Most dentists are never taught how to lead a business, only how to practice one. So what does it actually take to build a practice that grows without burning you out?

In this episode of the Practice Pulse Podcast, Dr. Aditi Aggrawal sits down with Dr. Sara Mahmood, who opened her first practice at 27 and now leads a six-location dental group.

Sara breaks down the practical side of practice ownership, how the right teams, systems, and boundaries make clinical days easier, how she reframes burnout and fear when the pressure hits, and what integrity does for hiring and patient trust. She also gives straight advice for new grads weighing associateship versus ownership, and makes the case for why there has never been a better time for women to lead in dentistry.

If you own, manage, or plan to build a dental practice, this conversation is a practical reset on leadership, growth, and running a business you actually enjoy.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome and intro

00:31 – Opening a practice at 27

02:59 – Taking calculated risks daily

04:00 – The only thing stopping you

05:18 – Helping dentists find their voice

08:13 – Beating imposter syndrome

09:26 – Loving dentistry without burnout

14:48 – Building dentistry with integrity

18:51 – Why belief drives leadership

21:59 – Time for women to lead

25:03 – Finding your support system

26:17 – A career-defining setback

29:50 – Associate vs. ownership advice

33:34 – How AI changed dentistry

35:01 – Where to find Sara

About the Speaker

Dr. Sara Mahmood is the founder and CEO of Brush365, a six-location dental group in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, built on the promise of “Dentistry with Integrity.” Sara is a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, a SureSmile Global Clinical Partner, and a Key Opinion Leader for Philips Oral Healthcare, where she sits on the North American Advisory Board and the Continuing Education Planning Committee. She is also a current member of the Glidewell Guiding Leaders Program.

She speaks all over the world on leadership, digital dentistry, AI, and clinical innovation, including the main stage at DS World in both Las Vegas and São Paulo. She was a Dallas Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree at 32, Incisal Edge 40 Under 40 at 33, and this year she is a Dallas Business Journal Women in Business honoree.

You can reach out to Sara Mahmood through:

LinkedIn 👉 linkedin.com/in/sarathedentist/

Instagram 👉https://www.instagram.com/sarathedentist___?igsh=OWk1dnUxNGt4dGp6

Website 👉 sarahthedentist.com

If you found this podcast helpful:

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Dr. Eric Block almost left dentistry. Halfway through his career he was anxious, burned out, and counting the minutes until he could retire. This conversation with Dr. Aditi Agarwal is about how he turned that around, and what he's learned in 22 years of practice.

We cover:

→ The burnout and "midlife crisis" that nearly ended his career

→ Therapy, perfectionism, and why so many dentists feel this way

→ His advice for new dentists (and why your first 3 years are the minor leagues)

→ Why systems matter, and the SOP tool he built after a key staff member retired

→ Wellness coaching through the Academy of Dental Life Coaches

→ How he went fully out of network, including dropping Delta at 50% of his practice

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and welcome

03:04 How a beer bottle led to dentistry

04:40 Burnout, anxiety, and wanting to quit

05:35 Therapy, perfectionism, and people-pleasing

07:50 Writing "The Stress-Free Dentist"

08:00 The career crises every dentist faces

10:33 Shiny-object syndrome and analysis paralysis

13:01 Advice for new dentists: the minor leagues

14:38 Going "next level" and reinventing yourself

15:42 From a set path to no path: handling failure

19:31 Why systems matter, and starting Flomo

23:44 Wellness coaching and the IADLC

26:11 Reaching out for help before rock bottom

27:02 Going out of network: dropping insurance

34:25 How to reach Dr. Block, and final words

Reach Dr. Block at thestressfreedentist.com, on Facebook and LinkedIn, or [email protected].

The Practice Pulse podcast is hosted by Practice by Numbers.

Most dental practice owners assume their retirement plan is working exactly as intended. But what if hidden fees, outdated structures, and poor oversight are quietly costing your practice thousands every year?

In this episode of the Practice Pulse Podcast, Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with forensic 401(k) consultant Paul Sippil to uncover what most practice owners never realize about retirement plans. Paul shares insights from reviewing thousands of retirement plans and explains why many dental practices unknowingly overpay, misunderstand their fees, and miss opportunities to create stronger benefits for employees.

From hidden advisor compensation and fiduciary responsibilities to practical questions every practice owner should ask immediately, this conversation breaks down one of the most overlooked areas of practice management. If you own, manage, or lead a dental practice, this episode may completely change how you think about retirement planning.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:34 – Are dental practices overpaying for 401(k) plans without realizing it?

04:38 – What is causing retirement plan fees to triple or quadruple over time?

05:37 – What can a practice do immediately to mitigate escalating costs?

08:14 – Is a financial advisor necessary for fiduciary protection?

09:21 – Why should practice owners pay plan fees at the employer level instead of the participant level?

15:37 – What are the biggest misconceptions practice owners have about their plans?

20:37 – What services are advisors, administrators, and recordkeepers actually supposed to provide?

32:20 – What specific questions should a practice owner ask their current provider immediately?

35:50 – Why might an advisor be contractually limited from recommending the best providers?

About the Speaker

Paul Sippil is a forensic 401(k) consultant specializing in retirement plan transparency, fiduciary oversight, and cost optimization. Since 2009, he has reviewed thousands of retirement plans and Form 5500 filings to help business owners identify hidden fees, conflicts of interest, and inefficiencies within retirement plans. His work focuses on translating complex retirement plan structures into practical insights that help organizations reduce costs, improve transparency, and make better financial decisions.

If you found this podcast helpful:

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💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway

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▶ Watch more episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMsQ8XtFVuXJ-smhkuEnGZMU44r1tmOyX

What does it really take to attract and keep top hygiene talent in today's dental practice?

In this episode of the Practice Pulse Podcast, Dr. Aditi Agarwal, Co-founder of Practice by Numbers, sits down with Rachel Wall, CEO of Inspired Hygiene and one of the Top 10 Content Creators Shaking Up the Dental Industry in 2026 (AGD Impact Magazine).

Together they unpack:

→ The "secret sauce" for retaining hygienists and why compensation alone isn't enough

→ How autonomy and clinical standards can coexist

→ The 3 hygiene KPIs every practice owner should be tracking (and what they really tell you)

→ Why the perio percentage is a barometer for the entire hygiene department

→ DSO vs private practice: who should have the hard compensation conversations

→ A real coaching story about 12 hygienists, a simple tracker, and the power of awareness

→ Why losing a long-tenured team member can be the start of something better

Whether you're a private practice dentist, office manager, or DSO leader, this is an honest conversation about culture, systems, and the people behind the practice.

Hosted by: Dr. Aditi Agarwal, Co-founder, Practice by Numbers Guest: Rachel Wall, CEO, Inspired Hygiene

Learn more: https://inspiredhygiene.com/

Website: https://practicenumbers.com/

Description:

Leadership isn’t just about strategy. It’s about clarity, confidence, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. In this episode, Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with Executive Coach Thomas Passalacqua, Ascend Professional Pathways, LLC to discuss what it really takes to grow as a leader in today’s fast-evolving dental landscape.

Thomas shares how executive coaching helps dentists and business leaders move beyond surface-level tactics and address the internal challenges that often hold them back. From overcoming doubt and decision paralysis to building stronger self-awareness, this conversation dives into the personal side of leadership that directly impacts business growth.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain about your next move, or ready to step into a bigger leadership role, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on how to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

01:10 – Thomas Passalacqua’s journey from being a teacher to executive coach

04:50 – What executive coaching really is (and how it’s different from consulting)

06:05 – Common challenges leaders face when stepping into bigger roles

08:10 – The emotional side of leadership and why it matters

11:57 – The cost of doing nothing: how to know if coaching is right for you

13:47 – Real breakthroughs: what happens when clients discover their own solutions

15:07 – Strategies leaders can use to move through fear and make confident decisions

18:07 – What the coaching actually looks like and how fast you can see results

21:14 – Overcoming resistance and breaking through self-inflicted barriers

24:48 – How to connect with Thomas and access the exclusive listener offer

About the Speaker

Thomas Passalacqua is a certified Executive Coach who specializes in customized professional & leadership development. With a master’s in education, Thomas started his career as a founding teacher in New York City. He then transitioned into dental manufacturing sales, where he was an award-winning consultant who trained and mentored other sales professionals. Transitioning again, Thomas was the director of business development for a growing dental group practice in the Northeast where he led sales and marketing for mergers & acquisitions. In his executive coaching and professional training platform, Ascend Professional Pathways LLC, he enables various industry leaders to gain clarity and improve their business leadership skills. His clients are empowered to reach the next level in their businesses and careers by overcoming doubts, fears, and uncertainty and making strategic decisions to better align with their goals.

Exclusive Listener Offer

Podcast listeners receive 5% off on any Executive Coaching program with Thomas Passalacqua. If you’re looking to gain clarity, strengthen your leadership, and make more confident decisions in your business or career, this is a great opportunity to take the next step.

Don’t miss it, this is a limited offer!

Running a successful dental practice requires more than great clinical skills. Leadership, systems, and strategy are what ultimately determine whether a practice grows or becomes overwhelming. In this episode, Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with Dr. Rehan Shahid, a practicing dentist, entrepreneur, and co-CEO of a multi-practice dental group, to discuss how dentists can transition from day-to-day operators into confident CEOs. Dr. Rehan shares the mindset shifts, systems, and leadership strategies that helped him scale multiple practices while avoiding the burnout that many practice owners experience. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the daily grind of dentistry, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, delegation, and building a practice that runs beyond you.

About the Speaker

Dr. Rehan Shahid is a practicing dentist, entrepreneur, and co-CEO of a multi-practice dental group. He is the founder of Practice Success Academy, where he helps dentists buy back their time and scale their practice through transitioning from being day-to-day operators into confident CEOs by building strong leadership, scalable systems, and data-driven accountability. Drawing from real-world experience leading multiple offices, Dr. Rehan is passionate about helping dentists create profitable, predictable practices that thrive without owner burnout.

Exclusive Listener Offer

Podcast listeners are invited to a complimentary 30-minute CEO Strategy Call where we’ll review leadership structure, key performance metrics, and the primary bottleneck preventing their practice from scaling. The goal is to provide clarity and actionable next steps, whether or not we work together.

Don’t miss it, this is a limited offer! If you found this podcast helpful,

👍 Like the video

💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway or 2026 goal

🔔 Subscribe to the Practice Pulse Podcast for more real, practical conversations on modern dentistry

In this episode, we sit down with Dina Lynch Eisenberg, JD, EMBA, CEO and Founder of Talkola, to unpack a problem many dental practices feel but rarely name: shadow friction.

Dina brings over 30 years of experience as a mediator, organizational ombuds, and former healthcare attorney, having resolved more than 6,000 workplace conflicts for organizations like Bank of America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Coca-Cola, and Twitter. Now, through Talkola, she’s helping leaders use science-backed AI to practice difficult conversations before tension quietly erodes culture, performance, and profitability.

Together, we explore:

→ What “shadow friction” looks like inside dental practices, even when things seem “mostly fine”

→ Why dentists struggle with hard conversations and what really happens when issues are avoided

→ How unspoken tension impacts patient experience, front-desk flow, hygiene schedules, and team morale

→ The real financial cost of unresolved conflict, from turnover to lost production → Dina’s FACTS framework for navigating tough conversations without HR training or a psychology degree

→ Why practicing difficult conversations builds confidence and transforms leadership effectiveness

🎁 Bonus for listeners: Dina is offering her Preamble Guide, a practical resource to help dentists start difficult conversations clearly and confidently.

Reach out to Dina directly to receive it. Contact Dina on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dina.eisenberg

This episode is a must-listen for dentists who want stronger teams, better communication, and a healthier practice culture without burnout or drama.

Hiring feels more complex than it should, especially in dentistry. Short-staffed teams. Rushed interviews. Costly mis-hires. In this episode, Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with Wendy Aldhamen, Founder of Career Elevation, to break down how dental practices can hire better, faster, and more intentionally without burning out their teams or compromising culture.

Whether you’re a practice owner, associate dentist, or team leader, this conversation will change how you think about recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding in today’s competitive market.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

01:03 – Wendy’s journey: from dental assistant to hiring leader.

04:27 – How dental hiring has changed over the last 5 years (and in 2025).

06:42 – The most common hiring mistakes dentists make under pressure.

09:52 – What a strong, effective dental interview really looks like.

11:53 – Must-ask interview questions to assess culture fit and accountability.

14:57 – What associate dentists should be asking during interviews.

22:08 – High-impact onboarding strategies that work, even in busy practices.

25:25 – Building repeatable hiring systems without losing the human touch.

34:55 – How to connect with Wendy.

About the Speaker

Wendy Aldhamen has been in dentistry for over a decade, starting as a dental assistant in 2010 and growing into an office manager and hiring leader by 2014. Experiencing both toxic and thriving practice cultures firsthand shaped her passion for helping dental teams get hiring right. In 2019, she founded Career Elevation, where she has since helped place hundreds of dental professionals by aligning the right people with the right practices. Today, Wendy is a CEO, speaker, and coach dedicated to making recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding easier and more human for dentistry.

Exclusive Listener Offer

Wendy is offering something special to our listeners. The first three people who reach out will receive either

1. A free, professionally written resume (for candidates exploring new opportunities), or

2. A complimentary 1-hour recruiting coaching session (for practice owners or leaders)

Don’t miss it, this is a limited offer!

Stay Connected with Practice Pulse! If you found this podcast helpful, 👍 Like the video 💬 Comment with your biggest takeaway or 2026 goal

🔔 Subscribe to the Practice Pulse Podcast for more real, practical conversations on modern dentistry

Are you feeling the pressure of running a dental practice in 2025 — staffing headaches, shrinking margins, DSOs everywhere, and constant change? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Practice Pulse Podcast, host Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with Dr. George Hariri, dentist, CFO, and author of Dental Moneyball. George talks about what it really takes to survive and thrive in modern dentistry and how to set intentional, realistic 2026 goals for your practice.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

00:00 Introduction

00:45 About George Hariri

01:50 How George got into Dentistry

03:00 George on Business Courses in Dental School

05:15 About Shared Practices

09:45 The evolution of Dentistry over years

12:23 Modern day challenges of a practice owner

17:00 How practices should prepare for 2026

21:30 How to tackle data overload (Data paralysis)

27:27 Important advice for 2026 goal-setting

30:00 Outro

→ Connect with Shared Practices & Dr. George: https://sharedpractices.com/

→ Take the Free practice assessment here: https://sharedpractices.com/coaching-form/

▶️ Watch more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQV5jI-wKrY&list=PLMsQ8XtFVuXJ-smhkuEnGZMU44r1tmOyX

Dr. Aditi Agarwal hosts Anne Duffy, founder of Dental Entrepreneur Woman (DeW), to discuss her journey from hygienist to movement leader. Anne shares the DeW origin story, why women’s leadership is a “jungle gym,” the power of mentorship, avoiding burnout, and building authentic community. She also highlights the upcoming DeW Retreat in Charlotte, NC - a space for connection, growth, and celebrating women in dentistry.

About the guest: Anne Duffy, Founder and CEO of Dental Entrepreneur Woman, has spent 45 years in dentistry championing women in leadership. She created DeW Life magazine and Dental Entrepreneur Woman to inspire, empower, and connect women, while helping the next generation discover the many opportunities in dentistry. Her message: “Just DeW it!”