The Dental Amigos

Episode 142 – Deren Flesher: Financial Fitness, Freedom & Life Beyond the Op by The Dental Amigos

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome Alex Nottingham, founder and CEO of All-Star Dental Academy, for a dynamic and thought-provoking conversation about what it really takes to build and lead a high-performing dental team. Drawing on his experience as a business leader, speaker, and coach, Alex shares practical insights on reducing costly staff turnover, improving team training, and creating a culture of accountability and care. Alex breaks down why dentists often get in their own way when it comes to leadership—and how shifting from manager to visionary can transform their practices. He also talks candidly about the value of coaching, what makes dental events impactful (or not), and why most dentists are surprisingly great on the phone. From building onboarding systems to getting buy-in from your team, this episode is full of real-world advice for practice owners who want to work smarter, not just harder. To learn more about Alex and explore All-Star Dental Academy’s free resources and training programs, visit https://www.allstardentalacademy.com. Listeners who want to reach Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com, and those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-law.com.

Episode 140 – Dee Fischer: Leading with Heart, Building with Systems, and Succeeding in Private Practice by The Dental Amigos

Episode 138 - Harold Gornbein: Maximizing Practice Revenue by The Dental Amigos

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome Brannon Moncrief, the Principal and CEO of McLerran & Associates, who specializes in providing sell-side advisory to large dental practice owners seeking to monetize their businesses in private buyer sales or DSO transactions. Brannon has personally facilitated the sale of over 1,000 dental practices and is widely considered to be an expert on DSO affiliations. In this episode, Brannon offers his insight on the “DSO vs. private doctor buyer” debate, emphasizing the importance of defining personal, professional, and financial goals before making a decision. Brannon draws on his extensive experience to help listeners understand concepts like EBITDA and the different types of equity to help listeners understand highly complex and often confusing DSO offers. Finally, Brannon discusses the challenges of internal succession planning and his long term strategies for facilitating a smooth transition into retirement. To get in touch with Brannon and his team, schedule a free, confidential discovery call here: https://dentaltransitions.com/contact-us/. Brannon can also be reached directly at brannon@dentaltransitions.com or (512) 660-8505. Listeners who want to reach Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-law.com.

This week, coming back for his second show appearance, the Dental Amigos welcome Dr. Cliff Moore, a former Navy dental officer, dental practice owner and ultramarathon runner. For over 10 years, Cliff has dedicated himself to serving his community through his efforts giving back to veterans, providing over $35,000 in free dental care and raising more than $75,000 through an annual ultramarathon event. His passion for service, endurance sports, and dentistry reflects his lifelong commitment to making a meaningful impact. In this episode, Cliff discusses his strategy for balancing his practice, family, and athletic pursuits, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries to ensure a balanced life. He chats with Rob and Paul about how finding a cause one is passionate about, as he is with community involvement and fundraising for veterans, has a positive impact on his practice and personal fulfillment. By sharing his experience with veteran-focused charities and the impact of his fundraising efforts, Cliff encourages all dentists to find small ways to give back to their communities and use their platforms to help others. To get in touch with Cliff and his team, visit MooreDentalLewisCenter.com. You can also find him on Instagram @LC_dentist. To make a donation to Cliff’s upcoming ultramarathon fundraiser on May 3, 2025 for STRIVE, a suicide and trauma reduction initiative for veterans and first responders, click here: https://buckeyefunder.osu.edu/project/46100?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=med_donor-event_fy25_strive-tribute-relay Listeners who want to reach Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-law.com.

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome Mike Slattery, a Managing Director at Crown Tenant Advisors, a boutique healthcare real estate firm. Mike has over ten years of experience in the healthcare industry working with young dentists to find the perfect location and space to start their dream practice and with assisting established dental practices relocate, expand, and purchase property. Mike offers a results-oriented approach through analysis, tenacity, strong negotiation skills, and customer focus. In this episode, Mike discusses the start-up site selection process, emphasizing the importance of analyzing demographics and market competition in chosen areas to ensure that they fit the vision and goals of the practice. He then emphasizes key concessions to negotiate with the landlord, including tenant improvement allowance, free rent, permitted transfers, and renewal options. Mike also discusses critical risk mitigation language to be negotiated at the letter of intent (LOI) phase to protect the dentist, including relocation and exclusive use clauses. To work with Mike and his team, visit crowntenantadvisors.com or call him directly at (619) 306-5048. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome immigration attorney Wendy Castor Hess to explore how dental practices can navigate the complicated world of hiring foreign-trained dentists. Wendy is a partner at Landau, Hess, Simon, Choi, and Doebley, and has over 42 years of experience in Immigration Law. She is fluent in Spanish and serves as counsel to the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia. Wendy advises institutions across healthcare, education, and technology industries, and also represents individuals in family-based cases. She has been recognized repeatedly as one of the Best Lawyers in America, including “Lawyer of the Year” for Immigration Law in Philadelphia. In this episode, Wendy shares her insight on OPT (Optional Practical Training) for F1 student visas and the challenges involved with the H-1B visa lottery. She also discusses the process of obtaining green cards through the PERM labor certification process, and what practice owners need to know to avoid costly mistakes. Wendy emphasizes the need for dental practices to work with immigration specialists to navigate these complexities and ensure compliance with U.S. immigration laws. To learn more about Wendy Castor Hess and her immigration law services, visit lhscimmigration.com or email her directly at whess@lhscimmigration.com. Listeners who want to reach Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-law.com.

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome David J. Goodman, CPA, a partner and Dental Practice Solutions Team Leader at PFK O’Connor Davies Advisory, LLC. David has over 35 years of experience working with a client base of individuals and closely held businesses. Before joining the PKFOD, David was Managing Director of LB Goodman. He is a member of the Academy of Dental CPAs and the Practice Valuation Study Group. He is a licensed CPA in New Jersey, New York and Florida, and a frequent contributor to Dental Economics magazine on practice and financial management. In this episode, David discusses the dental industry trends he observed in the last year. He highlights an overall increase in labor costs, but also the benefits for practice owners who invest in long-term employee retention and staff morale. David then discusses the different financial planning strategies that he recommends for independent dentists with one or two practice locations versus those that he recommends for his clients who run complex multi-location practices. Each year, David Goodman and his team synthesize their dental industry data in their Dental Practices by the Numbers report, which you can download here for more high-level analysis of dental industry financial trends. You can also find him at pfkod.com or reach out to him directly at dgoodman@pfkod.com. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

Episode 133 – Mark Costes, D.D.S. on High-Level Practice Ownership and Philanthropy by The Dental Amigos

Episode 132 - Josh McSpadden, Co-Founder of the PracticeFinder App by The Dental Amigos

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome Alan Stern, D.D.S, recipient of the 2023 Nifty Award for “Most Inspirational Dental Professional.” Alan works with dentists who are looking to create a workplace that is productive and profitable and a life that is rewarding and meaningful. As a speaker, Dr. Stern conducts presentations for dental groups focused on redefining what it means to build a better team and rekindling a passion for what matters. Dr. Stern discusses his journey from disillusionment to fulfillment as a dentist, reflecting on his initial struggles after graduating from dental school, including financial difficulties and a lack of patient acceptance. He shares his personal “AHA!” moment, when he realized the value of gratitude and perspective and their impact on revitalizing his clinical practice. Dr. Stern offers his advice to young dentists facing the same issues, urging them to find community and mentorship. To get in touch with Dr. Stern or schedule a virtual coffee chat with him, visit his website at www.betterricherstronger.com or send him an email at alan@betterricherstronger.com. You can also check out his book, Enjoy the Ride: Lessons for the Quest to Live a Joyful, Profitable Life in Dentistry. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome Valerie Woo, D.M.D. entrepreneur, pediatric dentist, and dental consultant. She leverages her extensive experience to consult, guide, and mentor dentists, helping them transform chaotic practices into thriving, well-organized businesses. She integrates leadership, marketing and operational systems into customized programs, providing strategic guidance that is both practical and compassionate. Dr. Woo discusses her journey from the beginning of her career as a pediatric dentist, to growing her practice and selling to a DSO. Then, she and the Amigos talk about her use of personality assessments to better understand one’s strengths and how they align with the demands of practice ownership. Dr. Woo emphasizes the importance of personal growth and challenges, outside perspectives, and accountability. To get in touch with Dr. Woo or schedule an initial discovery call with her, visit her website www.drvaleriewoo.com. You can also find her on Instagram @drvaleriewoo. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome Rebecca Harring, a specialized dental coach and Vice President of the Denver Dental Professional Learning Network. With over 25 years of dental industry experience, Rebecca guides and empowers dental teams to unlock their full potential through developing office management systems and work environments. In doing so, Rebecca has transformed dental practices through her personalized coaching by improving workflow, strengthening team relationships, reducing errors, and increasing overall production. One of the main ways Rebecca helps transform dental practices is through the use of virtual assistants, implementing a new, more efficient way for office staff to handle patient relations. Listeners who want to reach Rebecca or employ her services can do so at Rebecca@YourTDCoach.com or call her at (720) 880-8444. If you are interested in implementing a virtual assistant, Rebecca offers a complimentary consultation to discuss your practice needs and can facilitate an introduction to Reach, a virtual assistant company, that currently provides a $500 discount off the first month of service with Rebecca’s introduction. If you prefer to connect directly with Reach, you can email boe.larsen@reach.com and if you mention Rebecca’s name and this podcast Reach is currently offering $500 off the first month. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

Paul Etchison, D.D.S. is the author of two books on dental practice management, a dental coach, the owner of a $6 million group practice in the south suburbs of Chicago, and the host of the Dental Practice Heroes Podcast. This week, the Dental Amigos host Dr. Etchison and they discuss strategies for growing and expanding your practice. Through creative planning and scheduling, a practice owner can increase new patient flow and spend less time doing practical dentistry and more time running the business. Dr. Etchison offers strategies for building a team that an owner can trust to run his/her practice in the same way that the owner would run the practice. From bringing on the first associate dentist to delegating responsibilities to empower owners to focus on elements of practice ownership that they enjoy, Dr. Etchison coaches his clients to grow professionally, financially, and personally. Listeners who are interested in Dr. Etchison’s coaching can schedule a call with his team at dentalpracticeheroes.com. Stream the Dental Practice Heroes Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Check out his books, Dental Practice Hero: From Ordinary Practice to Extraordinary Experience and Dental Practice Hero II: The Sequel: How a 3 Day Work Week Can Give You the Life You Want. You can connect with Dr. Etchison on Instagram at @dr.pauletchison, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com. ‍

Soraya Safi, D.M.D. is a coach and mentor to dental students and associate dentists. She helps associate dentists maximize the flexibility and freedom of choosing associateship over ownership and coaches them on how to overcome the isolation that often comes with such a challenging job, all while effectively navigating professional relationships and developing their dental skills after completing their formal education. While associateship may not be viewed as a long-term career choice for many dentists, Dr. Soraya Safi emphasizes that associateship doesn’t have to be just a step on the road to practice ownership. Not every dentist wants the long hours, risk, and responsibility involved with owning his/her own practice. In this episode, Dr. Safi discusses the importance of a good associate employment agreement, strategies to build trust with patients and staff, and the opportunities for continuing education and coaching that are available to associates. Listeners who are interested in Dr. Safi’s coaching can book a free consultation with her at drsaficoaching.com. Check out her Instagram @theforeverassociatedentist or email her at drsafidental@gmail.com. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com. ‍

This week, the Dental Amigos welcome returning guest Stephen Trutter, the CEO of Ideal Practices, a leading consulting firm for dental start-ups. Ideal Practices follows a proven process to guide dentists through every step of opening their start-up. Stephen Trutter has helped launch nearly 1,000 dental start-ups in his 20-year career. Stephen discusses how to position yourself for a smooth transition into practice ownership starting as early as when you are an associate. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and negotiating the restrictions contained in your associate agreement that could impact and limit your future career. Then, he offers his insight into the “acquisition vs. start-up” debate. Finally, Stephen highlights the importance of proper real estate negotiation. Listeners who are pursuing ownership through a start-up can visit IdealPractices.com to explore their consulting services, learn from Stephen’s book, “The Startup Dentist: From Idea to Opening Day”, or register for Ideal Practices’ two-day Startup Practice Blueprint Seminar. Also be sure to check out Stephen’s podcast, The Startup Dentist Podcast. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com. To hear more from Stephen and the Amigos, listen to our first podcast with Stephen here https://thedentalamigos.com/2018/05/30/episode-6-defining-success-in-dentistry-with-amigo-stephen-trutter/

The Dental Amigos welcome DDSmatch’s Joe McGonigal, a dental industry veteran with over 20 years of experience helping dentists plan and execute successful practice transitions in both doctor-to-doctor and DSO affiliated transactions. As a “sell-side” advisor who focuses on the Greater Philadelphia area, New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut, Joe helps clients maximize practice value, identify carefully vetted and qualified buyers, and efficiently manage the transition process. Joe McGonigal joins the Amigos for a conversation about the current practice transition landscape. He discusses how the DSO model for practice valuation, which focuses on cash flow over a percentage of collections, has increased purchase prices even in doctor-to-doctor sales. Joe discusses other factors that impact the final purchase price, including location and detailed, accurate financial record-keeping. Joe offers insight on how the right broker can add value to a practice transaction, and the importance of maintaining a structured, professional process for such a significant event in a practice owner’s career. Listeners who are looking for a highly qualified, dental-specific practice broker to help with their transition can visit DDSmatch.com. To reach Joe directly, please send him a message at jmcgonigal@ddsmatch.com. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

The Dental Amigos are back! Rob and Paul discuss recent developments in the dentistry world regarding the prohibition of covenants not to compete in the employment context by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). This federal non-compete ban by the FTC has been controversial spurring lawsuits that challenge the constitutionality of the ban, resulting in a court order that stopped the FTC from enforcing the ban. The FTC is considering an appeal. While some states have banned non-competes within their states, the prohibition on a federal level remains controversial and will continue to play out. With most associate agreements containing non-competes that prevent dentists from providing competing services within a specified geographic area both during an associate’s employment and for a period of time after leaving employment, this issue is getting a lot of attention in the dental world. The Amigos discuss the value of a non-compete, the limitations that a non-compete ban would impose, as well as the impact that a ban would have on the greater economy. The Amigos also discuss what’s happening with DSOs. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.

The Dental Amigos Rob and Paul are back, welcoming licensed private investigator, forensic CPA, and certified fraud examiner David Harris for a conversation about protecting your practice from financial crime. Returning guest David Harris is CEO of Prosperident, a firm dedicated to investigating financial crimes committed against dentists. Today, David walks the Amigos through the alarming danger financial criminals pose to practice owners, provides insight into the criminal’s thought process in planning and executing the crime, and offers his basic formula for proactively shielding your practice from embezzlement before it happens. Listeners who want to reach David or employ his team’s services can fill out his inquiry form at www.prosperident.com/dental-nachos or call Prosperident’s toll-free phone number at 888-398-2327. You can also check out his definitive book on dental embezzlement, Healers Versus Stealers: How to Outsmart the Thief in Your Dental Practice. To hear more from David and the Amigos, listen to our first podcast with David by clicking here. Listeners who want to reach out to Paul can do so at Paul@DentalNachos.com and those who want to reach out to Rob can do so at Rob@RMontgomery-Law.com.