The Savvy Dentist

You could be doing everything right - attracting new patients, retaining your existing ones, investing in your team - and still be quietly bleeding your practice dry. How? By failing to manage capacity. In this episode, Jesse Green unpacks one of the most overlooked principles in dental practice growth: use it or lose it.

It sounds simple, but the implications for dental leadership are significant. If your practice can't adequately serve the patients you've worked so hard to attract, those patients won't make a scene - they'll just drift away. Silently. And by the time you realise what's happened, you won't have the patient base you thought you had to support your next stage of growth.

• 00:01 Jesse shares the neighbour's story who sparked today's lesson
• 00:29 The surprising way patient numbers naturally self-regulate when a practice runs out of capacity
• 01:50 Why adding chairs, clinicians, and equipment has to happen before you think you need it
• 02:30 The quiet churn problem
• 02:52 What a scalable unit actually looks like in a dental practice
• 03:42 How to time your capacity decisions so you're growing into space, not scrambling to fill it
• 04:20 The 80% rule
• 04:44 When there's no room to expand physically, what smart practice owners do instead
• 05:00 What happens when capacity planning comes too late
• 05:38 The core lesson Jesse wants every practice owner to walk away with today.

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

What's lurking just beneath the surface of your dental practice right now? You might not be able to see it, but that doesn't mean it isn't there - just waiting for the moment you step on it. Jesse Green calls these your practice landmines, and every practice owner has them, whether they know it or not.

In this episode, Jesse unpacks a practical, three-step dental leadership framework for getting serious about risk - not to make you paranoid, but to make you powerful. Because understanding where your hidden vulnerabilities lie is one of the most valuable things you can do for your practice, both for your day-to-day sanity and for the long-term value of everything you've worked so hard to build.

In This Episode:

1. 00:00 Jesse kicks off with an unforgettable dog walking story, and why it's the perfect metaphor for what's hiding in your practice right now
2. 01:25 Why covering up a problem doesn't make it go away
3. 02:24 The surprising range of landmines that could be lurking in your practice
4. 03:19 Jesse's three-part risk framework, and why this is the one time he'll actually ask you to think like a pessimist
5. 04:32 The risk matrix explained - and how to use it to rank your vulnerabilities before they rank you
6. 05:42 The surprising link between managing risk and increasing the value of your practice - this will change how you think about risk forever
7. 06:36 Q&A: a question from Sarah in Perth who's exhausted and wondering if practice ownership is really worth it - Jesse's honest answer might be exactly what you need to hear.

Links & Resources:

1. Episode 544 - The Recovery Paradox
2. Episode 534 - The Anatomy of a Successful Exit with Michael Filosi

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

What if the worst moment in your practice could become your most powerful marketing tool? Most dentists pour energy into attracting new patients, but Jesse Green makes a compelling case that the real loyalty-building gold is already sitting inside your four walls - and it shows up every time something goes wrong.

In this episode, Jesse unpacks the Recovery Paradox: the counterintuitive truth that how you handle a problem can actually generate more patient loyalty than if no problem had ever occurred. Through a candid story from his own practice and a real patient named Colin, Jesse shows what dental leadership looks like when it matters most - and why mastering complaint handling could be the single biggest growth lever in your business.

In This Episode:

1. 00:01 Jesse reframes everything you think you know about patient loyalty
2. 00:18 The surprising science behind the Recovery Paradox and why a well-handled problem can outperform a perfect experience
3. 00:40 Why the best marketing in your practice might have nothing to do with your ad spend or social media strategy
4. 00:55 The hotel story that perfectly illustrates what going above and beyond actually looks like in practice
5. 01:28 The real-life patient complaint that put Jesse's own dental leadership to the test - and what he said in the heat of the moment
6. 02:24 The exact words Jesse used with an angry patient that changed everything, and why he didn't try to defend the indefensible
7. 03:14 What happened when Colin called back - and the Friday afternoon that turned a lost patient into a loyal advocate
8. 05:13 Tom from Sydney asks how to grow his patient base and Jesse breaks down the three R's of marketing that every practice owner needs to hear.

Links & Resources

1. Episode 543 - The Necessary Conversation

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

There's someone on your team right now you know you need to talk to. You've been putting it off, maybe you're worried they'll get emotional, maybe you think they'll quit, or maybe you just don't know how to say it without the whole thing blowing up. Here's the truth about dental leadership: the necessary conversation you keep avoiding is the one that's quietly running your practice.

In this episode, Jesse Green gets into the mechanics of what he calls the Necessary Conversation - a powerful framework that gives you structure, language, and emotional preparation to tackle the tricky team talks that most practice owners sidestep. Whether you've got a performance issue festering, a culture problem compounding, or you're just not sure how to address what you're seeing, this episode hands you the tools to walk in calm and come out with a genuine path forward.

1. 00:35 Why most practice owners avoid the hard conversation, and the hidden cost that keeps compounding the longer you wait
2. 01:11 The three parameters that determine whether a team conversation succeeds or falls apart before it even gets going
3. 01:56 The emotional preparation step most leaders skip entirely, and why skipping it can derail everything in the first two minutes
4. 02:32 How to set the frame for a conversation so you stay in control from the opening line
5. 03:00 The listening move that changes the whole dynamic
6. 03:34 When to share your perspective and how to bring both parties to an agreed pathway forward without it turning into an ultimatum
7. 04:53 The post-it note tactic Jesse used in one of the toughest necessary conversations of his career
8. 06:31 What to do when the conversation makes you wonder if you hired the right person in the first place
9. 08:35 Q&A - Priya asks why her team just won't do the job - Jesse's answer reframes the whole problem with three specific gaps.

Links & Resources

1. Episode 542 - Stop Guessing, Start Communicating

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

What if the biggest problem in your practice isn't your marketing, your systems, or even your team - but the way you're communicating with them? In this episode, Jesse Green cuts straight to the chase: communication breakdown is not a people problem. It's a system problem. And that means it's fixable.

If you've ever felt frustrated that things aren't being done the way you envisioned, or that you're constantly stepping in to correct or redo work, this episode is your wake-up call. Jesse unpacks why your team can't read your mind, what real dental leadership communication looks like, and how creating shared language and crystal-clear expectations can transform the way your whole practice operates - from the front desk to the dental chair.

In This Episode:

1. 00:01 Jesse introduces the biggest lever in your practice, and it's not what most dentists expect to hear
2. 00:50 Meet Jason the cat: the surprisingly relatable story that reveals exactly what's going wrong in your team communication right now
3. 01:45 What actually happens when your team is listening but still not understanding, and the costly ripple effects throughout your practice
4. 02:38 The mindset shift that changes everything
5. 02:50 Lessons from the Navy: what a warship's communication standard can teach you about running a high-tempo dental practice
6. 04:05 The one question every team member in your practice should be able to answer
7. 04:18 Jesse reveals two powerful language concepts from the Practice Max world that sharpen team performance and culture
8. 06:57 Listener Q&A: Michael from Melbourne asks how to get off the tools.

Links & Resources:

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

Are you the kind of dental leader who hands over the reins - or do you find yourself hovering, checking, and quietly correcting your team's every move? In this episode, Jesse unpacks why micromanagement quietly destroys trust, and what to do instead.

Drawing on one of history's most famous negotiating phrases, Ronald Reagan's "trust but verify", Jesse explains how the right systems create the accountability you need without you having to be in the room. The result? A practice that runs confidently without you at the coalface, and a dental leadership style that brings out the best in your team.

In this Episode

1. 00:43 The Cold War phrase Ronald Reagan made famous, and what it means for how you lead your dental team
2. 01:23 What's the difference between micromanaging and verifying?
3. 02:03 Why so many practice owners have expectations stuck in their heads, and why that's quietly costing them
4. 02:21 The three-part scorecard structure that gives every team member crystal-clear direction
5. 03:23 Build it from the top down, execute from the bottom up
6. 03:57 Why small improvements compound over time, and why you don't need a revolution, just the right hinge
7. 04:20 The tiny daily habits that could be worth dozens of extra patients a month
8. 05:07 Q&A with Mark: Should you hire a hygienist, OHT, or another dentist?

Links & Resources

1. Episode 540 - The Money In, Money Out Trap
2. • Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
   • Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
   • Visit Savvy Dentist website
   
   

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

Are you working hard in your practice, hitting your numbers month after month, and still wondering where all the money goes? In this episode, Jesse gets straight to the point on one of the most common (and costly) traps that stands between practice owners and their dental practice financial goals: focusing only on revenue while completely ignoring the leaks draining profit from the other side of the ledger.

Jesse unpacks why the most financially successful practice owners aren't the ones hoping and praying they'll hit their targets — they're the ones who've reverse-engineered the outcome before the month even begins. If you're ready to stop guessing and start knowing, this episode is for you.

1. 00:20 You can have a great team, a great culture, and still miss your financial goals
2. 03:36 Why are so many practice owners too reluctant to invest in good advice - and what is that reluctance actually costing them each year?
3. 04:36 Jesse shares a real client story where one simple tweak to case acceptance generated a staggering result in a single week
4. 06:02 What's the critical difference between practice owners who hope they'll hit their numbers and those who know they will?
5. 07:43 Listener question from Jenny: "How do I make more money?"
6. 08:53 What are the "silent leaks" in your practice, and why could fixing them be more impactful than chasing new patients?
7. 09:16 The 3 Rs of patient marketing: are you covering all three, or is a gap in one of them quietly stalling your growth?

Links & Resources

1. Episode 539 Growing Culture from the Ground Up

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

Creating a thriving dental practice isn’t just about hiring great people, it’s about building the right environment for them to succeed.

In this episode, Jesse explores the idea that culture is the “soil” of your practice, explaining how leaders shape the environment that determines whether teams flourish or struggle. Drawing on lessons from gardening, the Navy, and real-world practice ownership, Jesse shares practical leadership insights on protecting culture, handling necessary leadership conversations, and making tough decisions when team members aren’t aligned with your values.

1. [02:00] Why culture is like the soil in a garden and how it determines whether your team thrives
2. [02:29] The role of core values in shaping the behaviours and standards within your practice
3. [03:35] The three essential leadership conversations every practice owner needs to master
4. [04:55] Why being intentional with your words changes the outcome of difficult conversations
5. [05:14] The difference between scripts and conversational frameworks
6. [06:20] Preparing for emotional reactions during challenging leadership conversations
7. [07:50] Jesse’s experience rebuilding culture after taking over a difficult team environment
8. [11:43] Why high performers who don’t align with your culture can damage your team
9. [12:34] Protecting your culture as a leader and creating an environment where great teams grow.

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

In the early days of your practice, things can feel a little like a pirate crew - informal, flexible, and held together by hustle and instinct. But as your practice grows, that same looseness can become your biggest constraint.

In this episode, Jesse shares powerful leadership lessons from his time as a Navy dentist and explains why scaling a dental practice requires structure, clarity, and discipline. From defining roles to eliminating bottlenecks, upgrading your marketing systems, and improving associate productivity, this episode is a blueprint for turning chaos into coordinated performance.

If you want a high-performance team, not a band of pirates, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

1. [00:00] Jesse’s early days as a Navy dentist and what it taught him about leadership
2. [02:17] Why every person on a Navy ship has a clearly defined role
3. [04:03] The difference between a “pirate crew” practice and a structured team
4. [05:43] Why no role in your practice is more important than another
5. [07:48] Identifying choke points that limit your growth
6. [10:16] Why your systems must scale as your practice grows
7. [11:00] The 3 pillars of marketing
8. [13:10] Why most practices only focus on one or two marketing levers
9. [15:41] Q&A: Why isn’t my associate dentist productive?

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025

Letting someone go is one of the hardest conversations you’ll ever have as a practice owner.

No one starts a business excited about terminating team members. Yet if you’re in business long enough, there will come a time when despite your best recruitment efforts, onboarding, training and feedback, someone simply isn’t the right fit. When that happens, how you handle the conversation matters — not just for them, but for you, your culture and your leadership integrity.

In this episode, I share a personal story about the only time I’ve ever been sacked — and how that experience shaped the way I believe leaders should handle termination conversations. I also walk you through my Decisive Release Framework, a structured yet flexible six-step approach designed to help you let someone go clearly, respectfully and without burning bridges.

1. [00:00] Why termination should never come as a surprise
2. [01:50] The story of the only time I was sacked — and what it taught me
3. [06:36] The two factors that determine how the relationship ends
4. [07:33] Introducing the Decisive Release framework
5. [09:04] The six-box structure for releasing someone respectfully
6. [10:37] How to clearly and confidently communicate “it’s not working”
7. [11:52] The three unspoken elements to prepare before the meeting
8. [12:58] Managing emotional reactions (theirs and yours)
9. [13:35] Legal compliance and protecting your practice

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory.

Team Training Bundle 2025