The Dental CEO Podcast

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune speaks with orthodontist and entrepreneur Dr. Ingrid Murra about the current state of clear aligner therapy, examining how incentive structures, training gaps, and rapid adoption have influenced patient outcomes and provider profitability. They discuss collaboration between general dentists and orthodontists, the role of virtual monitoring in...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Dr. Aditi Agarwal, founder of Practice By Numbers, to challenge dentists to rethink how their practices operate. The conversation explores how automation and data-driven systems can replace time-consuming “junk work” like insurance verification, scheduling, collections, phone management, and reporting—freeing teams to focus on p...

In this episode, Scott breaks down how to reinvent the patient experience so thoroughly that patients can’t stop talking about your practice. From modern design and comfort-focused amenities to digital workflows, high-tech diagnostics, and frictionless communication, he outlines the systems and touches that build trust, increase case acceptance, and elevate your brand. Whether you're launching a s...

Leadership looks different for female dentists—and it often comes with unfair labels, blurred boundaries, and added pressure at home and in the practice. In this episode, Scott Leune sits down with Curve Dental President Jana Macon to discuss the real challenges women navigate in leadership and how they can set healthier boundaries, communicate clearly, build a strong results-driven culture, while...

Real estate is one of the highest-stakes—and most overlooked—financial decisions in dentistry, and in this episode Scott sits down with Colin Carr, CEO of CARR, to reveal how lease renewals, poorly negotiated terms, missed concessions, and uninformed decisions routinely cost dentists hundreds of thousands of dollars over their careers. From TI allowances and free rent to assignability clauses, tax...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Kevin Tallman, CEO of Mango Voice, to discuss how AI-powered phone systems are transforming dental practices. Drawing on data from more than 12,000 practices, they reveal how much revenue is lost through missed calls and how AI receptionists are already improving patient interactions and operational efficiency. This concise, ins...

In this episode, Scott Leune and Dr. Christian Coachman break down how to use technology, storytelling, and a differentiated “Apple Store” patient experience to dramatically increase case acceptance. Learn how mastering planning, guided execution, and emotional dentistry can elevate your reputation, attract better cases, and transform your career.

This episode of The Dental CEO Podcast offers a clear, practical breakdown of how dentists can finally take control of their financials. Dr. Scott Leune explains the key numbers every practice owner must track, the overhead targets that separate average practices from highly profitable ones, and why messy financial statements lead to years of lost income. You’ll learn how to spot overspending, dia...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune talks with Jesse Israel — keynote speaker, mindfulness teacher, and founder of The Big Quiet — about how leaders can cut through the constant noise of modern life to regain clarity, purpose, and control. Jesse shares his “Four S’s” framework—Stillness, Solo Time, Slow Technology, and Saying No Thank You—to help reduce stress, sharpen focus...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune shares powerful insights on turning setbacks into momentum and embracing the process of reinvention. He explores how decisive action, adaptability, and consistent effort—not perfection—drive lasting growth. Through real-world examples and lessons drawn from leadership and business, Dr. Leune challenges listeners to stop overanalyzing, star...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune breaks down how to staff a dental practice efficiently at every stage—from the early days of a startup with one assistant and a single front office team member to a mature, high-performing practice with multiple hygienists, assistants, and virtual support. He explains when to expand, how to balance roles across the front and back office, a...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune exposes the hidden pricing structures that leave private dentists paying more for supplies and labs than the largest DSOs. He breaks down how corporate distributors and traditional buying groups have quietly maintained inflated costs through exclusive contracts, nondisclosure agreements, and overlapping ownership—keeping independent practi...

Dental teams want—and deserve—to be paid more. The challenge is that practices are also facing higher costs across the board, from supplies and labs to rent and debt. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains how practices can afford to pay top salaries without sacrificing profitability. He shares how maintaining healthy ratios, maximizing hygiene production, improving ca...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explores how virtual assistants are reshaping the modern dental practice. He breaks down why overburdened front desks, rising staffing costs, and hiring challenges make the VA-supported model so powerful. From insurance verification and patient recalls to answering missed calls and streamlining workflows, listeners will learn how practices...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune explores how dentistry is evolving around the world—and why the U.S. remains years ahead when it comes to the business side of practice ownership. From the rise of DSOs in Australia and Canada to untapped opportunities across Europe and beyond, Scott explains what non-U.S. dentists can learn from the American model to accelerate growth and sca...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune talks with Irene Janku—hygienist, educator, and practice owner in Toronto—about one of the most unconventional but thought-provoking models in dentistry: hygienist-owned practices. Together, they explore how this model works legally and financially, what it means for dentists and hygienists working side by side, and why it could reshape how pr...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune tackles one of the most important questions in the profession: does dentistry still make sense as a career? With record-high student debt, stagnant associate pay, and rising stress, many young dentists feel stuck in roles that limit income, autonomy, and fulfillment. Scott contrasts the challenges of associateships with the opportunities of pr...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott sits down with Ophir Tanz, founder and CEO of Pearl, to explore how AI is transforming dental practices—from radiology that detects more disease to automated charting, treatment planning, and real-time claims. These tools reduce inefficiencies, minimize errors, and build greater patient trust. They also look ahead to 3D imaging, ambient note-taking,...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains why most dental exams are inconsistent and miss valuable treatment opportunities. He introduces a structured assessment protocol for the hygiene chair that standardizes preventive, Perio, Ortho, Implant, Sleep, and Cosmetic evaluations. By following this “recipe” for thorough exams, practices can improve patient care, capture more...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune tackles one of the toughest challenges in private practice ownership: building fair and effective associate agreements. Drawing from years of experience, he breaks down the 10 most important elements to include—tiered compensation, lab fee adjustments, guarantees, notice clauses, CE commitments, referral expectations, column load managemen...

In this inspiring episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with comedian, author, and motivational speaker Zach Anner to explore how resilience, humor, and community can transform life’s toughest challenges into opportunities. Born with cerebral palsy, Zach shares his journey from winning Oprah’s reality show and creating viral YouTube content to writing for television and beco...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with top motivational speaker Laura Gassner Otting to share how practice owners can reset their goals, strengthen leadership, and retain top talent. Drawing from decades of experience interviewing high-performing executives, Laura explains how to align your “three buckets” of money, freedom, and passion, and create a culture wher...

Scott talks with Rob Bay, co-founder of Dental Intelligence and current chairman of Alta. Ai, about how practices can save time, improve hygiene production, and reduce burnout without adding staff. They explore the systems and strategies that are reshaping clinical efficiency and giving doctors and teams more time to focus on what matters most—patients.

This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with conflict resolution expert Gabe Karp—TEDx speaker, author of Don’t Get Mad at Penguins, and former trial lawyer—for a powerful conversation about confronting conflict in dental practices. Together, they explore why ignoring issues fuels burnout, how to reframe tough conversations, and the simple weekly meeting that could transform you...

This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Erin Stafford—author of The Type A Trap, social psychologist, and former head of marketing for a $11B healthcare company—for a candid conversation about high achievement, burnout, and how to reclaim your life without sacrificing success. Erin shares her own journey from burnout to balance and offers practical tools to help dentists st...