Comfort Dental Podcast

Comfort Dental
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Alternative Health

This is a podcast about Comfort Dental's amazing dentists and the patients they serve.

  1. May 27

    22 : Send Me Every Patient, The Philosophy Behind Comfort Dental with Dr Rick Kushner

    Dr. Rick Kushner founded Comfort Dental in 1977. Fifty years later, the franchise has around 500 partner dentists across 10 states and is approaching half a billion in annual collections. In this conversation with Shawn Zajas, Dr. Kushner tells the full origin story for the first time on the show. He walks through the years he practiced solo, the three associates who left him holding the bag, and the moment he decided to sell a half partnership to the dentist who stayed. He explains why he lowered his fees when every other dentist was raising theirs. He describes the lecture circuit where he watched the profession refuse Medicaid, refuse middle income families, and refuse the patients he was building his practice around. He talks about the personal background that shaped all of it, including the family dentist who saw him for free when his parents could not pay. Dr. Kushner also addresses the misconceptions. Comfort Dental looks like a corporate chain from the outside. From the inside, every doctor owns their practice. He explains why the DSO model does not apply, why he predicted the rise of private equity dentistry 40 years ago, and why he still believes the partnership model is the only sustainable answer to the debt crisis facing new dentists today. This is the foundational episode of the series. If you want to understand Comfort Dental, start here. Chapters 00:00 Why Shawn wanted this conversation 00:45 The recruitment challenge and why partners outperform associates 06:14 The original solo practice and the watershed moment 09:34 Selling the first partnership to Dr. Eirik 14:26 The decision to franchise and the birth of the Comfort Dental name 17:33 Lecturing the profession and being told no 19:07 Why most dentistry leaves middle and lower income patients behind 20:03 Where it came from, the family story 27:04 Dental school as a means to an end 28:49 Building the Fantastic Five 30:53 Predicting the rise of DSOs 33:20 Doing the opposite of every other dentist 35:46 What Comfort Dental does for dentist income 38:30 Why most dentists will not work the hours 40:52 Hard work as the real catch 44:39 Why dentists burn out and why patients pay the price 48:42 What makes a successful Comfort Dental dentist 53:50 Why Comfort Dental is not a DSO 55:02 No community left behind 57:44 What is most misunderstood about Dr. Kushner 58:45 Advice to dentists who feel trapped 01:02:45 Doctor autonomy inside the franchise 01:04:16 Closing thoughts

    1h 8m

  2. May 20

    21 : The Artist Behind the Mask: Dr. Alex Kaiser on Honesty, Art, and Dentistry in Montrose

    Dr. Alex Kaiser of Comfort Dental in Montrose, Colorado joins Shawn Zajas for a conversation that gets at what it actually looks like to practice dentistry with honesty, compassion, and zero judgment. Dr. Kaiser shares his unusual path to dentistry. A great family dentist. Five years in braces as a kid. Two years of missionary service. A master’s program at LECOM in Bradenton, Florida that gave him a second shot at dental school after he was waitlisted elsewhere. He talks openly about being more of an artist than a scientist, why he paints watercolors in his spare time, and how that creative instinct shows up in the way he restores teeth. You will hear why denture cases are some of his favorite work, why his wife calls him the most honest person she has ever met, and how he learned to communicate as someone who grew up introverted and uncomfortable with public speaking. He also gets candid about the moments that test you as a young dentist, how he separates his professional and personal sides when a patient is unhappy, and why he chose Comfort Dental straight out of dental school. There is a clear thread running through this conversation. Dr. Kaiser treats the person, not the tooth. He talks about patients who feel ashamed about their oral health, about being honest without being harsh, and about why no one should feel afraid to walk into his office. If you have been putting off the dentist, or if you are looking for a doctor in Montrose who will treat you like a human being first, this episode will give you a real feel for who Dr. Kaiser is. Chapters00:00 Introduction00:22 Why dentistry: family dentist, five years in braces04:09 Honest with patients about his own flossing04:51 The path to dental school and LECOM’s master’s program07:43 Artist or scientist: Dr. Kaiser on being a craftsperson09:38 The shadowing moment that sealed his decision10:47 Watercolor painting and Bob Ross12:03 The gap between expectation and reality as a new dentist15:32 Why honesty with patients matters when things go wrong16:41 What he thinks about on the drive home17:36 Why he loves denture cases19:00 The denture story you have to hear from Dr. Colledge20:35 Separating the professional from the personal23:11 Why he picked Comfort Dental straight out of school25:24 Betting on yourself with the ownership model27:10 Caring for Medicaid and uninsured patients in Montrose32:20 Finding the right practice fit on the first try33:49 What patients can expect when they walk in36:10 The high-leverage skill of building trust37:53 Learning to communicate as an introvert40:59 Treating the person, not the tooth42:58 What he wishes every patient knew about oral health45:37 A message for the patient who has been putting it off

    49 min

  3. May 13

    20 : Not a DSO: Dr. Matthew Carlston on the Comfort Dental Difference

    Dr. Matthew Carlston leads doctor recruitment, expansion, and growth at Comfort Dental. In this episode, Shawn sits down with Dr. Carlston to break down what Comfort Dental actually is, why it gets confused with a DSO, and what the recruitment process looks like for doctors at any stage of their career. The conversation covers the franchise structure, clinical autonomy, ownership pathways, and the specific math that flips a dental student from employee thinking to owner thinking. Dr. Carlston explains why the average Comfort Dental doctor stays for around 10 years, why students with more debt often outperform their peers, and why the company carries no private equity or venture capital. Chapter markers below. Chapters00:00 Cold open and introduction00:00:58 The biggest myth: Comfort Dental as DSO00:02:17 Why doctors stick around for 10 years on average00:03:43 Scheduling, vacation, and the partner dynamic00:05:52 The employee mindset problem with new graduates00:07:47 Why dental school does not teach business00:09:49 When the light bulb turns on for students00:12:40 Targeting dentists three to five years out00:14:35 Looking corporate, behaving like a franchise00:16:23 Stories from dentists burned by DSOs00:18:42 The Dr. Kushner principle: leave the majority on the table00:19:36 Why Comfort Dental is not a DSO (no private equity, no VC)00:21:56 The Comfort Dental doctor DNA00:22:47 Mentoring and 50-plus combined years of clinical experience00:25:04 Contrast is the mother of clarity00:27:22 How new doctors ramp clinical confidence quickly00:30:11 Transparency on numbers across 150-plus offices00:34:08 The mindset that predicts success00:36:29 Why students with more debt perform better00:37:17 The recruitment paradox: why are there openings00:40:00 Lower overhead and how it changes treatment plans00:42:23 Why guarantee-focused candidates are usually wrong fits00:44:04 What “that type of dentistry” misconception really means00:45:21 People management as the hardest part of dental practice00:47:39 The hygienist who walks back and the dentist is playing video games00:50:33 Removing barriers for patients to access offices00:52:11 Students who do not say no, they just stop responding00:55:38 Where to learn more: comfortdentalfranchise.com00:56:04 The quarterly Denver meetings explained00:58:29 The Oregon doctor who did not care about the price00:59:39 Next meeting and how to reach Dr. Carlston LinksComfort Dental Franchise: comfortdentalfranchise.comEmail Dr. Carlston: mCarlston@comfortdental.bizComfort Dental: comfortdental.com

    1h 1m

  4. May 6

    19 : The Burnout No One Warned You About in Dental School

    Dr. Heath Colledge has spent 19 years as a dentist. In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on what the job has cost him, what has kept him in it, and why he tells dental students the path most of them are walking is going to break them. Heath did not grow up in a dental family. His mom drove a school bus. His dad delivered the mail. He chose dentistry at 14 years old because the dentists he saw looked respected, lived well, and had built something. Twenty plus years later, he is one of the few dentists willing to be honest about the parts of the profession no one talks about. He started his career as an associate. Eighteen months in, he watched his boss carry the weight of a practice alone, and he knew he wanted no part of that future. He joined Comfort Dental shortly after. The partnership model became the difference between burnout and a sustainable career. Today his office runs four partners deep. Each takes on the parts of the business they are built for. Heath handles the numbers and the bills. His partners handle hiring, firing, and operations. They share the clinical load. No one carries the whole thing alone. Inside the conversation, Heath gets honest about what patients do not see: the payroll thoughts running through his head between root canals, the one bad interaction that ruins an entire week, the standard he holds himself to that no real practice could ever meet. He talks about the high suicide rate in the profession and why solo dentists stuck in failing practices are the ones at greatest risk. He shares the operatory stories he saves for dentist conferences, including the 20 year old denture and the patient who licked food off his prosthetic before handing it back. He gets to his core message for patients: shit happens in dentistry. Roots break. Files break. Anatomy varies. The dentist standing over you is doing their best with the body in front of them, and the dentist who promises perfection is the one to walk away from. For dental students and burned out dentists listening, Heath delivers his sharpest advice yet on the financial reality no one prepared him for. The $180,000 associate guarantee will not pay off $500,000 in student loans. Income-based repayment freezes your debt rather than killing it. Loan forgiveness is a gamble. Ownership is the way out, and partnership is the way ownership stays survivable. CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open and intro 00:25 Burnout: what 19 years actually feels like 02:23 The gap dental school leaves behind 05:20 The standard you set for yourself 07:33 Why some dentists do not survive 08:31 Why Heath left his associate job 09:11 The partnership model 10:40 The patient who ruins your week 12:54 Operatory stories 14:42 The two postures of healthcare 17:17 The two times he gagged 19:51 What he wishes patients understood 22:43 Advice to his younger self 23:53 The dental student trap 29:11 The myth of clinical excellence equaling income 31:31 How partnerships actually divide the work 35:45 What he tells dental students now 37:14 How to reach Dr. Colledge CONTACT hcolledge@comfortdental.biz comfortdentalfranchise.com ABOUT THE COMFORT DENTAL PODCAST Behind the mask. Real people. Real conversations. Hosted by Shawn Zajas. Produced by MySocialPractice. Each episode pulls back the curtain on a Comfort Dental dentist, their story, their patients, and the partnership model behind one of the largest dental groups in the country. Learn more at comfortdental.com.

    38 min

  5. Apr 29

    18 : The Comfort Dental OG: Dr. Mike Bloss on Building the Model from Practice Three

    In 1991, Dr. Mike Bloss saw a small ad in the Colorado Dental Association journal. A doctor named Rick Kushner was opening a new practice and talking about something called “lean and mean.” Dr. Bloss was already 10 years into his career, working as an associate in a high-end crown and bridge practice in Colorado Springs with 70 percent overhead. He drove up, listened to the pitch, met with a few other doctors, and signed on. He and Dr. Neil Norton opened the third-ever Comfort Dental practice. More than 30 years later, with over 150 locations and 500 doctors in the system, he sits down with Shawn Zajas to tell the story. This conversation covers the early days of Comfort Dental, the moment the practices decided to share a name and market together, the lawyer who told them they were technically a franchise, and the partnership dynamics that made the model work when most dentists were going it alone. Dr. Bloss talks openly about the parts of dentistry that wear a doctor down. The physical demands. The emotional load of treating anxious patients. The financial pressure that builds when overhead climbs and patient flow slips. He explains why he believes the people side of dentistry is harder than the clinical side, and why financial stress can lead to poor clinical decisions. He shares his concern about new graduates carrying $500,000 to $800,000 in student debt and the pressure that puts on the profession. He walks through the NERD system, four core functions Comfort Dental built into every practice. He explains why Comfort Dental doctors present their own treatment plans, why partnership beats solo ownership in his experience, and why a Comfort Dental practice holds its value at sale in a way a solo practice often can’t. For patients listening, the through-line is straightforward. Lower overhead means a doctor has room to meet patients where they are. Long hours and Saturday access mean care is available when it’s needed. High patient volume means doctors get more reps, which builds clinical skill. And as Dr. Bloss puts it at the end of the episode, every patient is the right kind of patient. For dentists evaluating their next move, this is a candid look at the model from someone who watched it start. Chapters: 00:00 Meet Dr. Mike Bloss, Comfort Dental OG00:30 The 1991 ad in the CDA journal that started it all02:05 Dr. Kushner the unicorn: clinical skill and entrepreneurship04:30 Why dentistry’s hardest part is the people side06:35 30+ years in practice and how Bloss avoided burnout06:55 The NERD system explained08:23 The “with or without you” energy of Comfort Dental doctors09:30 Why solo practice is so hard to sustain13:00 Becoming a franchise (and why it wasn’t planned)17:50 The $500K to $800K dental school debt crisis21:00 The $500 vs $200 copay story22:42 How lower overhead enables clinical flexibility25:30 Addressing the “mill” perception head-on28:50 The ideal Comfort Dental doctor archetype33:50 Why young dentists hesitate to bet on themselves40:00 What dentistry is really like inside the model44:30 The trial period and how to evaluate joining47:30 Why retirement is harder for solo practitioners48:30 How to contact Dr. Bloss directly50:30 Every patient is the right kind of patient Reach Dr. Bloss: cmbloss@comfortdental.biz | 303-862-2909

    53 min

  6. Apr 22

    17 : “I Don’t Want You to Need a Single Ibuprofen”: A Dentist’s Goal with Every Patient

    Dr. Jon Winnyk owns and practices at a Comfort Dental office in southeast Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from dental school on May 2, 2014, and started as a Comfort Dental partner exactly one week later. Twelve years in, his practice is built around same-day care, high-volume experience, and a mission to serve patients other offices turn away. In this conversation with host Shawn Zajas, Dr. Winnyk shares the path that took him from wanting to be a weatherman to running one of the busiest practices in his area. He talks about the challenges of being a left-handed dentist, what it was like to shadow Comfort Dental doctors before buying in, and how he handled his peers’ skepticism about the business model. He explains why high patient volume has made him a better clinician, and why that matters for the people sitting in his chair. He also opens up about what the work means to him now. He treats every patient like his own family. He has pulled his wife’s wisdom teeth, done his uncle’s implants, and a root canal on his best friend. He sees a large Medicaid population. He taught himself Spanish to serve his community directly. He regularly does pro bono work for patients who cannot afford treatment, including a root canal on a cancer patient who only had $100 to her name. Dr. Winnyk walks through his approach to dental anxiety with a scary-movie analogy: if you know what is around the corner, it is not scary. He explains implants using a drywall screw. He tells the story of squeezing in a Friday afternoon root canal for a patient who had not slept in two days, and what it meant when the patient came back and called him the GOAT. Outside the practice, he runs marathons and is training for his first Ironman. He has three kids. He keeps thank-you cards from patients on his shelf and looks at them every day. Chapters 00:00 Introduction00:30 Why dentistry (weatherman to dental school)01:53 Being left-handed in dental school07:28 How Dr. Winnyk found Comfort Dental09:40 Dispelling the “corporate” stereotype12:35 Twelve years in, and what mastery looks like14:56 The patient who called him the GOAT19:06 Constructive criticism and the pain-free goal22:45 “Treat you like family,” and the volume argument28:05 Confidence, humility, and the weight of being a master32:48 Pro bono work and the free-clinic background35:49 The Columbus community and the team39:14 Advice to his younger self, and learning Spanish42:28 The stories that stay with him44:05 Walking patients through procedures46:35 The scary-movie analogy for dental anxiety50:18 Thank-you cards on the shelf51:06 Marathons, Ironman training, and life outside dentistry53:14 Closing thoughts

    56 min

  7. Apr 17

    16 : The Partner Behind the Practice: How Comfort Dental Helps Doctors Actually Own Their Future

    Dr. Matthew Carlston has been with Comfort Dental for 22 years. He grew up in Salt Lake City and decided to become a dentist after overhearing two dentists at a bank talk about buying a private island. The island never happened, but he built a career he says he would not trade. Today he recruits the next generation of Comfort Dental doctors, talking with dental students and early-career dentists across the country every week. In this conversation with Shawn Zajas, Dr. Carlston walks through how he found Comfort Dental as a fourth-year dental student, the conversation with his wife that sealed the move to Denver, and why so many of the dentists he talks to are stuck five to seven years into their careers without realizing it. He is honest about the hard parts of the profession. Dentists are uncomfortable a lot, he points out, because the job puts you inside 18 inches of a stranger all day. He talks about the debt most dental graduates carry without fully understanding the math behind repayment. And he shares the common pattern he sees among dentists who look successful from the outside while carrying 80 percent overhead on beautiful offices that shut down every time they take a week off. Then he walks through what Comfort Dental actually is. Not a DSO. A network of doctor-owned practices that share marketing, share supply pricing, and share the partnership burden so no one carries it alone. He explains why 11 offices pooling marketing dollars in a single metro produces 35 to 40 new patients per month per doctor, why that volume makes doctors more clinically proficient, and why conservative treatment planning is actually easier when your schedule is full. On the patient side, he makes a case that should matter to anyone reading this. A dentist who has done 10,000 extractions is going to be more comfortable with your tooth than a dentist who has done 100. A practice that never closes because partners cover each other is a practice where your care does not get dropped when someone takes a week off. A front desk that asks “when can you be here” instead of “what is your insurance” is a front desk designed to get you in the chair. He also talks about the Gold Plan, Comfort Dental’s in-office discount program that tens of thousands of patients sign up for as an alternative to insurance. And he is candid about the moments he finds hardest: when a dentist outside Comfort Dental has built a beautiful practice, is burning out under 80 percent overhead, and cannot quite see the way out. Near the end, Shawn asks him where the best opportunities are right now for doctors listening. His answer: Santa Fe, New Mexico. Albuquerque. Aurora. Cherry Creek. And Comfort Dental Franchise dot com for anyone who wants to reach out directly. The most disarming moment in the episode is Dr. Carlston’s admission partway through: “I don’t love dentistry. I don’t know if many people do love dentistry. But practicing within Comfort Dental has made me like dentistry more than I would if I was practicing outside of it.” It is the most honest thing a dentist can say on a podcast, and it explains why he has stayed 22 years. Chapters: 00:00 Why dentistry (and the private island story)02:34 The hidden cost of the profession07:00 Lifestyle versus income for young dentists08:11 Student debt and financial illiteracy in dental school11:22 How Dr. Carlston found Comfort Dental in his fourth year14:38 The flexible schedule most dentists never get17:42 Pooled marketing and 35 new patients a month21:30 Conservative treatment planning at volume24:57 The DSO misconception, addressed directly28:37 Why doctors stay their entire career33:38 Referral bonuses and classmate introductions36:16 Volume and quality: why more reps make better dentists40:44 The Lean and Mean philosophy and chief complaint conversations43:51 Why Comfort Dental is not a dental mill44:59 “When can you be here?” and barriers to care46:25 Who Comfort Dental is not a good fit for49:17 “I don’t love dentistry, but I like practicing here”51:38 Earning potential and average paychecks54:45 Two doctors who walked away from their own practices58:26 The top three open opportunities right now01:01:00 How to reach out to Dr. Carlston Connect: Comfort Dental Franchise: comfortdentalfranchise.com

    1h 4m

  8. Apr 15

    15 : You’re the Boss: How Dr. Rosas Puts Patients in Control of Their Care

    Dr. Jhossva Rosas grew up wanting to be an architect. Then his aunt and uncle, both dentists in Peru, changed his mind. He became the seventh dentist in his family. Today, Dr. Rosas practices at Comfort Dental South Federal in Denver, Colorado. He graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he won an award in prosthetics out of a class of 230. He has been practicing dentistry for over a decade and he is still expanding his skill set. His practice in Denver serves a community where 65 to 70 percent of patients rely on Medicaid. He wants it that way. From the beginning of his career in Peru, he has been drawn to patients who need care and do not have easy access to it. The Comfort Dental model, which accepts all insurance types including Medicaid, makes that kind of practice possible. In this episode, Dr. Rosas takes us through what a first visit actually looks like in his office. He shows patients their X-rays and intraoral photos before recommending any treatment. He spends 10 to 15 minutes explaining what he sees and walking through options. Then he tells every patient the same thing: you are the boss. He talks about dental anxiety and the tools he uses to help patients through procedures. Headphones. A stress ball. Jokes before the needle. He also calls patients at the end of every workday to check in after their procedures. Not a form. Not a text. A phone call. Dr. Rosas is bilingual and so is his entire team. Sixty to sixty-five percent of his patients are Spanish speakers. His associate, Dr. Farah Machi, is from Honduras. Every front desk staff member and every dental assistant in the office is bilingual. For Spanish-speaking patients in Denver, that is rare. He recently started placing dental implants and completed aligner training. He is heading to Brazil for an intensive implant course where he will place 20 to 25 implants in a single week. The moment that will stop you in this episode is the story he tells from his time in Peru. A patient who needed all his teeth extracted. Dentures made in advance. And the moment that patient looked at himself in the mirror and started to cry. Dr. Rosas got emotional retelling it. He says it is still the reason he shows up every day. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Why dentistry, and a family of seven dentists 01:54 The artist vs. the scientist 03:59 From Tufts to Denver 04:35 What he loves most about dentistry 05:32 His Denver practice and the patients he serves 10:50 Why Comfort Dental takes all insurance types 12:14 What a first visit looks like 15:01 Handling dental anxiety 17:28 Building a connection with every patient 20:01 Common feedback after visits 21:00 Fast wisdom tooth extractions and post-procedure calls 23:10 The Gold Plan and affordability options 25:51 Quality care at a lower cost 28:20 Second opinions and same-day access 29:43 Hours and accessibility 30:25 What he wants anxious patients to know before coming in 31:18 “It’s never too late” 31:51 Biggest dental misconceptions 34:07 Team culture and office vibe 36:23 A fully bilingual practice 37:58 Clear aligners at Comfort Dental 39:30 Could the host use aligners? 40:15 Dental implants: what patients should know 43:17 Technology in dentistry: digital scanning, CBCT, lasers 45:20 Patient stories 47:06 The patient in Peru who cried 51:18 One word his patients would use to describe him 51:32 Outside dentistry: family and Peruvian cooking 52:37 The meal he makes for celebrations 53:59 Is Peruvian food spicy? 54:54 Final message to prospective patients

    54 min
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About

This is a podcast about Comfort Dental's amazing dentists and the patients they serve.

Information

  • Creator
    Comfort Dental
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Comfort Dental
  • Show Website
    Comfort Dental Podcast