For many dental professionals, 2025 was the year of survival. And, thriving in 2026 is going to take a complete shift on every front - leadership, technology adoption and strategy. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker starts the new year by sitting down with Brian Colao, Director of the DSO Industry Group at Dykema, for a candid retrospective on 2025's "muted recovery" and what's really coming next. Brian breaks down why same-store growth stalled for many (spoiler: it's not always about the technology), reveals the anatomy of struggling DSOs, and shares the counterintuitive moves top performers are making right now. Tune in for actionable strategies to position your organization for the growth that 2026 promises to bring.

Practice integration, patient convenience and automation are all set to take over the dental landscape in 2026 (among other big trends) and we’re unpacking it all in the last episode of The Dental Economist Show of the year! Tune in as host, Mike Huffaker, brings back some of the show’s biggest hits, courtesy Eric Pastan, Mariz Tanious, Jeremy Livengood and Tobi Bosede. From elevated clinical outcomes driven by tech to making dental access as convenient as DoorDash, this year-ender spotlights everything you need to be prepped for the dental evolution that’s on its way. Join us in saying “goodbye” to 2025 and “bring it on” to 2026!

As the year in dentistry comes to a close, there’s A LOT to unpack. Join us for a retrospective on the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show as host, Mike Huffaker reflects on some of the most thought-provoking insights, opinions and predictions we’ve witnessed on the series this year. From how IT teams can become a strategic growth partner for dental businesses and areas of operation that AI is transforming to the trends driving oral health today, this episode features eye-opening perspectives from industry experts Tom Barberio, Ryan Mingus, Greg White and Jill Nesbitt. It’s the perfect snapshot of dentistry to head into 2026 with. And, this is only part 1!

Marketing tactics can only do so much to grow your dental practice. Building genuine trust and boldness in how you connect with your patients will do a lot. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Fred Joyal, Co-Founder of 1-800-Dentists and author of “Superbold”, to explore why patient anxiety could be your biggest opportunity, how to build a team culture that sells dentistry naturally and the counterintuitive strategies DSOs are getting right and wrong. Tune in for decades of proven insights on creating remarkable patient experiences and the bold mindset shifts that separate thriving practices from the rest.

What does it take to build the world’s most luxe dental clinic? Hustle, a killer personal brand and Dr. Manrina Rhode’s unbeatable strategies. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show with Mike Huffaker, Manrina, founder and CEO of DRMR Clinic in London's Knightsbridge, opens up her playbook on creating an iconic and exclusive brand, diving deep into the pages of building an award-winning practice, leveraging social media before it was mainstream in dentistry and navigating the brutal reality of entrepreneurship. Tune in for candid, unfiltered insights on building a global luxury dental brand while mastering business fundamentals and growing personally, too.

When a DSO legend like Pat Bauer, President and CEO of Heartland Dental, tells you to lead with kindness, you listen. In the 100th episode of The Dental Economist Show, there’s a lot to celebrate - Pat’s incredible journey from working at a gas station to building a DSO behemoth, the power of kindness and his ‘no-jerk’ rule and of course, our show’s exciting milestone. Tune in as host Mike Huffaker sits down with Pat to explore building sustainable organizational culture, maintaining clinical autonomy at scale and the power of consistent personal development. From the impact of AI in modern dentistry to fostering honest feedback loops, this conversation reveals how values-driven leadership can transform both individual practices and large organizations. As it turns out, being "nice" might be the most powerful business strategy of all.

In today’s ever-evolving dental landscape, it can be hard to put a finger on one’s real competitive advantage. Well, Stephenie Goddard, CEO of Glidewell Dental, has a few ideas. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Stephenie to explore how to build a thriving culture in a rapidly evolving industry, why curiosity and humility matter more than you think and the strategic moves that transform labs and practices into innovation leaders. Whether you're navigating generational workforce challenges, wondering how AI actually impacts your team, or seeking to grow your business sustainably, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on leadership, technology adoption, and creating lasting organizational impact. As it turns out, staying curious and vulnerable as a leader are the competitive advantages that can unlock unprecedented growth for your practice or organization.

Dental’s in flight mode when it comes to AI and it needs to step into embrace mode. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, we explore why and how. Tune in as host Mike Huffaker sits down with Nathan James, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Product Design at Planet DDS, to explore the intersection of AI innovation, product strategy, and dental practice management. Drawing from his unique journey across GovTech, Fintech, Martech, and now MedTech (plus a family legacy tied to ESPN's founding) Nathan shares how dental practices can navigate the AI revolution while building sustainable competitive advantages in an increasingly complex business landscape. This episode is sure to inject some much-needed curiosity and vigor into your approach to dental to tech.

Contrary to popular belief, keeping your eye solely on profit-making often limits a practice’s growth. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva, founder and CEO of MB2 Dental, to explore what happens when dental organizations shift their focus to empowering practitioners instead of just driving profits. Tune in to find out how a "bunch of knucklehead dentists" built an 800+ practice organization without compromising clinical autonomy, how his unique childhood across three continents shaped his innovative leadership approaches, and why success in dentistry comes down to treating people right. We all need a reminder of what really matters; this is the reminder every dental professional needs.

Every dental practice is only as good as the number of people who know it is. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Janet Hagerman, a leading voice in dental sales, DSO Fractional Chief Hygiene Officer and case acceptance coach, to explore the evolution of dental hygiene leadership and the art of ethical case presentation. Tune in for fascinating insights on why case acceptance rates hover at 30-50%, how to tailor treatment conversations to patient values, and proven strategies for building consistent hygiene protocols across multiple practices. From implementing assisted hygiene models to leveraging KPIs effectively, this episode leaves no stone unturned for leaders looking to elevate their hygiene departments and improve patient care outcomes. In some cases, experience really IS the best teacher.

What if you could optimize your dental practice's revenue cycle management while actually improving patient experience? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Chrissy Bridgeman, a self-proclaimed "Revenue Cycle Janitor" and CEO of MODPractice, to explore the sweet spot for centralizing billing operations, the truth about AI in dental billing, and how to achieve a 95% first-time claims acceptance rate. Whether you're running a single practice or managing multiple locations, this conversation delivers practical insights on creating efficient billing processes without sacrificing patient relationships.

What if the key to scaling a dental group wasn’t just capital or systems - but alignment? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Dr. Alex Giannini, Chief Strategy Officer at Aligned Dental Partners, to unpack the evolution of dental group practices - from early DSOs to today’s capital-rich landscape. Dr. Giannini shares how he turned one struggling office into a thriving network, revealing the frameworks behind sustainable growth, the pitfalls that derail most DSOs after practice #4, and why aligning values between doctors, investors, and leadership teams is the true differentiator in long-term success. Whether you’re building your first group or leading a fast-growing organization, this episode delivers hard-earned lessons from a true DSO pioneer.

Being the new kid on the block can be a daunting affair - especially in today’s dental landscape. But if you’re Jeremy Livengood, CEO of Seva Dental, it’s an exciting journey of focused culture-building that drives growth and impact. He joins Mike Huffaker on the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show to explore the power of culture-first leadership, managing practice transitions with empathy, and implementing technology changes that drive real results. Tune in for surprising emotional truths about dental business transactions, the reasons why dental tech shouldn’t become your crutch and a lot more unique perspectives. The conversation proves that unsurprisingly, even in an era of tech dominance, dentistry can’t afford to lose its personal touch.

Are you using all the data available at your fingertips to its optimal potential? In today’s day and age, you can and must leverage the power of AI and data-driven decisions to scale your healthcare practice. In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dan Hosler, CEO of Allied OMS, to explore strategic practice growth in today's market. From securing private equity investment to implementing AI solutions and maintaining strong referral networks, Dan shares practical insights on balancing innovation with operational excellence. Whatever your priority - practice expansion, technology integration, or improving your bottom line, this conversation offers actionable strategies for navigating the evolving healthcare landscape.

In the hustle and bustle of dentistry, it can be easy to lose sight of one simple yet crucial fact: Dentistry is a people’s business. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker welcomes Saam Zarrabi, DDS, CEO of Rodeo Dental, to explore scaling a dental practice from single-location operations to a thriving 50-office organization and why people-centricity has everything to do with it. Tune in to learn how his team reduced patient wait times by 20% through strategic change management, discover the evolution of leadership roles in growing DSOs, and uncover practical insights on implementing new processes at scale. This conversation proves that putting people first takes your business to first place.

What if you could build a successful DSO while maintaining true doctor autonomy? In this episode The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Dr. Peter Theurer, CEO of Bridge Dental Group, to explore how he scaled to 26 locations in just two years through a unique doctor-led partnership model. From securing initial capital and building the right leadership team to creating win-win acquisition strategies, Dr. Theurer shares candid insights about growing a DSO that prioritizes clinical independence while delivering meaningful practice support. Whether you're considering a DSO partnership or building your own group, this episode reveals practical strategies for scaling without sacrificing practitioner autonomy.

What does it take to run a multi-speciality dental business successfully, without ever losing the ‘why’? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike sits down with Leslie Soto, Vice President, Operations of Five Point Dental Specialists, to explore how to drive organic growth across 68 locations spanning oral surgery, orthodontics, and general dentistry. Tune in for practical insights on harmonizing different specialties under one roof, leveraging technology for better operations, and maintaining a strong organizational culture during periods of change. This episode offers valuable perspectives on balancing growth with stability while keeping patient care at the forefront.

What if your dental practice was both recession-proof and tech-forward? Well, that would mean it’s set to thrive in today’s dentistry landscape. In this episode, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Mike Friguletto, CEO of Beacon Oral Specialists, to explore what it takes to scale a practice to 107 locations while maintaining strong referral relationships, leveraging AI for practice optimization, and navigating generational transitions in oral surgery practices. Tune in to discover why maintaining that crucial "first five minutes" of patient experience could be the key to practice success, why AI is no match for the human touch and how digital transformation can drive practice growth rather than hinder it. We’re living in changing times, but remember - you’ve got to take it one step at a time.

Dentistry is seeing some tough days - but is it worth sticking around and riding the wave of a $200 billion industry? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Steve Bilt, CEO of Smile Brands, to explore the current state of the dental industry, strategies for sustainable growth, and the future of AI in dentistry. Tune in for practical and game-changing insights on navigating market turbulence while building a dental business that stands the test of time. From “why building a business ‘you'll never sell’ creates the strongest foundation”, to “leveraging market challenges as opportunities”, and “why the DSO model continues to bridge crucial gaps in dental care accessibility”, he talks about it all. Tune in for a pragmatic reminder of the potential of dentistry - today and in the future.

What if you could build a dental organization focused on preserving local practices while delivering exceptional growth? In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker sits down with Dr. Greg White, President and CEO of PepperPointe Partnerships, to explore a unique doctor-owned DSO model that’s achieving 50% profitability increases across its practices and has grown to support over 130 locations while protecting doctor ownership, patient care, and local community roots. This conversation highlights that dental technology is shifting from being a cost center to becoming a true business enabler.