We've got a longer episode of Justin and Jon Talk Dentistry today, but trust us—it’s worth every minute! We dive into the debate of whether to buy or start a practice, exploring all things dental startups with special guests Dr. Dan Hoang and Dr. Mark Gilstrap. Dr. Dan started a practice from scratch, while Dr. Mark purchased an existing practice.

The discussion spans from starting a practice from scratch versus acquiring an existing one, to the intricacies of location selection, negotiation with vendors, and balancing financial stability. The episode also highlights personal stories of overcoming challenges in both pediatric and general dentistry, the critical role of community engagement, and the importance of family support in practice ownership decisions.

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction and Today's Topic
• (00:46) - Meet Dr. Mark
• (02:26) - Meet Dr. Dan
• (03:48) - Dr. Dan's Journey to Starting a Practice
• (11:51) - Challenges of Starting a Practice
• (18:38) - Dr. Mark's Acquisition Story
• (26:14) - Building a Patient Base
• (32:57) - Challenges of Being the New Face
• (38:13) - Setting Yourself Apart Early
• (41:30) - Explaining Your Vision and Practice Style
• (45:45) - The Role of Mentorship
• (58:10) - Balancing Professional and Personal Life
• (01:00:48) - Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode of Justin and John Talk Dentistry, Justin and John welcome Dr. Brad Hughes, founder and CEO of Vision Dental Partners. They discuss the nuances of working across multiple dental practice locations and the significance of innovative branding beyond traditional marketing methods. This conversation explores the evolving landscape of dental marketing, the role of social media, and the vital need to create authentic connections with patients. A must-listen for those looking to understand modern branding strategies in dentistry.

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Introduction
• (01:12) - How We Met Dr. Hugh
• (03:03) - Dr. Hughes Journey and Vision Dental Partners
• (07:16) - Innovative Marketing Strategies
• (11:59) - Building Personal Brands in Dentistry
• (19:40) - Challenges and Strategies in Personal Branding
• (25:40) - Diving into Data-Driven Marketing
• (26:29) - The Future of Dental Marketing
• (43:44) - How to Know When to Trust Dental Consultants and Experts
• (47:10) - Defining Success and Authenticity
• (49:34) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook

In this episode, Justin and Jon tackle the all-too-common habit of complaining. While everyone does it, they explore strategies for managing complaints—whether your own or those from your staff. Jon, originally from France, knows a thing or two about the art of complaining. The episode highlights the critical importance of effective communication, setting clear expectations, and using data to back up concerns. Their key takeaway? Stop complaining and start doing!

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction and Episode Overview
• (00:14) - The Art of Complaining in Dentistry
• (03:13) - Effective Communication and Setting Expectations
• (05:41) - Handling Vendor Relationships
• (09:25) - Employee Performance and Feedback
• (17:08) - The Challenge of Changing Software
• (21:22) - Communication Breakdowns and How to Avoid Them
• (28:44) - Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways