The Thriving Dentist Show

Most dental practice growth plans fail by January 10th. Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah explain exactly why, and exactly what to do about it. Four specific rocks, individual champions, a three-meeting cadence, and the team incentive that took one practice from two Google reviews a month to twenty-six. Plus, Naren on AI search for dental practices, the five benchmarks that define a real patient acq...

Most dental marketing advice focuses on getting the phone to ring. This episode covers what happens next. Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah break down the admin team traits that drive dental practice growth, the hiring mistakes that quietly cost practices new patients, and the systems behind one practice's jump from 25% to 76% phone conversion, more than tripling new patient acquisition from the sam...

Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah on the most requested topic from Thriving Dentist listeners: how to increase treatment acceptance. Three benchmarks, four common mistakes, the family member technique, Dr. Frank Spear's six photos, the hygienist script, the consultation room argument, the 60/40 split for high-value dentistry, and the stat that stops every practice owner: less than 6% of insurance pa...

Want to know how your dental practice really stacks up against your local competition? Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah walk you through a 30-minute dental competitor audit you can run yourself, covering keyword rankings, Google reviews, local SEO, and service landing pages, so you can find the gaps that are costing you new patients. Plus Dr. Jeff Buske on why patients say no to how treatment is pr...

Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah reveal how to make every year your new best year, from the four reasons growth matters to the exact strategies that take a plateaued practice to record production. You will also hear why 2026 is the year to master local search and what an appropriate marketing budget really looks like.

42% of Americans put off the dentist indefinitely because of fear and most of them are already in your market. In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah unpack one of dentistry's biggest untapped opportunities: the anxious patient. They cover why fearful patients stay silent, the psychology of control and the simple "stop signal" that puts patients at ease, sedation options worth knowing, a...

Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah on the complete guide to hiring an associate dentist: why the DDS is not a hiring filter, the 54% indifference statistic, Gary's four-area screening framework, the #1 mistake practices make, compensation on adjusted production, and the mentoring rhythm that determines long-term success. Plus, Naren's AI search marketing segment.

Most dental practices lose new patients the moment a call goes unanswered - and most don't know it's happening. In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah break down the after-hours and missed-call response system every dental practice needs in 2026. Inside: why 95% of new patients won't leave a voicemail, the 60-second response standard, when Book Now buttons he...

Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah dig into why dentists underprice their work, how the UCR percentile system sets fee ceilings in your zip code, what insurance companies actually pay (and where they downgrade), and why only 0.24% of dentists — 1 in 400 have fees set at the 80th percentile of their market. You'll also learn the annual fee-increase rhythm Gary recommends, how to handle the patient con...

Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah on how to stay visible and trusted in the new AI search era. ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Bing AI are already recommending dental practices and the signals they use are different from traditional SEO. This episode tells you exactly what to fix, what to build, and how to get your AI report card.

Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah on the three leadership mindsets that separate thriving practices from struggling ones: curiosity over judgment, humility, and a genuine embrace of experimentation. Plus, the solopreneur trap, how to evaluate AI and technology correctly, and the vision exercise that Gary uses with every coaching client.

Gary Takacs and Victoria Peterson of Productive Dentist Academy explore what it takes to build an Investment Grade Practice — financially strong, personally fulfilling, and built to last. Two real case studies, a financial freedom formula, and a framework that changes how dentists think about their work and their future.

Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah walk through the five business lessons every new dental practice owner must learn - fast. From why leadership is the governor on your practice's growth to why your production number is an illusion, this episode is a masterclass in running a dental business, not just a dental practice.

Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah break down the High Value Dentistry Growth Plan - why discounting destroys trust, how to attract implant and cosmetic patients through SEO, and why call training is the most overlooked growth lever. Plus, a clinical tip from Dr. Nick Sharma: why every child should see a dentist by age one. Ready to grow your practice? Book a complimentary Marketing Strategy Meeting:...

In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah make the case for prevention-based dentistry - and give you the tools to build it. From CAMBRA and AI diagnosis tools to six digital photos and hygiene systems, this is a practical roadmap for building a practice that patients trust. Plus, Naren's marketing tip on why SEO patients spend 6x longer on your website than ad patients - and what that mean...

In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah expose one of the most overlooked revenue leaks in dental practices: missed calls and poor phone conversion. They share real data, conversion benchmarks, and proven strategies to help your team turn more phone calls into booked appointments. Plus, catch a clinical tip from Dr. Howard Ochs on the fastest way to clear and fill implant access channels...

In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share practical ways to reduce no-shows for high-value dentistry like implants, Invisalign, and sedation cases. You'll learn why patients skip these appointments and how to fix it by building desire, asking for full payment upfront, using strong confirmation systems, and training your team to support the process. Plus, h...

In this episode, Gary and Naren talk about how to take control of your practice's money with something called revenue cycle management. They explain simple ways to get paid on time, avoid billing surprises, and keep patients happy. Plus, Dr. Andrew Adly shares a smart tip to save a crown when the buildup breaks. If you want less stress and more profit, this episode is for you!

In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah tackle one of the biggest hidden profit leaks in dentistry. Unscheduled treatment plans. They explain why many dental practices have thousands of patients in their database but only a small number who move forward with recommended care. You will learn why patients say no to treatment, how to create real interest instead...

In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah explain how AI is changing the way patients find and choose a dentist in 2026. They break down how Google AI, ChatGPT, Gemini, and AI Overviews now shape search results, and why dentists must show up in Google Maps, organic SEO, and AI generated answers to stay competitive. You will learn what EEAT means for your dental...

In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah explore why many dentists avoid hard or "crucial" conversations—and how that avoidance can quietly limit practice growth, leadership effectiveness, and personal fulfillment. Gary breaks down how DISC personality styles and conflict avoidance are wired into many dentists, why behavioral mastery is just as critical as clin...

What would happen to your schedule - and your profitability - if you resigned from a PPO tomorrow? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share a practical readiness checklist to help practice owners drop PPO plans the right way - without creating "Swiss cheese" holes in the schedule. They break down the three must-have signs you're ready to go out-of-network...

How do you move patients from basic, insurance-driven dentistry to comprehensive care they truly value? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah unpack why traditional case presentation often fails—and what actually works instead. They explore the mindset shifts, relationship-building strategies, and marketing fundamentals that help patients understand, want, a...

In this episode, Gary talks with Dr. Amreesh Khanna about how AI is changing dentistry. They explore how OraQ helps dentists give more consistent care, improve case acceptance, and even connect dental and medical data. Dr. Khanna also shares his personal journey—from rebuilding his flooded practice to building a tech company helping dental teams every day.

What does it truly take to be happy as a dentist? In this powerful and reflective episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah explore why so many dentists feel burned out, unfulfilled, or disconnected from the profession they once loved and what can be done to change that. Drawing from decades of experience working with thousands of dental practice owners, Gary shares why...