The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes takes the stage at The Practice Launchpad event to share the business lessons he wishes more dentists learned before becoming practice owners. Drawing from his experience owning 16 practices and making nearly every mistake along the way, Mark breaks down why so many dental practices struggle with profitability, leadership, systemization, team retention, and cash flow.

He explains the importance of building a systems-dependent practice instead of a people-dependent one, creating a strong patient experience, understanding the numbers behind the business, and surrounding yourself with the right support. Mark also shares the Four Futures framework and why financial success means very little if your health, relationships, mindset, and overall quality of life are falling apart.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Mark Rasmussen, CEO and co-founder of Moolah, to unpack the company's journey from general payment processing to a dental-focused technology platform serving thousands of practices. Mark shares how an introduction to the Dental Success Network helped spark Moolah's move into dentistry, why narrowing the company's focus accelerated growth, and how staying committed to simple pricing, no SaaS fees, and strong customer support has shaped the business.

They also discuss PMS integrations, the shift toward cloud-based software, automated accounts receivable, building a strong visionary-integrator relationship, navigating private equity interest, and why customer experience continues to drive Moolah's growth.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.moolah.cc
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Kyle Francis speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about recap reality and what dentists need to understand before entering a recapitalization event. Kyle breaks down how assets, liabilities, equity, and risk all factor into practice ownership, and explains that recaps can include anything from refinancing debt to selling a majority stake to a private equity-backed group.

He clarifies why recap events became so common during the low-interest-rate years, why today's market has created longer hold times and more scrutiny, and how private equity groups evaluate dental platforms using growth, margin improvement, acquisition arbitrage, and discounted cash flow models. Kyle also unpacks rollover equity, earn outs, earn ups, joint venture versus holding company equity, pari passu rights, liquidity expectations, founder syndrome, and the importance of understanding a buyer's funding structure, track record, and incentives before choosing a partner.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes hosts the Milestones in Motion transformation contest during the Dental Success Summit 2026, featuring powerful stories from Dental Success Institute members who have created major growth in their practices and personal lives. Dr. Josh Hall shares how DSI helped him shift from scarcity to abundance, expand into a larger facility, build a stronger team, and create more time for family experiences.

Dr. Kelly Grubbs and Dr. Marianne Weatherford discuss how partnership, culture, systems, and faith over fear helped them transform Ridge Dental and Aesthetics while navigating real-life challenges. Dr. Andrew Kung and Kathy Lin share how Vitality Dental evolved from a scratch startup into a healthier, more team-led practice, while Dr. Mary Margaret Vaughn tells her inspiring story of taking big leaps before feeling ready, expanding her practice, building systems, growing her team, and creating more freedom while raising two sets of twins.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Brannon Moncrief of McLerran & Associates for a timely conversation about the current dental transition market, DSO consolidation, and how practice owners should evaluate their exit options. Brannon breaks down why the DSO market has shifted since the white-hot acquisition years of 2021 and 2022, how higher interest rates and more disciplined buyers have changed valuations and deal structures, and why alignment between sellers and DSOs matters more than ever.

He also compares DSO affiliations with private doctor-to-doctor sales, explaining how revenue, EBITDA, cash at close, work-back expectations, equity risk, and operational support all factor into the decision. Together, Mark and Brannon discuss when a private sale may make more sense, when a DSO deal may be worth exploring, and why understanding both the economics and the "why" behind a sale is essential for making the right transition decision.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://dentaltransitions.com
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Michael Dienberg and Bethany Dienberg for a Dental Success Network webinar on integrating frenectomies into the general dental practice. Dr. Dienberg shares how tongue and lip ties often go undiagnosed in dentistry, despite their connection to breastfeeding challenges, speech concerns, orthodontic relapse, airway issues, tension, migraines, sleep concerns, and oral dysfunction across patients of all ages.

Together, Michael and Bethany explain the difference between frenectomies, frenotomies, and frenuloplasties, how CO2 laser releases compare with traditional techniques, and why coordinated care with lactation consultants, speech-language pathologists, myofunctional therapists, pediatric providers, and bodywork professionals can help create better outcomes. They also discuss practical implementation, including consult flow, post-op care, medical and dental billing considerations, referral networks, patient education, and how general dentists can begin identifying tongue and lip ties already present in their existing patient base.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Mark Johnson, wealth advisor with RBF Wealth Advisors and founder of Student Loans Rx and Dental Wealth Rx, for a practical conversation about student loan repayment, practice ownership, and long-term financial planning for dentists. Mark shares how he first began working with dental students and residents after realizing how little traditional financial planning addressed the realities of six-figure student loan debt.

He explains why young dentists should build a financial foundation that includes emergency savings, disability insurance, retirement contributions, and a thoughtful student loan repayment strategy. Mark also discusses the new repayment assistance plan, why practice ownership can be one of the most powerful ways to accelerate income and pay down debt, and how dentists can begin preparing financially, clinically, and emotionally to become owners within a few years of graduation.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.studentloansrx.com
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Ben Kacos speaks during the Dental Success Summit 2026 about the evolution of team training, culture, and accountability inside a growing dental practice. Drawing from his experience at Shreveport Dental Solutions, Dr. Kacos shares how his practice moved from informal hallway meetings and undocumented systems to structured growth meetings, alien abduction manuals, onboarding videos, 30-60-90 day goals, tiered compensation, bonuses, and the Big Sister program.

He explains why team engagement, consistency, clear expectations, and aligned incentives are critical for creating a culture where people grow, take ownership, and hold each other accountable. Dr. Kacos also discusses how morning huddles, quarterly retreats, assisted hygiene, review systems, and same-day dentistry have helped his team become more self-governing, more productive, and more committed to the shared vision of the practice.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Alastair MacDonald joins Dr. Mark Costes during the Dental Success Summit 2026 for a powerful conversation on dental practice partnerships, equity, growth, and retention. Together, they unpack why many partnerships fail, especially when they are built from fear, scarcity, or a desire to retain an associate before that person is truly qualified for ownership.

Alastair explains the difference between giving equity as a reaction and designing a partnership with clear incentives, contribution, responsibility, authority, and long-term alignment. He also breaks down why high-producing associates are not always the best ownership candidates, how to think about qualification versus qualities, and why owners must use math, structure, and honest conversations to determine whether partnership, increased compensation, or another path makes the most sense.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Roza Ghamari, CEO and co-founder of Healink, for a conversation about AI, patient engagement, and solving one of dentistry's biggest challenges: treatment acceptance. Roza shares her journey from studying computer science and working as a technical lead at Google and Meta to launching a healthcare technology company with her brother, a dentist who saw firsthand how many patients left the office with treatment plans but never returned. She explains how Healink gives patients secure, interactive access to their treatment information after the visit, helping them better understand their oral health, review pending care, request appointments, and stay engaged without relying solely on manual follow-up calls. Roza also discusses how AI, automation, and smart patient nudges can reduce front office workload, improve reactivation, lower no-shows, and create a more modern, trust-building patient experience.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://healink.ai
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast