Dental Practice Heroes

Recent Episodes

1. 5 Levers That Decide How Much Your Practice Produces

   Aug 3, 2026

   Dr. Paul Etchison hosts fellow DPH coaches Dr. Stephen Markowitz and Dr. Henry Ernst to discuss the five key levers that determine dental practice production: diagnosis, treatment planning, case acceptance, clinical efficiency, and service mix. Rather than chasing new patients, the coaches emphasize that dentists must maximize opportunities already present in their practice by improving their diagnostic skills, building confidence in treatment recommendations, and maintaining consistent hygiene check-ins. The episode addresses common psychological barriers dentists face when recommending comprehensive treatment and explores how honest feedback from teams and peers can unlock hidden revenue.

2. The Doctor-Hygienist Partnership That Drives Case Acceptance w/ Janet Hagerman

   Jul 30, 2026

   Janet Hagerman, a hygiene consultant and fractional Chief Hygiene Officer, discusses how dental practices can leverage their hygiene teams to dramatically improve case acceptance and patient outcomes. Drawing from her experience building hygiene systems for large DSOs and her book 'Selling Dentistry, Ethically, Elegantly, and Effectively,' Hagerman shares practical strategies for doctor-hygienist partnerships, periodontal case acceptance, effective patient communication, and team alignment through monthly clinical meetings and standardized handoff protocols.

3. Stop Hoping and Praying for Your Dream Team, Build Them

   Jul 27, 2026

   Dr. Paul Atchison, host of the Dental Practice Heroes podcast, delivers a solo episode on building high-performing dental teams through intentional, ongoing training and development. He argues that exceptional practices don't hire better people—they develop them—and explains how creating a culture of mastery, establishing clear learning pathways, and moving from reactive to proactive training transforms team engagement, retention, and practice profitability. Atchison outlines the DPH VIP Growth Program and Operating System as frameworks for systematic team development across all practice roles.

4. Short Staffed? Here's What to Do

   Jul 23, 2026

   Dr. Paul Eason, a practicing dentist and dental business coach, addresses the common challenge of staffing shortages in dental practices. He argues that waiting to hire before improving systems actually perpetuates a cycle of burnout and turnover, and instead recommends practice owners communicate transparently with their teams, fix one recurring operational frustration, and prioritize training as a retention strategy. The episode provides tactical guidance on weathering staffing challenges while building systematized, functional practices.

5. What Your Front Desk Wishes the Clinical Team Understood (And Vice Versa)

   Jul 20, 2026

   This episode explores the persistent tension between front desk and clinical teams in dental practices, featuring three experienced practice owners discussing why these conflicts arise and how to resolve them. Dr. Paul Edison hosts Dr. Stephen Markowitz (owner of 6 practices with 156 employees near Boston) and Dr. Henry Ernst (owner of an 18-operatory practice in North Carolina) to share practical frameworks for improving communication, including leadership structures, trust exercises, and intentional handoff protocols.

6. Stop Hiring People to Solve This Problem

   Jul 16, 2026

   Dr. Paul Atchison, host of the Dental Practice Heroes podcast, discusses why dental practices feel understaffed despite having adequate payroll, arguing the real issue is skipped steps and broken systems that create ripple effects across teams. Using examples like pre-collections and scheduling commitments, he demonstrates how small shortcuts by one team member cascade into larger workload problems downstream. Atchison provides three tactical takeaways for practice leaders: narrate the downstream impacts of mistakes, ask teams to identify who is affected when steps are skipped, and celebrate people who make others' jobs easier.

7. How to Hire a Hygienist Fast in a Tough Job Market

   Jul 13, 2026

   Dr. Paul Edison hosts a discussion with fellow dental practice owners Dr. Stephen Markowitz (6 practices, Boston area) and Dr. Henry Ernst (18-operatory practice, North Carolina) about recruiting and hiring hygienists in a competitive job market. The episode covers differentiated hiring strategies, interview processes that assess culture fit, and the importance of retention alongside recruitment. Henry shares a success story of beating six other offices for a hygienist through an innovative 'speed meeting' interview process.

8. How to Fill Your Schedule Without a Single New Patient w/ Dr. Spencer Greer

   Jul 9, 2026

   Dr. Spencer Greer, owner of two dental practices in Washington State and dental coach, discusses how dentists can dramatically increase production and case acceptance without acquiring new patients. The episode focuses on improving communication with existing patients about treatment needs, having one comprehensive, honest conversation rather than multiple conversations over time, and overcoming the fear of presenting necessary treatment.

9. Efficiency vs. Speed: What Actually Keeps You on Schedule

   Jul 6, 2026

   Dr. Paul Atchison hosts a panel discussion with two experienced multi-doctor practice owners, Dr. Stephen Markowitz (6 practices in Boston) and Dr. Henry Ernst (18-operatory practice in North Carolina), exploring the distinction between rushing and efficiency in clinical dentistry. The episode focuses on practical strategies to improve procedural speed—including timing oneself, establishing repeatable systems, starting appointments on time, and avoiding common mistakes that create downstream problems—while maintaining quality patient care and reducing schedule delays.

10. Why You Can't Leave Your Work Stress at the Office w/ Neo Positivity

    Jun 29, 2026

    Neopositivity, creator of the Thoughts Become Things movement, discusses how mindset and thought patterns directly influence business results, relationships, and personal fulfillment. The conversation explores how autopilot thinking limits dental practice owners, the neuroscience behind changing mental algorithms, and practical techniques for interrupting negative thought spirals. Neo shares real examples of transforming dental office culture by helping teams recognize that conflicts often stem from underlying thought patterns rather than surface issues.