What are the real-world secrets behind building a successful fee-for-service dental practice in New York City?

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Arti Jagirdar reveals the unexpected path from aspiring physician to celebrated Manhattan dentist (one deeply shaped by her roots as the child of immigrants and entrepreneurs.) She opens up about how discovering art in high school transformed the way she approaches dentistry and why her own open heart surgery became a pivotal moment, fueling a new level of empathy for her patients. Dr. Jagirdar shares how these personal milestones helped her cultivate a uniquely patient-centric philosophy, pairing technical expertise with genuine, heartfelt care.

Discover the behind-the-scenes journey of building a thriving fee-for-service practice amidst Manhattan’s competitive landscape. Dr. Jagirdar walks us through the pivotal business decisions she made, from legal preparedness to strategic partnerships, and how she leverages both advanced dental technology and human connection to create an exceptional patient experience. Her candid stories (spanning trademark challenges, crafting strong referral networks, and the ongoing role of continuous education) offer powerful insights into what it takes to create a truly modern, holistic dental practice.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How deeply personal experiences can reshape your entire approach to patient care
• The role of art and creativity in building a distinctive dental practice
• Essential legal and financial strategies for opening a fee-for-service office
• The keys to finding trustworthy consultants, vendors, and IT partners
• How holistic, patient-focused care leads to loyal referrals in a crowded market
• Ways to navigate and overcome legal challenges, including trademark disputes
• Tips for using social media and online reviews to boost your reputation
• Why mentorship, community, and ongoing education are cornerstones of success
• Insight into advanced dental procedures like sleep apnea treatment
• The impact of empathy and thoroughness on business growth and patient trust

Listen now for a masterclass in blending technical excellence with heart, and discover what it truly takes to build patient trust and success in modern dentistry!

(This episode originally aired on 2/29/24)

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Sponsors:‍

Net32: Founded by a dentist, for dentists. Net32 is the leading online marketplace for dental supplies, helping dental and medical professionals save on high-quality products for over 25 years. Start saving today at: https://www.net32.com/dentalmarketer

Guest: Dr. Arti Jagirdar

Practice Name: Flatiron Dental

Check out Arti's Media:

Website: https://www.flatirondentalnyc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flatirondental/

Flatiron Dental Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5qHLpjIikJHlEOVv3Y7dYY?si=5d09cbd507704653

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Host: Michael Arias

Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍

Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society

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Running on empty doesn't drive you forward; it brings you to a halt.

In this first episode of the Fail Forward series, Kiera Dent, founder of Dental A Team consulting company, exposes the burnout that almost left her life and career in ruins. Working relentlessly from 2 AM to 11 PM, she ground herself to the point of collapse and was forced to reevaluate her work until she found a healthy, sustainable formula for success. Now, discover how her failure-fueled turnaround can help prevent overload, motivate you to prioritize your mental and physical health, and propel you towards growth as you master the art of "failing forward" in your dental practice.

Don't put off learning these valuable insights that Kiera had to learn the hard way: tune in now for lessons that could shape your career, your practice, and your life!

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Listen to Kiera's Other Episodes Here:

213: KIERA DENT | THE DENTAL A-TEAM – THE DENTAL MARKETER PODCAST

426: KIERA DENT | THE UNTOLD STORY BEHIND 500K TO 2.4 MILLION IN 9 MONTHS! – THE DENTAL MARKETER PODCAST

KEY LESSONS FROM 2024: BUILDING STABILITY AND GROWTH IN DENTISTRY | MME – THE DENTAL MARKETER PODCAST

MME: STOP HATING YOUR PROBLEMS AND LEARN TO LOVE THEM FOR A PROFITABLE PRACTICE | KIERA DENT – THE DENTAL MARKETER PODCAST

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Host: Michael Arias

Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍

Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society

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What’s the secret ingredient to happier patients, empowered teams, and tech that works for you in pediatric dentistry?

In this episode, Dr. Jackie Wingate lifts the curtain on her transformative journey from rushed, high-volume dentistry to a deeply personal, low-volume approach that puts children and their families at the heart of every visit. Dr. Jackie shares what prompted her to step away from traditional models and meticulously build a practice in Philadelphia’s suburbs around quality time with patients, empowering education, and advanced minimally invasive care.

Listen as Dr. Jackie reveals the pivotal operational choices that have set her practice apart, including embracing technology, thoughtful outsourcing, and assembling a purpose-driven team every step of the way. Hear about her hands-on methods for minimizing sedation, her unfiltered lessons from both DSOs and private practices, and the small details that make lasting impressions (like an illuminated sign’s surprising marketing power.) If you’re a dentist or practice owner seeking to move beyond burnout and truly redefine what dental care can look like for kids and parents alike, this conversation is for you!

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why slowing down can transform both patient care and provider satisfaction in dentistry
• The vital role of behavior management for positive pediatric dental experiences
• How technology like the Solea laser and AI-driven software streamline operations
• The benefits and pitfalls of various dental practice models, including DSOs
• Smart strategies for building a cohesive, mission-driven team
• The power of delegating administrative tasks to regain focus on patient care
• Tips for effectively marketing your practice, from word of mouth to visual cues
• Practical advice on insurance credentialing and managing parent relationships
• The impact of open communication about finances with staff
• How to create an environment that prioritizes whole-child health and preventative education

Tune in now for actionable insights on building a pediatric dental practice that’s both fulfilling and truly impactful for you and your patients.

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Sponsors:‍

Net32: Founded by a dentist, for dentists. Net32 is the leading online marketplace for dental supplies, helping dental and medical professionals save on high-quality products for over 25 years. Start saving today at: https://www.net32.com/dentalmarketer

Guest: Dr. Jackie Wingate

Practice Name: Groovy Pediatric Dentistry

Check out Jackie's Media:‍

Website: https://groovyteeth.com/

Email: drjackie@groovyteeth.com

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Host: Michael Arias

Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍

Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society

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Can a year’s worth of hard-won ground marketing lessons help you escape inconsistent patient numbers for good?

This episode challenges everything you think you know about ground marketing. Michael unpacks why true, sustainable growth isn’t about charming scripts or one-off tactics, it’s about building an external operating system for your practice. Discover how moving from random “hit or miss” outreach to a structured model transforms conversations into appointments, and appointments into loyal patients. Drawing on a year’s worth of lessons, you’ll learn how systems, psychology, and the right ecosystems can form the backbone of a repeatable, team-driven patient acquisition process.

We go beyond the basics, revealing the psychology that makes potential patients feel genuinely safe and understood, no matter their background or setting, from bustling cities to close-knit small towns. Learn how to turn “no” into valuable data, adapt your strategies to fit your unique local environment, and integrate authentically with community hubs like gyms, schools, or senior centers. Plus, we break down actionable ways to empower your team, assign clear marketing roles, and track your progress so you can become the practice everyone in your area trusts. If you’re ready to replace random acts of marketing with a reliable system that builds real authority, this episode is for you!

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why ground marketing is a system, not a handful of sales tactics.
• How to implement a flywheel approach for consistent patient flow.
• The psychological foundations of trust and rejection in marketing outreach.
• Steps to transition from random outreach to repeatable, data-driven processes.
• How to leverage schools, gyms, and local hubs to grow your practice.
• Assigning team roles to create accountability and measurable results.
• Ways to adapt your ground marketing to urban vs. rural environments.
• Tracking, reviewing, and improving each stage for predictable growth.
• Turning every patient interaction into a community-building opportunity.

Start your journey to sustainable new patient growth with the best lessons we've learned in a year of ground marketing!

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Learn More About the Ground Marketing Course Here:

Website: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/the-ground-marketing-course-open-enrollment/

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Host: Michael Arias

Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍

Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society

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Love the Podcast? Let Us Know How We're Doing on Apple Podcasts!

Launching your own dental practice in a competitive market takes more than just clinical skill: it demands vision, grit, and a willingness to challenge convention.

In this episode, Dr. Conor Perrin shares his candid journey from being a young dentist without connections, facing skepticism in the industry, to establishing his own thriving dental practice in Irvine, California. The path wasn’t easy: after plans to acquire an existing clinic fell through, Dr. Perrin made the bold decision to build his practice from the ground up, navigating over a year of buildout, significant investments, and the constant pressure of starting something entirely new.

Dr. Perrin delves into the strategies and principles that anchor his approach: putting patient relationships first, practicing conservative dentistry, and designing systems that uphold the highest standards of care. He opens up about the personal and financial challenges of entrepreneurship, balancing business demands with personal well-being. You’ll hear how he steered his practice through marketing experiments, learned from failures, and ultimately found success with targeted mailers and eye-catching branding. If you’re curious about building sustainable growth, hiring the right team, and creating a patient experience that stands out, Dr. Perrin’s story offers insights you won't want to miss!

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The major obstacles faced when acquiring or launching a new dental practice
• How Dr. Perrin’s values shaped his patient-centered business model
• Strategies for effective practice marketing (from digital ads to direct mail)
• Key lessons from hiring and team-building to foster a positive office culture
• The importance of conservative dentistry and open communication with patients
• Insights on balancing financial realities, stress management, and personal life
• Tips for maintaining high standards through organized systems and mentorship
• How to pivot marketing tactics based on what truly attracts quality patients
• Why branding and design matter in attracting and retaining your clientele
• Steps to move from general to cosmetic dentistry while maintaining practice stability

Tune in now for a real-world roadmap to building a dental practice that reflects your vision, challenges, victories, and all!

(This episode originally aired on September 28th, 2023)

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Guest: Conor Perrin

Practice Name: The Tooth Co.

Check out Conor's Media:

Website: https://thetoothco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.tooth.co/

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Host: Michael Arias

Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍

Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society

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Love the Podcast? Let Us Know How We're Doing on Apple Podcasts!

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Are you ready for seismic shifts in your 2026 new patient acquisition?

In this episode, Michael breaks down the three crucial levers of ground marketing that will shape successful practices in 2026. These strategies go far beyond generic tips. Learn how to tap directly into the places where trust and engagement already exist, and transform the way your practice connects with communities.

Discover how to find and leverage the right ecosystems (trust, identity, and access) to fast-track your outreach efforts. Michael challenges the old-school approaches, urging us to lead with generosity by providing valuable, non-marketing offers that genuinely contribute to local organizations. But he doesn't stop there: Learn why capturing contacts instead of just conversations is the real game-changer. With actionable tactics for follow-ups and efficient appointment scheduling, you’ll see how these fundamentals create lasting, measurable patient growth.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to identify trust, identity, and access ecosystems in your city
• The power of non-marketing offers that add value to communities
• Why traditional brochures and sponsorships miss the mark in 2026
• The critical process of capturing contact information for long-term results
• Timing strategies for follow-ups and appointment conversion
• Tips for building authentic connections without feeling salesy
• The mistakes most businesses make in ground marketing (and how to fix them)

Ready to discover the exact strategies for turning community connections into real patient growth in 2026? Hit play now!

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Learn More About the Ground Marketing Course Here:

Website: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/the-ground-marketing-course-open-enrollment/

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Host: Michael Arias

Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍

Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society

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Love the Podcast? Let Us Know How We're Doing on Apple Podcasts!

When big dental chains focus on numbers and efficiency, what happens when patients crave genuine connection instead?

In this episode, Dr. Whitney and Steve Sebree share their journey building a private dental practice in Surprise, Arizona, known for its warm, personalized approach. They discuss the importance of community connection, how they foster long-term patient relationships, and why putting Dr. Whitney’s face front and center in their marketing helps attract retirees seeking attentive, nonjudgmental care (often in contrast to experiences at larger DSOs.)

Dr. Whitney and Steve dive deep into the realities of running a small private practice in a DSO-saturated area, revealing how quality care and trust win over patients despite competitive pricing challenges. They openly discuss the impact of team changes on their systems, the lessons learned from these challenges, and how adapting with better processes and hiring has made their practice stronger. The conversation wraps up with actionable wisdom on compassionate communication, the crucial role of mentorship, and why giving yourself grace is essential when building a practice (and a life) together.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How to create a community-focused, patient-first dental practice
• Smart marketing tactics that resonate with retirees and new patients
• Advantages and challenges of practicing among Dental Service Organizations
• The power of free second opinions to establish credibility and trust
• Why longer consultations can transform patient relationships
• Lessons learned from staff turnover and operational hiccups
• How process-driven hiring improves practice management
• Simple strategies to boost new patient conversion over the phone
• Balancing business partnership and marriage in a high-touch practice
• Advice for new dentists on embracing mistakes and enjoying the journey

Hit play to uncover practical, heartfelt strategies for building a dental practice focused on people, not just numbers.

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Sponsors:‍

Net32: Founded by a dentist, for dentists. Net32 is the leading online marketplace for dental supplies, helping dental and medical professionals save on high-quality products for over 25 years. Start saving today at: https://www.net32.com/dentalmarketer

Guest: Dr. Whitney and Steve Sebree

Practice Name: Breez Dental

Check out Whitney and Steve's Media:‍

Website: https://breezdental.com/

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Host: Michael Arias

Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍

Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society

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Love the Podcast? Let Us Know How We're Doing on Apple Podcasts!

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What if your next raffle didn’t just collect names, but actually filled your practice schedule?

This episode debunks the myth that any raffle will attract new patients, revealing why most fall flat and what truly works to grow your patient base. Dive into the four common pitfalls that sabotage traditional raffle efforts, from off-the-mark prizes to a lack of follow-up, and discover why simply collecting names isn’t enough to fill your chairs.

Instead, learn about the GOLD framework: Give, Observe, Leverage, and Deliver: a proven system designed to turn community engagement into real appointments. You’ll hear practical strategies and actionable examples on designing raffles with enticing, relevant prizes, crafting entry forms that spotlight true prospective patients, and nurturing leads with smart follow-up messaging. Whether you’re a dentist or practice manager, you’ll leave armed with fresh ideas and a clear plan to host raffles that actually generate new patients.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The top four reasons most dental raffles fail to deliver new patients
• Why prize relevance is critical to attracting potential patients
• How to design entry requirements that highlight genuine buyer intent
• The psychology behind reciprocity and how to trigger it in raffles
• The importance of outlining an effective follow-up plan for participants
• How the GOLD framework (Give, Observe, Leverage, Deliver) ensures raffle success
• Creative examples of experience-driven and partner-powered prizes
• Steps to position your practice as the “hero” in your community
• How to craft follow-up messages that convert participation into booked appointments

Press play to unlock the blueprint to patient-generating raffles!

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Learn More About the Ground Marketing Course Here:

Website: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/the-ground-marketing-course-open-enrollment/

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Host: Michael Arias

Join my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍

Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society

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Love the Podcast? Let Us Know How We're Doing on Apple Podcasts!