The Making of a Dental Startup

Ashley Joves

This is the making of your goals, your dreams, and your life.

  1. 4d ago

    The Making Of Smile and Co. #2 — Episode FOUR: Design Details, The Cosmetic Wing, and The Details That Make All The Difference

    In this episode Ashley and Collin dive into the design details behind Smile Design Studio in Roseville. From the Pinterest board that started it all to the $200,000 lighting package that got vetoed, the $45,000 fireplace that never happened, and the cosmetic wing that patients cannot stop raving about. What You'll Hear In This Episode: The Design Vision If Tom Ford met dentistry, what would that look like? Ashley shares the Pinterest board of boutique hotels, restaurants, and resorts that inspired the entire aesthetic of Smile Design Studio. Neutrals, blacks, clean lines, and a vibe that is anything but a dental office. She also shares the one scent detail that had patients asking questions the moment they walked through the door. The $200,000 Lighting Reality Check Ashley wanted uplighting, downlighting, chandeliers, and statement fixtures throughout the entire space. The lighting package quote came back at $200,000. She scaled back. Tastefully. And the office still looks stunning. The Fireplace That Never Was A see-through fireplace separating the lounge from the consultation room was on the original design. The quote came in at $45,000. It did not make the cut. Neither did the full kitchen in the break room. Sometimes champagne taste has to meet the hotdog budget. The Design Box After flying to Denver to meet with the architect for the 3D walkthrough, Ashley received a large box of every material sample for the office. Flooring, tile, millwork, wallpaper, and hardware. She and Collin spent hours going through it and there is an unboxing video to prove it. Hardware, Furniture, and Finishing Touches Matte black hardware throughout. Chandeliers from Crate and Barrel, West Elm, and CB2. Sofas and lounge chairs from Rove Concepts. A white sofa in the patient lounge that the team Scotchguards on the regular and would do again in a heartbeat. The Coffee Bar A single serve machine that grinds beans fresh for every cup, sparkling waters, flavored syrups, and creamers. Ashley also shares the California ADA accessible counter height detail that catches a lot of practice owners off guard. The Cosmetic Wing The crown jewel of Smile Design Studio. A dedicated cosmetic photo studio with a black wall and light boxes, a private patient restroom with river rock flooring, a concierge desk, and Ashley's personal office with a couch and TV for patients during long procedures. It feels like a completely separate business within the practice and it is the single thing patients compliment most. The Advice Worth Writing Down Know your long game. Design for who you are and where you are going. And if this is your first location do not go balls to the wall. Save that for when you have already proven the concept. Resources Mentioned: Scent diffuser and espresso machine links coming in the show notes and newsletter soon Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register. Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  2. Jul 14

    The Making Of Evelina Smiles - SIX

    The Making Of Evelina Smiles - SIX Delays, Profit Sharing, and the Week Before Everything Changes In this episode Ashley sits down with Dr. Rich Constantine for a look at what the final stretch before a soft opening actually feels like. Setbacks, systems, 300 patients on a priority list, and the first peek at how Rich thinks about rewarding his team. What You'll Hear in This Episode: The Weeks Leading Up to Opening Supplies delayed by the Fourth of July holiday. Design Ergonomics trainer flew in but not everything was ready. Certificate of occupancy and zoning permit still pending over a landscaping detail. How Rich is keeping his head right when things do not go as planned. His mantra this week: pressure is a privilege. Where the Building Stands Software integrated. Imaging bridged with practice management. Phones hooked up. Wi-Fi working. TVs up. Chandeliers hung. Interior signage still coming. Half the waiting room furniture arrived. Scanner still in transit. Soft open pushed back. Training and Systems CareStack boot camps underway. Admin team working through UCR fees, third party financing conversations, patient portals, and building out Q and A for the AI phone system. Say this not that verbiage in place for both front desk and clinical team. Written playbooks and binders being built from scratch before the first patient walks in. 300 Patients on the Priority List Rich casually drops one of the biggest wins of the episode. How the landing page, social media, QR code signage, and periodic email updates built a pipeline of 300 prospective patients before the doors even open. What he is doing first when the phones go live and why he is keeping ad spend light to start so he can see what is actually working. Merch, Giveaways, and Branded Everything The T-shirt rabbit hole. Why Rich wants to do premium branded gear or nothing at all. Printful, Real Thread, BYLT, and Cuts all come up. Ashley makes the case for buying great shirts and just getting them embroidered locally. Profit Sharing vs Bonus Culture Rich opens up about how he thinks about rewarding his team. Why he calls it profit sharing and not a bonus. Clear KPIs, collective rewards, and why nobody gets money that is not there. The difference between rewarding people blindly and building a team that understands the numbers. And why you do not own a business if you have to be there for it to run. Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds Connect with Rich: Instagram @dr.c_smiles or richconstantinedds@gmail.com Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  3. Jul 7

    The Making Of Smile and Co. #2 — Episode THREE - Floor Plans, Architects, and Unexpected Surprises

    Building Ashley's Second Smile & Co. Office: Floor Plans, Architects, and Unexpected Surprises In this episode, Ashley and Collin go behind the scenes of building Ashley's second Smile & Co. office, diving into the two-year construction timeline and the decisions that shaped the space from day one. Ashley opens up about drawing her own floor plan on taped-together printer paper, why she brought on a dental-specific architect for this build (unlike her first location), and the surprising realities of buying an existing building versus leasing one. In this episode: Ashley's original floor plan: drawing it herself on taped printer paper and comparing it to the final resultWhy Ashley hired an architect for this build (and didn't for her first location)Architect vs. GC: cost differences, scope of work, and who actually needs an architectThe Denver trip: Pinterest boards, a 3D walkthrough, and designing the vision from scratchHow the architect, GC, and interior designer worked together (and Dave's initial hesitation about "too many cooks")Designing a separate cosmetic wing, the "office within an office" conceptCommunication between the build team: walkthroughs, emails, and staying in the loopUnexpected surprises: shared Wi-Fi with the building next door, a load-bearing wall that couldn't move, and the "pony wall" fixThe $71,000 building permit shock, and why budgeting for city fees matters more than people thinkAshley's advice: architect vs. no architect, and why owning your building changes the equationThank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  4. Jun 30

    Michelin Star Moves: The Morning Huddle That Changes Everything

    Michelin Star Moves: The Morning Huddle That Changes Everything In this episode Ashley and Collin break down the morning huddle that has become a non negotiable part of how Smile and Co. runs every single day. From starting with gratitude to identifying VIP patients, this quick episode is full of tactical takeaways you can implement in your own practice starting tomorrow morning. What You'll Hear In This Episode: Starting With Gratitude Every huddle begins with each team member sharing something they are grateful for in the office. It is fast, it is simple, and it sets the tone for the entire day before a single number gets discussed. The Numbers Check In After gratitude, the team reviews new patients for the month, the previous day's collections and production, and where the schedule currently stands so everyone is aligned before the day begins. The Chart Review Process Assistants and hygienists go through every patient on the schedule ahead of time, checking for current PAs, treatment accuracy, updated medical history, and any nuances the team needs to know. Ashley shares why catching these details before the patient is in the chair makes all the difference. Identifying Same Day Treatment Opportunities The team flags unscheduled treatment and potential no shows in advance so they always have a plan if a gap opens up in the schedule. The VIP Patient Strategy One of Ashley's favorite parts of the huddle. Each day a team member identifies one patient they are going to go above and beyond for, which naturally creates the kind of experience that leads to glowing reviews and referrals. Why Fifteen Minutes Changes The Whole Day Ashley and Collin explain why this short huddle creates seamless communication between hygiene, assistants, doctors, and front office, and why the investment of fifteen minutes pays off across the entire day. The End Of Day Huddle They Miss Ashley shares why she misses doing an end of day huddle in the earlier days of the practice and what made it such a valuable learning tool for the team. Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  5. Jun 23

    The Making Of Evelina Smiles - FIVE

    The Making Of Evelina Smiles | Front Desk, Floors, and Soft Opening Strategy with Dr. Rich Constantine In this episode Ashley catches up with Dr. Rich Constantine after a few weeks away and gets a full update on everything happening at Evelina Smiles. From hiring the front office team to finally solving the herringbone flooring saga, to insurance decisions and the philosophy that is shaping how Rich is building his team this time around, this episode is packed with real, in the moment startup updates. What You'll Hear In This Episode: The Herringbone Floor Update Remember the flooring drama from a few episodes back? Rich's team found a machine that could finally cut the planks the way they envisioned. The floors look incredible and prove that sometimes the answer really is just more elbow grease. Building The Front Office Team First Rich hired two full time front desk administrators right out of the gate, both former assistants, so they can speak clinical language and step in when needed. He explains why splitting check in and check out responsibilities matters so much in a larger office and why he wanted them trained up together before adding the clinical team. Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast Rich shares an update on his favorite phrase from training. This time he is intentionally building in time to coach his team, role play patient conversations, and make sure everyone is on the same page before opening the doors. He breaks down why confused patients do not commit to treatment and why getting the team aligned matters more than speed. Construction And Equipment Status Six operatories are fully equipped. Chairs, sterilization, cabinetry, and CBCT are all in. Scanners and the handheld x-ray unit are still on the way. The parking lot needed an unexpected redo and furniture is being timed around construction completion. Schedule And Sedation Plans Rich shares his initial hours, Monday through Thursday from 8 to 5, and his plan to reserve Fridays for longer procedures and sedation cases once he is solo. He also talks about why he works with a CRNA group for sedation rather than managing it himself. Dropping Delta Dental Rich shares his reasoning for stepping away from being in network with a major insurance plan and how comparing the membership plan cost to typical payroll deductions made the decision clear. The Membership Plan Breakdown Rich walks through how his membership plan works through Clerri, including the 20% discount structure, how clear aligners are included, and why tracking a membership plan is the real challenge, not setting one up. Hiring Challenges In This Job Market Ashley and Rich get honest about no shows, ghosting, and how different hiring feels compared to his their startup. He also shares how leaning on a consultant's team member helped streamline some of the interview process. Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds Connect with Rich: Instagram @dr.c_smiles or richconstantinedds@gmail.com Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  6. Jun 16

    The Making Of Evelina Smiles | Branding, Marketing, and Building Something That Lasts with Josh Scott of Studio 8E8

    The Making Of Evelina Smiles | Branding, Marketing, and Building Something That Lasts with Josh Scott of Studio 8E8 In this episode Ashley sits down with Dr. Rich Constantine and Josh Scott, founder of Studio 8E8. They talk about everything from the story behind the Evelina Smiles name and logo to ad spend strategy, grand opening timing, and what actually makes a startup marketing campaign work, this one is packed with real talk from people who have been through it all. What You'll Hear In This Episode: The Story Behind Evelina Smiles Rich shares the deeply personal story behind the name. Evelina was his grandmother, someone who never seemed stressed, always gathered people together, and made everyone feel at home. The practice is named in her honor with a nod to his other grandmother Jane tucked into the waiting room as Jane's Coffee Bar. A name is not just a name when there is a story behind it. The Branding Process With Studio 8E8 Rich walks through what it was actually like to go through the Studio 8E8 onboarding process from the questionnaire to the first logo iteration to multiple rounds of revisions and ultimately landing back on the very first design. Josh breaks down why logos have to work in every format from a ChapStick to a billboard and why the Evelina sunflower was designed with that versatility in mind. Ad Spend: What Actually Works Josh breaks down the real numbers behind dental marketing. New patient Google campaigns run between $275 and $350 per acquisition. Implant campaigns need a minimum of $5,000 a month to be effective. Full mouth surgical campaigns start at $10,000. And none of it works if your team does not have the systems in place to handle the leads coming in. Why Rich Scaled Back His Marketing Package Rich made the intentional decision to step back from a more aggressive ad spend package before opening. His reason was simple. Slow is steady and steady is fast. Get the team trained, get the systems dialed in, and then turn up the volume. Throwing money at marketing before your infrastructure is ready is just money out the window. Building The Right Team Before You Open Rich is bringing his front desk team member on a full month before seeing the first patient. The goal is to get her trained on the practice management software, the phone systems, the membership plan, the financial conversations, and everything in between before a single patient walks through the door. Grand Opening Strategy Rich is planning to soft open in July and push the grand opening to September or October once the space is settled and the team is comfortable. Josh and Ashley both agree this is the smarter play. Let the kinks work themselves out first and then use the grand opening as a second wave of momentum when the initial buzz starts to settle. Connect With Our Guests:  Josh Scott of Studio 8E8: @joshuascott Dr. Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds Dr. Rich: Instagram @dr.c_smiles or richconstantinedds@gmail.com Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  7. Jun 9

    Michelin Star Moves: How To Build A Team That Actually Fits Your Culture

    How To Build A Team That Actually Fits Your Culture  In this episode Ashley and Collin sit down for a quick but packed conversation on one of the most important and most overlooked parts of building a dental practice. Hiring. Ashley has spent eight years building the culture at Smile and Co. and she shares everything she has learned along the way. From personality tests to working interviews, from the questions she asks that nobody else does, to the exact words she uses when it is time to let someone go. What You'll Hear In This Episode: Define The Avatar Of Each Position Before you post a single job listing know exactly who you are looking for in that specific role. Not just skills. Energy, personality, and how they will show up for your patients every single day. Ashley shares why she has hired from Starbucks and restaurants and why it works. Hire For Where You Want To Go Ashley learned this the hard way. She once passed on her office manager Judy because she was out of budget. She hired someone cheaper with almost no experience. That person lasted a week. Judy started the day after they opened. The lesson? Do not let salary deter you from hiring the right fit. They will be worth their weight in gold. The Enneagram Test If you are not using personality assessments in your hiring process start now. Ashley's personal favorite is the Enneagram. It will tell you more about a person than any resume ever could. Get started here: enneagraminstitute.com The First Two Positions Every Startup Doc Needs A dental assistant who knows the basics and a front office admin with experience. Ashley breaks down why for your very first hires experience matters more than you might think and why cross-trained employees are worth their weight in gold. The Unconventional Interview Questions What is the last book you read? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Ashley shares the questions she asks that nobody else does and why getting candidates disarmed and real tells her everything she needs to know. Green Flags And Red Flags During A Working Interview Ashley watches everything. Curiosity. How they treat the space. Whether they pick something up off the floor without being asked. The small moments always tell the biggest story. How To Compete With DSOs You cannot out-benefit a DSO so stop trying. Lead with culture. The right people will choose you because of how it feels to work with you, not because of the signing bonus. How To Fire Fast And Clean Firing never gets easier but it does get cleaner. Ashley shares the exact words she uses, why you always need a witness, why you never give a laundry list of reasons, and why doing it fast is actually the kindest thing you can do for everyone involved. Always Have An Ad Out For every position. At all times. The best people are not always looking but they are always findable. Ashley shares how she has found some of her best hires through social media, Facebook groups, restaurants, and her own patient base. Resources Mentioned: Enneagram Test: enneagraminstitute.com Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  8. Jun 2

    The Making Of Evelina Smiles - FOUR

    Technology, Equipment, and the Nuts and Bolts of Building Evelina Smiles In this episode Ashley sits down with Dr. Rich Constantine for a deep dive into every system, tool, and piece of equipment going into Evelina Smiles before the doors open. The decisions nobody tells you about until you are already making them. What You'll Hear in This Episode: 05:00 – Practice Management Software Cloud-based vs server-based and why Rich made the choice he did. What to look for in a startup package. Why the software you choose is one of the hardest decisions to ever walk back. 12:00 – Phones, Payments, and Patient Communication How Rich is handling incoming calls, patient messaging, and merchant services. Why transparent pricing at checkout eliminates awkward counter conversations. And how he is handling insurance credentialing without doing it alone. 20:00 – Insurance Delta Dental, teachers, veterans, and the employers driving his in-network decisions. Why being in-network is marketing in disguise. How Rich thinks about PPOs without turning the practice into a dental mill. 28:00 – Equipment: CT, Chairs, and Cabinetry Why Rich visited vendor showrooms in person before committing to anything. DCI chairs over his previous brand for quality at a lower price point. How Design Ergonomics shaped the entire clinical floor plan and why rear delivery and a tub system beat side cabinetry every time. 38:00 – AI Tools Worth Knowing About AI-assisted radiograph analysis that patients actually get excited about. Instant chairside smile simulations without sending anything to a lab. After hours and overflow call answering so no patient ever hits a voicemail. And the implant robot neither of them are buying yet but cannot stop talking about. 46:00 – Supply Ordering and Equipment Timing Why Rich has not touched his FF&E loan yet. What he ordered early and why. The master supply list mistake that costs new practices money fast. Startup regrets from location one including lab space and cabinetry overspending. 52:00 – Construction Update Power is on. Parking lot paved. Landscaping finalized. Custom cabinetry going in this week. Equipment install weeks scheduled for June. Oh and there is a peanut butter conversation that you did not know you needed. Coming Next Episode: More from the build as Evelina Smiles gets closer to opening day. Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesdds Connect with Rich: Instagram @dr.c_smiles or richconstantinedds@gmail.com Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

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This is the making of your goals, your dreams, and your life.

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