine if a practice is ready to drop a contract
• Training your team so they understand and believe this is best for the office and for the patients
• The satisfying alignment of values between the dentist and the patients who select this level of care
• Overcoming the fear of going fee-for-service
• Aligning your vision for your practice with your profit margin by looking at your practice's numbers
• The magic of getting paid for what you do … and what that can mean to you and your team

Resources and links mentioned:

• Angela's website: Adaptive Dental Solutions.com
• Angela's email: [email protected]
• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauramach
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

We're saving the world one dentist at a time! Having success in our business depends not only on revenue but on happiness as well. This week I am pleased to welcome dental practice coach Dr. Rich Madow to the podcast. In this episode, we discuss how the positive feelings we can cultivate in our practices flow through an office and spread to communities and also ultimately to the bottom line in our practices.

When we feel happy and our lives feel aligned, this is when the magic can happen in our businesses. As Dr. Madow says, "When you're a doctor, you're a leader," and this means you have people who look up to you. The importance of our relationships with our teams (who are our work family) as we work together is essential to providing excellent treatment for our patients. This episode will provide you with great ways to lead to create a work environment that is a very pleasant place to work, open lines of communication between team members, create happy team members, and improve how your business operates. Listen now to hear how happiness can flow from us as the dentists through our offices, our teams, and ultimately to our patients. This happiness then flows into all of their families as happiness and good dental health spread in our communities. Spread happiness around you today!

Highlights from this episode:

• The negative happiness equation and how it impacts our work
• What the golden handcuffs are
• The heaviness of debt and its effects on how we treat our patients
• Steps to eliminate the negative happiness equation and improve our relationships with our team members
• How vital huddling with your team is
• Passing the seating chart rule
• How having good systems in place prevents problems between team members
• Respect, team appreciation, and knowing that how we feel dictates how we act

Resources and links mentioned:

• Dr. Rich Madow madow.com
• Dr. Madow's Podcast: Dental Practice Fixers
• Dr. Madow's email: [email protected]
• Go to madow.com/chat to book a 30-minute chat as a dental practice owner
• Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's email: [email protected]
• Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
• Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
• Laura's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauramach
• Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

To get my FREE class Love Your Employees, text Loveyouremployees (all one word) to 66866

Laura's Facebook pages:

• Love Your Practice with Dr. Laura Mach
• Love Your Practice
• Laura's personal page

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura