The Doctor Avi Show

Avi Patel

The Doctor Avi Show: Inside Modern Dentistry Dentistry is evolving — fast. Most people aren’t having honest conversations about it. Hosted by Dr. Avi Patel, this podcast brings together DSO leaders, solo practice owners, associates, and industry innovators to talk about what’s actually working in modern dentistry — from growth and retention to burnout, leadership, and influence. No fluff. No safe answers. Just real conversations about where the profession is headed — and how to position yourself to win.

  1. Aug 12

    How to Scale a Dental Practice Like a Real Business | Matt Coggin

    Matt Coggin did not come up through dentistry. He came up fixing businesses.He spent most of his career on mergers, integrations, and go-to-market work. He ran a specialty pharmaceutical business. Then he led the ortho and clear aligner businesses at Dentsply Sirona as Chief Strategy Officer. About three years ago he became CEO of Spear Education.When he looked at dental practices, he saw something familiar. Small businesses. Under 20 employees. And almost no one actually leading the business.That is the heart of this conversation.Matt breaks down the difference between working in your business and working on it. He explains why a dental practice runs like a supply chain, where ten saved seconds add up to real money. And he is honest about the trap that catches many owners: hire an associate to work less, and your profit per day can actually drop.In this episode:Why most practices have no one running the businessWorking in the business versus working on it, and why it mattersThe associate math nobody explains before you hireTreatment planning the full mouth, the skill Spear was built onHow a structured pathway moves an associate from $3,000 to $4,500 a dayWhy training and development is the priority most owners skipThis one is for practice owners, multi-location owners, and DSO leaders who want to grow without burning out. Associates thinking about ownership will get a clear look at what running the business really takes.Comment with your biggest takeaway. If you know an owner stuck working in their practice, send this their way.Follow Matt Coggin at @matthew.coggins and Spear Education at @speareducation.---Shoutout to our sponsors:SprintRay Midas: https://bit.ly/SprintRay-PodcastOrthoBrain: https://bit.ly/4vFk9OINeer: https://bit.ly/4vzRFG3Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/---🔹 General DentistsIf you’re looking to implement clear aligners confidently and predictably:Free Training → https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/🔹 DSOs & Group PracticesIf you’re exploring doctor activation, aligner adoption, or associate retention strategy:Learn more → https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/aligneradvantageAbout Dr. Avi: Dr. Avi Patel is a general dentist and founder of Clear Aligner Advisor. He works with solo practices and DSOs nationwide to bridge the gap between education and real-world execution — helping doctors grow with clarity and confidence.Connect with Dr. AviInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/doctor.aviLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-avi-patel-clearaligner-advisor/

  2. Aug 5

    The Mentorship Crisis in Dentistry | Dr. Ray Scott

    There is a "secret handshake" in dentistry. Dentists listen more to other dentists. Dr. Ray Scott has built his whole leadership career around that truth. His job, as he learned early from a mentor, is to be the translator. He takes what is happening at the chair and explains it to the operating team. Then he takes what the business needs and explains it back to the doctors. The organizations that do this well tend to succeed. The ones missing visible dental leadership in the C-suite tend to struggle. Dr. Ray has earned the right to say it. He grew a Texas group from 5 practices to 35, became Chief Dental Officer at American Dental Partners, stayed through the Heartland Dental acquisition, and now leads clinical operations at North American Dental Group. He spent 25 years at the chair before any of the titles. In this conversation he opens up about: Why DSOs got a bad name, and what part of it was earnedThe hidden cost of moving from clinician to executiveWhy he tells dental leaders to keep "their fingers wet" at the chairGiving doctors a voice again, and building real community inside a groupHow he vets a new program before bringing it to the organization He is honest about the hard parts too. Facing a board. Learning the numbers. Having "enough stomach lining" for the role. This is for dentists who want to lead, and for DSO leaders who want their clinical voice to be heard. Comment with your biggest takeaway. If you know a dentist facing this call, send it their way. Follow Dr. Scott on Instagram at @mrsjrdds or connect with him on LinkedIn at @m-ray-scott-dds. You can also follow North American Dental Group at @nadentalgroup. --- Shoutout to our sponsors: SprintRay Midas: https://bit.ly/SprintRay-Podcast OrthoBrain: https://bit.ly/4vFk9OI Neer: https://bit.ly/4vzRFG3 Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/ ---🔹 General DentistsIf you’re looking to implement clear aligners confidently and predictably:Free Training → https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/🔹 DSOs & Group PracticesIf you’re exploring doctor activation, aligner adoption, or associate retention strategy:Learn more → https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/aligneradvantageAbout Dr. Avi: Dr. Avi Patel is a general dentist and founder of Clear Aligner Advisor. He works with solo practices and DSOs nationwide to bridge the gap between education and real-world execution — helping doctors grow with clarity and confidence.Connect with Dr. AviInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/doctor.aviLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-avi-patel-clearaligner-advisor/

  3. Jul 29

    How to Buy a Dental Practice (What Nobody Warns You About) | Dr. Donnie Wiggin

    Dr. Donnie Wiggins worked at seven practices in his first year out of residency. Then he bought his own. This is how he decided he was ready, and what he learned once the keys were in his hand. We get into the real parts of practice ownership. Why acquiring a practice means acquiring someone else's problems. How he picked a location by the type of dentistry he wanted to do and the economics of the area. Why "ready" is a decision you make, not a place you arrive at. Donnie also shares how he uses AI to run the business. He feeds it his numbers and works through the margins with it, like a second brain. That is what led him to stop outsourcing his media and start building a team instead. We cover the part most owners get wrong. Pouring into your associates and your team is not a cost. It is the unlock for scale. As he puts it, your team needs to eat before you do. You will also hear about Cyber, the materials company he started in dental school. If you are an associate thinking about ownership, this one is for you. Comment your biggest question about buying a practice below, and follow for more conversations like this. Find Donnie at BondDentalStudios.com / @bonddentalstudios and @donniedental on Instagram. --- Shoutout to our sponsors: SprintRay Midas: https://bit.ly/SprintRay-Podcast OrthoBrain: https://bit.ly/4vFk9OI Neer: https://bit.ly/4vzRFG3 Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/ --- 🔹 General DentistsIf you’re looking to implement clear aligners confidently and predictably: Free Training → https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/ 🔹 DSOs & Group PracticesIf you’re exploring doctor activation, aligner adoption, or associate retention strategy: Learn more → https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/aligneradvantageAbout Dr. Avi: Dr. Avi Patel is a general dentist and founder of Clear Aligner Advisor. He works with solo practices and DSOs nationwide to bridge the gap between education and real-world execution — helping doctors grow with clarity and confidence. Connect with Dr. AviInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/doctor.aviLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-avi-patel-clearaligner-advisor/

  4. Jul 23

    Are DSOs Actually Bad? A Dentist Partner Responds | Dr. Kush Parikh

    Dr. Kush graduated top of his class at Temple. He says his career looked almost exactly like what he pictured in dental school. In this episode we get into how that happens on purpose, not by luck. We talk about the habits underneath it. Waking up early. Treating time like the one currency you cannot get back. Surrounding yourself with different kinds of people, not just five sharks, so you grow in more than one direction. Kush also makes the case for structure. Dental school gives you a clear path. The day you graduate, that structure disappears. He explains why group models and good onboarding are actually good for young dentists, and why he took a pay cut at his first job to get real mentorship. Then we get into his jump from associate to partner in a six-office group, the owner mindset he built before he was an owner, and the part of ownership nobody warns you about. We also cover the mantra in his bio, be better than you were yesterday, and where he sees dental mentorship going in five years. If you are early in your career and figuring out your path, comment your biggest takeaway below and follow for more. Find Kush at @smilesbykush and Smile Culture Dental on Instagram and TikTok. --- Shoutout to our sponsors: SprintRay Midas: https://bit.ly/SprintRay-Podcast OrthoBrain: https://bit.ly/4vFk9OI Neer: https://bit.ly/4vzRFG3 Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/ --- 🔹 General DentistsIf you’re looking to implement clear aligners confidently and predictably: Free Training → https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/ 🔹 DSOs & Group PracticesIf you’re exploring doctor activation, aligner adoption, or associate retention strategy: Learn more → https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/aligneradvantageAbout Dr. Avi: Dr. Avi Patel is a general dentist and founder of Clear Aligner Advisor. He works with solo practices and DSOs nationwide to bridge the gap between education and real-world execution — helping doctors grow with clarity and confidence. Connect with Dr. AviInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/doctor.aviLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-avi-patel-clearaligner-advisor/

  5. Jul 10

    She Couldn’t Practice Dentistry Anymore. Here's What Happened Next | Dr. Mariz Tanious

    What happens when a dentist can no longer practice?In this episode of The Dr. Avi Show, Dr. Avi Patel sits down with Dr. Mariz Tanious, Chief Dental Officer at Affinity Dental, to discuss an unexpected career pivot that transformed her perspective on dentistry, leadership, and the future of DSOs.After being diagnosed with arthritis, Dr. Mariz Tanious was forced to step away from clinical dentistry. Rather than leaving the profession, she found a new way to make an impact—leading quality management and clinical excellence across large dental organizations.In this conversation, they discuss:• Why dental school doesn't prepare you for the realities of practice.• Student loans, burnout, and financial pressure in dentistry.• The importance of mentorship and continuous learning.• What Chief Dental Officers actually do (and why no one trains them).• The biggest challenges facing DSOs today.• Why conferences need more honest conversations and less surface-level content.• How AI is changing dentistry—and what it takes to implement it successfully.Whether you're a dental student, associate, practice owner, or DSO leader, this episode offers an honest look at career growth, leadership, and building a profession through collaboration instead of competition.Shoutout to our sponsors:SprintRay Midas: https://bit.ly/SprintRay-PodcastOrthoBrain: https://bit.ly/4vFk9OINeer: https://bit.ly/4vzRFG3Connect with Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/Connect with Dr. Mariz Tanious : https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariz-tanious-dds/

  6. Jun 26

    From Broke Dentist to 10 Practices | Dr. Hardik Chodavadia

    Dr. Hardik Chodavadia co-founded Enamel Dentistry, growing it from a single startup practice with no formal business plan into a 10+ location dental group across Austin and McKinney. In this conversation, he's refreshingly honest about how much of that journey came down to timing, taking calculated risks, and what he jokingly calls a "dangerous level of lack of risk tolerance." In this episode, Dr. Hardik joins Dr. Avi to discuss: How he convinced a bank to fund his first startup practice despite having no business plan and a negative net worth.Why being a "terrible employee" ultimately led him to practice ownership.The books and mentors—including Buy Back Your Time, Dan Martell, and Alex Hormozi—that have shaped his leadership and business philosophy.Learning to delegate after being diagnosed with ADHD at age 38.The story behind Enamel Dentistry's signature purple branding (inspired by the Sacramento Kings).His current focus on marketing efficiency, AI-driven automation, and scaling a growing dental organization.Shoutout to our sponsors: 🦷 SprintRay: https://bit.ly/SprintRay-Podcast 🦷 Neer: https://bit.ly/4vzRFG3 🦷 OrthoBrain: https://bit.ly/4vFk9OI Learn more about Clear Aligner Advisor:https://clearaligneradvisor.co Connect with Dr. Hardik Chodavadia:https://linkedin.com/in/hardik-chodavadia-b1970820

  7. Jun 12

    How 25 Years at Heartland Dental Changed My Dental Career | Dr. Anna Singh

    25 years ago Anna Singh was a new grad with no map. Today she's Senior VP of Clinical Operations at Heartland Dental, overseeing care across nearly 2,000 practices. In this episode, she breaks down the systems behind that growth: why "bread-and-butter" dentistry beats chasing big procedures, how time studies transform efficiency, why the doctor-PMO partnership makes or breaks a practice, and why radical transparency around production numbers builds stronger teams. Anna also shares the mindset shift that changed how she saw clear aligner cases—and why patient quality of life, not aesthetics, should drive the conversation.Sponsors for this episode: SprintRay Midas: https://info.sprintray.com/midas-podcast OrthoBrain: https://orthobrain.co/ClearAlignerAdvisor Neer: http://getneer.com/patel Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/Connect with Anna Singh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-singh-b87a086a/

  8. May 29

    The 3 Promises Every DSO Should Make Before You Sign | Dave Gaspar

    Dave Gaspar, CEO of Smile Partners (120+ practices), pulls back the curtain on what it actually looks like to lead a DSO without a clinical background and why that forces better decisions.In this episode, Dr. Avi and Dave break down the three promises every DSO should make before a doctor signs, why clinical autonomy is only meaningful when you're willing to sacrifice for it, and how grit — not just IQ or EQ — determines whether a partnership actually works.They also get into the real conversation around AI adoption in group practices, what the next generation of dentists gets right (and wrong) about grinding, and why social media is the most underutilized tool in the DSO playbook.If you're a dentist considering a DSO partnership, or already in one, this episode is worth your full attention. The tools and resources mentioned are linked below — use them. Sponsors for the episode:SprintRay Midas: https://info.sprintray.com/midas-podcas; OrthoBrain: https://orthobrain.co/ClearAlignerAdvisor ; Neer: http://getneer.com/patel ; Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/ Connect with Dave Gaspar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-gaspar-2a930311/

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About

The Doctor Avi Show: Inside Modern Dentistry Dentistry is evolving — fast. Most people aren’t having honest conversations about it. Hosted by Dr. Avi Patel, this podcast brings together DSO leaders, solo practice owners, associates, and industry innovators to talk about what’s actually working in modern dentistry — from growth and retention to burnout, leadership, and influence. No fluff. No safe answers. Just real conversations about where the profession is headed — and how to position yourself to win.

Information

  • Creator
    Avi Patel
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Avi Patel
  • Show Website
    The Doctor Avi Show

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