The Lifestyle Practice Podcast For Dentists

From dental student to dental practice owner in just 14 months — Dr. Mitch Rush breaks down exactly how he did it. In this episode of the Lifestyle Practice Podcast, host Dr. Derek Williams sits down with TLP coaching client Dr. Mitch Rush to walk through the full journey of buying a dental practice, navigating the chaos of first-year ownership, and growing production from $1.25M to a $135–140K monthly pace in just four months. If you're a dentist looking to buy a practice, an associate dentist planning for ownership, or simply want real, unfiltered insight into dental practice management, business growth, and what dental coaching actually looks like — this episode is for you. Mitch shares the fears he never talked about, the team drama he didn't expect, and the acquisition strategies that helped him hit the ground running. This conversation covers everything from evaluating a dental practice prospectus and writing an LOI to managing a pre-existing team, firing your first employee, and setting a culture of core values from day one. Mitch is a graduate of the TLP Academy, the same program that has helped hundreds of dentists transition from associate to owner with confidence and clarity. Whether you're in dental school preparing early or an associate dentist ready to leap, Mitch's story proves that preparation plus the right coaching equals momentum from day one.   Connect with us: Take our FREE lifestyle and practice assessment: https://thelifestylepractice.com/practice-assesment/ Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/ Get access to TLP Academy: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/ Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlp-podcast-for-dentists/id1476544801 Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com 

A new dentist buys a practice after 1.5 years of searching and due diligence. Rapid leadership and culture changes turn empty operatories into a fully booked schedule. Tough sacrifices and bold moves like dropping low-fee insurance reshape income and work-life balance. A hard-nosed mindset push: take ownership and stop waiting for rescue.

Are you a dentist or entrepreneur looking to build a lifestyle practice without burnout? In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Matt Vogt sits down with Matt Brown and Dr. Andrew Vallow to break down how to build a high-income dental practice that creates freedom, flexibility, and true work-life balance. Dr. Matt Vogt shares his journey from early startup struggles to building a multi-seven-figure dental practice while still pursuing elite-level golf and qualifying for the US Open Championship. We discuss key strategies for dental startups, practice ownership, scaling a dental business, avoiding burnout, and designing a life-first business model. Whether you are a new dentist, practice owner, or entrepreneur, this episode provides valuable insights into time freedom, productivity, leadership, and intentional growth.   Connect with us: Take our FREE lifestyle and practice assessment: https://thelifestylepractice.com/practice-assesment/ Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/ Get access to TLP Academy: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/ Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlp-podcast-for-dentists/id1476544801 Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com 

A clear breakdown of the math and strategy behind reaching $500K annual income in dentistry. Practical tactics for boosting case acceptance, diagnosis confidence, and schedule productivity. Leadership moves to lower overhead and design a high-income, low-hour workweek. Tips on identifying the single bottleneck and pulling the right lever to scale profit and freedom.

High-income dentist mindset, dental practice growth strategies, and dentist business success are not about luck—they come from specific habits and skills that top dentists develop. In this episode, we break down the three traits of high-income dentists that separate average dental practices from highly profitable ones. If you're a dentist who wants to increase dental production, grow a dental practice, improve case acceptance, and build a profitable dental business, this episode will show you what elite dentists consistently do differently. Dr. Steve Van De Graaff shares insights from 10+ years in dentistry and coaching high-performing dentists, revealing the behaviors, leadership skills, and production mindset that help dentists dramatically increase their income and impact. Connect with us: Take our FREE lifestyle and practice assessment: https://thelifestylepractice.com/practice-assesment/ Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/ Get access to TLP Academy: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/ Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlp-podcast-for-dentists/id1476544801 Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com 

They explore why ads and mailers fail to bring new patients when internal systems are weak. The conversation highlights phone conversion, intake and scheduling systems, and front desk training as hidden marketing. Team alignment, case presentation skills, and treatment acceptance strategies are shown as crucial to turning leads into booked care.

A dentist recounts the rapid climb from student debt to seven figures through buying a practice early and aggressive prioritization. They explore systems-first practice management, scheduling and staffing fixes, and case acceptance strategies. Leadership, coaching, and avoiding burnout through disciplined process are highlighted as the keys to scalable, repeatable growth.

They discuss keeping specialty procedures in-house to boost revenue and reduce burnout. They cover high-profit services like implants, endodontics, and oral surgery. They explain how targeted continuing education and live-patient mentorship build clinical skills. They outline a simple roadmap: pick one skill, get mentorship, and grow incrementally for big production gains.

A clear look at whether dentistry stays a viable career in 2026. Discussion of rising interest rates, shrinking reimbursements, and staffing crunches. Exploration of tech overload and growing monthly overhead. Focus on leadership, margin protection, and the shifting math of practice ownership.

Dr. Cody Santora, a dentist and practice owner who bought an underperforming office, doubled collections from ~$840K to $1.6M in a year. He explains staffing changes, fee adjustments, and schedule tweaks that drove growth. He also covers creating team buy-in, daily training, and using coaching for accountability.