In this conversation, Malika Azargoon discusses the challenges of pediatric dentistry, the pressures faced by pediatric dentists, and the impact of Gen Z employees on dental practices. She also shares insights from her experience as a marathon runner and the parallels between running a marathon and managing a dental practice. The conversation covers topics related to the challenges and pressures faced by dentists in their professional and personal lives, the importance of work-life balance, the decision to open a practice, the pitfalls of owning a pediatric practice, and the value of dental assistants. It also delves into the dynamics of pediatric practices, the role of dental assistants, and the need for clear career growth paths for assistants. The conversation concludes with book recommendations and a promise of a potential part two.

Bio:

Malika Azargoon is the dynamic Consultant, Founder, and Principal of Zar Dental Consulting. With over 20 years in the dental industry, Malika has become a leading dental management consultant.

A graduate of George Washington University, Malika’s energy and enthusiasm propelled her from dental assistant to business manager in a top dental practice. Recognizing the demand for her expertise, she founded Zar Dental Consulting, which now serves hundreds of practices. Her commitment to client-focused, results-driven strategies has built a business known for significantly increasing dental practice profits.

Malika is a sought-after speaker at national dental conferences, known for engaging teams and driving remarkable breakthroughs. Dentists and their teams appreciate her relatable approach, earning her titles like “Dental Therapist” and “Team Whisperer.”

An avid runner, Malika brings the same energy to her consulting work as she does to every race. She uses her marathon training as an analogy for consulting—commit to the race, stay determined, and cross the finish line.

Schedule a call with Malika: https://calendly.com/zardentalconsulting/zar-client-call?month=2024-06Learn More at:https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/

Chapters

(00:00) Challenges of Pediatric Dentistry

(02:08) Pressures Faced by Pediatric Dentists

(28:11) The Importance of Personal Balance in Dental Practice Management

(32:52) The Decision to Open a Practice and Career Growth

(46:13) The Value of Dental Assistants in Pediatric Practices

(57:02) Creating Career Growth Paths for Dental Assistants

(01:01:00) Book Recommendations and Part Two Promise

In this conversation, Dr. Mark Costes shares his insights and experiences as a successful dentist and entrepreneur, his upbringing and the influence of his parents on his work ethic and values. He emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and the need for continuous personal and professional growth. Dr. Costes reflects on the misconceptions people may have about him and highlights the role of persistence and luck in his life. He shares his red switch, which is the drive to prove himself and deliver exceptional results. He discusses the challenges he faced in his career, including dealing with criticism and developing a strong work ethic. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and setting high goals. Mark shares his future goals, including writing a non-dental book and launching a DSO.

Chapters:

(0:00) - Introduction

(02:15) - Mark’s upbringing and the influence of his parents

(07:45) - What most people get wrong about Dr. Mark Costes

(11:26) - What is Mark’s red switch

(14:50) - What did Mark know early in the career, but it finally hit him in the 40s and 50s

(22:10) - The problem with setting low goals

(23:15) - Is there anything in the last 2 years that Mark changed his mind on?

(35:30) - What does Mark tell young dentists that say “Mark I want to be like you”? Master 4 Futures and Master your ideal practice.

(40:00) - What’s next for Mark?

The conversation explores the concept of leadership and its application in dental practices. It discusses the misconception that leadership is solely the responsibility of the owner or manager, emphasizing that leadership is a collective effort.

Takeaways

• Leadership is a collective effort and not limited to the owner or manager.
• Setting clear expectations and providing tools are essential aspects of leadership.
• The term 'leader' is often overused and misused, and individuals need to earn their leadership roles.
• Effective communication, transparency, and trust are crucial for building a successful team.
• Dentists face challenges in developing leadership skills, but the younger generation shows a strong desire to improve. Work-life balance is important to millennials and younger professionals, who prioritize a different style of work and life.
• Culture in the workplace is subjective and can vary from one office to another, but it is important to define and align with the values and goals of the business.
• Setting clear expectations and holding team members accountable is crucial for maintaining a positive work environment.
• The process of hiring and firing should be done with dignity and open communication, focusing on the needs and goals of both the employer and the employee.
• Creating a strong culture starts with defining the vision and values of the business and aligning behaviors and goals with those values.
• The firing process can be made easier by using tools such as the Arch template and radical candor to have difficult conversations and set clear expectations.
• 
  

Bio: Meet Geri Gottlieb, founder and CEO of GG Practice Coaching & Development, a seasoned coach, communications expert, and speaker. With over three decades of experience in dental practice management and leadership development, she brings a unique blend of expertise to drive sustainable growth. From owning two successful periodontal practices with her husband Dr Bob Gottlieb, to being a lead coach with ACT Dental Practice Management and Motivational Speaker Kirk Behrendt to launching her own venture in 2019— she knows what it takes to build a thriving business from scratch. With a passion for continuous education and a deep sense of empathy, Geri is dedicated to helping dental professionals grow and succeed. With a wealth of experience and a thirst for knowledge, she bridges the gaps between clinical expertise, leadership, management, and ownership. Armed with certifications in Adult Learning, Behavioral Therapy, The Five Behaviors of a Team®, DiSC® Behavioral Assessments, and her newest addition—The Working Genius—Geri is equipped to delve into the individual needs of every leader and team member.

Website: https://ggpracticecoaching.com/

Shortcuts:

(0:00) - Podcast Intro

(00:12) - What is Leadership

(01:40) - Is “Leadership '' over-hyped in dentistry?

(08:53) - Difference between Well Oiled Machine Practice and a practice that needs work?

(11:59) - What are the boundaries for transparency in the dental practice?

(20:28) - Why are people afraid of conflict at work?

(22:40) - Ability to read the room?

(23:28) - What would “Hell yea” look like?

(27:03) - DISC

(27:35) - Does the new generation of dentists struggle with leadership?

(30:45) - Misconception of work-life balance

(34:45) - Where to start with the Culture?

(39:39) - Mastering the skill of firing

(44:10) - How you fire is more important than how you hire!

(48:50) - The first time you feel you need to let someone go, you should let them go!

(51:04) - 5 Appreciations in the workplace

(53:45) - When is the right time to call GG

Julie Varney is the biggest advocate for dental assistants in the US. She has been in the industry for 32 years and has accomplished a lot. In this interview she shares her thoughts on what;s holding back the profession of dental assistants and what one person can do to improve her or his career path.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dentalassistantsrock?igsh=MWE2dHZrbWJmbnJ4NQ==

Registration for the zenone.com/badass

(0:00) - Podcast Intro

(00:40) - TEasing Julie with hosting National conference in March 6-8 2025

(04:02) - National shortage of Dental Assistants, what happened?

(06:03) - What happened with dental assistants

(07:29) - How to determine a reasonable hourly rate for a Dental Assistant?

(10:04) - Are the dental assistants entitled?

(11:15) - Intro to June 28th Full Day workshop

(11:49) - How Julie started instagram account

(18:42) - Who is the workshop for?

(19:30) - Why Dental Assisting schools are not providing adequate training for the industry?

(27:15) - ADA, TDA, AGD and impact of these organization on Dental Assistants

(32:08) - How to leave your current job as a professional?

(36:00) - How to answer tricky questions at the job interviews

(38:54) - How to evaluate practices when interviewing for a job and ask good questions?

(41:25) - “What type of growth opportunities at your dental practice?”

(43:30) - How to get unstuck?

Michelle Affanato started her career in dentistry at the age of 15 and worked her way up to become a dental consultant. She has a unique perspective on the industry, having worked in various roles and even helped a bank with startup practice financing. Michelle believes that the key to success in dentistry is being willing to put in the work and not just focusing on clinical responsibilities. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the business side of dentistry and being involved in all aspects of the practice. Michelle's consulting focus is on system implementation and training, particularly in effective scheduling, financial management, and communication between the clinical and administrative teams. In this conversation, Michelle Affanato discusses the importance of having clear communication and systems in a dental practice. She emphasizes the need for a visual reminder of important information, such as X-rays or photos, to ensure that the team is consistently reminded of necessary procedures. Michelle also highlights the benefits of morning huddles in getting the entire team on the same page and maximizing productivity. She advises offices to focus on the highlights and important information during huddles, rather than going through every patient on the schedule. Michelle also touches on the use of sports analogies in business and the importance of defining success based on individual goals. She encourages private practices to focus on the patient experience and their own definition of success, rather than considering selling to a DSO as a solution to challenges. Michelle also discusses the difficulties in finding and retaining staff in the current job market and suggests considering training and onboarding individuals from outside of dentistry. Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability in a startup practice, as systems and layouts may need to be adjusted as the practice grows and changes.

Takeaways

Success in dentistry requires putting in the work and not just focusing on clinical responsibilities.

Understanding the business side of dentistry and being involved in all aspects of the practice is crucial.

System implementation and training are key to effective scheduling, financial management, and communication within the practice.

Open-mindedness and a willingness to overcome challenges are important traits for success in dentistry. Clear communication and visual reminders are essential in a dental practice to ensure that the team consistently follows necessary procedures.

Morning huddles are a valuable opportunity to get the entire team on the same page and maximize productivity by focusing on the highlights and important information.

Defining success based on individual goals is crucial for private practices, and selling to a DSO should not be seen as the only solution to challenges.

Finding and retaining staff can be challenging in the current job market, and considering training and onboarding individuals from outside of dentistry may be a viable option.

Flexibility and adaptability are key in a startup practice, as systems and layouts may need to be adjusted as the practice grows and changes.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Reconnecting

(07:59) What Sets Michelle Apart as a Consultant

(28:06) Focus of Michelle's Consulting and Implementing Systems

(39:04 )Challenges and Strategies for Finding and Retaining Staff

(50:29) Defining Success and Setting Clear Goals

(58:02) Improving Efficiency and Patient Experience

In this podcast Michelle and I discuss how to become a trusted member of the team and learn to become the lead dental assistant. Learning how to communicate and the fundamentals of delegation. Michelle has been with Ballantyne Endodontics For 15 years and became clinical leader. Michelle Allen bio

Discount code : ZENONE for $400 off both the independent and The Independent + The collective (which is the coaching option). The next 8 week class starts on May 1st!

Shortcuts:

(0:00) - Podcast Intro

(01:10) - Balancing Act of day to day activities

(03:59) - What is the role of Lead Assistant

(06:56) - Responsibilities of a Lead Dental Assistant

(09:30) - Hiring the right people

(10:38) - Did your pay go up?

(12:17) - $45/hour Assistant, is it possible?

(14:35) - Is there a ceiling?

(16:43) - How to build trust between a doctor and a dental assistant

(23:16) - Non Verbal Communication in clinical settings

(25:35) - Sequence of procedures is a foundation for successful non verbal communication

(28:24) - Why is it so hard for practice to master non verbal communication

(30:32) - What is the goal for the course?

(33:53) - The reason for Polished Academy name

(34:32) - Do you have training for general practice dental assistant

(36:44) - How do you plan to manage the Full Time job and Coaching other offices?

(38:10) - What’s wrong with the current definition of a Dental Assistant

(39:40) - Michelle’s Story

(41:45) - You should do more in life and take on more responsibilities/challenges

(44:26) - What’s next?

(48:21) - What would you tell someone who is just starting out in the endo practice as an assistant?

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

More information about the course: ⁠https://polishedacademy.vipmembervault.com/⁠

Reference ⁠https://a.co/d/j9nQO6W⁠

DISC assessment - ⁠https://www.discprofile.com⁠

Unreasonable Hospitality - ⁠https://a.co/d/4VnNM0e⁠

4000 Weeks - Time Management for Mortals - ⁠https://a.co/d/07zZnVh⁠

Dr. Benjamin Johnson, DDS ( Bio; LinkedIn)

Dr. Benjamin Johnson graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Biology (2005), he attended Ohio State’s School of Dentistry and graduated in 2009.

In 2010, Dr. Johnson moved to Texas to work with Dr. Dale McCall (at what would become Acre Wood Dental). When Dr. McCall retired in 2011, Dr. Johnson purchased the practice and continued its tradition of excellent care while adding personal touches to grow it to the next level.

Dr. Johnson was blessed with a flourishing practice in Waco and needed additional space to grow. Acre Wood Dental expanded by acquiring two additional practices in neighboring towns – Temple and Gatesville.

In 2016, he updated and remodeled Acre Wood Dental Waco – going from five operatories to 17 operatories. In 2022, he started remodeling the Acre Wood Dental Temple location. In 2023 he purchased a practice in Round Rock Texas, making it his 4th location.

Shortcuts:

(00:00) - Podcast Intro

(00:27) Goal Setting

(02:20) Yearly Planning retreat

(04:15) Debt Reduction Framework for Goal Setting and Work Life Balance

(06:30) “I don’t really have goal for trips or income”

(08:20) The home is a foundation for a family

(09:15) Round Rock practice purchase story

(11:15) 5 Year gap between practice 3 and 4

(11:45) Dynamics of Power couples and how decisions are made

(13:30) Payroll nightmares when running 3 lean practices

(14:50) “Can you walk us through the purchase details?”

(17:19) Practice video walk through

(18:40) So why other buyers missed this gem? The real art of the dental deal

(20:55) “I did act fast”

(22:30) Price breakdown of this deal in real time, buildout/cabinetry, equipment, supplies, CEREC adds up to $1.1 million

(24:56) The risk reward was so extreme

(26:20) The importance of business acumen

(27:36) Associates expectations in the first 10 years of professional career

(29:25) “if you are worried about cash flow, great be an associate. If you are worried about net worth, then own”

(31:55) Cash flow or net worth, what do you want?

(33:37) People have the pressure because they don’t have the support at home

(36:20) Long term vision for the practice

(37:40) Are there more purchases after this practice?

(38:12) The team of rock stars that you need to have around you to scale

(39:48) “When I drive I’m a quiet kind of ride guy”

(41:02) “If you have no experience the headspace is a scary space because you don’t know” [42:01]

Dr. Aaron Nicholas (Bio, Insta, LinkedIn), In this wide ranging conversation we cover many topics that include burnout, suicide in dentistry, backpain, coping mechanisms, and mastery. Probably the most important part of the podcast is when I ask Dr. Nicholas, what fears does he have for the profession of dentistry?

Shortcuts:

(0:00) Podcast Intro

(01:20) Dr. Aaron’s retirement and how he keeps himself busy

(03:30) The Fairytale of Selling a Dental Practice

(05:50) Dentist burnout and what is the real reason?

(10:38) What is the Source of the burnout?

(12:50) 3 Dimensional framework to evaluate work-life balance - Work-Goals-Life

(17:50) Different Coping mechanisms to overcome burnout

(22:00) Healing back pain book

(26:10) 1 Thing Young Dentist can do to avoid the burnout and avoid back pain

(28:35) How do you pick good dental coaching?

(30:40) 5-6 Years before you become a master

(33:19) How would Dr. Nicholas would write chapter 1 of the book?

(34:42) What fears do you have about the profession of dentistry?

(42:10) We are really new to AI game with diagnosis

(42:50) Next 10 years of Dentistry and what is the bright side of dentistry?

(45:45) What is true Mastery? How to define mastery and achieve it?

Dr. Aaron’s courses and References:

• https://www.mondaymorningdentistry.com/

• Extraction course - https://www.mondaymorningdentistry.com/handsonextractions

• Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection - https://a.co/d/82BPUd2

• Colorado Surgical Institute- https://www.coloradosurgicalinstitute.com/#5

• Implant Pathway - https://www.thepathway.com/

Get in touch with Dr. Aaron Nicholas - anicholasdds@gmail.com