Podcast appearances and mentions of len tau

What if the problem isn't your marketing, but what happens after the lead comes in? Too many dental practices spend thousands on ads only to watch potential patients disappear because of slow follow-up, poor communication, and broken systems.  Dr. Len Tau welcomes Tim Hines, President of Briteline Dental, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing dental practices today: converting high-value treatment leads into scheduled patients. Tim shares how his team helps practices improve lead response times, nurture prospective patients, and build trust through human-first communication. Throughout the conversation, they explore why many practices mistakenly blame their marketing agencies when the real issue lies in lead management and follow-up systems. Tim explains the importance of speed-to-lead, multiple touchpoints, and conversational selling, especially for patients considering treatments like implants, full-arch restorations, and cosmetic dentistry. They also discuss the role of AI in dentistry, the impact of financing conversations, and how practices can avoid wasting valuable chair time on unqualified leads. If you've ever wondered why your marketing isn't producing the ROI you expect, this episode offers practical strategies you can implement immediately. What You'll Learn Why most dental practices have a lead management problem, not a marketing problem. The importance of speed-to-lead and consistent follow-up. How conversational selling increases treatment acceptance. Where AI fits into patient communication and where human connection still wins. How to qualify patients without making financing the focus. Ways to improve conversion rates for implants, full-arch cases, and cosmetic dentistry. How practices can avoid wasting valuable chair time on unqualified patients. Simple changes you can make this week to improve lead conversion. — Key Takeaways 01:55 Introduction to Tim Hines and Briteline Dental 04:00 What Briteline Dental Does for Dental Practices 06:35 Why Practices Blame the Wrong Problem 11:32 The Biggest Lead Conversion Mistakes Practices Make 16:03 Understanding the ROI of Big Case Marketing 19:12 How Outsourcing Lead Management Helps Practices Grow 22:22 Why Patient Advocates Matter More Than Appointment Setters 25:35 The Power of Conversational Selling 27:15 AI vs. Human Connection in Dental Practices 29:39 Is It a Marketing Problem or a Systems Problem? 31:50 Financing Conversations and Treatment Acceptance 35:00 Avoiding Unqualified Patients on the Schedule 36:52 Simple Changes to Improve Lead Conversion Today  37:57 How to Connect with Tim Hines 39:33 Final Thoughts and Supercharge Your Dental Practice Reminder

Your practice management software isn't the problem. More often than not, it's the workflows behind it. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Jill Nesbitt, founder of Optimize Dental Consulting, to discuss how dental practices can maximize their technology, improve patient experience, and eliminate operational bottlenecks without constantly chasing the next software solution. Whether you're a solo practice or managing multiple locations, Jill shares why software adoption, team training, and standardized workflows have a greater impact than the software itself. They also explore common mistakes practices make during software transitions, why patient billing often creates the biggest frustrations, and how optimizing existing systems can improve efficiency, profitability, and patient satisfaction.     What You'll Learn Why workflow matters more than the software itself The biggest patient experience issues caused by poor system adoption Signs your practice has outgrown its current software How to successfully transition to cloud-based dental software The importance of team buy-in and change management Ways to maximize the technology you're already paying for How better workflows improve collections, operations, and patient satisfaction Why standard operating procedures (SOPs) are essential for software success Common mistakes practices make during implementation How multi-location practices can standardize operations without sacrificing efficiency — Key Takeaways 01:42 Stop Blaming the Software: Fixing the Workflows That Shape Patient Experience 03:16 Meet Jill Nesbitt and Optimize Dental Consulting 06:15 Why Most Practices Only Use a Fraction of Their Software 08:29 Choosing the Right Cloud-Based Practice Management System 12:30 How Software Directly Impacts Patient Experience 16:37 When It's Time to Switch Software 22:50 Unlocking Hidden Features and Workflow Automation 25:26 Training Your Team for Long-Term Success 28:34 Managing Change and Getting Team Buy-In 31:18 The First Step to Optimizing Your Current Software  34:58 Lightning Round with Jill Nesbitt 39:02 Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Jill   — Connect With Jill Website:https://www.optimizedent.com/  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillnesbitt   — 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!

Burnout has become one of the biggest challenges facing dentists today, but it doesn't have to define your career. In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with returning guest Dr. Eric Block to discuss the realities of burnout, the hidden stressors dentists face, and the practical systems that can transform a chaotic practice into one that supports both professional success and personal well-being. Dr. Block shares his own journey from questioning his career to rediscovering his passion for dentistry. Together, they explore leadership, standard operating procedures, going out of network, patient relationships, technology, and why creating efficient systems isn't just good for business—it's essential for your mental health. Whether you're a new dentist or an experienced practice owner, this episode is full of practical advice for building a healthier, more profitable practice. What You'll Learn Why burnout happens to so many dentists and how to recognize the warning signs. The importance of seeking help before stress becomes overwhelming. How leadership directly impacts practice culture and team performance. Why documented systems and SOPs reduce stress for both dentists and staff. The benefits and challenges of transitioning out of PPO insurance plans. How adding new technology and services can reignite your passion for dentistry. Why sleep apnea treatment is one of the biggest opportunities in modern dental practices. Practical strategies for creating a practice that supports your life instead of consuming it.   Key Takeaways 00:54 From Burnout to Better Dentistry: Systems, Technology, and Sanity 03:53 Dr. Eric Block's journey into dentistry 05:40 Experiencing burnout and finding help  10:11 Why dentists struggle after dental school 14:45 Recognizing the warning signs of burnout 16:45 Getting help through therapy, coaching, and mentorship 18:53 The reality of PPOs and going out of network 23:42 Why every practice needs documented SOPs 25:46 Becoming a stronger leader 27:45 Building a practice that supports your life 29:58 What makes a healthy, high-performing practice 32:00 Why sleep apnea treatment excites Dr. Block 34:15 Lightning Round 37:50 How to connect with Dr. Eric Block — Connect with Dr Eric Website: https://useflomo.com https://thestressfreedentist.com Email: eric@useflomo.com   — 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!  

In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Barrett Cox, Director of Performance Marketing at Net32, to discuss what dental marketing actually looks like in 2026. From online reputation and Google reviews to AI, paid advertising, and patient retention, Barrett shares practical strategies that help practices grow without wasting their marketing budget. Rather than chasing every new marketing trend, Barrett explains why the strongest practices focus on building trust first. A great patient experience, consistent educational content, and a solid online presence create the foundation that makes every marketing dollar work harder. He also shares how practices can better evaluate marketing agencies, avoid misleading performance metrics, and measure success using simple business numbers instead of complicated dashboards. Whether you're investing heavily in marketing or just getting started, this conversation offers practical advice to help you attract more patients, retain the ones you already have, and build sustainable growth for your practice.       What You'll Learn Why reputation and trust are still the biggest drivers of new patient growth How to maximize a small dental marketing budget Common Google Ads mistakes that waste money The importance of patient retention before patient acquisition Simple ways to measure marketing ROI without complex dashboards How AI is changing dental marketing and SEO Why consistency matters more than posting constantly How to evaluate whether your marketing agency is actually delivering results The front desk's role in converting marketing leads into patients Marketing strategies every dental practice should prioritize in 2026 — Key Takeaways 00:55 Welcome to the Podcast & Introducing Barrett Cox 03:05 What Net32 Does for Dental Practices 05:02 What's Working in Dental Marketing in 2026 07:20 Google Ads, Brand Searches & Avoiding Wasted Spend 11:17 Marketing on a Small Budget 14:35 How to Measure Marketing Success 18:50 Building the Right Foundation Before Marketing 20:31 AI, SEO & The Future of Dental Marketing 22:23 Why Marketing Sometimes Fails 26:42 Easy Marketing Wins Every Practice Can Implement 28:20 Avoiding Marketing That Looks Good But Doesn't Perform 30:13 The Front Desk's Impact on Marketing ROI 30:52 Should Practices Use AI Receptionists? 32:38 The Biggest Marketing Mistakes Dentists Make 34:25 Final Marketing Advice & How to Connect with Barrett   — Connect with Barrett Website: https://www.net32.com/ Email: bcox@net32.com   — 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!  

AI is changing dentistry faster than ever, but when it comes to marketing, not everything should be automated. In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Michael Myers, CEO of DelMain, to discuss how dental practices can use AI to attract more patients without losing the authenticity that builds trust. From AI-powered search engines and Google's evolving algorithms to reviews, SEO, paid ads, and website strategy, Michael shares practical insights every dentist should understand before making their next marketing decision. If you've been wondering how AI will impact patient acquisition and what your practice should prioritize today, this conversation offers a clear roadmap for staying ahead. What You'll Learn How AI is changing the way patients search for dentists Why authentic content beats AI-generated content every time The biggest AI marketing myths dentists should ignore How reviews influence both Google and AI search recommendations Why custom websites outperform generic templates The future of Google Ads, Meta Ads, and AI-powered search Practical ways to use AI without sacrificing the patient experience What makes a dental practice become the obvious choice online Key Takeaways 02:00 How AI Is Reshaping Dental Practice Growth 03:38 What DelMain Does for Dental Practices 04:45 How AI Is Changing Dental Marketing 07:05 Where AI Fits Into the Patient Experience 12:20 The Biggest AI Marketing Myths 16:48 Google Ads vs. Meta Ads 18:35 AI Search vs. Google Search 23:08 Why Reviews Matter More Than Ever 27:26 How Practices Can Stand Out Online 29:55 Human-Led, AI-Supported Marketing 32:33 Lightning Round with Michael Myers 36:59 Final Thoughts and Special Offer — Connect with Michael

What if one of the biggest growth opportunities in your practice isn't finding new patients but reconnecting with the ones you already have? In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Ben Fish, Founder and CEO of EngageDent AI, to discuss how artificial intelligence is helping dental practices recover lost revenue, reduce no-shows, improve case acceptance, and strengthen patient relationships. Ben shares how AI-powered patient communication tools are transforming both inbound and outbound engagement, helping practices reconnect with inactive patients, recover unscheduled treatment, and ensure no opportunity slips through the cracks. He also explains why AI should be viewed as a tool that empowers teams rather than replaces them and offers practical advice for dentists evaluating AI solutions for their practices. If you're looking to improve patient retention, increase production, and future-proof your practice, this episode is packed with actionable insights.   What You'll Learn Where practices are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in unscheduled treatment How AI can reactivate inactive patients and recover missed opportunities Why patient trust is the key to reducing no-shows and increasing case acceptance The difference between AI replacing staff and AI empowering staff How AI receptionists can improve patient communication and capture missed calls Common reasons patients delay treatment and how AI helps overcome objections What dentists should look for when evaluating AI vendors How AI may transform dental practices over the next five years — Key Takeaways 01:44 $300,000 Is Hiding in Your Inactive Patient List 03:12 Meet Ben Fish and EngageDent AI 06:18 Where Practices Lose Revenue From Inactive Patients 10:42 Can AI Replace Front Desk Team Members? 15:09 Using AI to Improve Treatment Follow-Up 17:47 Real Practice Success Stories and Revenue Growth 21:50 Why Every Practice Needs Someone Answering the Phone 24:06 Winning Over AI Skeptics 26:31 How AI Reduces No-Shows 28:36 The Future of AI in Dentistry 32:30 Questions Every Dentist Should Ask AI Vendors 35:30 How Practices Can Prepare for an AI-Powered Future 37:14 Special Offer for Raving Patients Listeners 38:35 Final Thoughts and Takeaways — Connect with Ben Email: ben@engagedent.com Website: EngageDent AI Special Offer for Raving Patients listeners: Mention the podcast and receive a waived implementation fee plus a pilot program opportunity.   — 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 separates thriving dental practices from those constantly struggling with team turnover, communication issues, and operational chaos? In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with former NCAA National Champion, AP National Coach of the Year, and executive coach Matt Doherty to discuss how championship-level leadership principles can transform dental practices. Drawing from his experience playing under legendary coach Dean Smith and leading major college basketball programs, Matt shares practical strategies for building stronger cultures, creating accountability, and developing high-performing teams. Whether you're a practice owner, leader, or team member, this conversation offers valuable lessons on leadership, culture, hiring, and creating an environment where people can thrive. What You'll Learn Why culture is the foundation of every successful dental practice The Organizational Triangle: Talent, Systems, and Culture Leadership lessons Matt learned from Dean Smith How to identify and communicate your practice's "why" Why core values often fail and how to make them actionable The importance of accountability without creating conflict How championship teams and successful dental practices share similar principles Why hiring for culture fit matters as much as hiring for skill How daily huddles and repetition build consistency and excellence Real examples of culture transformation inside dental practices — Key Takeaways 00:56 Driving a Championship Culture with Matt Doherty 04:10 From National Championship Coach to Dental Consultant 08:01 Why Culture Matters More Than Talent 11:27 Leadership Lessons from Dean Smith 16:12 Discovering Your Why as a Practice Owner 20:28 Building the Organizational Triangle 25:45 Education Without Action Is Just Entertainment 31:35 Creating Accountability Without Conflict 35:47 A Real Dental Practice Culture Transformation 37:52 How Matt Helps Dental Practices Build Winning Teams   — Connect with Matt Website: dohertycoaching.com Email: matt@dohertycoaching.com YT Channel: Doherty Coaching   — 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 happens after orthodontic treatment ends? For many practices, it's a missed opportunity. Patients lose retainers, stop wearing them, and eventually see their results begin to shift. Meanwhile, practices lose touch with patients and leave recurring revenue on the table. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Dr. Blair Feldman, orthodontist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Retainer Club, to discuss how practices can transform retention from an afterthought into a scalable patient care and revenue strategy. Drawing from his experience building and exiting multiple orthodontic practices, Blair shares how subscription-based retainer programs help practices protect treatment outcomes while creating a seamless patient experience. Dr. Len and Blair explore the economics of retainer programs, patient compliance, recurring revenue opportunities, AI adoption, and the importance of maintaining relationships with patients long after treatment is complete. Whether you're an orthodontist, Invisalign provider, or general dentist offering aligner therapy, this conversation offers practical strategies for extending patient lifetime value while improving clinical outcomes.   What You'll Learn Why retention is one of the most overlooked stages of orthodontic treatment How recurring revenue models can benefit both patients and practices The biggest mistakes practices make after treatment is completed How online retainer fulfillment improves patient compliance Recommended strategies for pricing retainer programs Why patient education is critical for long-term treatment success The role technology and automation play in post-treatment care How practices can increase patient lifetime value through retention programs The importance of transparency when discussing retention and retreatment Business lessons from building and scaling a successful dental startup   Key Takeaways 01:48 Set It and Collect It: How Smart Practices Are Building Recurring Revenue After Aligner Treatments 04:20 The Retainer Gap Most Practices Overlook 08:11 Why Retainers Need Regular Replacement 11:13 Building Predictable Recurring Revenue with Retainer Programs 14:22 The Ideal Retainer Program Playbook 17:36 What Happens When Patients Lose Their Retainers? 18:40 Creating Long-Term Retention and Wellness Scan Strategies 23:05 Subscription Models and Automated Retainer Delivery 24:11 Beyond Orthodontics: Veneer Guards, Whitening Trays, and More 26:30 Why Every Aligner Practice Needs a Retention Program 31:14 Common Objections Practices Have About Retainer Programs 32:35 Lightning Round: Business, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship 38:45 Special Offer for Raving Patients Listeners   — Connect with Dr Blair Co-Founder & President, Retainer Club LinkedIn: Blair Feldman Website: Retainer Club Learn more about how Retainer Club helps practices create recurring revenue while protecting patient outcomes through seamless retainer fulfillment programs.   — 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 the biggest issues in dentistry are the ones you can't see? In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with renowned prosthodontist and innovator Cherilyn Sheets to discuss how new diagnostic technology is changing the future of dentistry. Cherilyn shares the story behind Interview and Quantitative Percussion Diagnostics (QPD), a science-based system designed to detect cracks, loose restorations, implant instability, and structural weaknesses before they become catastrophic problems. Dr. Tau and Cherilyn explore how this technology helps dentists improve diagnostics, increase patient trust, and boost case acceptance by showing patients issues that traditional imaging often misses. They also dive into the intersection of dentistry, engineering, AI, and preventive care, along with the journey of bringing a groundbreaking dental innovation to market. From early diagnosis to patient communication, this conversation highlights how modern dentistry is moving beyond what can simply be seen on an X-ray. What You'll Learn How Quantitative Percussion Diagnostics (QPD) works Why traditional imaging can miss structural tooth problems How Interview technology helps improve case acceptance The role of AI and engineering in modern dental diagnostics How dentists can identify cracks, loose crowns, and implant instability earlier Why preventive intervention creates better patient outcomes How Cherilyn Sheets helped develop and commercialize this technology The importance of combining science, integrity, and innovation in dentistry — Key Takeaways 00:56 Introduction to Cherilyn Sheets and Interview Technology 03:30 What Interview Technology Actually Does 06:11 Who Benefits Most from QPD Diagnostics 08:42 How Technology Improves Case Acceptance 11:10 Understanding Quantitative Percussion Diagnostics (QPD) 14:52 Detecting Cracks, Stress, and Structural Problems Early 17:55 Comparing Interview to Other Diagnostic Technologies 18:35 Using QPD to Find Pain Sources Faster 19:16 Common Objections and Ease of Use in Practices 23:22 FDA Approval and Product Validation 25:29 The Story Behind the Technology's Creation 30:55 Why Interview Complements X-Rays Instead of Replacing Them 32:42 Cherilyn's Passion for Innovation and AI in Dentistry 33:45 Lightning Round Questions 40:30 Special Offer and How to Learn More About Interview 41:40 Final Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up   — Connect with Cherilyn Website: Innerview AI - https://innerview.ai/ Email: cgsheets@ncofi.org Organization: Newport Coast Oral Facial Institute (NCOFI) — 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 the biggest reason your marketing is not working has nothing to do with your marketing company? In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with dental marketing expert Nicole Toudouze to unpack the most common marketing mistakes dental practices are making today and what dentists need to do differently to actually see results. Nicole shares practical insights from working with hundreds of dental practices, including why so many offices fail to define clear marketing goals, how missed phone calls quietly destroy ROI, why outdated websites sabotage ad performance, and the real budget practices need if they expect sustainable growth. The conversation also dives into AI in dental marketing, online scheduling, patient acquisition costs, realistic expectations, and why practices often blame marketing companies when the real issue lies inside the office systems. If you are investing in marketing but not seeing the growth you expected, this episode will help you identify where the disconnect may actually be and how to build a marketing strategy that truly supports long-term practice growth.   What You'll Learn The top five marketing mistakes dental practices are making today Why defining clear growth goals matters before spending on ads How missed phone calls destroy patient acquisition opportunities Why your website can make or break marketing performance The truth about realistic dental marketing budgets How Google Ads actually work behind the scenes Why dentists often give up on marketing too quickly Nicole's thoughts on AI answering patient phone calls The importance of tracking ROI and marketing performance How AI and changing search behavior are reshaping dental marketing Key Takeaways 00:45 Introduction and Episode Overview 03:42 Nicole Announces Her New Podcast 05:15 What Transcend Dental Does for Practices 06:20 The First Marketing Mistake: Lack of Clear Goals 08:10 Why Answering the Phone Still Matters 09:24 AI Receptionists vs Human Connection 13:57 Why Your Website Could Be Hurting Marketing 14:46 Online Scheduling and Patient Expectations 16:48 The Reality of Dental Marketing Budgets 21:10 Why Dentists Underestimate Marketing Costs 27:05 The Problem with Unrealistic Marketing Expectations 27:50 How Google Ads Actually Learn and Improve 30:52 Why Marketing Companies Become the Scapegoat 33:08 How AI Is Changing Dental Marketing 35:18 What to Do If You Don't Trust Your Marketing Company 37:48 How to Connect with Nicole Toudouze 38:48 Final Thoughts and Closing   — Connect with Nicole Website: Transcend Dental Agency  Instagram: @transcendentalagency Facebook: Transcend Dental Agency   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 the real obstacle to growing your practice isn't getting more calls, but what happens after the phone rings? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau unpacks the step-by-step system any dentist can use to turn a $500,000 practice into a $1 million powerhouse in just 12 months (without breaking the bank on marketing.) He dispels the biggest myth in dentistry: that growth is out of reach with limited resources, revealing that most offices are held back by overlooked “leaks” and conversion gaps, not a lack of opportunity. Michael and Dr. Tau explore why a marketing budget as low as $1,500/month is enough to drive 20+ new patients when coupled with consistent processes, sharp phone skills, and clear internal accountability.Through stories and practical tactics, Dr. Tau guides us through an initial audit to spot where practices are losing potential patients, from missed calls and ineffective front-desk handling to low case acceptance and patient attrition. He shares actionable tools, like listening to recorded calls, asking the right operational questions, and introducing comfort-driven patient forms to turn new patients into lifelong patients. From scripting insurance conversations and pre-visit rapport-building to optimizing treatment presentations and review management, Dr. Tau details how any practice can harness its existing patient flow for exponential growth, one clear step at a time.What You'll Learn in This Episode:How to audit your practice to plug costly “leaks” before increasing marketing spendThe critical phone skills that make or break conversion ratesTactical steps to build patient trust from the very first interactionWhy active listening and “disarming” patients improves show rates and reviewsThe exact operational data (new patients, attrition, case acceptance, etc.) to track for fast growthKey system changes to raise daily production from detailed patient forms to same-day dentistryHow to frame treatment and payment options to maximize acceptance (and avoid sticker shock)Smart methods to measure marketing effectiveness (no matter your ad budget)The truth about online reviews and how to build reputation resilienceReady to see where your practice might be leaking profitability? Let's find out with Dr. Len Tau!‍Sponsors:‍CallRail: Call tracking + AI that turns calls into campaigns that convert, quality patients, and cost savings. Click our link to start a free trial today! https://sta.mx/vz69Click here for a special offer!Guest: Dr. Len TauCheck out Len's Media:Website: https://www.drlentau.com/Phone: 215-292-2100Supercharge Your Dental Practice Event: https://superchargeyourdentalpractice.com/‍Mentions & Links:‍CallRail Article: 5 healthcare marketing trends shaping patient growth in 2026‍Host: Michael AriasJoin my newsletter: https://thedentalmarketer.lpages.co/newsletter/‍Join this podcast's Facebook Group: The Dental Marketer Society‍Love the Podcast? Follow on Your Favorite App! https://lnkfi.re/TDMPod

What if the biggest revenue leak in your practice isn't production… but what happens after treatment is completed? In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with returning guest Shreyas Parab, co-founder and CEO of Daydream, to unpack how AI is transforming dental billing, insurance verification, and revenue cycle management. Shreyas shares how growing up in his mother's dental practice shaped his understanding of the administrative burdens that silently drain profitability and damage the patient experience. From insurance verification mistakes to denied claims and surprise patient bills, this conversation dives deep into why outdated systems are costing practices far more than they realize. Dr. Len and Shreyas also explore the future of AI in dentistry, where it's already succeeding, where it's overhyped, and how practices can use automation to improve efficiency without sacrificing patient relationships. If you've ever struggled with insurance headaches, front desk overwhelm, staffing challenges, or negative reviews tied to billing confusion, this episode offers a practical look at how the future of dental administration is evolving. What You'll Learn Why billing and insurance issues are one of the biggest causes of negative dental reviews How inaccurate insurance verification impacts patient trust and profitability The difference between AI that enhances a practice and AI that replaces human connection Where AI is already thriving in dentistry today Why administrative overload hurts both patients and team culture How automation can improve claim follow-up and reduce denials The future of front desk staffing and dental operations Why patient experience still matters more than technology How Daydream uses AI and human oversight together for RCM accuracy What dentists should focus on if they want more freedom and less operational stress — Key Takeaways 00:44 Introduction and Sponsor Message 02:00 Shreyas Reflects on Supercharge Your Dental Practice 04:23 Growing Up in a Dental Practice 09:30 AI's Rapid Growth in Dentistry 13:40 The Reality of AI Receptionists 17:05 How Billing Problems Hurt Patient Experience 19:46 The Hidden Cost of Insurance Verification Errors 24:45 What Dental RCM Looks Like With and Without AI 27:18 Can AI Make Mistakes? 30:15 Reducing Denials and Increasing Profitability 32:20 Which Practices Benefit Most From Daydream 35:17 The Future of the Dental Front Desk 36:55 Why Better Systems Give Dentists More Freedom 38:47 How to Learn More About Daydream 39:10 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks   — Connect with Shreyas Website: Daydream Dental Free Dental Billing Resource: Dental Billing 101 AI Google Review Analysis Tool: Daydream Google Review Analyzer   — 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 everything you thought you knew about local search… is only half the story? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with local search expert Mike Blumenthal to unpack what's actually driving visibility, engagement, and patient acquisition today. From the evolving role of AI to why fundamentals like reviews, branding, and user experience still dominate, this conversation challenges the shortcuts most practices rely on. If you're focused on rankings but not results, this episode will shift your perspective on what truly matters in building a sustainable, patient-generating online presence..   What You'll Learn Why local search fundamentals haven't changed, even with AI advancements How Google evaluates engagement and why it impacts your rankings The real role of reviews, brand, and reputation in attracting patients Why AI is changing how patients search, not what matters most How to optimize your website for conversion, not just traffic The growing importance of long-form, intent-based search queries Why local brand building may be your biggest competitive advantage — Key Takeaways 00:41 Introduction to Mike Blumenthal and local search expertise 04:03 The evolution of local search and what hasn't changed 04:40 Google algorithms vs changing search displays 06:29 The future of AI in search and user behavior 09:45 What dental practices should focus on in marketing 11:59 Website engagement and user experience fundamentals 14:38 Online scheduling and conversion strategies 16:32 Understanding engagement signals beyond bounce rate 20:36 Visibility, credibility, and engagement explained 24:47 Reviews, ratings, and patient experience balance 25:25 Categories and ranking factors in local SEO 27:54 The role of citations and directory authority 31:06 Surprising user behavior trends and AI usage 36:15 The #1 focus for dental practices moving forward 38:06 Best practices for generating effective reviews 40:18 Where to follow Mike Blumenthal     — Connect with Mike Email: mblumenthal@nearmedia.co Website: Near Media   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 biggest growth opportunity isn't your marketing… but how your team communicates? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with returning guest Danny Bobrow to break down the human side of practice growth. From the first phone call to treatment acceptance, Danny explains why trust, empathy, and communication skills are the real drivers behind case acceptance and long-term patient loyalty. They dive into why most practices mishandle leads, how emotional decision-making impacts patient behavior, and the simple shifts your team can make to create stronger connections that lead to more yeses. If you want better conversions, stronger relationships, and a more consistent patient experience, this episode is a must-listen.   What You'll Learn Why patients make decisions emotionally before justifying with logic The three C's of persuasive communication and how they impact case acceptance How poor phone handling is costing practices new patients What actually defines a "qualified lead" Why listening is one of the most valuable skills in your practice How to build trust quickly in the first 30 seconds of a call The difference between convincing and true persuasion How to get your entire team aligned and consistent with communication — Key Takeaways 00:46 Introduction and episode overview 01:54 About Danny Bobrow and his background 03:24 How Danny helps dental practices grow 06:33 The importance of communication in patient conversion 08:08 Why listening is a critical skill 09:57 Overview of the Persuasion Blueprint 11:50 Emotional decision-making explained 13:19 The three C's of communication 14:58 Breaking down caring, connection, and collaboration 16:48 Common mistakes practices make 18:40 Understanding different types of "yes" 20:48 Getting team buy-in and consistency 25:45 What defines a qualified lead 28:36 Handling unqualified or difficult leads 29:02 Avoiding a "salesy" approach 31:05 Building trust in the first interaction 32:06 Why how you say things matters more than what you say 33:10 The impact of trust on referrals and retention 34:16 Lightning round Q&A 35:14 How to connect with Danny — Connect with Danny

What if the biggest thing holding your practice back isn't your skills… but how you run the business? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Dr. Rehan Shahid to break down the real shift dentists must make to grow, scale, and reclaim their time. From understanding your numbers to building systems and empowering your team, this conversation reveals what it truly takes to move from overwhelmed owner to confident CEO. If you've ever felt stuck in the day-to-day grind, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, growth, and what's actually possible for your practice.   What You'll Learn The key mindset shift from practice owner to CEO Why most dentists stay stuck in reactive mode How systems create scalable, stress-free growth The KPIs every practice owner must track and understand How to effectively delegate without losing control Why most team meetings fail and how to fix them The biggest profit leaks in dental practices Practical steps to "buy back your time" as an owner   Key Takeaways 00:48 Introduction to the episode and guest 03:33 Dr. Rehan Shahid's journey and building multiple practices 06:35 Owner vs CEO mindset explained 06:57 Reactive vs proactive leadership in dentistry 08:25 Delegation and empowering your team 11:50 Systems and scaling multiple locations 12:15 Why dentists must know their numbers 12:37 Key KPIs that drive growth and profitability 15:32 How to delegate and buy back your time 17:18 When to hire an office manager 19:43 Why most team meetings fail 19:45 Building effective, structured meetings 22:39 Steps to start thinking like a CEO 24:20 Coaching, mentorship, and growth 26:46 Identifying profit leaks in your practice 30:45 Final mindset shift for long-term success 31:40 Lightning round Q&A   — Connect with Dr. Rehan Instagram: @practicesuccessacademy Website: https://www.practicesuccessacademy.org/ Free 30-minute strategy call available   —   Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at: https://www.drlentau.com   This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more at: https://www.dentalintel.com/   This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more at: https://www.callrail.com/ 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!

If your membership plan isn't driving real retention and recurring revenue… it's probably broken. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Paul Lowry, CEO of Dental Menu, to unpack why most dental membership plans fail and what practices should be doing instead. From understanding the difference between access-based care and traditional discount models to leveraging subscriptions, rewards, and smarter systems, this conversation reveals how to turn your membership plan into a true growth engine. If you want more loyal patients, better retention, and predictable revenue without relying on insurance, this episode is a must-listen.   What You'll Learn The real reason most dental membership plans fail The difference between a membership plan vs. a discount plan Why "access to care intervals" outperform annual plans How subscription-based models improve retention and revenue The concept of "breakage" and how it increases profitability How rewards programs boost loyalty and treatment acceptance Why cash-pay patients are often your biggest missed opportunity The biggest mistake teams make when implementing membership plans How to properly track membership revenue without hurting KPIs Ways to customize plans for different patient types — Key Takeaways 00:47 Introduction and episode overview 02:34 Meet Paul Lowry and Dental Menu 03:57 What Dental Menu does and why plans fail 05:30 Membership plan vs discount plan explained 07:10 Why annual plans struggle with retention 08:41 Access to care intervals and subscription model 12:35 Monthly vs annual plans and auto-renewal 13:43 How membership plans increase revenue 16:51 Retention data and missed opportunities 18:29 Rewards programs and patient loyalty 20:20 Add-ons and increasing profitability 23:47 Common objections from practices 26:50 Team adoption challenges 28:09 Managing membership revenue properly 33:55 Lightning round begins 37:25 How to connect with Paul   — Connect with Paul Email: Paul@DentalMenu.com Website: DentalMenu.com Special Offer: Mention Raving Patients to get $200 off the onboarding fee   — 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 the biggest threat to your dental practice isn't competition… but your own physical health? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Caitlin Parsons, dental hygienist and ergonomics and wellness consultant, to unpack how chronic pain and stress are silently impacting productivity, team dynamics, and patient experience. Caitlin shares her personal journey from nearly leaving dentistry due to pain to becoming a leader in helping dental professionals create sustainable, high-performing practices. From small ergonomic tweaks to integrating yoga therapy into your daily workflow, this conversation reveals how prioritizing wellness isn't just good for your body… it's a smart business move. If you've ever pushed through discomfort or felt burnout creeping in, this episode is your wake-up call to rethink how you care for yourself and your team.   What You'll Learn Why chronic pain is so common in dentistry and what causes it The connection between stress, posture, and patient experience How poor ergonomics impacts productivity and team performance Simple ergonomic adjustments that can make a big difference Why "pushing through pain" can cost you long-term The role of yoga therapy in managing stress and improving focus Practical ways to support your team's health without major investments How small daily habits can improve longevity in your career — Key Takeaways 00:49 Introduction & Episode Overview 02:55 Caitlin Parsons' Background & Journey 05:55 Prevalence of Pain in Dentistry 07:05 Signs of Poor Ergonomics 09:20 Impact of Stress & Chronic Pain on Performance 12:00 Real-Life Story on Patient Perception 14:36 Desk Ergonomics & Daily Habits 16:41 What is Ergonomic Optimization? 19:04 Small Changes That Make a Big Impact 20:55 The Danger of Ignoring Pain 23:40 Introduction to Yoga Therapy 26:55 Actionable Steps for Practice Owners 31:00 Lightning Round Q&A 34:40 How to Connect with Caitlin — Connect with Caitlin Website: thealignedhygienist.com Email: hello@thealignedhygienist.com Instagram: @thealignedhygienist

What if the biggest growth opportunity in your dental practice isn't outside… but already sitting inside your system? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Lorie Streeter to unpack the real growth formula most practices overlook. While many dentists chase new patients, Lorie reveals why the true driver of sustainable growth lies in reactivating existing patients, strengthening systems, and elevating the patient experience. From overlooked treatment plans to broken follow-up systems, this conversation dives deep into how practices can unlock hidden revenue, improve retention, and turn everyday patients into raving fans. If you want predictable growth without constantly spending on marketing, this episode is a must-listen.   What You'll Learn Why growth in dentistry is an "inside job" The hidden revenue sitting in your existing patient base How poor follow-up systems are costing practices thousands The real role of patient experience in driving referrals and retention Why marketing alone won't fix growth problems How office managers can become the engine behind practice success Simple ways to improve patient experience starting immediately The importance of listening and clear communication in case acceptance  — Key Takeaways 00:45 Welcome + Episode Introduction 03:20 What Max Assist Does and How It Helps Practices 04:56 Key Features That Set Max Assist Apart 06:50 Growth Is an Inside Job Explained  08:45 The Problem with Follow-Up Systems 11:20 Why Patient Experience Drives Growth 16:29 The Power of the Office Manager Role 19:45 Practical Ways to Improve Patient Experience 25:09 Leveraging Employer Groups for Growth 27:47Patient Retention vs New Patients 28:18 Fixing Follow-Up and Case Acceptance 29:40 One Thing to Change in Your Practice Tomorrow 31:40 Lightning Round   — Connect with Lorie Website: https://maxassist.com/  Email: lorie.streeter@maxassist.com   — 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 think growth comes from doing more… but what if it actually comes from doing less, better? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Kelley Tyrrell to break down what she calls The Excellence Curve—a smarter, more scalable way to grow your orthodontic and aligner cases without burning out. Kelley shares how micro-education, intentional delegation, and engineered systems can transform not just your clinical outcomes, but your entire practice efficiency. If you've ever felt overwhelmed managing cases, second-guessing treatment plans, or stuck doing work your team could handle, this episode will shift your perspective. Because real growth is not about doing everything yourself—it is about building systems that deliver excellence consistently.     What You'll Learn Why micro-education tied to real patient cases accelerates learning How delegation can dramatically increase efficiency and profitability What "The Excellence Curve" really means for dental practices The role of systems and workflows in scaling orthodontic cases How to choose the right digital support instead of doing everything yourself Why retention programs are critical for long-term success and revenue How confidence and mentorship drive consistent practice growth The hidden cost of not delegating your aligner setups Key Takeaways 00:47 Introduction and guest background 03:35 Why dentists should listen to Kelley Tyrrell 04:45 Micro-education and case-based learning 06:10 The power of delegation in orthodontics 09:20 Scaling practices through digital workflows 13:13 What is The Excellence Curve 15:47 Patient accountability and retention importance 17:43 Systems and repeatable workflows for growth 20:25 Confidence, mentorship, and scaling success 23:47 Retention protocols and long-term patient care 29:34 Digital treatment planning and delegation model 34:26 Lightning round insights from Kelley 40:02 How to connect with Kelley Tyrrell   — Connect with Kelley Email: kelley.inspired1@gmail.com. LinkedIn: Kelley Tyrrell Instagram: @clearly.kelley -- 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!  

Being visible online used to mean showing up in search results. Now it means being the practice AI tools choose to recommend when patients ask for help finding a dentist they can trust. In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with marketing expert Adrian Lefler, CEO of MySocialPractice, to break down one of the biggest changes coming to dental marketing. AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and other large language models are rapidly becoming the way patients search for dentists. Instead of scrolling through search results, many patients now ask AI assistants for recommendations and go directly to the practice suggested. Adrian explains how this new "zero-click search" environment is transforming SEO, what practices must do to stay visible, and why reviews, social media, and website performance now play a critical role in whether AI recommends your practice or ignores it. If your practice wants to stay competitive in the AI era, this episode explains exactly where to start.   What You'll Learn What "zero-click search" means and why it is changing dental marketing How AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini recommend dental practices Why traditional SEO strategies are no longer enough The role of reviews, social media, and directories in AI visibility How to check whether AI currently recommends your practice The three most important steps dentists should take right now to stay visible online — Key Takeaways 00:00 Episode introduction and podcast recognition 01:15 Introducing Adrian Lefler and today's topic 03:05 Why AI is the future of dental marketing 04:00 How AI receptionists and chat technology are changing patient communication 06:00 The coming shift from traditional search to AI search 09:00 What "zero-click search" means for dental practices 12:30 Why voice search and conversational search are growing 13:00 Traditional SEO vs AI-driven search 17:00 How AI search engines gather and evaluate information 19:30 Why reviews, social media, and user-generated content now matter more 21:40 How to check if your practice is recommended by AI 24:30 Why AI responses vary depending on user search history 28:20 The first steps dentists should take to get recommended by AI 31:10 Why website speed and schema matter for AI SEO 33:00 The problem with templated dental websites 34:30 Adrian Lefler's Bite Size Podcast 35:30 How dentists can evaluate their AI visibility 37:10 Final thoughts on preparing your practice for the AI future   — Connect with Adrian Website: https://mysocialpractice.comEmail: adrian@mysocialpractice.com Adrian also hosts the Bite Size Podcast, focused on AI and technology in dentistry.   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!

Why do so many talented professionals feel stuck even when they have the skills and ambition to succeed? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with executive coach Thomas Passalacqua to explore how mindset, self-awareness, and leadership clarity can help dental professionals move past fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome. In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau welcomes Thomas Passalacqua, certified executive coach and founder of Ascend Professional Pathways. Tom specializes in helping leaders, dentists, and ambitious professionals overcome internal barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Drawing on his experience in education, dental sales, and business development, Tom shares how leadership success often comes down to mastering the human side of decision making. Dr. Tau and Tom discuss why professionals often feel stuck in their careers, how imposter syndrome holds leaders back, and why most decisions should be made quickly rather than overanalyzed. Tom also explains his Ascend Clarity Process, a framework designed to help professionals gain perspective, identify obstacles, and take meaningful action toward their goals. Whether you are a practice owner, associate dentist, or team leader, this conversation offers practical strategies for developing confidence, making better decisions, and building momentum in your career. What You'll Learn Why many successful professionals still feel stuck or uncertain How leadership challenges often come from internal mindset barriers The difference between coaching, consulting, and advising The impact of imposter syndrome in dentistry and leadership How the 98% Decision Rule can reduce overthinking Strategies for gaining clarity and building forward momentum How executive coaching helps professionals unlock their potential Why focusing on what you can control is key to growth Key Takeaways 00:48 Introduction and sponsor acknowledgments 03:00 Meet Thomas Passalacqua and his coaching background 04:40 Leadership coaching and the human side of business 07:00 Why professionals often feel stuck 09:20 Building momentum and shifting perspective 11:34 Coaching vs consulting: What makes executive coaching different 13:30 Who Tom works with and common leadership challenges 14:47 Understanding imposter syndrome in leadership 17:10 Case study: Helping an associate dentist regain confidence 19:25 Coaching business owners through growth and team leadership 22:05 The Ascend Clarity Process explained 24:50 Maintaining momentum after breakthrough progress 27:22 Following your internal compass and career transitions 28:55 Common internal struggles professionals face 29:59 Lightning round Q&A with Thomas   — Connect with Thomas Website: https://ascendpropathways.com Email: thomas@ascendpropathways.com Special Offer: Mention the code RAVING when reaching out to receive 10% off executive coaching and leadership development programs.

Compliance might not be the most exciting part of running a practice, but it can protect your patients, your team, and your business. In this episode, Will Gilmore breaks down the real-world basics of OSHA, HIPAA, and infection control, plus how to stay calm and ready if an investigator ever walks in. Dr. Len Tau sits down with Will Gilmore of Elevate Compliance to talk about what dental practices actually need to stay compliant with OSHA, HIPAA, and infection control regulations. Will explains the "three pillars" of compliance (training, policies, and implementation), why compliance should be part of daily culture, and what typically triggers investigations. They also dive into HIPAA and online reviews, including how to respond without crossing the line, why most offices won't ever get in trouble if they keep responses neutral, and the bigger risks around cybersecurity and patient data. Will closes with a reminder: don't panic, compliance issues can be handled, and agencies are often willing to work with you. What You'll Learn The 3 pillars of practice compliance: training, policies, and implementation The most common things that trigger OSHA vs HIPAA issues How to build a "ready-anytime" compliance culture in your office Safe, neutral best practices for responding to online reviews Why email is still the biggest risk for data breaches and ransomware How emotional control (EQ) can help during inspections and investigations Will's practical mindset: don't panic—most issues are solvable and negotiable   — Connect with Will Website: https://www.elevatecompliance.net/ Email: will@elevatecompliance.net Offer mentioned in episode: Use code RAVING for 15% off the first 3 months (Elevate Compliance platform)   — 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!

Patients are saying "I'll think about it" more than ever — not because they don't want care, but because they can't see how to afford it. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau and Nancy Coy break down how dental practices can rebuild trust, improve the money conversation, and create a clear path from diagnosis to a confident "yes." Dr. Len Tau sits down with Nancy Coy of FinanceRx to talk about what really causes case acceptance breakdowns. They discuss why affordability is the #1 barrier for patients, how practices should structure lending options beyond just one provider, and why the money conversation must start earlier in the patient journey — even before the patient walks in. Nancy also shares compliance risks practices often overlook, and Dr. Len explains how offering the right financing at the right time can turn patients into lifelong raving fans.   What You'll Learn Why affordability is the biggest reason patients delay treatment How to respond when teams resist financing because of "fees" The difference between revolving credit vs installment loans When and how the money conversation should happen in the patient journey Why having multiple lenders (by credit tier and case size) matters The compliance pitfalls that can hurt your reputation and revenue How trust and transparency can dramatically increase case acceptance   Key Takeaways 00:44 Welcome and Sponsors 03:20 Nancy's Career Journey 05:40 Affordability Blocks Treatment 10:56 Diagnosis to Decision Gap 13:20 Building Patient Trust 18:10 Presenting Without Selling 22:10 Credit and Compliance 23:47 Smarter Lending Strategy 29:56 Avoiding Regulatory Risk 34:51 Inside FinanceRx 36:24 Lightning Round 39:20 Final Takeaways   — Connect with Nancy

Are you paper rich but cash poor? If your practice looks successful on reports but doesn't feel successful in your bank account, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau welcomes Tala Batarseh, visionary behind Dentala Coaching and Consulting. Tala shares practical strategies for managing dental practices by data rather than emotion, helping dentists gain clarity, profitability, and predictability. They dive deep into the five essential KPIs every practice must monitor, why many practices are "paper rich but cash poor," how to improve case acceptance ethically, the importance of reducing downtime, and why onboarding and team retention are just as critical as patient retention. If you want stronger cash flow, better team performance, and systems that run on autopilot, this episode delivers actionable insight you can implement immediately. What You'll Learn The 5 essential KPIs every dental practice must track Why production means nothing without collections What a healthy collection percentage should look like How to measure case acceptance properly The danger of ignoring downtime in your schedule Easy "low-hanging fruit" strategies to increase revenue Why onboarding failures cause team turnover How to shift from transactional dentistry to relationship-based care — Key Takeaways 00:45 Welcome & Episode Introduction 03:20 How Tala Helps Dental Practices Grow 06:07 Paper Rich, Cash Poor Explained 07:55 The 5 Essential KPIs Every Dentist Must Know 15:07 What Healthy Production & Collection Numbers Look Like 22:17 Case Acceptance Benchmarks & Strategy 25:39 Low-Hanging Fruit in Your Practice 27:50  Building a Strong Onboarding System 32:01 Advice for Office Managers 33:09 Lightning Round Q&A 38:30 How to Connect with Tala — Connect with Tala

Trust is essential in every dental practice. But blind trust? That's where financial leaks begin. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with certified fraud examiner Julie Rentz to uncover how embezzlement happens in dental offices, the red flags most doctors miss, and the simple systems that can prevent thousands in lost revenue. Embezzlement in dentistry is more common than most practice owners realize, and it rarely starts with obvious theft. It starts with blind trust, lack of oversight, and small process gaps that quietly grow over time. Julie Rentz, a Certified Fraud Examiner and forensic specialist, shares what she has seen inside dental practices and explains why small teams, divided attention, and undefined systems create vulnerability. She breaks down how adjustments become the "black hole" of dental accounting, how repeated "mistakes" can signal intentional fraud, and why refunds and credits are often overlooked risk areas. This episode shifts the focus from reacting to fraud to proactively preventing it. If you want stronger financial controls, cleaner systems, and more confidence in your numbers, this conversation is a must-listen.   What You'll Learn Why blind trust is the number one tool an embezzler uses Behavioral and operational red flags dentists often miss Where revenue cycle risks most commonly occur Why adjustments are the "black hole" of dental accounting How to tell the difference between a mistake and fraud Why reconciling PMS deposits to bank statements matters How refunds and credits can expose your practice Best practices for handling cash securely Why consistent oversight protects your revenue   Key Takeaways 00:56 Introduction and episode overview 03:05 Why dentistry is a target for embezzlement 07:48 Behavioral red flags and blind trust 09:38 Revenue cycle risk areas 13:47 The black hole of adjustments 15:00 Auditing and defining adjustments 17:04 How often to audit reports 18:38 When a mistake becomes fraud 20:54 Proactive fraud prevention strategies 22:00 Refunds and credits as hidden risks 25:10 Cash handling best practices 27:51 The power of consistent oversight 30:54 Lightning round Q&A 35:29 How to connect with Julie   Connect with Julie Email: julie@verifindforensicsolutions.com Phone: 983-208-4613 Website: VerifindForensicSolutions.com

Bleeding gums are not normal — and ignoring them could be costing your patients far more than their teeth. In this episode of The Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau takes a rare clinical deep dive with dental hygienist, educator, and founder of Microbelink DX, Jennifer Seider. Together, they unpack the science behind bacterial testing, why periodontal disease should be treated as an infection (not just "pocketing"), and how objective diagnostics can dramatically increase case acceptance, improve systemic health outcomes, and elevate practice revenue. If you've ever struggled with converting bloody "prophys" into true periodontal therapy, this conversation will shift how you think about diagnosis, communication, and patient education. What You'll Learn   Why bleeding gums should always be treated as an infection The connection between periodontal disease and systemic health (including cardiac conditions) How bacterial testing simplifies periodontal conversations Why paper-point sampling makes testing easy and efficient How to improve case acceptance for scaling and root planing How periodontal diagnostics can increase restorative production The biggest objections practices have about bacterial testing — and how to overcome them Why customer service still wins in dentistry — Key Takeaways 00:40 The Science Behind the Smile 01:10 Sponsors and Supercharge Your Dental Practice Event 02:00 Meet Jennifer Seider and Microbelink DX 05:31 Dr. Len's Cardiac Patient Story 07:55 How Microbelink DX Differs from Other Testing Companies 11:50 Cost, Insurance Coverage, and Revenue Impact 14:17 How Long Does Testing Take in Hygiene? 16:05 Which Patients Should You Test First? 19:30 Verbal Skills for Presenting Bacterial Testing 22:05 Using Microscopes for Patient Education 24:20 Why Isn't Bacterial Testing Mainstream? 27:20 Sampling Technique and Deep Pockets 29:55 Increasing Case Acceptance and Production 31:10 How to Deliver Test Results 32:22 Lightning Round Q&A — Connect with Jennifer Website: https://microbelinkdx.com/ Jennifer offers free team calibration and training, plus direct customer support. Practices can schedule a Zoom, use website chat, or text her directly through contact details listed on the site.   — 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!

AI is changing how patients find dentists—but it's not replacing your front desk tomorrow. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Evan Maass (Founder/CEO of DentistOffices.com) to break down what's real vs. hype in AI, where dental marketing is still failing practices (hello, "mystery SEO reports"), and how visibility is shifting from traditional Google search toward AI-driven recommendations. Evan also shares where reviews, directories, and user-generated content (like Reddit) fit into the next decade of "getting found." What You'll Learn The biggest problems dentists face with SEO and ad spend (and how to spot "scam SEO") Where AI is useful today (keyword intent, targeting, automation) vs. where it's not ready (phone answering agents replacing humans) How AI search and traditional Google search overlap—and what "AI visibility" really means Why reviews + user-generated content will matter even more in the future What to ask a marketing agency before signing a contract (ownership, references, specialization) How directories (DentistOffices, Yelp, Healthgrades, etc.) can influence being recommended by AI tools — Key Takeaways 00:38 Welcome + Sponsors + Episode intro 01:46 Meet Evan Maass + background 02:50 What DentistOffices.com is and how it works 05:55 How DentistOffices compares to ZocDoc 06:55 State of dental marketing: SEO frustration + ad waste 08:50 AI in dental marketing right now: what's useful vs. hype 11:05 Why AI phone agents aren't "prime time" yet 13:27 The review risk: AI agent frustration + negative reviews 14:34 A safer setup: auto-attendant for new vs. existing patients 15:10 Testing AI agents (the "rhinoplasty" question) 16:02 AI security + "jailbreak" concerns 17:30 In 5 years: what roles AI may replace in practices 20:00 Will Google disappear? AI search vs. Google evolution 23:39 Reviews and trust signals: why they matter more over time 24:35 Why Reddit influences AI recommendations 25:15 How dental offices can use Reddit carefully 31:00 Questions to ask marketing agencies before hiring 35:00 Specialist vs. "do-it-all" marketing + budget realities 38:50 Lightning round success, habits, mindset, favorites 43:25 How to reach Evan + add your practice to platform 45:20 Wrap-up + "Your reputation matters"   — 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 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

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: tobi@dentalfynd.com   — 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

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: chris@lawma.ai

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

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: brian@drbrianharris.com Website / Smile Virtual: https://www.smilevirtual.com/ Courses & Cosmetic Training:

In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Paul Chadwick, VP at PureLogic, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way dental practices operate — especially at the front desk. Paul breaks down how PureLogic leverages AI, analytics, and automation to improve patient communication, reduce missed calls, and enhance practice efficiency. Together, they discuss what "data-driven dentistry" really means, how AI can empower rather than replace staff, and what metrics matter most for growth. Whether you're a solo practitioner, part of a DSO, or just curious about AI's practical applications in dentistry, this conversation will give you real-world insights into using data to drive smarter decisions and better patient experiences. Here are some of the interesting stff we talked about in this episode. AI isn't the future—it's here now. Dental practices using AI to analyze calls and automate responses are already improving conversion rates and reducing missed opportunities. Missed calls are hidden revenue leaks. The average practice misses 30–40% of calls, and PureLogic's data shows that following up with AI-powered text can recover many of those lost appointments. Patient preference matters. Voice, text, and chat-based AI tools meet patients where they are, improving satisfaction and accessibility. KPIs drive decisions. Tracking missed call rates, conversion rates, and patient engagement metrics can reveal where your practice is losing revenue—and how to fix it. AI + people = the winning combo. The goal isn't to replace front office staff, but to free them up to focus on relationships and in-person care. — Key Takeaways 00:40 Introduction and Sponsor Acknowledgments 01:40 Meet Paul Chadwick and PureLogic 04:50 What PureLogic Does for Dental Practices 04:55 How AI Analyzes Calls and Improves Conversions 06:30 Understanding Front Office Optimization 08:00 Voice vs. Text: Meeting Patients Where They Are 10:50 The Rise of AI Agents in Dentistry 11:55 Differentiating PureLogic from Other AI Companies 15:30 Using Data to Train and Support Front Office Teams 17:25 Key KPIs Every Practice Should Track 20:21 The Truth About Missed Calls in Dentistry 21:40 Where Practices Need the Most Help 24:53 Managing the Modern Dental Tech Stack 27:20 PMS Integrations and Vendor Consolidation 28:05 The Future of AI in Dental Operations 30:46 How AI Will Personalize the Patient Experience 31:30 Lightning Round: Quickfire Q&A with Paul Chadwick 38:17 How to Connect with PureLogic 38:47 Closing Thoughts from Dr. Len Tau — Connect with Paul

What if every crown, implant, or veneer you placed didn't just build smiles—but built wealth? In this episode, Dr. Len Tau sits down with innovators Max Zanan and Adam Marburger of Dental Protection Group to reveal how dentists can turn warranties into a new revenue stream. They're showing why protecting your patients' dental work can also protect—and grow—your financial future. They explain how this simple yet powerful concept—borrowed from the automotive industry—offers dentists a way to increase patient trust, improve case acceptance, and build long-term wealth through profit-sharing warranty programs. Max and Adam share how their model allows dentists to turn warranties into wealth-building vehicles, all while protecting patients and creating a new stream of passive income in a tax-advantaged environment. They also discuss how to get your team on board, how to present warranties to patients, and why this model is changing how entrepreneurial dentists think about their businesses. You'll learn: Warranties Build Trust: Patients already value protection plans in every purchase—offering one in dentistry creates instant credibility and peace of mind. Wealth Through Risk Transfer: Unlike goodwill replacements, Dental Protection Group's model lets dentists transfer risk and receive compensation when failures occur. Profit Sharing Opportunity: Money left over from unclaimed warranties is returned to the practice, compounding over time like a "401(k) on steroids." Team Buy-In Is Key: Success depends on making warranties part of the practice culture—presented as a standard part of every procedure, not an upsell. Entrepreneurial Dentistry: The program empowers dentists to generate long-term, tax-friendly income, fund growth, or even retire earlier.   Key Takeaways 00:44 Introduction and Event Highlights 02:30 Meet the Dental Protection Group 04:35 Understanding Dental Warranties 06:00 The Value of Warranties in Dentistry 06:40 Warranties as a Consumer Expectation 10:40 Differentiating Warranties from Goodwill 12:50 The Financial Benefits of True Warranties 14:40 Wealth Building through Warranties 16:01 Creating Generational Wealth in Dentistry 17:40 Implementing Warranties in Practice 20:55 The Culture of Warranties in Dental Practices 22:52 The Perfect Scenario for Implementation 28:00 Handling Patient Objections 30:44 Team Buy-In and Incentives 31:35 Quick Onboarding Process 32:35 Transferability of Warranties 37:37 Final Thoughts and Opportunities   — Connect with Max and Adam Visit DentalProtectionGroup.com to schedule a consultation with Max and Adam.

AI isn't coming — it's already here. From Google Gemini to ChatGPT, the way patients discover dentists online is evolving faster than most practices can keep up. In this episode, Dr. Len sits down with Adrian Lefler, CEO of My Social Practice, to unpack how AI is reshaping SEO, what "Generative Engine Optimization" really means, and how dentists can adapt before they're left invisible online. Dr. Len Tau welcomes back long-time friend and industry expert Adrian Lefler to talk about one of the most important topics in modern dental marketing — AI-driven search. Adrian breaks down how tools like Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity are fundamentally changing how patients find dental practices online. Together, they explore how AI overviews are replacing traditional search results, why Google Business Profiles are now more critical than ever, and how dentists can optimize for AI-based search instead of relying solely on outdated SEO tactics. You'll also hear practical, no-nonsense advice on blogging in the AI age, avoiding "word salad" content, and what questions to ask before hiring a marketing agency that claims to "do AI." What You'll Learn From This Episode AI is becoming the new search engine. Google's Gemini and AI Overviews are changing how patients find practices — links are being replaced by direct AI answers. Your Google Business Profile matters more than ever. It's the top data source AI models pull from, even before your website. Reviews remain your strongest ranking signal. But they must be paired with complete categories, service areas, and accurate info. Blogging isn't dead — it just evolved. Authentic, voice-based stories converted by AI tools outperform generic, AI-written blogs. Ask better questions. If a marketing company can't explain how their SEO adapts to AI search, walk away.   Key Takeaways 00:42 Introduction to AI in Dentistry 03:55 The Evolution of Search with AI 07:15 The Role of Reviews in AI Search 13:05 Understanding Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) 15:50 AI Tools and Patient Search Behavior 23:50 Actionable Steps for Dentists to Embrace AI 27:40 Using AI for Blogging Effectively 31:50 Choosing the Right Marketing Company for AI 37:26 Conclusion and Contact Information   — Connect with Adrian Adrian Lefler is the CEO of My Social Practice, a leading dental marketing agency helping practices grow through smart digital strategy, SEO, and AI-driven solutions. With over 15 years of experience, Adrian is known for making complex marketing concepts simple and actionable for dental professionals. Email: adrian@mysocialpractice.com Phone: 877-316-7516 Website: www.mysocialpractice.com  If you're ready to strengthen your online presence, optimize your Google Business Profile, or learn how AI can help your practice get found and chosen more often — reach out to Adrian and the team at My Social Practice today.   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at: https://www.drlentau.com This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more at: https://www.dentalintel.com/ This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more at: https://www.callrail.com/ 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!

Before you spend another dollar on marketing, tune in. Nail phone conversion, stop broken appointments, and lift team performance starting now. In this episode of The Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with Alex Nottingham, founder and CEO of All-Star Dental Academy, to uncover the three silent profit killers that quietly erode practice revenue and team morale. A former top business coach for Tony Robbins and an attorney turned dental business strategist, Alex shares how he transformed his father's struggling dental practice into a multi-million-dollar success — and how thousands of other dentists can do the same by mastering business fundamentals. From poor phone conversion rates to declining team performance, this episode dives into the overlooked operational leaks that can cost practices hundreds of thousands of dollars every year — and how to fix them through better training, communication, and leadership.   What You'll Learn From This Episode The three silent profit killers hurting dental practices — and how to eliminate them Why phone call conversion is the #1 factor in predictable profitability How broken appointments quietly drain productivity and morale The difference between “training” and true team performance optimization How to build a culture of accountability, respect, and long-term patient loyalty Why investing in coaching and systems isn't an expense — it's a multiplier — Key Takeaways 00:42 Intro & sponsor shout-outs 02:05 Meet Alex Nottingham, All-Star Dental Academy 03:00 Turning a struggling practice into a multimillion-dollar success 08:11 The three silent profit killers 07:30 #1 New patient conversion — why phone skills matter 20:57  #2 Broken appointments — stopping the hidden drain 29:10 #3 Declining team performance — training and leadership fixes 34:30 How small improvements add major profit 35:30 Lightning-round Q&A 40:38 Connect with Alex + Final thoughts   — Connect with Alex Visit: allstardentalacademy.com Download his free webinar & eBook on eliminating profit killers. Follow All-Star Dental Academy on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.   — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at: https://www.drlentau.com This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more at: https://www.dentalintel.com/ This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more at: https://www.callrail.com/ 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!

Kiera joins the Raving Patients Podcast to talk about obtaining that CEO mindset to systematize your practice. This mindset does not mean doing it all yourself, but leaning on others to maximize their skillsets. Kiera also discusses with Dr. Len Tau how to separate yourself from having your entire identity associated with dentistry. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: Speaker 1 (00:00) Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Raving Patients Podcast. As you know, I'm your host, Dr. Len Tau, and I am super excited today for multiple reasons. Well, first, before I get there, I want to first thank my sponsors, both Dental Intelligence, CallRail, and a new one, Net32. You'll be hearing their commercials as well, so check out those companies. And again, the only reason I'm able to do this every single week is because of their support. I also want to remind everybody about   my event, is only one week away. One week from now we'll be gathered in Fort Lauderdale for Supercharge with Dental Practice 2025. If you wanna be a come out last minute registrant, you can reach out to me. I will be glad to add you as a guest of me. So please reach out to me. You can check out the content at SuperchargeYourDentalPractice.com So I said I was super excited and I'm super excited because of our guest today. And she's been a guest before and I just recorded an episode with her on her podcast. ⁓   We're talking about Kiera Dent, who is from the Dental A Team, and we're gonna be talking the CEO mindset systematizing your practice for freedom and growth today. So before I let ⁓ Kiera take it off, I'm gonna go ahead and introduce her. So she is the founder and CEO of the Dental A Team, an entrepreneur, consultant, speaker, and podcast host dedicated to helping dental professionals reach their highest potential. Through customized in-office and virtual consulting,   She empowers dentists and their teams to cultivate an ownership mindset and achieving lasting growth. With experience spanning every role in the dental practice, front office, dental assistant, regional manager, and even practice owner, here brings unique first-hand perspective to her coaching. Alongside her team of expert consultants, she has partnered with hundreds of practices nationwide, leading them to greater efficiency, profitability, and fulfillment. As she often says, we don't just understand you, we are you.   So please welcome to the Raving Patients podcast, Kiara Dent. Kiara, thank you so much for being a guest on my podcast today.   Speaker 2 (02:03) Oh, Len, thank you so much. so excited to be here. I loved our podcast we did together. I love the podcast we did in the past together. I'm super excited about Supercharge. Everybody should go. We're going to like sneak peek, be there in 2026. Like Len, huge fan of you guys. Just excited to be here with you. So thank you. Thanks for having me. And yeah, it's always a little weird and fun to hear your bio read right before you get on. So just grateful to be here and just like have a good time with you. It's always a great time when we podcast together.   Speaker 1 (02:30) Well, I'm excited to spend the next 30 minutes or so with content from you. So I always like to ⁓ start off for people that don't know who you are. I obviously read your bio. Can you just tell dentists and other people reading or listening and watching this episode how you help dental practices?   Speaker 2 (02:50) Yeah, absolutely. So with the bio you heard, I started out as a dental assistant and then went throughout and I've owned practices. My first practice I took from 500,000 to 2.4 million in nine months and opened our second location. And that was with a Midwestern grad. I worked at the dental college there. And so helping practices, what I learned was   I've been a team member, I've been in so many of the team roles. And then in addition to that, I've owned dental practices and I understand the business and I've run multimillion dollar practices and businesses. so bringing that perspective, I feel like there's the dentist perspective, there's the owner, the CEO of the practice, and then there's the team perspective. And both are necessary for practices. And so Dental A Team, say like, it stands for dentist and team. So what we really do for practices is whether it's virtual or in person, it's...   I call it the yes model line is what I like to say is number one, you as a person, we're going to focus on your vision, where you want to go as a doctor. Like what is your vision? The practice should serve your life. ⁓ because I believe that when you're supported, you're actually a better owner, a better boss, a better dentist. And then we go to E stands for earnings and profitability. We've got to make sure it's a profitable practice. And then we use those things, the vision and the numbers to then tell us what systems and team development we need to put into place. I'm really much a custom.   Let's see kind of like dentists do with patients. Like let's do a comp exam. Let's see where we're at. And then let's go for what's going to make the biggest impact with the least amount of effort. And being team members ourselves, I really think that we're able to like, Hey dentists, we want to hear your vision. We need to know where you're going and then go do your like favorite thing. It's dentistry. And then let's help your team be empowered to learn how to run the practice. So it truly is like a self-managing team, utilizing every single player in the team to their highest potential, but doing it with a ton of fun and ease. Like as a team member, I didn't want more hard work.   As an owner, do not want you to give me more homework. I'm already busy. So I feel like we really come in and bridge that gap of like where we are to where we want to go and do it in the easiest, most efficient and most fun way possible to help like team and patient experience be the top that it can be.   Speaker 1 (04:48) So I guess someone's listening to this podcast and they say, you know, want to, I want to change the culture in my practice, but I'm very much a micromanager.   So which means they're not focused on their dentistry, they're focused on managing the team. Do you help with that? Because there are so many micromanagers out there. I always wanted them for a very long time. And honestly, wasn't until I gave up that micromanaging and I just did the things I was going to do that my practice excelled. So ⁓ that's something, if someone's a micromanager, do you get them off doing that? Or how do you deal with that?   Speaker 2 (05:19) Yes, and I'm so glad you said that because I think most   Founder owners are micromanagers. think leadership we believe I I think so many there's this belief out there that we just come into this world as great leaders and we should just know it like you went to dental school you should just know how to be a leader and leadership is a journey and so for those micromanagers I think it's really fun to have the doctor and the team perspective and to be able to help both of them say like no doctor like these are the things but what I found is doctors micromanage because there's a lack of communication feedback loops so it's a lot so it's either a lack of communication and feedback   loop, a lack of knowledge, or they just like genuinely want to be a manager and they don't want to be an owner. And I'm like, great, let's just figure out what the the reasoning is. And then let's find the solution to that. So if team members have doctors that are micromanaging, first question I'm looking at is like, where's the feedback loop and what are we missing? Next is like, hey, doctor, I understand that this is where we're at. This is where I need you to be for the growth of the practice. What do you need to feel confident to be the dentist, to be the like not micromanaging like   there's a lack. And when I realize there's a lack and when teams can realize that there's a lack, like there's just something missing, we fix that, dentist is now able to be happy, team's able to flourish, everything starts to move in in a good motion. absolutely. I think being team members ourselves, we're not doctors, we're not dentists. Like, Len, I'm gonna lean on you for clinical. Like, that's not my world. I'm not here to even discuss it for one minute. But what I am here to do is to bridge that gap between doctors and teams.   Because ultimately it's same team, like everybody wants the best experience for the patient. We want the practice to flourish. So if we're all same team, let's help get people right seat, right person, help them understand what they should and could be doing. But also like office managers, there's this whole weird world for them too, where they've never been taught to be managers. They've never been taught what they should or shouldn't be doing. They've never been taught like what the difference between an office manager is and a biller and a scheduler and a treatment coordinator and how all those roles are different. And so helping people understand even what their job entails.   I think really can cut that micromanagement passion project. It's just a lack of knowledge and so teaching teams and teaching people, but we're very hands on. I really don't like fluff. That's why think when you and I get along well, I want it to be tactical. I want it to be practical and I want it to be something that's sustainable as well.   Speaker 1 (07:34) And that makes a lot of sense. And that was a great answer, by the way.   We're talking about, obviously you're very systematized. You put systems in place, the team follows, everybody knows what they're doing, runs like a well-oiled machine. Okay. And that's how my practice was when I left, when I was traveling. ⁓ I knew things, I didn't worry. I knew that things were going to be done like this. They knew the roles, team members didn't need to be scolded. They just knew what their role was in the practice. So, ⁓ I know there are things, I like a term here you use the chaos creators. So there are chaos creators in the, in the office. So what are some of these, these common chaos creators?   ⁓ that actually can be helped by putting systems in place.   Speaker 2 (08:13) Yes, and I love that you brought that up because that's the ultimate goal. That's why I wanted this to be called like the CEO mindset. Like doctors, like you should be a dentist and you should own your business. You should not be the one managing. And when you recognize that this actually can be one of the biggest chaos creators in the practice of doctors trying to be the doctor, the dentist, the CEO visionary, plus the manager, plus all the other parts of the practice. Like that is a chaos creator, not knowing right person, right? See is a massive chaos creator. Number one thing I hear every time I go into an office or I work with someone,   is it's communication. And communication is again just a system that needs to be put into place. So how do team members know? Like what is our true morning huddle? It's not a time for us just to hang out. Like why do football players huddle? Why do basketball players huddle? They huddle to win the game. So what does winning on our practice even look like? Making that very clear for our team. Other things like handoffs. That's another communication drop that's a chaos creator. What doctor says to the patient, to the hygienist, to the front office,   It's such fun. I feel like we play a game of telephone. So putting in a little simple system there where we've got a great communication handoff and a process. I know Len, you and I are very big on this case acceptance process of just really having a great clean experience for the patient. These are chaos creators. Also, team members even knowing what their job should be, understanding how they go from where they were hired to how they can get raises. Those are chaos creators. The scheduling. How do we schedule? Let's have block schedules in there. Let's have   a way that we do this in our practice. I remember when I was a scheduling coordinator, my office manager said, Kiera, do not even think about scheduling outside of the blocks until you learn why we schedule the blocks the way we do. And you're right, like when team members know the rules of the game, so much chaos gets eliminated from the practice. like quick things are have great meetings and truly great meetings. If you don't know how to run a great meeting, Traction by Gina Wickman.   It's a little bit of a dull book. However, there are so many paramount pieces in that book and great meetings could be in there. Doctors and OMS have a same page meeting where we're looking at it. Get our KPIs in place where we know where is the practice even going? What is each person's number that they can like impact and improve in the practice? Have like set job descriptions, have protocols of how we treat a patient. What's our hygiene period protocol? Let's just have like really simple systems and I'm big on I don't like to remember things.   Like I love holidays, holidays are on a cadence. So how can we actually get cadences within your practice to where things really can run on more of an autopilot rather than trying to constantly like catch all the balls and remember things? That's the chaos. The chaos comes from the like not knowing and trying to scramble and being in reactive rather than proactive modes.   Speaker 1 (10:53) But that's really good, that's really great. So another question I have for you, there are dentists who are just dentists, and I don't mean that negatively, but they go in with the expectation that they're either gonna be an associate forever, or they're just going to practice and let everybody run the practice and they're just gonna come and do the dentistry, okay? Versus having the mindset of and acting like the CEO, okay? And there's a big difference. One, I believe, has a lot more stress.   I like to talk about it because I was the CEO of the practice. I handled everything. I handled the marketing. I handled the HR. I handled all of the things that makes it different than just being a dentist and putting your hands in the mouth and treating a patient. So if someone wants to act and think like a CEO, what does it really mean to do that versus just practicing dentistry and doing the dental work?   Speaker 2 (11:51) Yes, I'm so glad you brought this up. I've been like crushing on this idea. We actually just ran a three day CEO dentist workshop. like.   obsessing on this right now because there is nothing wrong. And I think that there's a few hats that people wear. I wear a consultant hat. I also wear a CEO hat. And they're actually and I think about big companies like let's look at Google. I know that CEO is not coding. They're not. They're not building it. They're truly in a CEO realm. And so when we look at like what does a CEO do, they are the chief executive officer. Like their job is to execute. Their job is vision. Their job is culture.   and their job is to like really steer and guide the ship and to come up with great ideas. And so when I look at that, I think that there's two hats for CEO dentists to wear. There's the true clinical dentistry, if that's what you want to do and continue to do. And then we really do need somebody who's guiding and leading this business. And I think when dentists, I know this can be a little like not favored, ⁓ dental practices are multimillion dollar businesses and they are. when we realize that they're   They are businesses and like you said, the HR and the marketing. But when you look at large businesses outside of dentistry, they have other players in the realm and in the rink with them to make it actually run as a very successful business. And so I believe that when we understand the business portion of dentistry and we have great clinical care, that's when we're able to serve and help more patients and more team members. And so helping these dentists realize what does a CEO do? And I actually pulled from Dan Martel.   the author of Buy Back Your Time, like obsessed with his book, met him in person, like raving fangirl. It was like slightly embarrassing, like how big of a fan I was of him. ⁓ But he has his delegation ladder in there for businesses and actually created a delegation ladder for dental practices of when CEO dentists go from like your right line, a lot of them do it all. And that's, think, where the burnout is and the chaos is to where when can we start to delegate? Like, do you have a personal assistant who answers all of your emails for you? And if not,   Administrative tasks are one of the best things to delegate. Then we move into like our scheduling and then into our customer service and the patient experience. And then we move into treatment planning. A lot of doctors do that on their own. And I'm not here to say you have to give up anything, but I am here to say that when you truly take on the role of CEO, trying to do it all actually creates chaos. And you actually, you're the bottleneck of the business. And so then we start to delegate out the case acceptance if you want to. You're allowed to keep whatever you want, whatever you're great at.   Then we delegate out the marketing, then we delegate out the, actually, me and my operations manager were talking that I believe that there's two spaces within leadership. There's the executive side, that's these big picture visionary pieces. And then there's the management side, which is the HR, the protocols, the accountability of the team. And when we had that like, and I believe that there's, it's like a black and a white, yin and yang, perfect whole, you need both sides of this leadership within that CEO realm.   But when you're trying to do all the pieces as a CEO, you need to know every aspect going on in the business. But that does not mean you need to do every aspect of the business. And so I think it's like figuring out which colors you like to paint with, which ones really are your zone of genius and then starting to then delegate in strategic manners, delegate and elevate, not abdicate ⁓ really are how you can make this where you become truly the CEO of your business and your practice. And you're able to have great players around you that are able to then.   Make sure every other part of your business is thriving and flourishing too.   Speaker 1 (15:19) Got it.   Speaker 2 (15:20) So   much line, I hope it wasn't lying.   Speaker 1 (15:22) No, that was great. That was great. I mean, they should replay that because I think there was some really good nuggets and pearls that they can take back. So, you know, I want to talk about delegation. ⁓ you know, Invisalign is a great product ⁓ to bring into the practice or aligners in general. doesn't have to be Invisalign, just aligners. And aligners are really good, but they become really profitable ⁓ when a dentist is willing and able to delegate the tasks to other team members.   And personally myself, I used to do it all. And then I took a class by somebody, can't remember who it was, but it was all about giving the empower your team to do things and delegate the services to them where you're literally kind of just doing the initial consultation and whatever is required by your license in the realm of the things. But the team is able to do mostly everything else. And once you do that, ⁓ Invisalign becomes a very, profitable procedure.   So what advice do you have about delegation to somebody, to a dentist who really feels like they need to do it all and does not want to give up control of anything?   Speaker 2 (16:28) Len, I'm so happy you asked me this question and I'm so happy that I'm a team member and I'm gonna put on a team member hat, not a CEO hat on this one. ⁓ Number one, I really, really hope, and dentists, if you need to pause, replay, record this and listen to it every single day, I really hope you do. ⁓ As a team member, my number one job, genuinely speaking, and doctors have told me so many times when they've heard me say this, it...   hopefully will strike you to your heart as well. As a team member, my number one, like genuine number one objective was to make my doctor happy and to make their life easier. And that was honestly what I did every single day. As a dental assistant, I'm looking ahead. I want to be seven steps ahead of you and I want to make sure that you're truly like set up for success. I want to make sure that patient's back on time. I want to make sure that hygiene exams are on time. And I think that while yes, you might have some team members that make you question this statement.   I think 95 % of the population is genuinely good and they want you to thrive and they want the patient experience to be great. So when you hear that and you truly honor that and you respect that and you trust that, you then will realize that one of the best things you can do is, I don't believe in delegating. So like I can empower, but if I empower and don't hold accountable, then I've created entitlement within my practice. So I want to empower through delegating of this like.   As a dental assistant, do know how happy I'd be if you gave me, can fit a line. I understand I'm going to make a few mistakes, but oh my gosh, the growth, growth equals happiness. So for your team to be happy, give them opportunities to progress. Like that's what creates the happiness and the sparkle and the zest in life. And so really when you empower your team and hold accountable, you don't get this entitlement. When you empower and don't hold accountable, that's when we get these entitled teams that genuinely then it just becomes mayhem in your practice.   So like you said, delegate these tasks that one, either you're not good at, or I do think about everybody should be working at the top of their license. What are you able to produce per hour? If there's a task that I can hire somebody for less than you can produce an hour, it's probably something that we shouldn't be using your time for. And I know as a CEO, as an owner, this is actually hard for me because you strip me of things that I'm actually really good at, but reality is there's better uses of my time. And when you can recognize   giving everybody the best use of their time. Me as a dental assistant being able to do Invisalign, you've now just lifted and elevated me to the highest level of my license as well. And so I really do believe like doctors, one, believe that your team is truly here to support you. And if they're not here to support you, they're not your right team players. they like, great, let them graduate to somebody else and you bring somebody else in. Two, empower them and hold accountable to ensure that it's like how you want it done. And team members like,   You can share this with your team. I'm happy to share this one reason I like to do this. Team members, give the feedback to your doctor. They are going to trust you so much more when you come back to them and you show them the things you listen to what they say, you create the protocols, you do it exactly how they want you to do it. That will build trust and confidence so quickly. Team members lose doctor's trust so quickly when they like lacked to follow through and like truly do what the doctors have given them like stewardship and ownership over. So for those doctors and like you said, Len.   You won't understand until you try. And when you do try, you will make mistakes. But I believe, this is my philosophy, anything that I've delegated never gets to come back to me. And I think when you have that notion and that idea, well, I know it could never come back to me. You actually make it really, really great. You train your team. You help them have this. ⁓ And I then believe everybody's able to flourish so much higher. So hopefully that answered of like, one, you need to delegate and you should delegate.   Two, what are the tasks that you can be doing that are like helping you work to the highest level of your license? Everybody working at that is going to make a better team experience, a better patient experience, and all around a better practice for you as well.   Speaker 1 (20:20) I think you, I mean, the content you're providing, the listening and viewing audience is spectacular. you know, one of the, I guess, negatives about being a dentist is a feeling of being overwhelmed. A lot of stress. You know, that's part of the reason why I think you've got, you know, dentists with the highest, one of the highest suicide rates out there is that, you know, it's a very stressful job. I mean, you've got a lot of debt, you've got a lot of, you know, people relying on you for income as well. So what mindset   do you think exist ⁓ that or traps do you mindset traps do dentists fall into that that keep them feeling overwhelmed and and what do do about that?   Speaker 2 (21:00) Yeah, this is something so real to me. My first practice, I mentioned it briefly at the very beginning of we took our practice from 500,000 to 2.4 million in nine months. And when I present and I speak, I often will bring up like the success story and I list off my stats of our practice. I asked the audience, said, who wants this practice? And like hands go up and people are like shouting like, yes, I want this.   And then I say the other side of success is that this person, is me, like, spoiler alert, I was 98 pounds and I'm 5'8". I ⁓ had divorce papers on the line. I remember like I walked out of my practice that like one day and I remember just like standing on the sidewalk and being like one step and all this could be over. Like it was, and I'm not a dentist. I didn't even have the pressure of having to be in the exam rooms, but I do understand the pressure of business. And that's actually what's like fueled my passion in consulting is.   Because I thought like if this is how so many of us feel to get to success, Tony Robbins has a quote that success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure. And that was curidant in a nutshell. We had success on paper, but fulfillment was lacking and my entire life was falling apart. And so when you ask like, what are some of these zones that keep people in this mindset is one, I think that we believe that to get to success, we have to grind it out. We have to hustle. We have to do it all. Like it's this hustle mentality that I believe is so false.   Yes, I do believe that hard work is required, but I don't believe you have to do all of the work. Just like we talked about before, also think delegations paramount. I think so many of the doctors that I see there in this burnout are just, it's like grippy. Like they want to hold on to everything and they're not willing to let go and they're not like, also you're telling your team that you don't trust them and you don't believe in them when you do that as well. So you're actually causing like this double-edged sword on it. And then third, I think ⁓ we just don't take time to stop and pause and realize like what really is necessary.   I think so much like when I sold out of the practices, my whole identity was associated with that. if we have our identities associated with these practices and with the success, well, I can imagine that that feels like chopping off your arm and your leg if you were to fail. therefore, if it's literally my physical body and I feel like it's my whole identity, I literally remember the day that I sold out of the practices. I felt who is cura dent, who is she? Like I have no purpose in this world anymore. Nothing is important. Like I don't even have a family. I have no practice.   I felt nothing and I think when people's identities are associated with this rather than having something else. So I talk about like what makes all of you up and I remember like like looks like this weird little doll. Like it's such a weird outline that I make people do but I'm like draw to me like how your life is and when I do this usually it's like from your neck to like your ankles that's work and if that much of your identity is associated with work in your practice.   What could we shift this to more so your whole identity is not associated with that? So that's like we go work out, we have time with family, we book the vacations and when you start to realize that there's more life outside of the chair, more life outside of it and you being a well-rounded human that truly and I don't like the word balance, I just love the word well-rounded and fulfilled. When we start to add some of those pieces in which again feels contradictory, it feels like if I give this up that I'm not making money. I used to say I don't want to sit on the couch and watch TV with my husband because I'm literally not making money.   That's one of the the grossest statements I've ever said, but Len, it's truth. I really truly felt this way. Like the only purpose is to be producing and to be productive. But I didn't realize that. Like you look at that athletes have to take a break and they have to reset. They have to recharge. They have to like the best time is actually the recovery off season. ⁓ no, no person can continue operating at 110%. And when they are operating, they're actually not their best self. So there's just as much beauty in the recharge off time.   as there is on the productive on time. So when we can delegate, when we have more purpose beyond just our practice, and it's okay, work to me is very fulfilling. It's such a big part of my life. I love it. ⁓ But it's not all of Kiera's identity. So if I were to lose work, Kiera and hopefully you can still exist outside of that. ⁓ And then truly having shut off time. A lot of clients when they come on board, I tell them, I'm like, I'm giving you the greatest gift. You're out of work today at 4.30 and I don't want you to talk about work. Close the laptop, walk out and literally leave it at work.   And what's crazy is people don't realize that you can actually get a lot done within your four or five hour, like four or five day a week work week. And to be home with your kids, to be home with your family, to go to the gym, to replenish your bucket that gives out so much every single day ⁓ really is what you actually need to be doing rather than trying to produce more. And it sounds contradictory, but it's true. You will actually produce more and be a better producer and happier business owner if you will do that.   I know that was a long-winded answer, Len, but I really hope that people can see there are two sides of success. The word itself of success has a portion of suck. Like there is a side of business that is really hard that does require that grind and that hard work, but there's also a beautiful side. And I think when people can dance in that, can see that their whole identity is not the practice. It's not all dependent on that and they fill themselves and fuel themselves. Literally, I feel like the burnout can be dissipated very quickly.   If you've been going on it for a long time, it will probably take a little bit longer, but these small, simple steps will make you so much more fulfilled. And honestly, I hope nobody listening to this podcast hit success without fulfillment. I hope all of us commit that while we're giving the great patient care, we're giving back to all these people, we equally get to deserve and we should deserve to have a beautiful life of our own as well.   Speaker 1 (26:39) So nicely said, very eloquent in way you said that as well. last thing I want to cover is, we talked about being overwhelmed. stress is also part of being overwhelmed. very stressed. What are some ways that you think a dentist can reduce the stress on a day-to-day part of his practice? If someone said, hey, I'm so stressed, I don't know what I'm going to do. And you hear it a lot. I I talk to dentists all the time. And one of the common denominators is that they're   You know, when I sold my practice, I was never truly, truly stressed out. The stuff that stressed me out, honestly, was stupid stuff. But since I sold my practice and retired, I don't really have much stress in my life anymore. It's very interesting. But what are some things that dentists could do to reduce those stress they see on a day-to-day basis?   Speaker 2 (27:29) Yes. Okay. And I said, yes, because I'm to go back to the S model. The S model is literally like my stress booster buster for you. Number one, where do you want to go and why? Like figure out you that truly if you don't have a North star, you don't know what you're going for and reassess to make sure that's really where you want to go. So many people put this like, I want to have four practices and I want to have this. And I'm like, why? You got to be able to tell me why I'm making sure it's your dream, not the dream you think you should be living.   That's like number one to get rid of stress, like truly living your dream. And I will tell you, you're allowed to like, it's in pencil, it's not in permanent ink. You can erase it, you can recraft it, you can recreate it. That's going to cut stress. I was chasing after a mountain, I didn't want to climb anymore. And when I realized that, that was a pivot shift. So number one is like, make sure you're actually truly going where you want to go. And that's the you. Earnings like profit, like Len, so much stress comes from not knowing the numbers.   And I know people sometimes want to avoid it. They don't want to look at it. Like I'm just going to go do production. I want to do ethical dentistry and I will tell you both exist. It's not an or like you will you as a human are going to naturally do ethical dentistry. Like you can't go against that. That's who you are at your core. And by knowing the numbers, you're not going to go and overdiagnose like I promise you it will not happen. But knowing the numbers and actually like looking at your cash, what are you spending money on? What do you need to produce to be able to afford the business?   Doctors learn the numbers and they actually use the numbers to make their decisions. Stress dissipates. I have so many doctors that reach out to me because they're cash flow poor and I'm like, you're producing 200,000 a month, how are we broke? ⁓ So actually understanding how to use numbers and not to be used by numbers and knowing how you actually can get money and like what can you live on and understanding tax brackets and savings like that discipline might seem constrictive, but I will tell you it is the most freeing stress free piece that you can have.   And then third, our systems and team. Like I'm going to like just really keep like painting this picture for you. Delegate to your team, use your team, put the systems into place. And we don't go for the whole elephant. We don't do the entire thing in one night shift. What we do is we look at the numbers. Where are numbers low on the KPIs? Let's go fix a system over there. So we fix that part of the leaking bucket. Just that alone, like even myself, I felt it like the hoosh of reducing that stress for you. ⁓ Start with your vision.   know your numbers and then put systems into place and team delegation and elevation ⁓ that will immediately reduce stress. And then like just quick, what is the one or two hot pain points right now causing the bulk of your stress? Let's figure out how we can eliminate those right now. And I want to, everybody always says, Kiera, there's no way like I can't do this. The answer is yes, you can. Yes, you can. And when we get out of this, I can't get that, I can't do this. We actually find the true core of what we can solve. Usually the answer is pretty simple and it's pretty immediate.   if we're willing to just let go and take action. So those would be kind of my like four little steps to reduce stress quickly and easily. And if you can't see it, sometimes having an outside voice and outside perspective, sometimes you're too far in the weeds, that can be very beneficial for you as well to like take you by the hand and say, here's step one, two, three, four, and they're there to guide you as well, rather than you trying to figure it out yourself.   Speaker 1 (30:35) amazing. This is great. ⁓ I want to shift for the final few minutes that we have together. I want to shift to my lightning round Q and a that I like to do with guests. We're going to get through eight to 10 of these. Okay, ready? The rule of thumb for this one, you like long winded answers, which is great. But for this one, it's very, fast. No long, no long winded. We'll never get through this.   Speaker 2 (30:47) So   You got it, Len.   Speaker 1 (30:58) So I opened my app up. First question, what book do you want to go back and reread as it's made a great impact on you the first time you read it?   Speaker 2 (31:07) I would go back and reread Bye, Your Time by Dan Martell. I feel like there's a lot that I could relearn from that where I'm at today.   Speaker 1 (31:14) repeat that one more time.   Speaker 2 (31:17) Yep, buy back your time by Daniel.   Speaker 1 (31:19) Buy back your time. I'm just writing it down. All right. Who has been your greatest inspiration?   Speaker 2 (31:25) Gosh Tony Robbins hands down. I love Tony so much. I look up to him a lot. I've been in his Lions group ⁓ the reason I look up to him is because He said one time the Tony you see in front of you is the Tony I created it's not from my parents It's not from business. It's not from anybody else It's who I want to be and who I esteem to be and he said life is always happening for you and not to you and those two pieces have Resonated with me so much in my life ⁓ truly one of the like   biggest, greatest mentors and I've been really blessed and lucky to have him directly mentor me, which have truly changed the trajectory of my course, of my life as well.   Speaker 1 (32:04) Awesome, amazing. ⁓ If you could take a class to learn anything, what would it be on?   Speaker 2 (32:10) marketing. Len, hate marketing. Call my Achilles heel. I learned so much and I think I know more. But man, if I could like understand it on a really high level easily all day every day and I take a lot of them. But man, one like magic one that would teach me everything. Yeah, it'd be amazing.   Speaker 1 (32:26) Amazing. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming successful?   Speaker 2 (32:33) Yes, I do. It sounds like cliche. I didn't like, I think the yes model came from what I believe success is like you having a vision, looking at your numbers and then putting systems into play and using your team ⁓ and surrounding your yourself with people that are living and doing the life you want. I really do believe we become like the people we surround ourselves what we listen to. So that's what I would say is the path to success.   Speaker 1 (33:01) Amazing too. Has anyone in your network other than Tony Robbins, has anyone in your network been important in your journey or to your journey?   Speaker 2 (33:09) Absolutely. There's a lot of people. think my husband, that's a huge support for me. He believes in me, even though maybe he shouldn't believe in me, but having that rock. And then also my team, truly, I look at all the variations of Dental A Team and where I've gone as me as a person, they've evolved me as a human and they've also evolved our company and the good and the bad that have gone through.   They have truly shaped me, every single one of them, and I'm very, very grateful for the trust they put in me to create what we've built.   Speaker 1 (33:42) amazing. How do you develop how have you developed key partnerships?   Speaker 2 (33:47) Ah, that's fun. You go to events, you talk to people, you look to see how can you add value to their world, to their life. And I think partnerships, partnerships to me, I don't try to figure out like how to do something. I look to see like, who do I know that knows how to do this? That's how I use partnerships in life and vice versa. Like bring more to the table than you take from people. But I look at people have just like, what's their secret sauce? How can I like, like connect them to other people? To me, it's a fun connect the dots of just getting great people together. That's how I believe that like.   To me, that's how all boats rise is through partnerships like hands down. One of the best things was networking and meeting people. You will learn more from the minds of men than you will be able to like mine out of this world. Like there is more gold there than anywhere else in this world.   Speaker 1 (34:32) Got it. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?   Speaker 2 (34:39) Most satisfying moment? There have been a lot. I think recently my most satisfying moment was when I wanted to give up and I really was so burnt out and I was exhausted and I was tired and I hit that breaking point again in my life. And for the first time in my entire career, I took an entire month off and I reset and it was the most scaring. There was a lot of really bad backlash that came from it.   But me as a human, re-centered, refocused, re-prioritized. And I think that that was one of the most satisfying moments to realize, at the end of the day, CEOs and business owners have to show up for themselves first to be able to give to their entire team. And I'd never, ever, ever, ever done that. So like me personally, that was one of them. But man, like the hundreds and thousands of clients lives, Glenn, you and I both know, I think as consultants, when you hear people's lives changing,   like clients who are broke and literally had no money and now they're buying their kids their dream lives, that to me will always be the clincher of everything but like beautiful and why I show up every single day to do it. So there's a personal and a professional win that was like just super satisfying.   Speaker 1 (35:47) That's really great. All right, three questions left. Let's get through these quickly. What deserves all your attention but seldom gets it?   Speaker 2 (35:57) I would say probably my body like working out.   Speaker 1 (36:00) Okay, what three adjectives describe your strengths?   Speaker 2 (36:06) Adjectives. ⁓ I would say grit. would say fun. And I would say passion.   Speaker 1 (36:16) Great answers. Last question I ask is to everybody. So it is one subscription, either business or personal, so something you pay for either monthly or annually, that you simply cannot live without.   Speaker 2 (36:33) ⁓ Len.   I would say I can't live without, honestly, boomerang. That sounds so ridiculous. I would not be able to follow up with all the millions of things that I do day in and day out without boomerang as a person, like professional. Like I would pay for that all day every day. ⁓   Speaker 1 (36:53) I haven't heard that one before, that's a good one. you go. ⁓ So Kiera, how can people learn more about how you can help them if they want to learn more about your consulting agency? What's the best way for them to reach out and find out more?   Speaker 2 (37:03) Yeah, thank you so much Len. Best way is listen to the podcast, the Dental A Team podcast. Reach out on our website, TheDentalATeam.com. You can book a call with us or you can always reach out. You can text us directly, 775-243-5100. Like we will get back to you. I'm happy to share any tips, any insights. Find us on Instagram, Dental A Team. Truly, we try to be just like you are Len, available in all aspects and just really, really grateful for this opportunity today.   Speaker 1 (37:30) Well, this was great. Thank you so much for ⁓ spending 30 plus minutes with me, really educating the audience on things you're passionate about. And just like I did on yours, you can see the passion when you talk, you can see the passion in how you answer the questions. So I truly appreciate you kind of giving it all to us. So thank you again for being part of the Raving Patients podcast. ⁓ Guys, if you like the episode, please like us, please review us. If you think you or yourself or one of your colleagues can use what the Dental A Team can do for your practice, please reach out.   let them know you heard about them through the podcast that I just did with Kiera. ⁓ And as I end ⁓ every single one of my episodes, remember your reputation matters until the next episode. Thank you so much for joining me and we'll talk to everyone soon.  

Your next new patient may never search Google. AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google AI are reshaping how people find dentists — and social media is now fueling those algorithms. If you're still treating marketing like a bunch of separate buckets, you're about to fall behind. In this episode, Dr. Len Tau and digital marketing powerhouse Dr. Anissa Broussard reveal why your SEO strategy must evolve — and how to stay visible as search radically changes. In this conversation, Dr. Len sits down with Dr. Anissa Broussard, co-founder of Digital Floss, to unpack The New SEO Playbook: Why Social Media is No Longer Optional. They break down how AI search engines scan social platforms to recommend dentists, why content posted on Instagram and other channels now impacts Google rankings, and how practices can position themselves to dominate local search. Anissa also shares practical, no-fluff tips on maximizing reviews, updating your website content, and leveraging short-form video to attract quality patients — not just any patients.   What You'll Learn From This Episode Why traditional SEO alone won't keep you visible as AI search grows How Instagram captions, FAQs, and Google profile updates impact search results Practical steps to get recommended by AI engines like ChatGPT & Claude The real ROI of Google Ads vs. Meta (Facebook & Instagram) ads for dentists How to target high-value patients with geo-fencing and better lead funnels Simple content strategies that train algorithms to favor your practice long-term — Key Takeaways 00:41 Introduction to Digital Marketing in Dentistry 02:55 The Role of Social Media in Dental Practices 07:32 AI and Its Impact on Dental Marketing 20:43 Understanding Google Ads and Their Costs 24:03 Improving Lead Quality for Dental Practices 32:00 Future Trends in Dental Marketing 37:09 Conclusion and Resources   — Connect with Dr. Anissa Learn more about Dr. Anissa Broussard and her work at Digital Floss by visiting digitalfloss.com.  There you can request a free Visibility Audit, explore resources, and see how her team helps dental practices build authentic brands, dominate AI-driven search results, and attract high-quality patients. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at: https://www.drlentau.com This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more at: https://www.dentalintel.com/ This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more at: https://www.callrail.com/ 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!

Dr. Len Tau, aka the Reviews Doctor, is on the podcast. With Kiera, he goes into the most critical nuts and bolts of making sure your practice stands out (or at least keeps pace with) online reviews amid AI. He explains jargon terms like ranking power and factors and velocity of reviews, whether or not you should actually be responding to reviews of your practice, and a ton more. Visit SuperchargeYourDentalPractice.com and enter the code RAVING to save $100 on registration for Dr. Tau's annual conference. About Dr. Tau Dr. Len Tau thrives on helping practices maximize their online reputation, marketing, and social media strategies. As a speaker, Len is known for his lively and engaging presentations packed with ready-to-use strategies. He regularly travels the country sharing his marketing brilliance and passion for practice growth with audiences. As a consultant, he offers practice leaders with real-world solutions tailored to fit their specific challenges and opportunities. Len loves to help doctors and their teams understand and implement successful online systems to build their practice. He currently serves as general manager of the Dental for Birdeye Reputation Marketing Software. Selected as one of Philadelphia's Top Dentists by Philadelphia Magazine, he continues to experience growth year after year in his fee-for-service practice focusing on general, cosmetic, reconstructive and implant dentistry. Following his father into the dental profession, Len graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and continues to pursue ongoing continuing education opportunities. He has had the privilege of serving patients for two decades. He is an active member of numerous professional organizations including the American Dental Association, the Pennsylvania Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Eastern Dental Society, the Northeast Philadelphia Dental Implant Study Club, and the American Academy of Clear Aligners. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Kiera Dent (00:00) Hello, Dental Team listeners. This is Kiera and today I am so excited. This is one of my dear friends. We've known each other for several years in the industry. I'm super freaking pumped. I'm going actually be at his event next year in September. Little teaser. Stay tuned. He's got an amazing event he does every year in September. I have Dr. Len Tau. He is one of my faves. He is better known ⁓ as an authority in the dental consulting world, reputation marketing, and a practice growth. He's recognized by dentistry today as a top dental consultant for eight straight years.   He is the author of Raving Patients and 100 plus tips to 105 star reviews in a hundred days. Like this man knows how to do it. He's one of my faves. We really do collaborate on so many fun things. After 20 plus years in clinical practice, he now helps dentists nationwide, increase revenue, case acceptance and visibility. He leads the dental vision at BirdEye, hosts the Raving Patients podcast and runs the Supercharger Dental Practice Conference, which is the one I was alluding to that we're gonna be at next year in September, empowering practices to thrive in today's competitive landscape.   He's truly one of my faves. And today we're gonna dig into like, how do you get online reviews? But Len, welcome. I'm so happy to have you on the podcast. How are you today?   Dr. Len Tau (01:06) I'm good, thanks for having me, I'm excited to be here.   Kiera Dent (01:08) Of course. And this just came about because Len like, let's just do a little teaser. You're prepping full like steam ahead right now for your event that's coming up in September in Florida. ⁓ I love like the last time you and I were on the podcast, we talked about you in clinical dentistry. And then we reconnected after some time and you've left the chair, you're living your best life and you full blown gone into the event space. So just like, I know we're gonna get into like online reviews and how AI is changing that it's going to be just a really, really fun episode today. But tell us a little bit like   How is it going from like full blown dentist in the chair to now full blown events, like running these awesome events that we're super excited to be a part. Just kind of give me a little insight to that.   Dr. Len Tau (01:46) Well, it's been, it's been a lot of, a lot of fun. It's been very different, obviously, you know, for 23 years, I practiced dentistry, um, for about 12 of those, 13 of those who was full time. And then I went part time in 2017 until I sold and retired in 2022. Um, but one of the things I've grew up on in dentistry was going to dental events and, the big, the ones, the small ones, you know, all over the country and as a dentist first, and then as a vendor.   Kiera Dent (02:08) Mm-hmm.   Dr. Len Tau (02:15) Um, since 2013 or 14, so a long time in the space. know, one of the things that really hit me was that the events are not really put on very well. They're not, um, you know, whether you, if you're a dentist, there's issues when you're a vendor, there's issues. And I said, you know what? I want to change the game. And, um, one of my goals when I retired from dentistry was to start putting on events. So in 2023, um, in, in September, we did an event in Delray had 208.   Kiera Dent (02:25) Right.   Dr. Len Tau (02:44) Dennis there, 33 sponsors. was, first day was business, second day was marketing. Excuse me. First day was marketing. Second day was business. Had a 13, 14 speakers. It went off better than I could ever imagined. I then moved to the last year in 2024 to Scottsdale. And we were at the Scott Resort and Spa, which is a beautiful hotel and the event was good. It wasn't great. Definitely moving to different coasts.   I felt there was not as much, know, engagement, excitement about the event. So I, my family and my wife and I decided, Hey, we're going to do this. Let's have people come down to me. I live in beautiful, you know, part of Florida. we're having this year's event and the next three of them at super at, ⁓ at pure 66, a brand new hotel, ⁓ in Fort Lauderdale. It's literally half hour from my house, five miles from the airport, easy to get to. So this year event is September 26th and 27th.   Kiera Dent (03:32) Bye.   you   No.   Mm-hmm.   Dr. Len Tau (03:45) We've got 14 speakers, ⁓ mixture of business and marketing. So we've got people talking about social media, about content. We have people talking about saving money on taxes. We're talking about how to become a fee-for-service practice. ⁓ So a lot of different great content and top speakers, Steve Rasner, Paul Goodman, ⁓ Jeff Buski, ⁓ Richard, Rich Maddow. So some real, real heavy hitters. And then some people who people haven't really heard of, Melanie Diesel, who's new in the dental industry.   So, but I like to do it differently and my events are very high end. You come, you're going to see things you probably have never seen before. I give a ton of time to the vendors so the vendors love me because they make sure that they get integration or interaction with the attendees. So you're going to be speaking in 2026, same weekend at September 25th and 26th in 2026, same hotel, pure 66.   Kiera Dent (04:28) Sure.   Yeah.   Dr. Len Tau (04:40) We're ramping things up right now. We're literally a month out from the events. still have people signing up. I still have people wanting to reach out as sponsors. And it's, it's, it's, is the fun time for me. Cause when I'm done, I'm, you know, I get a couple of months of break and then I start promoting 2027 again. So ⁓ it's been a good time. I really enjoy it. And I find that I've kind of ⁓ created something that's very different and the attendees really enjoy it and the vendors really enjoy it. So if I can make everybody happy,   Kiera Dent (04:45) No.   Dr. Len Tau (05:09) That's all I'm looking to do here.   Kiera Dent (05:11) ⁓ and Len, I hope the audience, if they can't see it, they can hear it. I think it's so fun because I mean, I've seen you in different spaces in your career, in your life. And there is just this like giddy, like younger version of Len that I feel is emerging of like, it's like giddy boyhood, like excitement of I'm excited to put these on. I'm excited to do these events. And it just makes me so happy for you. And what I think I'm hearing is yes, attendees are happy. Vendors are happy. But I also hear that Len is very happy and to do something   in dentistry is just very, very fun. It's very exciting. And so we're jazzed. I'm really excited. I love good events. I love great time. I love to help. love business marketing. Everybody can take that. That's not Kiera's jam. Like I, that's why I wanted to bring you on. You guys are very good at marketing. You're very good at that space. but to talk about how to help people have their best lives to grow the practices that they want to grow. I think you and I are so synergistic in that. So we're super excited and I love, I mean, I'm not going to highlight the fact that there were   a couple of sixes in that is September 26 at Pier 66. You guys hopefully like, I like the alliteration. Don't put anything weird on it guys, but I do appreciate that you made it easier. September six and nines flipped upside down are a six. Like hopefully everybody can remember September 26, Pier 66. It'll be a good time in 2026. I mean, we got four lines, so we're okay. We've at least got four sixes, not we didn't end on three, but I really hope an exciting step. We'll make sure we put some info for people.   For this year and for next year, I think it'll be a fun time. Dental A Team will be there, so come hang out with us. ⁓ Len, I'm super excited. I will not spoil secrets, but a lot of the things he told me for the events, I will say he does put his heart and soul into it. So Len, excited about that. Thank you for sharing. Good luck for this year. We're gonna be rooting you on this year and next year. And now let's pivot. Let's go into like your jam. You're in BirdEye, you're in marketing, you're on online reviews. AI has come into the scene. Practices are changing.   I also will say, I hope everybody listens to you of their like succession story. You hung up the hand piece, but you are still full steam ahead in dentistry. And so I hope people see that like there is no path to dentistry. Like you just, it's a, it's a beautiful world that you're in. So let's talk though, online reviews, AI, how is this working? How do we make sure that practices are still being visible? Chat GPT is on, on the prowl.   There are clients signing up with us now that have found us on chat. GPT, which is so random. It's changing how people have been doing things. Walk me through. What are you seeing with these online reviews? The importance, how to bring AI in? Like, let's just kind of go in a rift on how practices can still be visible with AIs. Like just showing up to the scene.   Dr. Len Tau (07:43) So I wanna talk about chat CPT for a second. ⁓ I refer to it as my best friend. ⁓ It helps me edit. No, I haven't named it yet. No, I haven't named it. ⁓ you have?   Kiera Dent (07:50) Have you named it? I've got to just ask Len. Have you named? I have! Me and Chet,   I had a name and now her name is Wanda. I don't know why, I don't even know where Wanda came, but people are like, here, are you hanging out with Wanda again? Cause I agree. Like they're our best friends. So go on Len. I can't wait to hear what you name your Chet GPT cause mine is currently Wanda.   Dr. Len Tau (08:06) I'll have to, I   have to name it now that I have to think of something. ⁓ but no, I started using it. I'm like, this is really helpful and it's only gotten better. And, just to give you an idea is, ⁓ my wife and I, and my son, my son just graduated high school. He's literally just started his freshman year at, university of Florida on a free ride. ⁓ smart, smart ass kid. I'm very proud of him. But, you know, and I travel a ton, but I travel a ton for business and I made a commitment. I think I told you that,   Kiera Dent (08:25) Boo? Yeah.   Dr. Len Tau (08:35) during the summer when he was going away for school, I was not going to travel. So from March to literally next week, beginning of September, I haven't traveled at all for business. we did plan some really great travel for our personal lives. And one of the things we did was we had a cruise, a 17 day cruise to Europe. ⁓ And when I decided I did not want to do the excursions to the cruise, cause they're really expensive and you're with all these people. I prefer to kind of just go and tour myself.   Kiera Dent (08:44) It's awesome.   Dr. Len Tau (09:05) So I use ChatGPT in every city. And I said, I'm going to the city. This is what I'm going to get in. This is the cruise I'm going on. It got the cruise itinerary. And I said, I want to set up private tours in every city with different people. And it helped me pick the best tour guides. They referred me to a website called Tours by Local, which is an amazing website that you can meet people who are local that will take you around.   show you the city and it was amazing. It was amazing. So I thank Chachi PT for doing that because I wouldn't have known about half these things if I didn't do it. And in fact, one of the women, and actually the very first place you went to, which was in Split, Croatia, which was beautiful. I told her that literally that's kind of how I went down this road was I asked Chachi PT, what should I do in Split? And they said, you need to use this tour guide. She's the highest rated tour guide and has the best reviews on tours by local. like,   What's towards by local? And that started this whole thing. So she was, she was amazed to hear that. So, ⁓ I have been using Chad GPT for a long time, like I said, and even now it is people I know type in, know, get me to the best dentists in the area. And it's very much based on reviews. So you have to be a highly rated practice. you may not believe in reviews and if you do, think you're not smart, but you know, if, if you want to be at the forefront of where people are looking,   Kiera Dent (09:58) Yeah.   Yes.   Dr. Len Tau (10:25) You have to generate reviews in a significant amount. Velocity now, which is how often you're getting them, is one of the biggest ranking factors on Google, whether you want to believe chat GPT or not. ⁓ But you have to get reviews. You can't, you know, rest on your laurels and say, well, I have enough because you never have enough. Okay. And, ⁓ and you've got to let Google rank you high. And there's been a big discrepancy in the industry, a big, I don't want to say a misunderstanding.   Kiera Dent (10:43) read.   Dr. Len Tau (10:52) But I've been in the review space now since 2013, so 12 years. And in the past, dentists thought that if they get reviews, they're going to rank. And that's not the way it is anymore. If you have reviews, but don't pay attention to the other ranking factors, you actually don't rank well. And that's a problem. So, chat GPT AI is so important, but you still got to dominate Google. You still got to get to the top of the pages.   And that's really where the direction is going. and if you aren't there now and you are ignoring it, you're never going to get there. So I would love to talk to you about our list in instruct or educate the listeners and viewers of these ranking factors that they need, need to pay attention to, or they're going to be left behind when it comes to ranking on Google.   Kiera Dent (11:27) Yeah.   absolutely. And I'm excited for this too, because, I did notice that you've got to like, AI is just crawling the web. That's where it's getting, it's being taught. It's crawls it. It looks through all of it. And so agreed with you. have a lot of clients and like, we want the secret pill of marketing. And I might get your reviews up. Like it is constant and consistent that if you get those reviews up and you bring pieces to the table, that people literally like that's what's going to rank you higher. So I'm excited, Len to, to dig in deeper because it is like how   getting more reviews, but to hear that there's more beyond just the reviews really can help these offices like get the best bang for their buck, help more practices. And I'm like, it used to be when I first started consulting when I used to tell offices get to like 100 Google reviews. It is now I'm pushing people like five, six, 700 reviews that you need to be getting ranked into. And I don't know if you're seeing like a cutoff line or if it matters on that. So I'm really excited to dive into like, what are the rankings? What are the pieces? Is there a difference? But I'm like now   100 reviews, when I look at somebody I'm like, hmm, like if there's another dental practice that has maybe 400, 500 new clients come on, the first thing I do is I go look them up to see how many reviews do you have? And I'm shocked at how many dental practices actually are not showing up when I Google their names and they're like, no, no, care, we're here. And I'm like, but if I'm a prospective new client that doesn't work in your practice and I don't see you all the time and I just tried to find you and I'm looking for you.   How many patients who are not looking for you are not finding you as well. So yeah, take us away, and I'm super curious, very intrigued by this. It's fascinating. And I'll also say, because AI is new, feel like people got like a reset slate. Like, hey, you can actually get back into the game if you haven't been into the game, if you just start playing now. If you don't, I agree with you. I do think that you will unfortunately get obliterated without trying if you don't get into the game now.   Dr. Len Tau (13:28) 100 % so and I couldn't agree with you more. So the best thing to do here is if you're listening to this, I want you to go to a Google search and I want you to type your practice name in. Okay, so that's the first thing to do. Right.   Kiera Dent (13:39) and not in your office. Don't do it in   your office. Go somewhere else. Like try it somewhere else.   Dr. Len Tau (13:44) Right, well, and 100%, that's another thing is that if you're gonna look up your ranking specifically, you do not wanna do that from your office location, okay? Because you're not gonna get real results. You also wanna go into incognito mode or private browsing mode on your phone or your computer if you're doing that to check ranking. But this is not specifically about ranking. This is more about how you appear online. So go to Google and type in your practice name. Not your name unless it's the name of the practice, but your business name, okay?   Kiera Dent (13:52) Yes.   Mm-hmm.   Dr. Len Tau (14:13) and it doesn't have to be what's registered with the state board. It's how you, when you answer the phone, what you say, okay? Pennsylvania Center for Dental Excellence was my practice name, okay? So you wanna look yourself up. So these are some of the ranking factors that Google looks at. Obviously one of them is your total number of reviews you have. Definitely a ranking factor, but the total number has not been as important as some other factors as well. So.   Kiera Dent (14:20) Mm-hmm.   Dr. Len Tau (14:40) Average number of reviews in the industry right now is about 350. It used to be like 100 was the golden number. Now 350 is the average in the industry. So are you average? Are you below average or are above average? Okay, that's something to look at. The second ranking factor, which is even more important is the velocity of reviews. So how many reviews, how often you're getting them. Okay, so if you're getting once every two weeks, not enough. If you're getting them once every week,   Kiera Dent (14:46) Yes.   Dr. Len Tau (15:10) Not enough. You don't need them every single day, but two or three every single week is ideal. Okay, because you think two or three every week gives you eight to 15 a month times 12 months is 100 reviews a year, which is a nice number. Okay, so you have to have that velocity. All right. Third ranking factor is the total score, your average number of stars. So   I would like you to be anywhere from 4.6 to five stars. Okay. I don't think you have to be only five stars. think there's a negativity related to that. If you're only five star reviews, but I also don't want you to below 4.5. Okay. ⁓ And if you're at 4.3, 4.2, or even 4.1, another better review or two, and you're to be in the threes. And that's really where you don't want to go. Cause you lose a huge percentage of patients who may come in if you're less than four stars. Okay. Another ranking factor.   is the primary category. So how do you know your primary category? If you look under your Google, your name, will say right where the stars is, will say, hopefully dentist in your town or dentist in your county or dentist in your city. Okay. So your primary category should be dentist because we're a dental practice. Okay. If you're an oral surgeon, you may want it to be oral and actual facial surgeon. If you're an endodontist, want it to say endodontist. You don't want it to say dentist if you're a specialist. Okay.   ⁓ That's a big ranking factor and I'll give you an example. I, ⁓ my wife had some plastic surgery over the last couple of years and we were referred to that doctor. So we didn't need to search for him. We were referred to him. went in, we liked him, we used his services. ⁓ And of course, being a plastic surgeon, I talked to him about reviews. He now uses BirdEye, but he had me speak in an event that he holds down here in Boca Raton.   And I talked about this exactly. And I asked everybody, cause it was a small group. What is your primary category? And he goes, he said to me, literally, he says, I'm listed as a nurse practitioner. He wasn't listed as a plastic surgeon. He was listed as a nurse practitioner. So his categories were all messed up. So when you actually typed in plastic surgeon near me, he never showed up because his category was wrong. So primary category is a very important ranking factor as well. Now you also have to make sure your secondary categories are also. ⁓   Kiera Dent (17:15) No.   Dr. Len Tau (17:35) ⁓ under ⁓ are there as well as under the proper categories. So secondary categories, if you're a dentist, dental clinic, teeth whitening services, denture care center, orthodontist, if you're doing aligners, if you're endo, you're doing root canals, you can have endodontist. If you do periodontist, can do periodontist. You want to make sure you have nine secondary categories. Okay, if you don't have them, you want to add them.   Now, how do you add them? It's very easy. You go to Google using ChatGPT or anything and say, how do I add secondary categories to my Google business listing? Okay. It will tell you exactly like a recipe how to do it. You need to add those secondary categories. All right. And if you want help doing it, you can always reach out to me. The last ranking factor, which is really important is making sure that the practices name, address, and phone number is consistent. Okay. So just to be clear, most   website companies do not do local SEO. They do website SEO, which is making sure the website is SEOed so the website ranks higher on the organic rankings. We're talking about getting the Google business page ranking higher, which the website companies are not focused on. So when it comes to the name, address and phone number, is it consistent? You have to be consistent. And this is a Google requirement.   It is not a patient thing. It's not a me thing or you thing. It's a Google requirement that this data is consistent. So the name is obviously important. So if you have the and or the ampersand, you may find things inconsistent. When it comes to the address, if you have, you know, South State Streets, Unit 510, you can have South or S, you can have Street or ST, and then you can have Suite, Unit, Number, or STE.   All these variations need to be consistent. So one of them has to be done and one and stuck with. And then if you are using a tracking number for whatever reason on your Google business listing, you may find your inconsistent there as well. So when you make everything consistent and you get a higher velocity of reviews, guess what happens over time? You rank higher on the maps. And when you rank higher on the maps, you get more visible for patients to find you. So that's where the secret sauce is. And   Not that this is a sales pitch about BirdEye, but that's exactly what BirdEye does. BirdEye does those. We check all those boxes for you. And then what ends up happening is a practices get more reviews. But more importantly, when they ask patients how they find them, they're going to see that they found them because of their ranking online and the reviews drove them to the practice. So that's how this whole thing plays a role in getting a practice more visible and credible.   Kiera Dent (20:06) Thank   Wow. So I was over here like taking a lot of notes, which I really loved. I love the number, the 350 at the average, the velocity, like three to five per week you were saying. It doesn't need to be an everyday, but I do agree like them consistently coming through the total score, the 4.6 to five primary category, secondary category, making sure we have nine. And then you were talking about like the practice name, phone number, all of that has to be consistent. So the addresses have to be the same. And that's going to help you rank higher.   Did I miss anything? Those are my notes, Len. And I'm just curious, like, did I catch them all? Because there was a lot of pieces to consider. And then I have some follow ups as well. So like, did I miss anything in that list?   Dr. Len Tau (21:02) No, I   think you got it all there.   Kiera Dent (21:06) Okay, so hopefully that was a good recap for everybody. If you were listening, I tried to like summarize everything he said, because I really feel that those are super valuable pieces to know. Now, Len, there's a couple of things that happen and I'm very curious of what you've seen. Maybe you know, maybe you don't know. It's just a riff for me genuinely curious over here. Does it impact for the business to respond to the reviews? Because I know there was like a big misnomer out there like for a while, like you have to respond to every single review that helps you rank higher. What's the   What's kind of the lay of the land right now responding to the reviews that come in?   Dr. Len Tau (21:39) So there's been a big push over the years to respond to reviews. And there's also been those naysayers who don't want you to respond to reviews. So I want to make this very clear. When you respond to a review and you acknowledge them as a patient, you are technically violating HIPAA. Okay. Now by the letter of the law, if you do that, you violated HIPAA and can be in trouble. Now in all the years I've been doing this, I've only seen one   Kiera Dent (21:49) Mm-hmm.   Dr. Len Tau (22:08) example of a positive review being responded to and the dentist got in trouble. Okay. So if someone writes a review for you and it's five stars and you say, thank you so much for your feedback. We were glad you had a great experience in our practice. Okay. You technically violated HIPAA there because you acknowledged that they came into the practice. I don't think you'll ever run into any problems with that. I don't, I've never seen any instance when a, when a practice has got into trouble. But again, by the letter of the law, it's a violation.   Here's where the person ran into a problem. Okay. So the review in question, the patient wrote, I'm so happy with my appearance after I went to so-and-so's dental office. I think they were in Texas. The dentist responded, we're so happy that you, thank you so much for your review. We're so happy that you loved our magic needles. Okay. So it, from what I understand is the patient had Botox or   dermal fillers placed and that's what they call their magic needles. So the patient wrote, wrote a letter to the practice saying, I didn't appreciate you letting the world know that I had Botox done and asked for the review response to be taken down, which the dentist immediately did. Took it down and apologized, but it really pissed the patient off and the patient sued the dentist and won. Okay. Because the dentist went out of their way to   Kiera Dent (23:08) Mm-hmm.   Right.   Dr. Len Tau (23:33) you know, release private information that wasn't supposed to be done. So in that case, you shouldn't be doing that. Okay. Now on the same note, I would be very careful responding.   Kiera Dent (23:37) Mm-hmm.   Dr. Len Tau (23:45) to a review that's left by a negative, a negative review that's written by a patient. I would be very careful responding publicly to that because it's very hard to respond without violating HIPAA. So a simple response like, we're sorry to hear about your experience. Please contact the office to discuss the concerns as we're unfortunately unable to comment due to HIPAA release privacy stuff. That's fine. But.   Again, I just not sure it's the best thing to do. So you have to be careful with negative reviews. What it doesn't do is we really haven't found any relationship between responding and ranking. Okay, so you have to, I always leave it up to the people to respond. I like using AI to respond as well, because I think it comes up with HIPAA compliant and really good responses. ⁓ But you have to decide what you want to do for your own practice.   Kiera Dent (24:16) Mm-hmm.   Interesting.   That's actually really helpful to know. ⁓ Okay, good feedback for people to ponder and decide what they want to do on. The second piece is   some people lose their Google My Business and they're not able to be found. ⁓ And I don't know if you have reasons why. I don't know if it's from like a name change or it's inconsistent. So like a lot of offices have a lot of reviews, but when you go to search them, they're hidden on Google My Business. Like it will show up on the person's side, but nobody externally can find it. Do you have any ideas of like what causes that or what offices can do if they're struggling with that?   Dr. Len Tau (25:11) So I want to clarify that what question you asked there. I'm sorry to ask a question when you asked the question was when you say that you're saying that when they search for their Google business listing, they can't find it or when someone is searching for the office, they're not visible on the maps.   Kiera Dent (25:15) Hey, that's okay.   So when they're searching, so if I just go into Google and I type in like my perfect smile, the website might link, but the Google My Business with all, and they might have like 150 Google reviews, like it might be, like they've got them all and the office can see it when they like log in as like, this is, you own this, but they've lost it and it's no longer visible publicly. Do you know what causes that or how they can get that back? It's okay if you don't, I'm just genuinely curious. Cause I know some offices struggle with this, especially with like name changes of practices.   going through different ownerships. ⁓ Some of them have told me it's like when I changed the name of my practice, it no longer showed up. Like we have all these reviews, but we're not showing up. Do you know what causes that or how practices can get back being visible?   Dr. Len Tau (26:02) Yep. Now that you   asked it that way, so that usually means that your Google business listing has been suspended. And if you can't find it on search, but you see it, means it's suspended in most cases. Name changes, address changes, other things you do can cause it to be suspended. There are, if you look up on use chat GPT, ⁓   and say, why is, why can your Google business page be suspended? There is a list of different reasons why it can get suspended. ⁓ if you're getting reviews the wrong way is a big one. So, like you should not be incentivizing for reviews. And I'm talking about incentivizing the patients. You shouldn't be getting reviews in your physical office space because there's IP address conflicts and location services on the patient's phone. So if you're doing that, not only will you can potentially lose reviews, but you can't get it suspended, but you can look on.   Kiera Dent (26:37) Mm-hmm.   Dr. Len Tau (26:55) on chat GPT or Google and just say, what are the reasons that your business page can be suspended? And they're there. So usually you have to ⁓ re-approve it or re-verify that page. And there's certain things you do. You'll have to take a video of yourself in front of the practice, showing the address, showing the name of the business on the door. So there's things you will have to do to get it over to Google. So they'll re-verify you. And then once it happens, there's a good chance they'll unsuspend the listing. But that happens for that reason.   Kiera Dent (27:24) Gotcha. Okay. That's super helpful because I know a few offices have struggled with that. So was just curious for that. All right. This has been so helpful to figure out rankings. It's been helpful to understand. ⁓ My last question as we wrap up today on reviews has been so helpful, Len, is how do offices go about like, what are your recommendations? Yes, bird eye, swell, podium. Like there's a lot of review in Weave. I do, I usually recommend using an external one outside of things. think that they like, if they're just, if that's what they do, they're going to be experts at it.   But how can offices ethically and appropriately, like obviously great patient experience, but how do they increase these Google reviews? What are some of the best tactics you've seen to help these offices out?   Dr. Len Tau (28:04) So being biased, I mean, I'm a true believer in BirdEye because we help with the reviews and the ranking part. ⁓ Swell, which is a great product. know the guys who swell really well. A lot of their doctors don't rank well because they don't focus on the listings part of it or the ranking part of it. ⁓ I'm not a fan of Wee from a review perspective because they swell BirdEye and Podium, make it very easy. Weave doesn't. It's just the way we do it with our three other products. ⁓   I always say this, you can get reviews any way you want. The most effective is gonna be use some software, simple as that. But it all starts with the practice and it all starts with, I like to create a reputation culture in the practice, which means you know that every time a patient comes in the practice, that they're going to be evaluating you and reviewing you potentially. And you've gotta be on your best behavior, you've gotta put a happy smile on your face, you gotta treat them like they're the...   Kiera Dent (28:40) Mm-hmm.   Dr. Len Tau (29:00) king of the world, okay? You gotta roll out the red carpet. And if you don't do that, they may write a bad review, okay? But if you don't create that reputation culture, I think it's gonna be hard to get the practice to really accelerate the reviews. So creating that reputation culture using great verbiage skills. I love calling it feedback, not a review. If you call it a review, it sounds like you're begging for it. ⁓ The feedback conversation is much more comfortable to have. So, you know, it's an interesting situation, but if you don't ask, you don't get.   So you've got to ask. I think if you ask and you combine it with a really good software, you'll get a really good number of reviews. If you don't ask, you don't get. It's that simple.   Kiera Dent (29:30) Mm-hmm.   Yeah.   ⁓ well, that was so great. I appreciate this so much. And it's fun to hear about how AI is helping. It's fun to hear about how you still have to be great on Google. So ⁓ I just appreciate you. I appreciate you being here. I appreciate the knowledge you shared. appreciate for offices. I hope they take action and Len any last thoughts, how people can connect with you if they want more help on this. know ⁓ like truly in my opinion, this is the simplest marketing. Everybody wants to like sexy magic pill of marketing. And I'm like, no, it's like really great experience. Ask for the reviews, ask for the feedback.   like rank so that way people can find you I've had offices that had like three four or five new patients and they're like I need this marketing I need all these things which I'm not here to say not to do it but I will say great reviews will boost you very quickly so Len any last thoughts you've got how people can connect with you because it's been truly just an incredible episode today   Dr. Len Tau (30:26) So ⁓ I'm around the country a lot. So you can always connect with me in person if I'm at some of these events. If you wanna come to Supercharge, you can connect me there. SuperchargeYourDentalPractice.com You can use the code RAVING to save $100 on registration. ⁓ We also have some scholarships available. So if you do wanna come, you can reach out to me personally. So ⁓ my cell phone's all over the internet. The easiest way, if you have any questions, you want advice, you want help, I'm the guy to reach out to. My phone number is 215.   Kiera Dent (30:40) Awesome.   Dr. Len Tau (30:55) 292-2100. And my best email is Len, L-E-N, at drlentau.com, which is D-R-L-E-N-T-A-U.com. And you can email me, you can text me, you can call me, tell me you heard about me here and you need some advice. I'm more than happy to offer it to you. I do it all the time. ⁓ I love when people reach out to me because they know I'm an expert. So I do it kind of as a favor to people. ⁓ But no, you reach out to me, I'm happy to give advice.   Kiera Dent (31:23) amazing. Len, thank you so much for being on the podcast. I'm super excited for Supercharge 2025 and especially 2026. So everybody snag that. And truly, I hope you take action from today's podcast. This is easy ways for you to boost your marketing, be found and seen online. And Len, thank you for joining me today. I truly, truly appreciate you.   Dr. Len Tau (31:41) Thank you for having me, Kiera, I appreciate it.   Kiera Dent (31:43) Of course. And for all of you listening, thank you for listening and I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.  

Is your practice actually as efficient as it could be? If your front desk feels like a bottleneck, patients are slipping through cracks, or you're losing revenue to outdated payment systems, then you'll want to hear this one. In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, I sit down with Mandy Madeline—an experienced clinical assistant turned dental operations expert and now a leader at Pay Proudly. With nearly two decades in the industry, Mandy offers a unique lens into how systems, communication, and simple changes can make a huge impact on your bottom line. We dig into: How to reduce credit card processing fees without upsetting patients The truth about surcharging—and how to do it the right way Why in-house membership plans are a must (and how to make them work without tech headaches) The #1 leadership mindset that boosts team performance and office culture Simple front office scripts that improve patient trust and reduce confusion You'll walk away with clear, actionable strategies to streamline your practice operations, elevate your patient experience, and protect your profitability. Whether you're a dentist, manager, or team member, this episode is packed with take-home tools to make your day-to-day smoother and your practice stronger.

If you're worried that modern dentistry is trading principles for profit, you're not alone. But today's episode might just give you the confidence and clarity to do things differently. Dentistry is changing—and not always for the better. In this compelling episode, Dr. Len Tau welcomes Dr. Ed Feinberg, a crown-and-bridge expert and educator with over four decades of hands-on clinical experience. Ed was mentored by his father, a pioneer in full-mouth reconstruction, and today he carries on that legacy by helping dental professionals understand why foundational skills still matter in an industry swept up by implants and fast fixes. Together, they discuss how young dentists are being pulled into production-driven careers without the mentorship or mastery needed to truly thrive. Ed shares how practicing in both New York and Arizona shaped his philosophy—one grounded in long-term results, patient-first ethics, and clinical integrity. You'll hear his unfiltered take on the overuse of implants, the dangers of piecemeal treatment, and how modern dental education is missing the mark. More than a critique, this episode is a call to action. Whether you're a seasoned dentist or just starting your career, you'll walk away inspired to deepen your craft, lead your team with purpose, and maybe even mentor the next generation of dental professionals. Because as Ed says, success isn't about being flashy—it's about making a difference that lasts. Here are just a few of the important and eye-opening topics we explored: Why foundational crown-and-bridge techniques still matter more than ever The long-term problems with piecemeal treatment planning How mentorship can change the trajectory of a young dentist's career The risks of a production-first mindset in new graduates Building a practice through community involvement—not just advertising What true leadership in dentistry looks like Why implants aren't the solution to every restorative case Ed's unique insights from 70+ years of documented dental cases — Key Takeaways 00:49 Introduction and Event Announcement 03:11 Ed Feinberg's Unique Career Journey 12:10 Comprehensive Treatment Planning in Dentistry 12:49 Disturbing Trends in Modern Dentistry 21:35 Building a Successful Dental Practice 23:56 Leadership in Dentistry and Community Engagement 31:39 Rapid-Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts — Connect with Dr. Ed Feinberg: Want to learn more about Ed's restorative philosophy—or explore his extensive library of online dental courses? Visit: https://theonwardprogram.com/ Check out his books on Amazon: Open Wide The Double Tilt Precision Attachment Case for Natural Teeth and Implants Whether you're a new grad or a seasoned practitioner, Dr. Ed is passionate about helping dentists elevate their skills and serve their patients with integrity.   — 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 The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing 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!  

Grief doesn't wait for the perfect moment—and neither does oral cancer. In this powerful episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau welcomes Dr. Parul Dua-Makkar to share how personal tragedy transformed her career and fueled a mission to save lives. After losing her brother—also a dentist—to oral cancer at just 34, Parul now advocates for early diagnosis, clinical vigilance, and emotional healing within dentistry. This isn't just a clinical conversation—it's a raw, inspiring look at how loss can fuel purpose, and how every provider can be a part of the legacy of prevention. You'll also learn how grief doesn't follow a linear path, the emotional complexity of legacy, and why speaking about difficult topics can be the most powerful way to connect and lead in the dental community. Dr. Parul reminds us all: life is short, but the impact you make can be lasting. Some of the powerful insights from this episode include: Early detection saves lives: Persistent red or white lesions lasting more than two weeks must be evaluated—biopsies are non-negotiable. Technology is a tool, not a replacement: Light-based oral screening aids are helpful, but only biopsies offer definitive answers. Grief is complex—and valid: Whether from personal or professional loss, grief affects every part of your life and practice. Processing it is crucial to continue showing up fully. Legacy is not about length, but impact: What you leave behind—through your words, your work, or how you treat others—matters more than you know. Support and community are essential: Healing doesn't happen alone. Sharing stories helps others feel seen, heard, and less isolated in their struggles. — Key Takeaways 00:45 Introduction to Leaving a Legacy 03:26 The Impact of Oral Cancer 11:45 Grief and Its Many Forms 20:54 Understanding Legacy 24:23 Life Interrupted: A Book of Lessons 27:30 Speaking Out on Oral Cancer Awareness 30:53 Lightning Round Q&A   — Connect with Dr. Parul Dua-Makkar: Website: www.parulduamakkar.com Instagram: @duagoodjob Coaching & Resources: duagoodjob.com Explore her free grief and cancer support resources, check out her speaking topics, or grab a copy of her book "Life Interrupted: Dr. Dua's Survival Guide" available on Amazon.   — 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 The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing 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 the key to transforming your entire practice isn't a new procedure—but a reimagined hygiene department? In this powerful episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau is joined by Rachel Wall, founder and CEO of Inspired Hygiene, to explore how dental practices can heal old rifts, boost team synergy, and build a more profitable, empowered hygiene department. Rachel shares her insights from over 30 years in the industry and breaks down why 2025 is the perfect time to invest in your hygiene team. From integrating new technology to creating solid communication frameworks, this episode is packed with real-world strategies to help your hygiene department thrive. Whether you're facing high turnover, frustrated teams, or stagnating profits, this conversation will give you the direction and motivation to make lasting change. In this episode, we cover: 2025 is a crucial year for resetting expectations, values, and communication in the hygiene department Assisted hygiene is a sustainable and empowering model—when implemented correctly Technology integration is only effective when teams have aligned protocols and workflows Healing the hygienist-dentist rift starts with open communication and mutual respect Investing in hygiene isn't just about productivity—it's about delivering better patient care and empowering your team — Key Takeaways 00:50 Introduction and Event Announcement 01:43 Investing in Your Hygiene Team 03:21 Understanding Inspired Hygiene 07:48 Recognizing the Need for Coaching 11:52 The Importance of 2025 for Hygiene Investment 17:35 The Future of Assisted Hygiene 21:21 Healing the Rift Between Hygienists and Dentists 27:05 Future Predictions for Dental Hygiene 29:58 Exciting Technological Advancements in Dentistry 33:34 Lightning Round Q&A   — Connect with Rachel

If you're investing time and money into attracting new patients but still struggling to build long-term loyalty, this episode is for you. Great dental marketing doesn't stop when a new patient books—it starts the moment they walk through the door. And no one understands that better than Victoria Porter, founder of Bitemark Media. With a background in luxury hospitality and a passion for branding, Victoria brings a fresh perspective to dental marketing—one centered around real relationships, high-quality care, and community connection. In this episode, Victoria and Dr. Len Tau dive into: Why patient retention is the most underrated growth strategy in dentistry How to align your office experience with your brand voice The key touchpoints that keep patients loyal, even between appointments Creative ways to offer value without falling into the "discount trap" How to build a loyalty program that actually works And why believing in your brand's mission is the ultimate secret weapon Whether you're opening your first practice or looking to refresh your approach, Victoria shares practical advice (and real-life examples) for creating a practice that patients want to return to—and rave about. — Key Takeaways 00:42  Introduction and Event Announcement 01:56 Meet Victoria Porter: A Dental Marketing Powerhouse 05:06 The Importance of Patient Retention 10:06 Enhancing Patient Experience and Brand Voice 15:20 Nourishing Patient Relationships Beyond the Office 23:54 Implementing Loyalty Programs in Dental Practices 29:55 Authenticity in Patient Care 31:58 Lightning Round Q&A 37:26 Conclusion and Contact Information   — Connect with Victoria Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriasoleil/

Before a new patient reaches your office, before they even schedule an appointment, they do a search online to learn more about you. When they search, does your dental office make a good first impression? Do you show up toward the top of search results? Do you have positive reviews and a 4 or 5-star rating? If not, it's time to build a stronger online reputation. With over 1,600 reviews and a 4.9 rating for his own dental office, Dr. Len Tau learned that positive reviews were an enormous source of new patient growth for his practice. He now teaches dentists and teams how to improve their own online presence with smart marketing and social media strategies. In this episode of The Double Your Production Podcast, Dr. Tau is sharing his best tips for boosting reviews and attracting more new patients into your practice. We're also thrilled to announce that Dr. Tau will be joining us at our upcoming Summit in Austin, TX to talk about how to increase 5-star reviews and grow your practice. Learn more about the conference and get your tickets here: https://www.theteamtraininginstitute.com/summit 

Are you working harder than ever but still feel like you're not living the life you dreamed of when you started your dental journey? You're not alone—but here's the good news: it doesn't have to be this way. If you're a dentist looking to work smarter—not harder—and live the life of your dreams, this episode is for you. I'm Dr. Len Tau, and today, I had the privilege of speaking with Scott Manning, founder of Dental Success Today, a dynamic coach, author, and speaker with nearly two decades of experience helping dentists achieve the perfect balance between professional success and personal fulfillment. What We Covered: In this jam-packed episode, Scott and I explored: Doubling Practice Profitability Why profitability isn't just about top-line growth but maximizing what you take home. Strategies like seeing fewer patients while delivering greater value to each one. The importance of leveraging your time and focusing on meaningful work. Freeing Up Time for Life and Practice How to design your practice around your life goals—not the other way around. Using time leverage and efficiency to spend less time working while still thriving financially. Reducing Insurance Dependence Why dropping low-paying insurance plans can boost your profitability and reduce stress. Steps to educate patients and shift to a patient-centric practice model. Achieving Financial Freedom Building multiple streams of income from within and outside your practice. Strategies for creating passive income so you can work by choice, not necessity. Scott shared his actionable insights, like knowing your average visit value, mastering comprehensive care, and the power of reverse-engineering your goals to build the practice—and life—you truly want. Key Takeaways Welcome and Introduction to Scott Manning (00:00) Scott's Journey from Martial Arts to Dentistry Coaching (04:22) Aligning Life Goals with Business Goals (08:00) Doubling Practice Profitability (09:36) The Four Pillars of Dental Practice Success (12:31) Small Business Math to Free Up Time (13:42) Maximizing Hourly Production and Visit Value (17:58) Reducing Insurance Dependence (20:40) Achieving Financial Freedom (26:38) Embracing Entrepreneurship in Dentistry (29:30) Lightning Round: Personal and Professional Insights (30:18) How to Connect with Scott Manning (35:38) — Connect with Scott: Website Email — 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 The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing 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!

Is sales really a "dirty word"? Not for Cathy Hazen, and this episode will show you why embracing the power of "no" is key to getting more "yeses." Dr. Len Tau sits down with Cathy, a seasoned expert with over 30 years of sales and management experience, to explore the secrets to boosting case acceptance and empowering your dental team. From managing orthodontic practices to creating virtual office manager services, Cathy's passion for team development and patient-centered sales strategies shines. In this episode, Cathy and Len discuss: Why every member of your dental team is a salesperson (even if they don't realize it). Strategies to create a successful sales department within your practice. The importance of consistent processes for presenting treatment plans. How to overcome the fear of hearing "no" and why it leads to more "yeses." Tactics to follow up effectively with patients who don't commit immediately. — Key Takeaways: How Cathy Hazen Helps Practices Thrive (02:08) Changing the Stigma Around Sales in Dentistry (05:57) Should Dentists Take on the Sales Role? (12:09) The Importance of a Dedicated Sales Department (14:06) Who on Your Team Needs Sales Training? (16:57) Getting Your Team on the Same Sales Page (17:08) Mastering the Close: From Finances to Commitment (20:26) Follow-Up Strategies to Close the Deal (24:37) How Often Should You Follow Up? (27:50) Lightning Round Q&A with Cathy Hazen (29:23) — Connect with Cathy: Website Special Offer for Listeners: Complimentary 1-hour consultation to discuss opportunities for improving your practice's sales process. Reduced consulting fee of $850/month for the first quarter. — 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 The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing 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!  

Are you a new dentist feeling overwhelmed and unsure about your career path? Dr. Cole Herzik's journey might be just the inspiration you need. Dr. Herzik, a recent dental school graduate, is already making waves in our industry. As the CEO of the Private Dentist Alliance and founder of the MAN nonprofit, Cole shares his unique approach to finding purpose in dentistry beyond clinical practice. Dr. Herzik's proactive approach to learning and networking led him to perform advanced procedures and speak at conferences within a year of graduation. For Dr. Herzik, mentorship has been a cornerstone of his professional development. He firmly believes that by learning from those who have walked the path before him, he can avoid pitfalls and accelerate his growth. "I want to pick all those people's brains so that I don't have to make as many mistakes or fall into those pitfalls or have those negative things happen to me along the path," he says. He reveals how it all started with a single Facebook friend request and how mentorship and continuous education have shaped his career so far. Dr. Herzik also discusses his ambitious vision for improving dental education as well as the importance of understanding the business side of dentistry. Don't miss this conversation that encourages you to find your "why" in dentistry. Tune in now! — Key Takeaways: Dr. Herzik's journey from dental student to CEO (00:00) Importance of mentorship in dentistry (06:52) Finding your "why" in dentistry (12:55) His extensive CE journey post-graduation (16:43) The Private Dentist Alliance and improving dental education (20:40) Importance of business knowledge for dentists (26:31) Lightning round Q&A with Cole (28:46) — Connect with Dr. Cole Herzik: Instagram Private Dental Alliance The M.A.N Podcast — Learn about the upcoming Supercharge Your Dental Practice 2-day event in September here.   Use code RAVING to save $100 on registration. — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques with Dr. Len Tau.  This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists.  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!