The Dental CEO Podcast

Scott Leune
  • 4.8 (40)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Dental CEO® Podcast — where Dr. Scott Leune applies proven business strategies from leading entrepreneurs and CEOs to the complexities of dental practice ownership. In each episode, Dr. Leune dives into candid conversations with leaders from industries far beyond the operatory, uncovering strategies, struggles, and breakthroughs that align with the challenges dentists face every day. From scaling operations to maximizing profitability, these discussions reveal the financial frameworks and operational insights that empower dentists to lead with precision, manage with efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth as the CEO of their practice.

  1. 19h ago

    The Software Death Spiral: Why Not Every Dental Software Company Will Survive AI

    Only 15 to 20% of dental practices are on the cloud. Curve Dental CEO Dave Cormack explains why the rest may be about to fall behind. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with Dave Cormack, CEO of Curve Dental, chairman and majority owner of Scotland’s Aberdeen Football Club, and a 44-year software veteran who has built and sold multiple companies. Dave explains why he believes the dental software industry is heading into a “death spiral” that not every company will survive, and why Curve is investing $200 million more into its platform. He also shares why practices on old server-based systems may miss out on the biggest benefits of AI, how a properly executed data conversion can uncover money hiding in your old AR, and why “one throat to choke” beats juggling six or seven software vendors. Plus, Dave opens up about growing up with no running water, buying his hometown soccer club, and the philanthropy he and his wife lead around the world. In this episode: 03:36 Dave’s 44-year journey in software07:10 Why only 15–20% of practices are on the cloud10:29 All-in-one platforms vs. “taped together” software17:16 The $200M investment and the software “death spiral”21:22 Why the cloud matters for AI24:09 Owning Aberdeen Football Club29:14 How data conversion can uncover hidden revenue33:49 Philanthropy and building a life with purposeLinks: Curve Dental: [curvedental.com]Scott Leune Education: scottleune.comListen and subscribe: dentalceopodcast.comEnjoyed this episode? Subscribe and leave a review. It helps more dentists find the show.

  2. Oct 19

    How the Big Beautiful Bill Made Dental School Twice as Expensive

    The rules of dental student loans just changed, and most dentists have no idea what it means for them. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act capped federal student loans at $200,000 for dental students, down from a system that previously allowed borrowers to cover the full cost of attendance. For dental schools that cost $600,000 to $1,000,000 to attend, that means the gap now has to be filled with private loans at rates as high as 18%, requiring co-signers and offering zero forgiveness options. In practical terms, the Big Beautiful Bill just made dental school twice as expensive for most incoming students. In this episode, Scott Leune sits down with Dan Rooker, founder of Grad Loan Advice and one of the country's few Certified Student Loan Professionals, to break down exactly what changed and what every current dentist and dental student needs to know. Dan and Scott cover: Why the $200,000 federal loan cap will change the financial trajectory of every dentist graduating from 2026 forwardThe difference between federal and private loans and why private loans are now the biggest debt burdenThe Repayment Assistance Program strategy that can reduce your first-year payment to $10 per monthHow to use tax filing timing to eliminate an entire year of interest accrualWhy forgiveness exists on federal loans but not private, and what that means for your career decisionsThe specific circumstances where filing married-filing-separately can save borrowers thousandsPublic Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunities most dentists never considerThe one-time-only 1% autopay discount deadline that could save $6,000+ on a $600K loanWhy every new dentist needs a student loan consultant on their team alongside their CPA and financial plannerWhether you're a dental student, a new graduate carrying debt, or a practice owner still working through your own loans, this episode delivers the tactical, timely information most dentists never get. Learn more about Dan Rooker and Grad Loan Advice: gradloanadvice.com Special offer for Dental CEO Podcast listeners: Dan is extending a discounted rate on his one-hour student loan consultation for anyone who mentions the show. 🎧 Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: dentalceopodcast.com

  3. Oct 12

    Your Equity Could Be Worthless: What to Know Before Selling to a DSO

    Selling your dental practice to a DSO? Some dentists who took part of their payout in DSO equity may end up with nothing to show for it. In this episode, Scott Leune sits down with Kevin Cumbus, founder and president of Tusk Practice Sales, to break down what's really happening in the DSO market today and how to protect yourself before you sell. Kevin's firm has completed about $1.5 billion in dental practice transactions over the last decade, exclusively representing dentists who are selling. Of the roughly 150 private equity-backed DSOs today, about half have stopped acquiring practices. One prominent attorney in the space believes 30–40% of them won't recover, which means the equity dentists rolled into those DSOs could be worthless. In this episode, you'll learn: What happened to the DSO market, and why lower interest rates alone won't fix itHow valuations have shifted: a $1M EBITDA practice that traded at 8–9x in 2021 is closer to 6–7x todayWhy smaller groups ($1M–$3M EBITDA) are holding their value while larger groups are penalized for riskWhat private equity looks for in a platform, and how that differs from selling to an existing DSOHow deal structures have changed, from 80% cash at close to 70/30 or 60/40 cash-to-equityThe difference between HoldCo equity and joint venture (JV) equity, and why it matters for your payoutManagement fees of 3–8% of revenue, and what they can do to your distributionsHow to keep growing and share in the upside after you sellWhy the highest offer isn't always the right oneWhether you own one practice or a growing group, this episode will help you understand your options before a DSO comes calling. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro02:09 Meet Kevin Cumbus of Tusk Practice Sales04:45 What happened to the DSO market06:38 Why 30–40% of DSOs may not recover09:52 Why five-year employment agreements are now a problem11:57 DSO 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0: the rise of JV equity13:53 Valuations then vs. now16:29 How multiples change by EBITDA size18:16 Multiple arbitrage and "growing down" your multiple22:18 What private equity looks for in a platform24:23 Deal structures: private equity vs. DSO31:38 The truth about management fees37:26 Selling while still growing41:28 Choosing the right partner, not just the highest offer46:11 A message of hope for private dentists🔗 Connect with Kevin Cumbus and Tusk Practice Sales: [TUSK WEBSITE] 💰 This episode is sponsored by the Private Dental Alliance, helping private dentists get DSO-level pricing on equipment, supplies, and lab fees. Text SAVINGS to 48659 to see how much you could save. 🎧 Listen and subscribe: https://dentalceopodcast.com Available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify.

  4. Oct 5

    The Acquisition Trap: Why This Dentist Skipped Buying a Practice and Opened a Startup

    Dr. Divya Patel was two years out of dental school when she made a decision most dentists take a decade to make: open her own startup instead of buying an established practice. In this episode, Scott sits down with Dr. Patel to unpack why she walked away from Toronto's acquisition market and built Pearl Dental Studio from the ground up instead. They break down the real math behind "buying a practice twice," once to acquire it, and again to actually fix it into your vision, and why that math made a startup the lower-risk path for her, not the riskier one. In this episode: Why acquiring an established practice can cost more long-term than building one from scratchWhat it actually costs to open a five-op startup in Toronto today, and how Canadian dentists access fundingHow Dr. Patel built a patient experience around comfort and quality instead of volume and insurance-driven case mixWhat it's like to bet on yourself as a young dentist, before a spouse, before kids, before "waiting until you're ready" starts costing you yearsHer 2-3 year vision for the practice, including plans for a second locationLearn more about Pearl Dental Studio: pearldentalstudio.ca | pearl.dental.studio If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Dental CEO Podcast and leave a review, it helps other dentists find these conversations. 🎧 Listen now: www.dentalceopodcast.com

  5. Sep 28

    Direct Mail, ChatGPT Ads & Google: What's Actually Working in Dental Marketing Right Now

    ChatGPT just rolled out ads for small businesses, and dentists are already testing it, often with no idea what they're doing. In this episode, Scott Leune sits down with Bill Donato, founder of DentalMarketing.com, to break down what's actually working in dental marketing right now: ChatGPT ads, Google Ads, AI-powered SEO, and a channel most dentists have written off as outdated: direct mail. Bill has spent over a decade running marketing for dental practices across the U.S. and Canada, and he pulls back the curtain on where new opportunity actually lives versus where dentists are wasting budget. In this episode, you'll learn: Why ChatGPT ads are in their "early Google Ads" phase right now, and what that means for cost per click while the window is openThe tracking problem almost no one is talking about: why your ChatGPT campaign might show zero conversions when it's actually workingWhat a "conversion event" really is, and why setting it up correctly matters more than your ad copy or budgetWhy direct mail is quietly outperforming digital ads on a cost basis: one mail piece can cost the same as a single Google click, but reach 20 householdsThe "new mover" mail strategy top practices use to reach families before they've even started searching for a dentistWhy mailers boost your SEO and Google rankings, even when the recipient never callsHow to build a marketing strategy that layers AI-enabled SEO, Google Ads, direct mail, and ChatGPT ads instead of betting everything on one channelWhat to do differently if you're opening a new practice versus scaling an existing one, including why marketing should start 3-6 months before your doors openWhether you're evaluating a new marketing channel or auditing whether your current one is actually delivering, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework for where to invest next. Connect with Bill Donato:Website: dentalmarketing.com (free marketing analysis available)Email: bill@dentalmarketing.com 🎧 Listen now: dentalceopodcast.com🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode: dentalceopodcast.com

  6. Sep 21

    Retire Twice: Why Waiting Until 65 Is the Worst Retirement Plan for Dentists (Part 2)

    Last week's episode challenged the traditional path to retirement. This week, Scott Leune gets tactical: what should you actually be doing in dentistry, right now, at your specific age, to make that philosophy real? In Part 2 of this series, Scott walks through the exact practice models that align with the semi-retire-twice framework, breaking down what each decade of a dental career should look like and why. Scott breaks down: Why age 26 to 35 should be about high income and low costs, and why becoming a practice owner as fast as possible is the single biggest lever for building wealth in this decadeWhy the highest-earning associates usually make even better-earning owners, and why staying an associate too long can quietly cap your ceilingTwo specific ways to structure a practice so you can drop to part-time in your late 30s and 40s without losing income, including dropping insurance plans for fee-for-service and building a "big case only" scheduleHow replacing yourself with associates the right way can get your personal overhead down to 10%, letting you take home the majority of what you produce on just one clinical day a weekWhy age 46 to 65 can become your highest-earning, highest-impact decade, and how adding practices during this phase builds both income and a business worth sellingWhat it actually looks like to reach 65 without burnout, with a healthy family, a nest egg, and a new chapter built around passion instead of retirementIf you've ever wondered whether you're in the right decade doing the right things, or whether you need a complete reset, this episode gives you the specific dental practice models to actually make the shift. 🎧 Listen and subscribe: https://dentalceopodcast.com

  7. Sep 14

    Retire Twice: Why Waiting Until 65 Is the Worst Retirement Plan for Dentists (Part 1)

    What if the traditional retirement plan, work hard for 40 years and finally retire at 65, is actually the reason so many dentists end up burned out, broke on experiences, and full of regret? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Scott Leune revisits a post he wrote 16 years ago that challenged everything he'd been taught about building wealth and retiring. Instead of one big retirement at the end of a career, Scott lays out a philosophy of semi-retiring twice: once during the years your kids need you most, and again once you've built enough wealth to slow down for good. Scott breaks down: Why the traditional "work hard, save, retire at 65" path leads to the most common regrets he's heard from wealthy people, again and againThe four life phases (18-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-65) and what your income, savings, and schedule should look like in each oneWhy your 20s and early 30s should be about high income and low costs, not lifestyle upgradesHow to structure your practice so you can drop to two or three days a week during the years your family needs you mostWhy your late 40s through 60s can become your highest-earning, highest-impact years, if you've set yourself up correctlyHow this philosophy applies directly to practice ownership, associateships, and the timing of buying, building, or selling a practiceThis episode lays the groundwork for a bigger conversation. In Part 2, Scott will get tactical, walking through the specific dental practice models that make semi-retiring twice actually possible at each stage of your career. If you've ever felt like the traditional path to retirement doesn't match the life you actually want to live, this episode will change how you think about your career, your family, and your money.

  8. Sep 7

    The Dental Supplier You've Probably Never Heard Of, Solving Dentistry's Biggest Problem

    Episode 80: There's a good chance you've never heard of DHP. While Schein, Patterson, Darby, and Benco dominate the conversation around dental equipment and supplies, DHP has quietly built a 35-plus-year, privately held, family-owned business that Scott says delivers strong pricing and personal service, without the brand recognition to match. Scott sits down with Dale Roberts, DHP's founder and CEO, and Nick Roberts, COO, to unpack what makes the company different, across both equipment and everyday supplies. Rather than steering dentists toward a narrow list of premium brands, DHP shows the full range of options, from budget-friendly to premium, and lets the dentist decide what's actually right for their practice. That same $15,000 "workhorse" chair some distributors recommend often has a $4,000-$5,000 equivalent that performs just as well, and DHP is the company willing to show dentists that option exists. They also get into how tariffs have driven up pricing on gloves and other everyday supplies over the past year, squeezing dentist margins at the same time patients have less to spend, and how DHP's service model, real technicians' dentists can call directly rather than an impersonal dispatch system, extends across both equipment repair and ongoing supply relationships. Dale and Nick share what they're seeing across the industry right now: flat patient volume since 2009, new tariff-driven pricing pressure, a slowdown in DSO growth tied to higher interest rates, and why private practice ownership is still thriving despite it all. In this episode: Who DHP is, and how a privately held, family-owned company built a 35-plus-year track record across equipment and suppliesWhy DHP shows dentists a full range of equipment options across different price pointsHow tariffs have driven up pricing on everyday supplies like gloves, and what that's done to dentist marginsHow DHP handles repair and service, with real technicians dentists can call directlyThe real price difference between a premium patient chair and one that performs just as wellHow DSO pricing structures compare to what private dentists typically seeWhat's really happening with dental industry trends: patient flow, tariffs, and DSO growthScott's strategy for financing equipment like CBCTs and scanners separately from your startup loanLearn more: dhpsupply.com 🎧 Listen now: www.dentalceopodcast.com🔔 Subscribe: www.dentalceopodcast.com

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About

Welcome to the Dental CEO® Podcast — where Dr. Scott Leune applies proven business strategies from leading entrepreneurs and CEOs to the complexities of dental practice ownership. In each episode, Dr. Leune dives into candid conversations with leaders from industries far beyond the operatory, uncovering strategies, struggles, and breakthroughs that align with the challenges dentists face every day. From scaling operations to maximizing profitability, these discussions reveal the financial frameworks and operational insights that empower dentists to lead with precision, manage with efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth as the CEO of their practice.

Information

  • Creator
    Scott Leune
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Scott Leune
  • Show Website
    The Dental CEO Podcast

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