The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes

On today's episode, Eric Appelsies and Alexandra Kantor, hosts of the Just a Couple of Dentists podcast, sit down with Dr. Mark Costes to explore the philosophies that have fueled his success in dentistry and beyond. From spotting potential in others and connecting people for exponential growth to giving without expectation, Mark reveals the mindset that has shaped the Dental Success Institute and...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dr. Taher Dhoon for a Surgical Saturday deep dive into one of the most underrated clinical procedures in dentistry: frenectomies. As co-founder of the Colorado Surgical Institute, Dr. Dhoon outlines the powerful impact frenectomies can have on both pediatric and adult patients—improving airway, sleep, behavior, and overall development.   He shares d...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back marketing expert and CEO of CMOShare, Ryan Gross, for an in-depth conversation about the transformative role of AI in dental marketing. They dive into how AI has evolved from novelty to necessity, with real-time applications improving everything from phone call conversions to website performance and patient scheduling. Ryan shares how his company l...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Khamir Patel, practicing dentist and founder of SmartChair AI, to discuss how his innovative technology is transforming the way dental practices measure and optimize chair utilization. Dr. Patel shares how his firsthand experiences in private practice inspired the development of this data-driven platform, which uses AI and IoT sensors to track...

On today's episode, we bring you part two of Dr. Mark Costes' live presentation from Nashville at a Shine event, where he uncovers the immense pressures dentists face in practice ownership. From the isolation of clinical work to skyrocketing student debt and decision fatigue, Mark explains why fewer dentists are choosing ownership and how this impacts the future of the profession.   He breaks down...

On today's episode, we share part one of Dr. Mark Costes' live presentation from Nashville at a Shine event. Mark sets the stage with a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of dental practice ownership—massive student debt, declining ownership rates, and staggering burnout statistics.  He also shares financial benchmarks for dentists compared to physicians, insights into gender and generational...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Brian Mills, founder of ROAM Commercial Real Estate, to discuss the critical role real estate plays in the success of dental practices. Brian shares insights from 25 years in the industry, covering everything from common lease mistakes and negotiation pitfalls to strategies for ensuring your first location is scalable and profitable.   He also expla...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with longtime friend and mentor Dr. Aaron Nicholas to reflect on their recent experience with the Dominican Dental Mission Project (DDMP). Now in its 43rd year, this unique and tightly-knit mission trip delivers full-scope dental care—including PEDO, restorative, surgery, and prosthodontics—to underserved communities across the Dominican Republic.   Aa...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes catches up with Dr. Taher Dhoon, co-founder of the Colorado Surgical Institute (CSI), to talk about all things surgery, education, and giving back. They dive into CSI's explosive growth over 2025, including their largest-ever course with over 130 attendees, and highlight the wide variety of hands-on training opportunities CSI now offers—from single implants and...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dental Success Network COO Ashlee Hirschfeld for a fast-paced and insightful conversation on trending questions from inside the DSN community. The duo dives into topics like employee motivation beyond financial incentives, how to handle red-flag patients before they become a problem, and why clearly defined dental benefits are essential for avoiding...

On today's episode, we bring you part two of our special interview with Steijn Pelle, co-founder and CEO of Lassie. In this second half, Steijn continues to unpack how Lassie is revolutionizing dental revenue cycle management by leveraging AI, fintech infrastructure, and regulatory momentum. He discusses why traditional billing models can't scale, how Lassie eliminates up to 80 hours of admin work...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes kicks off part one of a special two-part conversation with Steijn Pelle, co-founder and CEO of Lassie. Steijn shares his remarkable journey from the Netherlands to Silicon Valley, where he helped scale tech giants like Robinhood and Coinbase before launching a mission to bring AI to healthcare administration.   The discussion dives deep into how Lassie is tackli...

On today's episode, we continue with part two of Dr. Mark Costes' in-depth conversation with Kyle Francis of Professional Transition Strategies. Kyle breaks down why recapitalizations have become more difficult for DSOs, how deal overhang and shifting market conditions are impacting valuations, and why understanding the right equity structure is crucial for dentists.   He also shares what makes a...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Kyle Francis, founder and CEO of Professional Transition Strategies, for part one of a powerful interview. Kyle shares his journey into the world of dental mergers and acquisitions, how he built a company focused solely on seller-side representation, and why time can be a deal's biggest enemy.  He dives into the intricacies of practice valuations,...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes reconnects with longtime friend and dental sleep medicine expert Dr. Erin Elliott. Broadcasting from Thrive Live in Las Vegas, the two dive into a lively and powerful discussion about the lesser-known signs of sleep apnea, particularly in young, fit women. Dr. Elliott shares how anatomical and physiological factors—like a scalloped tongue or early morning wake-u...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down at Thrive Live with Doug Fettig, CPA, MBA, and dental business advisor, for a deep and dynamic conversation on leadership, joy, and what it really means to run a successful dental practice. Doug brings energy and perspective to the challenges facing dentists today, from burnout and depression to poor delegation and leadership struggles.  They discuss w...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Bill Keith and Powervox co-founders Brian Wright and Paul Gregory to explore how AI is transforming patient communication in dental practices. They dive into the creation and impact of "Abby," Powervox's AI receptionist designed to handle after-hours and overflow calls. Dr. Keith shares how Abby has already added tangible ROI by capturing new...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. David Reznik, a pioneering force in public health dentistry and founder of the HIV Dental Alliance. Speaking from the Exhibitor Hall at Thrive Live in Las Vegas, Dr. Reznik shares his decades-long journey in treating HIV-positive patients, his role in establishing the Oral Health Center at Grady Health System, and the critical need for proper...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back David Harris, CEO of Prosperident and one of dentistry's leading experts in embezzlement investigation. Ten years and over 2,300 episodes later, David returns to shed light on just how rampant financial crime is in dental practices—with nearly 70% of dentists becoming victims at some point in their careers. He explains the most common theft strateg...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Dave Monahan, CEO of Kleer, to discuss the major merger between Kleer and Membersy and the upcoming rebrand to Clerri. Dave breaks down why the consolidation happened, what it means for the future of dental membership plans, and how the new unified platform aims to eliminate barriers to care while helping practices grow profitably. With over 20,000...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Cristian Pavel—dentist, certified yoga instructor, and wellness advocate—live from Thrive Live in Las Vegas. Dr. Pavel shares his unique journey of integrating breathwork, yoga, and mental wellness into dentistry and how that evolved into biannual service retreats in the Dominican Republic.   Listeners will hear the inspiring story of how a li...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes the always engaging Dr. Paul "Nacho" Goodman for a wide-ranging conversation about upcoming events, practice ownership, and the realities of stepping out of the operatory. They dive into the origins and purpose of Super Dentist Boost Camp, discuss the value of live events for building relationships and opportunities, and highlight why balancing EBITDA w...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Brian Mills, founder of ROAM Commercial Real Estate, for a no-fluff, boots-on-the-ground conversation about one of the most overlooked but mission-critical elements of dental startups and practice growth: real estate. With over 25 years in the dental industry, Brian has seen the good, the bad, and the financially disastrous when it comes to lease ag...

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined live from Thrive Live in Las Vegas by Eric Pook, president of Cirrus Consulting Group, North America's leading dental office lease negotiation firm. Eric shares eye-opening insights into how dentists—despite being the most reliable tenants—are frequently overpaying for their leases due to lack of awareness, leverage, and negotiation expertise.  They ex...

On today's Part 2 episode, Gary Bird joins Mark in an in-depth conversation on how dental practices can unlock serious growth through smarter systems, strategic pricing, and AI integration. Gary shares powerful insights into the rise of AI receptionists, how they're changing the way practices manage phone calls, scheduling, and follow-ups—and why they're not quite ready to fully replace humans. He...