The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

What does it really take to grow from one practice to ten thriving locations without losing your mind or your margins? In this episode, Jason sits down with Dr. Hardik Chodavadia, co owner of a ten location group in Austin, Texas, to unpack the real story behind rapid but sustainable growth. From signing his very first lease sight unseen to leading a team of more than 80 people, Dr. Hardik shares...

Payroll feels heavy, team feels “busy,” and your profit is not where it should be. Are you actually overstaffed or just underperforming in the right places? This episode breaks that down so you can stop guessing and start leading. Jason walks through clear, practical benchmarks that tell you if your practice is staffed correctly or bloated, and what to do when the numbers say you have a problem. N...

Most dentists grind today so they can live “someday.” Bigger practice. Bigger check. Then finally unplug, be present, and enjoy life. This episode challenges that mindset with a story that changed my life for good. I share the real lesson behind my friend Steve’s battle with brain cancer at age 47 and how his journey forced me to rethink the entire idea of grinding now so you can live later. If yo...

Ever feel like you’re stuck in “research mode,” analyzing your goals to death but never actually doing the thing? In this episode, Jason breaks down the simple three-step framework he’s been coaching heavily in his one-on-ones, group sessions, and even applying in his own strength training and weight loss journey. He unpacks: Initiation Why the hardest part is just starting. How overthinking kills...

Dr. Jason shares his 20-minute Summer Boost talk on how to step back from the handpiece without stepping out of your practice. If you are hiring your first associate or shifting more time to leadership, this is your playbook. Instead of silver-bullet answers, Jason gives you the right questions that drive clarity, capacity, and calm. You’ll learn how to: Define a three-year vision you can actually...

If you tiptoe around diagnoses, patients pay the price. In this candid riff, Dr. Jason challenges new associates and hygienists to stop under-diagnosing out of fear and start telling patients what they actually need, with empathy and clarity. He uses common-sense analogies (optometrist, mechanic, primary care) to show why “let’s watch it” is often just avoidance, then lays out simple language to p...

Silence breeds stories. In this solo riff, Dr. Jason lays out why leaders must over communicate the why behind goals, policies, and changes. He unpacks the John Gordon principle that in the absence of communication people fill the gap with negativity, then shows how to prevent that with clear, simple context. You’ll learn: How to anchor big goals in a clear purpose so teams buy in What to say when...

In this special episode, Dr. Jason shares a condensed version of his full 16-hour Servant Leadership training—recorded live at Dr. Paul Goodman’s “Dental Nachos” Boost Conference in Philadelphia. Whether you’re a founding dentist, office manager, or team lead, this session will challenge how you think about leadership, character, and influence. You’ll learn how to: Build a culture rooted in agape...

In this episode, Dr. Jason breaks down how to set smarter financial goals for your practice—without waiting until the week between Christmas and New Year’s when the Manhattans are flowing and the notebook comes out. He walks through a practical, no-fluff method for projecting 2026 revenue and profitability, explaining why most dentists miss the mark by setting goals without a tactical plan to back...

In Part 2 of this bonus and incentive series, Dr. Jason dives into team-based reward systems—what works, what fails, and how to design plans that actually improve performance and protect profitability. You’ll learn: Why “set a random goal and hope for the best” bonus systems backfire How to calculate your BAM (Bareass Minimum) number so your team understands what it takes to break even Simple fram...

When it comes to bonuses and incentive plans, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula—and the wrong plan can tank culture just as fast as it boosts production. In this episode, Dr. Jason breaks down what actually works when rewarding individuals in your practice—dentists, hygienists, assistants, and office managers—and why the key is matching the right system to the right people. You’ll learn: The in...

Dr. Jason sits down with Ryan Gross of CMO Share to talk real numbers and real moves when patient demand gets price sensitive. Using multi-year call and search data, Ryan explains why more patients now lead with cost and insurance questions and what winning practices do on their websites, phones, and schedules to keep conversion high. You’ll learn: Which pages to upgrade first so AI and Google sur...

In this episode, Dr. Jason sits down with his longtime accountant and tax strategist, Scott Haberman (CPA, Eide Bailly), to unpack one of the most common questions in dentistry: “Should I start a DSO?” Together they break down what a DSO actually is, when it makes sense to form one, and the key mistakes owners make when scaling beyond a single practice. From equity and efficiency to tax implicatio...

Note takers have opinions. Recordings have receipts. In this episode, Dr. Jason lays out why hitting “record” on every team meeting, 1:1, and quick check-in is the simplest way to boost clarity, coaching, and follow-through. He covers the big four: perception vs reality, building better leaders with real feedback, keeping part-timers in the loop, and turning talk into action items that actually ge...

Not every “busting at the seams” practice needs a bigger building. In this episode, Dr. Jason coaches a young owner who’s winning on paper but questioning whether expansion is worth the debt, stress, and time tradeoffs. They dig into the real why behind growth, how to spot FOMO in your decision making, and smart ways to create progress without adding ops or headcount. You’ll hear: A simple test to...

Your front desk is glued to Instagram, your schedule is leaking, and your A-players are quietly fuming. In this episode, Dr. Jason breaks down a real listener email and walks through a simple path from chaos to consistency. You will learn the difference between triangular accountability and peer to peer accountability, how to define “winning” for the front desk so expectations are crystal clear, a...

In this episode of the Dental Lighthouse Podcast, Dr. Jason sits down with Corey, a young dentist from North Carolina, who is navigating the all-too-familiar “ceilings of complexity.” From maxing out physical space and operatories to stretching leadership bandwidth and balancing family, faith, and personal health, Corey shares what it’s really like to grow a practice while trying not to lose yours...

If your practice is growing but accountability feels like it’s slipping through the cracks, this episode is for you. Jason dives into the real, practical steps for defining exactly what your leads should be doing day in and day out. Using a case study of a large, successful practice on the verge of expansion, he unpacks how to bring structure to the front desk and beyond—without flipping everythin...

What happens when you're on the other side of the patient experience—and it goes sideways? In this episode, Dr. Jason shares a personal story about a frustrating hospital visit that left him stewing in a changing room for nearly an hour. From missed MRI scans to poorly managed expectations, this experience becomes a powerful analogy for common mistakes made in dental practices every day. You’ll le...

Join Dr. Jason Tanoory and the ever-unique Dr. Paul Goodman (aka "Dr. Nachos") in this dynamic episode of the Dental Lighthouse Podcast. What starts as a role-reversing interview quickly becomes a rich, candid conversation about leadership, systems, mentorship, and the everyday “brain damage” of running a dental practice. With humor, humility, and hard-earned insight, Jason and Paul unpack everyth...

You fought to get out of the chair. You finally carved out real CEO time. Now you're staring at your calendar like a dog that caught the car. What the hell are you supposed to do with this time? In this episode, Jason breaks down exactly how to think about—and use—your CEO time, starting with two foundational principles: vision and scorecards. He unpacks why clarity beats urgency, why texting your...

When a rock-solid associate saw her schedule tank, she assumed it was bad luck or uneven exam distribution. But a quick data dive told a different story. In this episode, Jason unpacks a one-on-one coaching conversation about why production drops often have less to do with patient “yeses” and more to do with how much treatment is actually being presented. You’ll learn how to think like a scientist...

Just because you can add another doctor doesn’t mean it’s the smart move. In this episode, Jason shares a coaching story about a doc who expanded too soon and ended up with two under booked doctors and not enough hygiene to support them. It’s a common trap for growing practices that haven’t fully thought through the math, the ratios, or the realities of day-to-day scheduling. Jason breaks down whe...

This hour-long episode is exactly what the title promises—Jason’s no-fluff guide to the actual habits, mindsets, and behaviors that define great leadership in a dental practice. Pulled straight from his coaching work and years in the trenches, this isn’t about lofty ideas. It’s about clarity, consistency, and courage. He covers: Why most “leadership problems” are actually clarity problems How to s...

This week, Jason sits down with bestselling author and dentist Dr. Addison Killeen to talk about his newest release, The Shift—a leadership fable packed with real stories and actionable business lessons. Known for his system-heavy guides, Addison steps into a more personal, story-driven format to help young dental leaders navigate ownership, burnout, and the messy reality of building great teams....