The Dental Economist Show

Planet DDS
  • 5.0 (12)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hi, dental economists! I’m Mike Huffaker, and this is the Dental Economist Show, where you can join me and my guests in a conversation about the business of dentistry. Get ready to reconsider everything you think you know about growing your dental business as we exchange different ideas and meet at the intersection of profit and purpose.

  1. Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva on How MB2 Dental Keeps Growing Despite Market Shifts

    5D AGO

    Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva on How MB2 Dental Keeps Growing Despite Market Shifts

    Contrary to popular belief, keeping your eye solely on profit-making often limits a practice’s growth. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva, founder and CEO of MB2 Dental, to explore what happens when dental organizations shift their focus to empowering practitioners instead of just driving profits. Tune in to find out how a "bunch of knucklehead dentists" built an 800+ practice organization without compromising clinical autonomy, how his unique childhood across three continents shaped his innovative leadership approaches, and why success in dentistry comes down to treating people right. We all need a reminder of what really matters; this is the reminder every dental professional needs.

    43 min
  2. Janet Hagerman on The Biggest Industry Taboos in Dental Sales & How to Break Them

    OCT 30

    Janet Hagerman on The Biggest Industry Taboos in Dental Sales & How to Break Them

    Every dental practice is only as good as the number of people who know it is. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Janet Hagerman, a leading voice in dental sales, DSO Fractional Chief Hygiene Officer and case acceptance coach, to explore the evolution of dental hygiene leadership and the art of ethical case presentation. Tune in for fascinating insights on why case acceptance rates hover at 30-50%, how to tailor treatment conversations to patient values, and proven strategies for building consistent hygiene protocols across multiple practices. From implementing assisted hygiene models to leveraging KPIs effectively, this episode leaves no stone unturned for leaders looking to elevate their hygiene departments and improve patient care outcomes. In some cases, experience really IS the best teacher.

    37 min
  3. How Chrissy Bridgeman Transformed Dental Billing Chaos Into 90% Clean Claims Success

    OCT 23

    How Chrissy Bridgeman Transformed Dental Billing Chaos Into 90% Clean Claims Success

    What if you could optimize your dental practice's revenue cycle management while actually improving patient experience? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Chrissy Bridgeman, a self-proclaimed "Revenue Cycle Janitor" and CEO of MODPractice, to explore the sweet spot for centralizing billing operations, the truth about AI in dental billing, and how to achieve a 95% first-time claims acceptance rate. Whether you're running a single practice or managing multiple locations, this conversation delivers practical insights on creating efficient billing processes without sacrificing patient relationships.

    13 min
  4. Alex Giannini on The $16,000 Lesson That Changed His Approach to Dental Management

    OCT 16

    Alex Giannini on The $16,000 Lesson That Changed His Approach to Dental Management

    What if the key to scaling a dental group wasn’t just capital or systems - but alignment? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Dr. Alex Giannini, Chief Strategy Officer at Aligned Dental Partners, to unpack the evolution of dental group practices - from early DSOs to today’s capital-rich landscape. Dr. Giannini shares how he turned one struggling office into a thriving network, revealing the frameworks behind sustainable growth, the pitfalls that derail most DSOs after practice #4, and why aligning values between doctors, investors, and leadership teams is the true differentiator in long-term success. Whether you’re building your first group or leading a fast-growing organization, this episode delivers hard-earned lessons from a true DSO pioneer.

    15 min
  5. Jeremy Livengood on Breaking Into Dental With a Bang: Strong Culture, Good People & Transparency

    OCT 9

    Jeremy Livengood on Breaking Into Dental With a Bang: Strong Culture, Good People & Transparency

    Being the new kid on the block can be a daunting affair - especially in today’s dental landscape. But if you’re Jeremy Livengood, CEO of Seva Dental, it’s an exciting journey of focused culture-building that drives growth and impact. He joins Mike Huffaker on the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show to explore the power of culture-first leadership, managing practice transitions with empathy, and implementing technology changes that drive real results. Tune in for surprising emotional truths about dental business transactions, the reasons why dental tech shouldn’t become your crutch and a lot more unique perspectives. The conversation proves that unsurprisingly, even in an era of tech dominance, dentistry can’t afford to lose its personal touch.

    11 min
  6. Dan Hosler on The Real-Time Revolution & Why Daily Data Changes Everything

    OCT 2

    Dan Hosler on The Real-Time Revolution & Why Daily Data Changes Everything

    Are you using all the data available at your fingertips to its optimal potential? In today’s day and age, you can and must leverage the power of AI and data-driven decisions to scale your healthcare practice. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dan Hosler, CEO of Allied OMS, to explore strategic practice growth in today's market. From securing private equity investment to implementing AI solutions and maintaining strong referral networks, Dan shares practical insights on balancing innovation with operational excellence. Whatever your priority - practice expansion, technology integration, or improving your bottom line, this conversation offers actionable strategies for navigating the evolving healthcare landscape.

    15 min
  7. Saam Zarrabi, DDS on The 5 Communication Breakdowns Killing Your Practice Flow & How to Fix It

    SEP 25

    Saam Zarrabi, DDS on The 5 Communication Breakdowns Killing Your Practice Flow & How to Fix It

    In the hustle and bustle of dentistry, it can be easy to lose sight of one simple yet crucial fact: Dentistry is a people’s business. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker welcomes Saam Zarrabi, DDS, CEO of Rodeo Dental, to explore scaling a dental practice from single-location operations to a thriving 50-office organization and why people-centricity has everything to do with it. Tune in to learn how his team reduced patient wait times by 20% through strategic change management, discover the evolution of leadership roles in growing DSOs, and uncover practical insights on implementing new processes at scale. This conversation proves that putting people first takes your business to first place.

    14 min
  8. Peter Theurer on Dentist-Led vs. Finance-Led DSOs and the Blueprint for 26-Location Success

    SEP 18

    Peter Theurer on Dentist-Led vs. Finance-Led DSOs and the Blueprint for 26-Location Success

    What if you could build a successful DSO while maintaining true doctor autonomy? In this episode The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Dr. Peter Theurer, CEO of Bridge Dental Group, to explore how he scaled to 26 locations in just two years through a unique doctor-led partnership model. From securing initial capital and building the right leadership team to creating win-win acquisition strategies, Dr. Theurer shares candid insights about growing a DSO that prioritizes clinical independence while delivering meaningful practice support. Whether you're considering a DSO partnership or building your own group, this episode reveals practical strategies for scaling without sacrificing practitioner autonomy.

    18 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Hi, dental economists! I’m Mike Huffaker, and this is the Dental Economist Show, where you can join me and my guests in a conversation about the business of dentistry. Get ready to reconsider everything you think you know about growing your dental business as we exchange different ideas and meet at the intersection of profit and purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Planet DDS
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Dental Economist Show

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