The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

Two dental practices. Two very different opportunities. One major decision. In this episode of The Dental Lighthouse Podcast, Dr. Jason sits down with a young dentist, referred to as Dr. B, who is considering purchasing one of two established dental practices. Both have retiring owners, similar locations, and opportunities for growth, but each comes with its own set of challenges and potential. Jason walks through the financials, patient flow, staffing, insurance participation, and long-term growth potential of each practice, highlighting the factors that matter most when evaluating an acquisition. From identifying hidden opportunities for increased production to understanding the limitations of a four-operatory practice, he shares what prospective buyers should be looking for beyond the asking price. The conversation also explores practice valuations, negotiating PPO fees, managing patient transitions, and whether acquiring an existing practice makes more financial sense than starting from scratch. Whether you're actively considering practice ownership or simply want to better understand the business side of dentistry, this episode offers a practical look at the questions worth asking before making one of the biggest investments of your career.

Promoting someone to office manager doesn’t automatically make them a leader. And if you give them more responsibility without the training, clarity, or time to actually do the job, you may be setting them up to fail. In this episode of Ramblings with Jason and Dr. Nacho, Dr. Jason sits down with Dr. Paul Goodman to talk about one of the most important and often overlooked roles in a dental practice: the office manager. They unpack why simply giving someone a new title isn’t enough and how unclear expectations can leave office managers juggling patient-facing tasks while the leadership, accountability, and team development responsibilities they were promoted to handle fall through the cracks. Jason and Paul discuss what an office manager should actually be responsible for, the difference between managing systems and leading people, and how the role should evolve as a practice grows. They also explore why great team members often default to the work they’re already comfortable doing instead of tackling difficult conversations, coaching, and accountability. Most importantly, they challenge practice owners to look at the capacity they’re giving their leaders. If you’re adding five to ten hours of leadership responsibilities without taking anything else off their plate, something has to give. From creating dedicated “emergency operations” time to getting clearer about roles and expectations, this conversation offers practical ways to help your office manager lead successfully instead of simply survive the position.

What do you do when the schedule starts opening up, new patient numbers dip, or production isn’t where you expected it to be? The answer probably isn’t to panic, blame the market, or immediately throw more money at marketing. In this episode, Dr. Jason is joined by Ryan Gross of CMO Share and Dr. Addison Killeen for an off-the-cuff conversation about navigating the inevitable ups and downs of dental practice ownership. They discuss how mindset can shape team performance, why practice owners need to understand their numbers before reacting to them, and how leading indicators like treatment presented, case acceptance, new patient conversion, and total appointments can reveal where the real problem lies. The conversation also gets tactical, covering hygiene cancellations, ASAP lists, patient scheduling, financial conversations, case acceptance, and why owners need to spend more time observing and coaching their teams instead of getting buried in low-value tasks. Ryan and Addison also share their perspectives on cancellation fees, same-day scheduling, ghost columns, and preparing for historically slower months before they arrive. If you’ve ever looked at a bad week or month and wondered whether you need to change everything, this episode is a reminder to get curious before getting reactive, look at the full picture, and focus your energy on the decisions that actually move the practice forward.

When you notice something feels off with a team member, is it better to give it time or address it before a small issue becomes a bigger one? In this episode of The Dental Lighthouse Podcast, Dr. Jason shares an excerpt from a recent coaching call with a practice owner who noticed a shift in the attitude and engagement of one of his strongest team members. Rather than assuming the problem would resolve itself, Jason encourages him to approach the situation with curiosity, care, and a willingness to have the conversation. Jason explains why changes in a team member’s energy, behavior, or demeanor should not automatically be viewed as performance problems. Sometimes the most effective leadership move is simply creating space to ask what is going on, listen without judgment, and make sure the person knows they are valued and supported. He also explores one of the most common leadership traps: knowing a conversation needs to happen but repeatedly putting it off because something else feels more urgent. While avoiding the conversation may be easier in the moment, the team member, the practice, and even the patients can ultimately pay the price. If you have ever noticed a team member disengaging, avoided a conversation because you were unsure how to approach it, or hoped an uncomfortable situation would simply work itself out, this episode is a reminder that strong leadership often starts with being willing to ask the question.

When hiring an associate dentist, what matters more: strong clinical skills or strong communication skills? In this episode of Ramblings with Jason and Dr. Nacho, Dr. Jason Tanoory and Dr. Paul Goodman tackle a question that sparked plenty of debate: Would you rather hire an associate with 8/10 clinical skills and 5/10 communication skills, or 5/10 clinical skills and 8/10 communication skills? While 73% of respondents chose the stronger communicator, Jason and Paul both landed on the less popular choice. They break down why improving communication may be easier than correcting clinical deficiencies, especially for practice owners who are already busy treating their own patients. From coaching associates on the language they use with patients to stepping into the operatory to troubleshoot crown preps, they discuss the very different demands each type of development places on an owner. Jason also shares a real example of having to provide hands-on clinical coaching to an associate and why those situations can quickly become difficult for owners who are still heavily tied to the chair. Jason and Paul explore how mentorship capacity, emotional intelligence, coachability, and the realities of running a busy practice should all factor into the decision. If you are hiring an associate or trying to develop the doctors already on your team, this conversation will challenge you to think about which skills you can realistically teach and where you need someone to be strong from day one.

Your hygiene department can be one of the most impactful parts of your practice, but without the right systems, communication, and accountability, it can also become a major source of stress. In this episode, Dr. Jason sits down with Amber Auger, RDH, international speaker, consultant, and fractional hygiene director, to talk about what it really takes to build a high-performing hygiene department. Amber shares the most common issues she sees inside dental practices, from rushed appointment times and inconsistent scheduling to weak handoffs, lack of accountability, and team members who are resistant to coaching. She also explains how better systems and clearer expectations can improve patient care, strengthen team culture, and create a more profitable department without making everything feel more complicated. They also dive into time management, verbal skills, new patient appointments, hygiene KPIs, team buy-in, and how practice owners can raise the standard without creating burnout or damaging morale. If you want your hygiene department to run more consistently, serve patients at a higher level, and become a stronger part of your practice, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can start applying right away. Interested in seeing Amber Auger speak in person in Upstate NY next month? Sign up here! https://jason-tanoory.mykajabi.com/offers/2i4YFJi7/checkout

Dental practices spend thousands on marketing, but too often, they’re left paying for clicks and leads that never become patients. What if you only paid when a new patient actually showed up? In this episode, Dr. Jason sits down with Cam, founder of OpenCare, to explore a smarter approach to patient acquisition. Cam explains how OpenCare matches patients with vetted dental practices, integrates with practice management systems, and uses online booking and AI-powered tools to help convert patient interest into scheduled appointments. They also discuss what practices should realistically spend to acquire a new patient, how to measure the return on marketing dollars, why fast response times matter, and the three changes every practice can make to improve patient growth. If you are tired of wondering whether your marketing is working, this conversation offers a more transparent, results-driven alternative. Dental Lighthouse listeners can visit opencare.com/lighthouse to learn more, book a demo, and receive 50% off OpenCare’s membership fee. You can also contact Cam directly at [email protected]

If the first patient is scheduled at 8:30, when should the doctor actually arrive? The answers range from an hour early to strolling in at 8:36 with coffee in hand, and that gap reveals a much bigger leadership problem. In this episode of Ramblings with Jason and Dr. Nacho, Dr. Jason Tanoory and Dr. Paul Goodman discuss the expectations placed on associate dentists at the beginning and end of each workday. They explore why there may not be one universally correct arrival time, but every practice needs a clearly communicated standard and a meaningful reason behind it. Jason and Paul also examine what happens when doctors leave before their patients, skip opportunities to connect with the team, or expect accountability they do not model themselves. They explain how just 10 intentional minutes before and after the clinical day can improve preparation, patient communication, team trust, and professional development. If you are a practice owner struggling to set expectations or an associate wondering what strong leadership looks like from your side of the chair, this conversation offers an honest look at how small habits can make a major difference.

Most professionals spend decades preparing financially for retirement without considering whether they will be healthy, connected, and fulfilled enough to enjoy it. In this episode, Dr. Jason sits down with longevity expert Dr. Greg Charlop www.BuckheadLongevity.com to explore what retirement readiness looks like beyond the size of your investment portfolio. They discuss how proactive health assessments can uncover risks for conditions such as Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease years before symptoms appear, creating an opportunity to make meaningful changes while there is still time. Greg also explains why health span, strong relationships, personal purpose, and non-work identities deserve the same intentional investment as financial security. From improving sleep and exercise to strengthening friendships and making time for experiences that cannot be postponed indefinitely, the conversation offers practical ways to build a better life now. If you have been telling yourself you will travel, prioritize your health, reconnect with friends, or spend more time with family “once things slow down,” this episode is your reminder that some opportunities come with an expiration date. Stop treating retirement as the starting line for your life and begin creating the future you want today.

Work-life balance sounds great in theory, but life rarely divides itself into perfectly equal pieces. Some seasons require more of you, and pretending otherwise can leave you stretched too thin everywhere. In this episode, Dr. Jason challenges the idea that balance means giving the same amount of time and energy to every area of your life. Using his final season coaching his son’s travel baseball team as an example, he explains how to identify what matters most right now and intentionally adjust your commitments in other areas. Jason breaks life into four key quadrants: mind, muscle, meaning, and money. He shares how to go all in on one priority for a defined season while maintaining a healthy minimum in the others. He also explains why these demanding seasons need clear boundaries, end dates, and honest communication with the people affected by them. Whether you are growing a practice, onboarding associates, prioritizing your health, or pouring into your family, this episode will help you stop chasing an unrealistic version of balance and start using your time with greater purpose.