The Dental CEO Podcast

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune talks with Jesse Israel — keynote speaker, mindfulness teacher, and founder of The Big Quiet — about how leaders can cut through the constant noise of modern life to regain clarity, purpose, and control. Jesse shares his “Four S’s” framework—Stillness, Solo Time, Slow Technology, and Saying No Thank You—to help reduce stress, sharpen focus, and create space for wha...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune shares powerful insights on turning setbacks into momentum and embracing the process of reinvention. He explores how decisive action, adaptability, and consistent effort—not perfection—drive lasting growth. Through real-world examples and lessons drawn from leadership and business, Dr. Leune challenges listeners to stop overanalyzing, start moving, and create the n...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune breaks down how to staff a dental practice efficiently at every stage—from the early days of a startup with one assistant and a single front office team member to a mature, high-performing practice with multiple hygienists, assistants, and virtual support. He explains when to expand, how to balance roles across the front and back office, and why each doctor needs a...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune exposes the hidden pricing structures that leave private dentists paying more for supplies and labs than the largest DSOs. He breaks down how corporate distributors and traditional buying groups have quietly maintained inflated costs through exclusive contracts, nondisclosure agreements, and overlapping ownership—keeping independent practices at a disadvantage. Dr....

Dental teams want—and deserve—to be paid more. The challenge is that practices are also facing higher costs across the board, from supplies and labs to rent and debt. In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains how practices can afford to pay top salaries without sacrificing profitability. He shares how maintaining healthy ratios, maximizing hygiene production, improving case acceptance, filling sch...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explores how virtual assistants are reshaping the modern dental practice. He breaks down why overburdened front desks, rising staffing costs, and hiring challenges make the VA-supported model so powerful. From insurance verification and patient recalls to answering missed calls and streamlining workflows, listeners will learn how practices can offload non-clinical ...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune explores how dentistry is evolving around the world—and why the U.S. remains years ahead when it comes to the business side of practice ownership. From the rise of DSOs in Australia and Canada to untapped opportunities across Europe and beyond, Scott explains what non-U.S. dentists can learn from the American model to accelerate growth and scale more effectively. He al...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune talks with Irene Janku—hygienist, educator, and practice owner in Toronto—about one of the most unconventional but thought-provoking models in dentistry: hygienist-owned practices. Together, they explore how this model works legally and financially, what it means for dentists and hygienists working side by side, and why it could reshape how practices are structured and...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune tackles one of the most important questions in the profession: does dentistry still make sense as a career? With record-high student debt, stagnant associate pay, and rising stress, many young dentists feel stuck in roles that limit income, autonomy, and fulfillment. Scott contrasts the challenges of associateships with the opportunities of practice ownership, making t...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott sits down with Ophir Tanz, founder and CEO of Pearl, to explore how AI is transforming dental practices—from radiology that detects more disease to automated charting, treatment planning, and real-time claims. These tools reduce inefficiencies, minimize errors, and build greater patient trust. They also look ahead to 3D imaging, ambient note-taking, and practice management i...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune explains why most dental exams are inconsistent and miss valuable treatment opportunities. He introduces a structured assessment protocol for the hygiene chair that standardizes preventive, Perio, Ortho, Implant, Sleep, and Cosmetic evaluations. By following this “recipe” for thorough exams, practices can improve patient care, capture more specialty cases, and crea...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune tackles one of the toughest challenges in private practice ownership: building fair and effective associate agreements. Drawing from years of experience, he breaks down the 10 most important elements to include—tiered compensation, lab fee adjustments, guarantees, notice clauses, CE commitments, referral expectations, column load management, supply and lab agreemen...

In this inspiring episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with comedian, author, and motivational speaker Zach Anner to explore how resilience, humor, and community can transform life’s toughest challenges into opportunities. Born with cerebral palsy, Zach shares his journey from winning Oprah’s reality show and creating viral YouTube content to writing for television and becoming an ambassador for the...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with top motivational speaker Laura Gassner Otting to share how practice owners can reset their goals, strengthen leadership, and retain top talent. Drawing from decades of experience interviewing high-performing executives, Laura explains how to align your “three buckets” of money, freedom, and passion, and create a culture where employees feel truly see...

This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with conflict resolution expert Gabe Karp—TEDx speaker, author of Don’t Get Mad at Penguins, and former trial lawyer—for a powerful conversation about confronting conflict in dental practices. Together, they explore why ignoring issues fuels burnout, how to reframe tough conversations, and the simple weekly meeting that could transform your culture. If you're tired...

This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Erin Stafford—author of The Type A Trap, social psychologist, and former head of marketing for a $11B healthcare company—for a candid conversation about high achievement, burnout, and how to reclaim your life without sacrificing success. Erin shares her own journey from burnout to balance and offers practical tools to help dentists stay productive, fulfilled, ...

This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Dr. Rebecca Heiss—biologist, stress expert, and author of Instinct—to explore why so many dental professionals feel stuck in survival mode. They dive into how our evolutionary wiring impacts decision-making, leadership, and burnout—and what you can do to break the cycle. From fear-based habits to building intentional routines, this episode is a must-listen for...

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune talks with Jana Macon, President of Curve Dental, about how AI and cloud-based technology are rapidly transforming the way dental practices operate. From automating insurance verification and scheduling to streamlining clinical notes and claims processing, Jana shares what’s coming—and what’s already here. They also dive into why outdated systems are driving away top t...