In my years of practice, I've learned that the key to a successful and fulfilling dental practice goes far beyond clinical excellence. It's about creating an unparalleled patient experience. In this episode, I share my philosophy of treating people, not just patients, and how I've transformed my practice by applying the principles of a three-star Michelin restaurant. I'll reveal how simple, low-cost changes can make a world of difference in how patients perceive their visit, turning anxiety into comfort and satisfaction.

• The "People, Not Patients" Philosophy: I'll explain why I believe this is the most critical mindset for any healthcare provider and how it has guided my career and practice.

• From Waiting Room to Lounge: Discover how I reimagined the traditional waiting room to create a welcoming and relaxing environment that immediately puts patients at ease.

• The Power of a "Comfort Menu": I'll share the story behind my "comfort menu" and how this simple tool has become a cornerstone of my patient experience, fostering loyalty and generating word-of-mouth referrals.

• Actionable Tips for Your Practice: You'll walk away with practical, easy-to-implement ideas that you can use to elevate your own practice, regardless of your budget or specialty.

• Dental Practice Management

• Patient Experience

• Dental Hospitality

• Practice Differentiation

• Patient Anxiety Reduction

• Dental Marketing

• Patient Loyalty

• Practice Growth

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

Is your dental practice making the right first impression? It might matter more than you think. In this episode, I share a personal story about a major blind spot in my early years as a dental practice owner—and the hard lesson I learned about how patients perceive our businesses from the outside.

We often focus so much on the quality of our clinical work that we forget the patient journey begins long before they sit in our chair. I’ll discuss:

• The Powell's Bookstore Experience: A personal anecdote that opened my eyes to the importance of a practice's exterior.

• The Unspoken Message: What a dirty awning, a messy waiting room, or even your own appearance says about the quality of your work.

• “How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything”: Why the smallest details can have the biggest impact on patient trust and retention.

This episode is about more than just keeping a tidy office. It’s a call to action for every practitioner to step outside their own doors and see their practice through the eyes of a new patient. I’ll provide actionable steps you can take to evaluate and improve your practice’s first impression, ensuring that the excellence you provide on the inside is reflected on the outside. Join me as we explore how to build a dental practice that not only offers world-class care but also communicates it at every single touchpoint.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

After four decades in dentistry, I can tell you that the most challenging conversations are not with patients, but with my own team. Letting an employee go is a decision that weighs heavily on any practice owner. In this episode, I want to share a perspective that might surprise you: it's rarely about performance. In my experience, when I've had to part ways with a team member, it has been a crisis of integrity.

I've built my practice on a foundation of inviolable integrity. This isn't just a plaque on the wall; it's the standard we live by every day. This culture is so strong that it naturally filters out those who don't share our core values. I'll discuss:

• How to establish a culture where A-players thrive and those who are not a good fit self-select out.

• Why I believe performance issues are often a reflection of my own hiring and training, and how I address them.

• The one non-negotiable trait that I look for in every team member.

I'm proud to say that many of my team members have been with me for over a decade, and some for more than twenty years. This isn't an accident. It's the result of a leadership philosophy centered on creating an environment that allows people to do their best work.

🗝️In this episode, I'll share my approach to:

• Fostering a positive and supportive work environment.

• Leading with compassion and firmness.

• Supporting team members in their career growth, even if it means they move on from my practice.

This episode is for any practice owner or leader who has ever struggled with the difficult decision of firing an employee. I hope my insights will provide you with a framework for thinking about your team and culture, and your role as a leader.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

After more than three decades in dentistry, I've seen firsthand what separates a good practice from a truly great one. And I can tell you, it isn't the latest technology or the most complex surgical skills. The single most important person in my practice—the one who drives our success and ensures our patients stay healthy for life—is the dental hygienist. In this episode, I'll share why I believe so strongly in the power of the hygienist and how so many of my colleagues are leaving over $100,000 on the table every year by failing to recognize their true value.

I believe the American healthcare and insurance systems have it all backward. We're rewarded for treating disease, not for preventing it. This creates a cycle where patients only come to us when they're in pain, and our most valuable preventive services are undervalued and undercompensated. This flawed model leads to:

• Widespread Oral Disease: Oral disease is the world's largest epidemic, and our system is failing to address its root causes.

• Financial Strain on Practices: Dentists are forced to rely on high-cost procedures, while the low-cost, high-impact work of prevention is overlooked.

• Patient Dissatisfaction: Patients lack the knowledge that empowers them to maintain their own health, leading to a lifetime of dental problems.

In my practice, we've rejected the broken model and have built our success around a simple but powerful principle: prevention is everything. This means empowering our hygienists to be true partners in patient care. In this episode, you will learn:

• The True ROI of a Great Hygienist: How investing in your hygiene department can add six figures to your bottom line.

• My Caries Control Program: The exact steps we take to educate patients, from analyzing diet histories to uncovering hidden sugars.

• The "Gift" of Education: How to shift your practice from a treatment-focused model to an education-focused one, creating patients for life.

• Building a Team of Believers: Why long-term success is a team sport that requires a non-negotiable commitment from both your staff and your patients.

This isn't just about cleaning teeth. It's about changing lives, starting with the way we value the most important person in our practice. Join me as I reveal the $100K secret that smart dentists are using to build healthier, more profitable practices.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

As a dental practice owner, I really know how disruptive and demoralizing staff conflict can be. It can poison the atmosphere, tank productivity, and even cause you to lose great team members. For years, I struggled with this myself, until I discovered a powerful framework that transformed my practice from a place of tension into a beacon of collaboration. In this episode, I’m sharing that exact framework with you.

I call it the “Experience Transformer,” a 4-step method I learned from my mentors, including the legendary Tony Robbins and Dan Sullivan. It’s a simple yet profound process that shifts the focus from blame to empowerment. Instead of getting caught in the emotional crossfire of the “lizard brain,” you and your team will learn how to pause, take responsibility, and find constructive solutions. This isn’t just theory; it’s a practical tool that has saved my practice countless hours of drama and created a more resilient, cohesive team.

• The #1 Mistake We All Make in an Argument: Why our brains are wired to make conflict worse and how to stop it.

• My 4-Step “Experience Transformer” Method: A step-by-step guide to resolving any conflict, big or small.

• The Power of Taking Responsibility: How this one simple shift can turn you from a victim into a leader.

• Practical Tips to Create a Drama-Free Office: How to implement this framework to build a stronger, more positive practice culture.

If you’re ready to finally put an end to the drama and build a dental team that thrives on collaboration and respect, you can’t afford to miss this episode.

Let’s create a better practice, together.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

I’ve spent my career building and leading dental practices, and I’ve discovered a fundamental truth: only a tiny fraction of businesses (around 2-5%) operate at their full potential. Why? Because most of us are putting our team members in the wrong seats. We hire for a role, but we fail to ask if that role truly aligns with the individual’s unique, God-given talent. In this episode, I want to share a simple but powerful shift in perspective that will help you unlock the hidden potential within your team and transform your practice from just surviving to truly thriving.

Every person on your team has a “unique ability”—a special talent that they are exceptionally good at and love to do. It could be empathy, a knack for numbers, creative problem-solving, or meticulous organization. When you align a person’s role with their unique ability, something magical happens. They become more joyful, more engaged, and dramatically more effective. I’ll walk you through how to identify these unique abilities in your own staff and how to make the necessary adjustments to put everyone in a position to succeed.

• Why does traditional team management often fail in a dental practice setting?

• How to identify the “unique ability” of each of your team members.

• The story of Danielle, and how a simple role change unlocked her true potential and transformed our practice.

• Actionable steps to start aligning roles and responsibilities in your own practice today.

If you feel like your practice is constantly running on fumes or that your team isn’t as happy or productive as they could be, this episode is for you. I believe that a happy team leads to a successful practice. When your team is energized and working in their zone of genius, it creates a positive ripple effect that your patients will feel. Stop settling for a team that “just works” and start building a team that thrives. Join me as I share the secrets to building a practice that operates seamlessly.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

For years, I struggled with the same frustrations that many practice owners face: high turnover, team drama, and the constant feeling that I had to do everything myself. I was a classic micromanager, and it was burning me out. But then, I discovered a simple yet powerful concept that changed everything: Radical Trust.

In this episode, I want to share with you the exact framework I used to transform my practice from a place of stress and inefficiency into a thriving, patient-focused environment where my team feels empowered and valued. It all starts with one core principle: integrity.

• The #1 Hiring Mistake That Kills Your Practice Culture: I’ll reveal why hiring for skill alone is a recipe for disaster and how to identify candidates who truly embody integrity and trustworthiness.

• How to Delegate with Confidence (and Stop Micromanaging): Learn my proven method for empowering your team to make critical decisions, from handling patient complaints to managing billing, without needing your approval for every little thing.

• The “One Size Fits One” Service Philosophy: Discover how to create a patient experience so personalized and seamless that your patients will become your biggest advocates.

• Building a Team That Stays: I’ll share my secrets to fostering a positive office culture where your team members feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves, leading to greater loyalty and retention.

Building a dental practice on a foundation of trust isn’t just a “nice to have” philosophy—it’s a strategic advantage. When you empower your team, you unlock a new level of efficiency, reduce your own stress, and create a patient experience that sets you apart from the competition. If you’re ready to stop being the bottleneck in your own practice and start leading a team that you love and trust, this episode is for you.

Subscribe now and learn how to build the dental team of your dreams.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

As a dental practice owner, I used to dread difficult conversations with my team. The thought of confrontation was uncomfortable, and it felt easier to sweep issues under the rug. But I quickly learned that avoiding these conversations was the fastest way to stunt our growth. In this episode, I want to share with you a mindset shift that has transformed my practice and my relationships: viewing these tough talks not as problems, but as your greatest opportunities.

I’ve learned more from my complications—both in surgery and in team management—than from my successes. When things are going smoothly, we’re not growing. It’s in the moments of friction and challenge that we find the insights to elevate our practice to an elite level. I’ll share why I now encourage my team to bring me their problems and how this has fostered a culture of trust and continuous improvement.

Inspired by mentors like Danny Meyer, the founder of Shake Shack, and strategic coach Dan Sullivan, I’ve developed a simple yet powerful 4-step formula called the “Experience Transformer.” This framework helps you navigate any difficult conversation with honesty, integrity, and kindness. In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The 4 critical questions to ask in any difficult conversation.

• How to get your team to take ownership of their role in any problem.

• The secret to creating synergistic solutions that prevent the same issues from happening again.

Ultimately, our success isn’t just about the quality of our dental work; it’s about the quality of the human experience we provide. By mastering the art of difficult conversations, you’re not just fixing a single problem—you’re building a resilient, world-class culture that patients can feel. You’re creating a practice that people talk about for all the right reasons. Join me in this episode to learn how to be a gift to your team and your patients.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

In my years of practice, I've seen countless dental offices make the same costly error—a $50,000 mistake that contributes to a staggering 90% failure rate. It has nothing to do with clinical skill and everything to do with a role most practices don't even know they're missing. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the one position that can transform your patient experience and, in turn, your bottom line.

I believe that patient experience is just as important as the clinical care we provide. That's why I created the "Chief of Hospitality" role in my own practice. This isn't just a receptionist or an office manager; this is a dedicated individual whose sole focus is ensuring every patient feels seen, heard, and valued. I'll share how this role, inspired by my experiences with hospitality giants like Danny Meyer, has revolutionized my practice.

• The single biggest non-clinical mistake dental practices make and how to avoid it.

• What "unreasonable hospitality" means and how a simple kitchen tour at a world-class restaurant changed my perspective on patient care.

• How to implement a Chief of Hospitality in your own practice, no matter the size.

• The tangible and intangible ROI of prioritizing patient experience, from increased referrals to a happier, more relaxed practice environment.

This isn't just about being nice to patients; it's about creating a system that fosters loyalty, trust, and a thriving practice. Join me as I break down how to stop leaving money on the table and start building a practice that patients love.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients

As a dentist and practice owner, I've learned that building a successful team goes far beyond clinical skills. It's about creating a culture of excellence, and that starts with having a clear set of core values. In this episode, I want to share the five core values that have been the bedrock of my practice and have helped us deliver a world-class patient experience.

In my experience, a dental practice without clearly defined values is like a ship without a rudder. It lacks direction, consistency, and a shared sense of purpose. When you establish and communicate your core values, you create a powerful framework that guides every decision, from hiring and training to patient interactions. It's the secret to building a team that is not only highly skilled but also deeply committed to your practice's mission.

Over the years, I've distilled our practice's philosophy into five fundamental values. These are the non-negotiable principles that guide everything we do:

• Integrity: This is the cornerstone of our practice. We believe in being honest and transparent in all our interactions, and building trust with our patients and one another.

• Being a Good Teammate: We foster a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to do their best work. This translates to a seamless and positive experience for our patients.

• Servant-Heartedness: We are committed to going above and beyond for our patients. Our goal is to create a "wow experience" that makes them feel cared for and valued.

• Health: We are dedicated to our patients' overall well-being, not just their dental health. We take a holistic approach to care, empowering our patients to live healthier lives.

• Education: We are lifelong learners, constantly seeking to improve our skills and knowledge. We also believe in educating our patients so that they can make informed decisions about their health.

By embracing these five core values, we've been able to build a practice that is not only successful but also a place where our team and patients can thrive. I hope that by sharing my experience, I can inspire you to define and implement your own core values and build the dental practice of your dreams.

Mentioned in this episode:

Transform your practice with Dr. Michael Sonick's "Treating People Not Patients" course

Learn the hospitality secrets that create patient loyalty, drive referrals, and build thriving practices. Get 9 video modules, bonus content, and 6 CE credits for each member of your team!

Click here to learn more about Treating People Not Patients