Dental Guiding Point

Dr. Mark S. Dill
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Entrepreneurship

To make the business side of dentistry less lonely, less stressful, and more successful — by giving away the practical knowledge, systems, and leadership insights from someone who has been in the trenches, growing from $0 to $21 million a year. The lessons here are real, hard-won, and designed to help dentists thrive — in practice, and in life.

  1. 1d ago

    Is Saving on Overhead Actually Worth Your Time?

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Mark Dill and Toria Plank break down why lowering your overhead isn't actually the biggest lever for growth — and what to focus on instead. Dr. Dill shares the real math behind cutting your dental supply costs (it's smaller than you think), and Toria tells the story of scaling from two staff members to four — and somehow getting less done, not more. You'll learn: - Why chasing small percentage savings on supplies often isn't worth the time - How to quickly negotiate supply costs without spending hours price-shopping - Why your administrative team — not just doctors and hygienists — are your real producers - How to grow revenue without growing your overhead - Why adding staff without systems in place creates chaos instead of progress - How investing in staff training pays off even when it raises overhead short-term Whether you're trying to lower costs, scale your team, or figure out why growth feels harder than it should, this episode gives you a practical, no-fluff breakdown of what actually worked as we grew from one practice to three, finishing last year at $21 million in combined revenue. Got a question you want us to answer on the show? Send it to us: https://dentalguidingpoint.com/contact 🔔 Subscribe for more dental practice leadership, office management, and team culture content every week. #DentalPracticeOverhead #DentalPracticeManagement #DentalLeadership #DentalGuidingPoint #DentalOfficeManager

    Is Saving on Overhead Actually Worth Your Time?

  2. Sep 14

    Stop Waiting to Be Promoted (Do This Instead)

    Send us Fan Mail A dental assistant named Heather sent us a question that turned into a full episode: "I am a dental assistant with an interest in OM. What kind of training should I start to achieve this long-term goal?" In this episode, Dr. Mark Dill and Toria Plank break down exactly how to go from dental assistant to office manager — no shortcuts, no fluff.  Toria shares her own story of being hired with literally no job description, and the mindset shifts that eventually earned her the office manager role. You'll learn: - Why "figuring it out" beats waiting to be taught - How to bring your doctor solutions instead of problems - The 3 things you can never do if you want to be trusted with leadership (embellish, gossip, participate in drama) - How to build trust with your owner doctor so they hand you more responsibility - What it really means to "serve" your team as a manager - How to know when you're ready to have the conversation about becoming an office manager Whether you're a dental assistant with your eyes on office management, or a dental office manager training your next leader, this episode gives you a real, practical roadmap. Got a question you want us to answer on the show? Send it to us: https://dentalguidingpoint.com/contact 🔔 Subscribe for more dental practice leadership, office management, and team culture content every week. #DentalOfficeManager #DentalAssistant #DentalPracticeManagement #DentalLeadership #DentalGuidingPoint

    Stop Waiting to Be Promoted (Do This Instead)

  3. Sep 7

    Dental Office Drama: What It Actually Is (Most Owners Get This Wrong)

    Send us Fan Mail Ever notice how the same office drama keeps popping up — and it's never actually about what people say it's about? In this episode, Dr. Mark Dill and Toria Plank break down what "drama" really is in a dental office, and it's not what most owners think — it's not the name-calling or the gossip, it's something much more subtle that's costing you time, focus, and momentum without you even realizing it. We're answering a question every practice owner deals with: how do I tell the difference between a real problem and just drama, and what do I actually do about it? In this episode we cover: - The difference between "human problems" and real operational issues — and why only one of them is actually drama - How to instantly read the mood and stats of your office just by listening to hallway conversations - The football coach mindset — why staying focused on purpose beats worrying about hurt feelings - Why systems and scheduling confusion isn't drama (and how to fix it instead of blaming people) - The 3-complaint rule — when to actually investigate a pattern of behavior - Why the most critical employee in the room might be the one you need to look at first - How to redirect your team back to purpose in the middle of a conflict, before you even investigate If you've ever wondered whether what's happening in your office is drama, a real problem, or just growing pains, this one's for you. Got a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Drop it in the comments — we read every one. 🌐 dentalguidingpoint.com 📧 dentalguidingpoint.com/contact If you're enjoying the show, leave us a review wherever you're listening. It helps us reach more dentists, and we love reading your feedback. #DentalPractice #DentalOfficeManager #DentalTeam #DentalPodcast #DentalPracticeManagement #OfficeDrama #DentalLeadership #PracticeManagement #DentalTeamCulture #SmallBusinessOwner #PracticeGrowth #DentalGuidingPoint #EmployeeManagement #DentalOfficeCulture

    Dental Office Drama: What It Actually Is (Most Owners Get This Wrong)

  4. Aug 31

    How Much Should Your Dental Practice Spend on Marketing? (8% vs. 15% Rule)

    Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why some dentists are white-knuckling their marketing spend while others scale it with confidence — and both end up growing?  In this episode, Dr. Mark Dill and Toria Plank break down exactly how much you should be spending on marketing, and it's not a fixed number — it's a percentage that changes as you grow. We're answering a question we hear from dentists constantly: how much should I actually be spending on marketing, and where should that money go? In this episode we cover: - The 8% vs. 15% rule — how to set your marketing budget based on whether you're maintaining or growing - Why your marketing budget should shrink as a percentage once you scale past a certain point - Internal vs. external marketing — and why external eats more of your budget - Why you should never allocate 100% of your marketing budget to contracts and obligations up front - The 3 things your front desk needs to get on every new patient call - Why it takes six weeks (not six days) to know if a marketing channel is working - Why more new patients doesn't always mean a better return — how to judge marketing by ratio, not raw numbers If you've ever wondered whether you're spending too much, too little, or just spending blind, this one's for you. Got a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Drop it in the comments — we read every one. 🌐 dentalguidingpoint.com 📧 dentalguidingpoint.com/contact If you're enjoying the show, leave us a review wherever you're listening. It helps us reach more dentists, and we love reading your feedback. #DentalPractice #DentalOfficeManager #DentalTeam #DentalPodcast #DentalPracticeManagement #MarketingBudget #DentalMarketing #PracticeManagement #DentalMarketingStrategy #SmallBusinessOwner #PracticeGrowth #DentalGuidingPoint #ROI #NewPatientMarketing

    How Much Should Your Dental Practice Spend on Marketing? (8% vs. 15% Rule)

  5. Aug 24

    The Daily Number That Actually Determines Your Dental Practice's Success

    Send us Fan Mail Ever set a goal for your dental practice, blown right past it, and still had no idea why? Or set one that felt impossible from day one?  In this episode, Dr. Mark Dill and Toria break down exactly why most dental offices get goal-setting wrong — and it's not because the team isn't working hard, it's because the goal was never built the right way to begin with. We're answering a question we hear from dentists constantly: how do you actually calculate a collection goal that's fair, motivating, and realistic — instead of just picking a bigger number and hoping for the best? In this episode we cover: - The 3 places dental offices get goals wrong — setting them, dividing them, and following through - Why collections aren't a measure of how "rich" you are — they're a measure of how well your team works together - The simple math behind turning a monthly goal into a daily target Why you have to factor in working days before you set any goal - How to spot when your team is underperforming vs. when a goal is genuinely too high - Why December (and other short months) shouldn't tank morale or bonuses - The difference between a goal and a bonus level — and why confusing the two backfires - Why six weeks of lead time matters when you're trying to hit a bigger goal If you've ever set a goal that your team stopped believing in halfway through the month, this one's for you. Got a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Drop it in the comments — we read every one. 🌐 dentalguidingpoint.com 📧 dentalguidingpoint.com/contact If you're enjoying the show, leave us a review wherever you're listening. It helps us reach more dentists, and we love reading your feedback. #DentalPractice #DentalOfficeManager #DentalTeam #DentalPodcast #DentalPracticeManagement #PracticeGoals #PracticeManagement #DentalCollections #SmallBusinessOwner #PracticeGrowth #DentalGuidingPoint #TeamPerformance #DentalLeadership

    The Daily Number That Actually Determines Your Dental Practice's Success

  6. Aug 17

    Prepay or Pray: Fixing Your No-Show Problem

    Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why some patients cancel, no-show, or ghost you mid-treatment, while others show up ready to go every single time? In this episode, Dr. Mark Dill and Toria break down exactly why patients don't show up for treatment — and it's not because they can't afford it, it's because you never asked them to prepay. We're answering a question we hear from dentists constantly: how do you actually get patients to prepay without it feeling awkward, pushy, or like you're asking for a favor? In this episode we cover: The real reason patients no-show for treatment they already agreed toWhy patients prepay for movie tickets, groceries, and flights but balk at prepaying for a crownWhat happens to your bottom line when patients pay-as-they-go instead of prepayingThe hidden cost of giving patients too many treatment optionsHow to present prepay so it sounds like standard procedure, not a special requestWhy a 5% prepaid discount works better than you'd thinkHow building trust with patients makes prepay an easy yesIf you've ever done the treatment and then wondered whether you'd actually get paid for it, this one's for you. Got a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Drop it in the comments — we read every one. 🌐 dentalguidingpoint.com 📧 dentalguidingpoint.com/contact If you're enjoying the show, leave us a review wherever you're listening. It helps us reach more dentists, and we love reading your feedback. #DentalPractice #DentalOfficeManager #DentalTeam #DentalPodcast #DentalPracticeManagement #PatientPrepay #TreatmentPlanning #PracticeManagement #DentalBilling #SmallBusinessOwner #PracticeGrowth #DentalGuidingPoint #RevenueCycle #PatientExperience

    Prepay or Pray: Fixing Your No-Show Problem

  7. Aug 10

    Building a Program That Actually Fills Your Schedule

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dental Guiding Point, Dr. Mark Dill and Toria Plank break down the exact reactivation system they use to bring lost patients back in the chair — and explain why your existing patient base is one of the most overlooked (and free) sources of new production in your practice. You'll learn: Why patients quietly fall off the schedule without ever meaning to leaveThe real difference between recall and reactivationThe exact phone script they use to get lost patients back in without sounding pushyWhy it takes six points of contact to reach most patientsHow to train your team to confidently handle "why do you keep calling me?"Low-cost incentives that actually get patients to bookThe biggest mistake practices make when tracking new patients (and what to track instead)Why show rate — not just scheduled appointments — is the number that tells you what's really workingIf you want to grow production without spending another dollar on marketing, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start using immediately. Got a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Drop it in the comments — we read every one. 🌐 dentalguidingpoint.com 📧 dentalguidingpoint.com/contact If you're enjoying the show, leave us a review wherever you're listening. It helps us reach more dentists, and we love reading your feedback. #DentalPractice #DentalOfficeManager #DentalTeam #DentalPodcast #DentalPracticeManagement #ContinuingEducation #StaffRetention #EmployeeEngagement #WorkCulture #LeadershipTips #PracticeManagement #SmallBusinessOwner #PracticeGrowth #DentalGuidingPoint #Leadership

    Building a Program That Actually Fills Your Schedule

  8. Aug 3

    Google Reviews Are Costing You New Patients (Here's How to Fix It)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dental Guiding Point, Dr. Mark Dill and Toria Plank break down the exact review strategy they've used to generate 3,000+ Google reviews and explain why reviews are one of the most powerful (and free) marketing tools for growing a dental practice. You'll learn: - Why Google reviews matter for local SEO - How patients really choose a dentist - The simple Amazon analogy that makes asking for reviews easy - How to train your team to confidently ask for reviews - Fun incentive games that actually motivate your staff - The biggest mistakes practices make with negative reviews - How QR codes can dramatically increase review volume - Why reviews are one of the few marketing assets that keep paying off over time If you want more new patients without increasing your advertising budget, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start using immediately. Got a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Drop it in the comments — we read every one. 🌐 dentalguidingpoint.com 📧 dentalguidingpoint.com/contact If you're enjoying the show, leave us a review wherever you're listening. It helps us reach more dentists, and we love reading your feedback. #DentalPractice #DentalOfficeManager #DentalTeam #DentalPodcast #DentalPracticeManagement #ContinuingEducation #StaffRetention #EmployeeEngagement #WorkCulture #LeadershipTips #PracticeManagement #SmallBusinessOwner #PracticeGrowth #DentalGuidingPoint #Leadership

    Google Reviews Are Costing You New Patients (Here's How to Fix It)
See All (18)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

To make the business side of dentistry less lonely, less stressful, and more successful — by giving away the practical knowledge, systems, and leadership insights from someone who has been in the trenches, growing from $0 to $21 million a year. The lessons here are real, hard-won, and designed to help dentists thrive — in practice, and in life.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Mark S. Dill
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dental Guiding Point
  • Show Website
    Dental Guiding Point