The Top Tax Mistakes Dentists Make That Are Costing Them Millions

Most dentists assume that paying massive tax bills is just part of success — but that belief could be costing you millions. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with tax strategist Rachel Michaelov, Founder and CEO of Practice Wealth Partners, to uncover the most common (and costly) tax mistakes dentists make — and how proactive planning can legally reduce tax liability, sometimes all the way to zero. If you've ever written a painful check to the IRS and wondered if there's a better way, this episode is a must-listen.   What You'll Learn Why most dental CPAs are reactive — not strategic The dangers of disconnected bookkeeping, payroll, and tax prep How improper entity structure and payroll decisions raise audit risk Why buying equipment last-minute isn't real tax strategy How quarterly tax planning can dramatically reduce liability Common myths around audits, R&D credits, and tax strategies What dentists should demand from their accounting professionals   Key Takeaways 01:55 Top Tax Mistakes Dentists Are Making 03:00 Why Dentists Overpay Even With a CPA 03:40 The Cost of Disconnected Financial Teams 04:40 Enrolled Agent vs CPA: What's the Difference? 12:10 Why Retirement Plans Alone Aren't Enough 14:40 Buying Equipment vs Strategic Tax Planning 15:58 Choosing the Right Business Entity 20:05 Cost Segregation, R&D, and Advanced Strategies 24:40 How to Challenge Your CPA (Without Fear) 28:35 Do Tax Strategies Increase Audit Risk? 32:34 The Biggest Tax Myths Dentists Believe 34:00 Lightning Round with Rachel Michaelov   — Connect with Rachel 📞 Phone: 646-284-4705 📧 Email: [email protected] Be sure to let Rachel know you heard her on the Raving Patients Podcast.   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

What if attracting better patients, reducing no-shows, and cutting insurance headaches could all happen before someone ever walks into your practice? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Tobi Bosede, Founder and CEO of Dental Find, to explore how smart marketplaces, prepaid care, and membership-style models are reshaping dental growth. Tobi shares her journey from building AI systems for Fortune 500 companies to solving one of dentistry's biggest pain points: patient acquisition without no-shows, awkward financial conversations, or insurance dependency. This conversation dives into scaling intentionally, avoiding burnout, and building businesses that actually last.   What You'll Learn How prepaid dental marketplaces reduce no-shows and increase case acceptance Why fee-for-service growth matters more than ever The key differences between Dental Find and traditional marketplaces How dentists can improve patient retention without relying on insurance Practical lessons on scaling a startup without burning out Why relationships matter more than products in dental growth   Key Takeaways 01:45 Scaling Smart: From Startup to Sustainable Growth 03:00 What Dental Find Is and How It Works 03:55 Dental Find vs Traditional Marketplaces 07:35 Why Dentistry Needed a New Model 10:10 Current Markets and Expansion Plans 13:06 Reducing No-Shows and Increasing Retention 14:50 Getting Paid Faster Without Insurance 16:27 From Idea to Market: Building a Startup 19:20 Team Building, DSOs, and Strategic Partnerships 24:02 Burnout, Balance, and Sustaining Momentum 31:42 Lightning Round with Tobi Bosede   — Connect with Tobi Founder & CEO, Dental Find Website: https://www.dentalfynd.com Email: [email protected]   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Most dentists are still focused on Google rankings — but patients are quietly changing how they search. Instead of typing "best dentist near me," they're asking AI tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and other intelligent assistants to recommend a dentist for them. And here's the hard truth: If your practice isn't visible to AI, you don't exist in those conversations. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau welcomes Eri Georgiev, founder of SoRN AI, a tech-driven growth agency helping businesses — including dental practices — get recommended by large language models like ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, Perplexity, and Gemini. Eri breaks down how AI search works differently from traditional Google search and why dentists need to start thinking beyond rankings and keywords. Instead of showing a list of websites, AI tools now recommend providers — often selecting just one or two practices for a patient to consider. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Len and Eri explore what actually influences AI recommendations, including website structure, authority signals, reviews, online mentions, and even platforms many dentists overlook — like Reddit. Eri explains why AI traffic often converts at a higher rate than Google traffic and how early adopters of AI search optimization can leapfrog larger, more established practices. The episode also dives into practical, actionable strategies dentists can implement now, such as optimizing site structure for AI crawlers, using schema markup, leveraging reviews beyond Google, and positioning themselves as trusted entities online. Erialso shares a forward-looking view of what's coming next — a world where AI assistants may book dental appointments directly for patients. If you care about practice growth, patient acquisition, and staying relevant in a rapidly changing digital landscape, this episode is a must-listen.   What You'll Learn Why AI search is quickly becoming a new patient acquisition channel How ChatGPT and other LLMs decide which dentists to recommend The key differences between traditional SEO and AI Search Optimization (AISCO) Why Reddit, reviews, and online authority matter more than ever Simple, practical steps dentists can take now to stay ahead   Key Takeaways 01:29 Dentists Who Ignore AI Search Will Fall Behind 03:30 What SoRN AI Does & Why AI Search Matters for Dentists 05:55 Early Adopters, AI Search & Competitive Advantage 09:35 ChatGPT vs Google: How Patients Are Searching Now 11:48 What Is AI Search Optimization (AISCO)? 16:09 SEO vs AI Search: What Dentists Still Need to Do 16:49 Why Reddit Has Massive Influence on AI Recommendations 19:50 Google Reviews vs Reddit Comments: What AI Looks At 24:17 The Future: AI Booking Appointments for Patients 26:37 Technical Wins Dentists Can Implement Right Now  30:40 Lightning Round Q&A with EriGeorgiev 36:55 Special Offer for Raving Patients Listeners   — Connect with Eri Founder, SoRN AI 🌐 Website: https://sorn.ai 🎁 Special Offer: Mention The Raving Patients Podcast and receive $1,000 off your first month of service.   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Getting traffic to your website is not the win. Getting patients into chairs is. Today's conversation dives into why conversion matters more than clicks and how dental practices can stop wasting their most valuable marketing asset. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with marketing veteran Chris Knudsen to uncover what dental practices can learn from iconic brands like Casper, Harley-Davidson, Purple Mattress, and Disney. Drawing from decades of experience scaling consumer brands to billion-dollar valuations, Chris explains why most dental websites fail to convert, how AI is reshaping patient discovery, and why practices are often misled by marketing agencies that cannot prove ROI. This conversation is a practical, no-fluff breakdown of how dentists can turn limited website traffic into real appointments, real patients, and real revenue.   What You'll Learn Why dental website traffic is far more valuable than most practices realize How AI search engines are changing how patients find dentists The role SEO, FAQs, and user-generated content play in AI visibility What "fake AI" looks like and how to spot it before you waste money Why website conversion should be a core KPI for every practice Common red flags that signal a marketing agency may be misleading you How to demand real ROI tracking from your marketing partners Lessons dentists can borrow from billion-dollar consumer brands — Key Takeaways 00:41 Welcome and episode overview 02:24 Introducing Chris Knudsen and his background 05:00 What Llama.ai does for dental practices 06:40 Why dental website traffic is extremely valuable 10:00 Why websites still matter in cash and specialty dentistry 11:40 How AI search engines influence patient decisions 13:20 Optimizing for AI and large language models 14:00 The role of FAQs and Q&A content in AI rankings 14:39 Reddit and user-generated content in AI discovery 15:29 Fake AI vs real AI in dental marketing 19:22 Why website conversion must be a top KPI 21:50 Why dentists feel frustrated with marketing agencies 23:20 Common agency red flags and ownership issues 26:26 How to truly measure marketing ROI 30:47 Lightning Round with Chris Knudsen 34:55 How to connect with Llama.ai and the "Len Deal" 36:00 Final thoughts and closing message   — Connect with Chris Website: https://lawma.aiEmail: [email protected] 👉 Mention the Raving Patients Podcast and Dr. Len Tau to receive the special "Len Deal."   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

What if case acceptance didn't feel like "selling" at all? In this first episode of 2026, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Dr. Camesia Matthews to explore a powerful new way to help patients truly understand—and say yes to—their treatment plans. Dr. Matthews introduces her Dental Fitness Method, a five-pillar framework that connects oral health to whole-body wellness. By reframing dentistry through prevention, posture, protection, presentation, and psychology, she shows how dentists can increase patient buy-in, reduce resistance, and empower patients to take ownership of their health—without feeling pushy or sales-driven. This conversation is a must-listen for any dentist looking to improve case acceptance through clarity, education, and trust.   What You'll Learn Why patients reject treatment when they don't understand the why behind it How the Dental Fitness Method reframes dentistry as whole-body healthcare The five pillars that help patients make sense of complex treatment plans How education eliminates objections and builds long-term trust Why mindset and psychology are the foundation of case acceptance How wellness-based communication leads to more confident, informed "yes" decisions — Key Takeaways 00:43 Episode Introduction & Welcome to 2026 02:48 Meet Dr. Camesia Matthews 04:30 Education, Frameworks, and Patient Buy-In 05:35 The Five Pillars of the Dental Fitness Method 08:17 Why Patients Need a Unified Oral-Health Message 10:28 What Happens When Patients Don't Understand the "Why" 12:45 Sports Dentistry, Inflammation, and Whole-Body Health 14:58 Real Case Example: Transforming Confidence Through Dental Fitness 18:40 The Future of Dentistry as Healthcare 20:32 Removing the Pressure of "Selling" Dentistry 24:10 Handling the Informed "No" 26:44 Following Up Without Losing Patients 28:46 The Dental Fitness Advantage Book 29:40 Lightning Round Q&A 35:15 How to Connect with Dr. Camesia Matthews   — Connect with Dr. Camesia Instagram: @drcamesiaamatthews Book: The Dental Fitness Advantage (available on Amazon & Shopify) Learn more & connect: DentalFitnessPillars.com/educate   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com.   This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here.   This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here.   Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

What if your practice is profitable on paper—but bleeding money behind the scenes? In this final episode of 2025, Dr. Len Tau welcomes Dana Moss, founder of PPO Dental Consulting, for a deep dive into the realities of dental insurance and PPO strategy. Dana breaks down how dental practices can increase profitability without sacrificing patient-centered care by negotiating smarter, streamlining fee schedules, and knowing when—and how—to strategically exit low-paying plans. Drawing from years of hands-on experience as a front office coordinator, insurance specialist, and practice administrator, Dana shares what most practices get wrong about insurance and how to fix it. You'll learn why billing office fees correctly is non-negotiable, how getting to the 80th percentile can dramatically change your negotiating power, and when outsourcing insurance coordination makes more sense than handling it in-house. Dana also explains umbrella plans, negotiation timelines, and why organization is the single biggest factor in PPO success. This episode is packed with actionable insights for startups, mid-career dentists, and practice owners preparing for growth—or an eventual sale.   What You'll Learn The two non-negotiables practices must fix before negotiating PPO fees Why billing office fees changes your profitability picture How the 80th percentile impacts insurance negotiations When to renegotiate—and when not to The pros and cons of DIY vs outsourced PPO negotiation How smarter insurance systems lead to stronger cash flow   Key Takeaways 00:44 Welcome, Sponsors & Final Episode of 2025 02:07 Meet Dana Moss & Her Background in Dental Insurance 03:40 Who Dana Helps Most: Startups, Growing Practices & Sellers 08:01 Preparing to Negotiate PPO Fees the Right Way 10:30 The Two Non-Negotiables: Billing Office Fees & Fee Balancing 14:30 PPO vs Fee-for-Service Philosophies Explained 15:29 How Often You Can Renegotiate Insurance Fees 16:20 DIY PPO Negotiation vs Outsourcing: Pros & Cons 18:07 Using Your Top Procedure Codes Strategically 20:40 Dropping Low-Paying Plans & Understanding Umbrella Networks 26:39 Training Insurance Coordinators for Clean Claims & Strong AR 29:13 AI, Remote Teams & the Future of Revenue Cycle Management 31:00 Life on the Road: Dana's Full-Time RV Lifestyle 33:20 Lightning Round Q&A with Dana 36:50 How to Work With Dana + DIY Negotiation Kit Offer 37:40 Closing Thoughts, Sponsors & Event Reminder   Connect with Dana Dana Moss Founder, PPO Dental Consulting 📞 Phone/Text: 817-456-0012 📧 Email: [email protected] 🌐 Website: https://ppodentalconsulting.com/ 🎁 Exclusive Listener Offer Get 25% off Dana's DIY PPO Negotiation Kit (normally $1,000). Use code LEN at checkout.   Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Most dentists don't fail because of a lack of clinical skill — they struggle because their mindset keeps them stuck. In this episode, we uncover the one move that unlocks better leadership, stronger team culture, and the confidence to take real action inside your practice.   This week, Dr. Len sits down with leadership expert and former Spear Education faculty member Dr. Martin Mendelson — a coach who helps dentists get out of their own way. After hand issues pushed him out of clinical dentistry, Martin discovered the transformational power of mindset. Today, he empowers dentists and teams to ditch the limiting thoughts that stall progress and replace them with a proven framework that drives results. Martin reveals his T.E.A.M.™ Framework — Thoughts ➜ Emotions ➜ Actions ➜ Manifest Results — and how recognizing what's happening "between stimulus and response" changes everything in leadership, culture, and decision-making. He also shares insights from his new book, One Move Makes All the Difference, hitting shelves December 2025 — loaded with practical tools to help practice owners lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move your practice forward — this one's for you. What You'll Learn Clinical skill isn't enough — success requires human leadership skills. When dentists fail to act, the real cause is mindset, not circumstance. Inaction is still an action — and it has a cost. Tough conversations are essential to team culture and accountability. Freedom in leadership exists between stimulus and response: pause, reflect, choose. Sustainable progress requires intentional actions aligned with desired results. — Key Takeaways 00:37 Welcome, Sponsors & Introducing the Episode 01:37 Meet Dr. Martin Mendelson + His Background Story 04:51 From Losing Clinical Ability to Finding Coaching & Mindset Work 06:36 How Dentists Know They Need Help + Common Roadblocks 08:15 The Book: "One Move Makes All the Difference" & Why He Wrote It 13:55 The T.E.A.M.™ Framework Explained (Thoughts–Emotions–Actions–Results) 17:50 How Mindset Impacts Decisions, Leadership & Practice Culture 23:07 Team Challenges, Accountability & Difficult Conversations 24:50 Emotional Intelligence, Assertiveness & Getting Out of Your Own Way 26:55 Why Coaching Takes Time + The Power of Culture Over Strategy 31:03 What Dentistry Often Gets Wrong Beyond Clinical Skills 32:10 Lightning Round Q&A 36:18 How to Connect with Dr. Martin + Closing Remarks   — Connect with Dr. Martin Mendelson Website: martinmendelson.com Instagram: @docmartinempowers LinkedIn: Martin Mendelson   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Technology can be copied. Marketing can be copied. Even your chairs and handpieces can be copied. The only thing that truly separates you from the office down the street? Your people. This episode will show you how HR becomes your most powerful growth strategy. This week, Dr. Len is joined by HR expert Alan Twigg, president of Bent Erickson & Associates — one of dentistry's most trusted partners in HR systems, compliance, and team development. HR may not seem like the "sexiest" part of dentistry… but it's one of the most important. Every patient experience, every production goal, every system — they all rely on people. Alan helps practice owners shift their mindset: ✔️ Your team is your greatest competitive advantage ✔️ HR isn't paperwork — it's culture, longevity, and protection ✔️ Compliance matters more than ever — and it changes constantly ✔️ Hiring is marketing… and your employee experience is your brand Whether you're a solo practice or a multi-location empire, this episode breaks down the HR essentials you can't ignore in 2025 and beyond. What You'll Learn Why once you hire ONE employee, 95% of labor laws apply to you How to craft a Unique Employment Proposition (UEP) that attracts top talent The biggest 2025 HR law changes you need to know (pregnancy protections, paid leave, state sick rules) The truth about unemployment claims and why they're not worth fighting What dentists must know about paying staff for CE events (and the exact labor code to reference) The HR risks when expanding into multi-location or multi-state practices Why appreciation is a strategic system, not a personality trait Key Takeaways 00:40 Welcome, sponsor shoutout & event reminder 03:11 Meet Alan Twigg + Who Bent Erickson Helps 06:20 The New Hiring Reality & Standing Out as an Employer 11:29 Reputation, Reviews & Recruitment 12:50 Why HR Compliance Drives Practice Success 16:41 Labor Law Changes Every Dentist Must Know 19:40 Unemployment Claims: What Really Matters 24:50 CE, Overtime & What Practices Must Legally Cover 29:33 Multi-Location & Multi-State HR Risks 33:33 Creating a Culture of Appreciation 35:40 Lightning Round Q&A with Alan 40:40 Listener Offer: $500 Off HR Director Package 41:30 Closing: Protect Your Reputation   — Connect with Alan Learn more about how Bent Erickson & Associates can support your practice with HR compliance, team development, and leadership training: 🌐 Website: https://bentericksen.com/  📞 Contact Page: Available directly on the website 📚 Free HR resources + education available online 💡 Listener Offer: Save $500 on the HR Director Package when you sign up before year-end — exclusively for Raving Patients listeners.   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

What if your front desk never missed another call again? What if AI could handle the busywork so your team could actually focus on patients? Today's episode dives into the technology reshaping dentistry faster than anything we've seen in the last decade. In this episode, Len dives deep into one of the fastest-growing trends transforming dentistry: conversational AI. He sits down with Dr. Miles Beckett — former medical doctor, serial tech entrepreneur, and CEO/co-founder of Flossy, the AI platform behind one of dentistry's most advanced AI receptionists, Fiona. Together, they unpack how AI is reshaping patient communication, scheduling, staffing, and the entire dental front office. If you've been curious (or skeptical) about AI, this episode will give you clarity on where the industry is heading — and how practices can leverage this technology to run leaner, smarter, and more profitably.   What You'll Learn From This Episode AI has exploded into the dental world in the last 24 months — but what's hype and what actually works? Len and Miles break down: Why AI isn't replacing your team — it's supporting them What really separates one AI receptionist platform from another How poor staffing inspired the creation of Fiona Why voice quality, call logic, and PMS integration are the real differentiators What the next five years of dental AI will actually look like How AI can personalize the patient journey better than ever The truth about negative reviews tied to AI phone answering What dentists should ask before choosing an AI solution How robotics and imaging AI are changing clinical care Why the dental industry is uniquely primed for rapid AI adoption Plus, Dr Miles shares entrepreneurial insights in a rapid-fire Q&A — including the smartest investment he ever made (spoiler: it's crypto).   — Connect with Dr Miles If you'd like to learn more about Flossy or see Fiona in action, you can connect directly with Dr. Miles Beckett here: Website: https://flossy.com (AI receptionist, demos, product info, case studies, pricing) LinkedIn: Miles Beckett, MD (Professional updates, leadership posts, dental AI topics) Contact Flossy: [email protected] (General inquiries, demos, support, onboarding questions)   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

Cosmetic dentistry is changing faster than ever — and if you're not paying attention, you're about to miss the biggest opportunity the profession has seen in decades. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with one of the leading voices in modern cosmetics, Dr. Brian Harris, to reveal how technology, consumer demand, and affordability are coming together to reshape the future of smile design. Dr. Len welcomes cosmetic dentistry expert Dr. Brian Harris, a Phoenix-based cosmetic dentist known for pioneering patient communication, virtual consults, and modern smile design workflows. Dr. Harris breaks down the massive shift happening in aesthetics — from the rise of 3D-printed hybrid veneers, to the power of Instagram, to why virtual consult funnels are now essential for case acceptance. He shares how he scaled from one cosmetic case a week to three every day, why demand is exploding, and what dentists can do right now to attract more qualified patients. If you're looking to simplify your cosmetic process, improve case acceptance, and tap into this growing market, this episode delivers everything you need. Here are some of the interesting stuff we talked about in this episode. Cosmetic demand is exploding — patients are more educated than ever because of social media. 3D-printed veneers are creating a new mid-tier option that's half the time and half the cost of porcelain. Virtual consults pre-qualify patients, eliminate surprises, and dramatically increase case acceptance. Authentic social content wins — simple, honest videos perform better than outsourced, generic posts. Dentists who simplify their process (options, pricing, visits, financing) will dominate the next era of cosmetic dentistry.   — Connect with Dr Brian Instagram: @drbrianharris Email: [email protected] Website / Smile Virtual: https://www.smilevirtual.com/ Courses & Cosmetic Training: 👉 Available via Smile Virtual & direct inquiry on Instagram   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!