The Thriving Dentist Show
Episodes
Reducing No-Shows for High-Value Dentistry
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share practical ways to reduce no-shows for high-value dentistry like im...
Revenue Cycle Mastery for Dentists
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gary and Naren talk about how to take control of your practice's money with something called revenue cycle management. They explain s...
Recommendations to Effectively Schedule Patients with Uncompleted Treatment Plans
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah tackle one of the biggest hidden profit leaks in dentistry. Unscheduled ...
How AI Is Changing How Patients Find Your Practice in 2026
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah explain how AI is changing the way patients find and choose a dentist in...
Why Good Dentists Avoid Hard Conversations?
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah explore why many dentists avoid hard or "crucial" conversations—and ho...
How to Determine if your Practice is Ready to Successfully Resign from PPO Plans
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What would happen to your schedule - and your profitability - if you resigned from a PPO tomorrow? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary ...
How to Move Patients From Basic Treatment to Comprehensive Dentistry
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How do you move patients from basic, insurance-driven dentistry to comprehensive care they truly value? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, ...
From Operatory to Algorithm, How AI is Shaping Modern Dentistry with Dr. Amreesh Khanna
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gary talks with Dr. Amreesh Khanna about how AI is changing dentistry. They explore how OraQ helps dentists give more consistent care...
What Does it Take for You to be Truly Happy as a Dentist?
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it truly take to be happy as a dentist? In this powerful and reflective episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulraja...
How to Grow Without Adding More Insurance Plans
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah explore how dental practices can grow without adding more dental insuran...
Start 2026 the Right Way: Five Decisions Every Thriving Dentist Needs to Make!
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Start 2026 with clarity and confidence. In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share five key decisions every dentist should make to build a...
2025 Year in Review. What Thriving Practices Did Differently
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special New Year's Eve episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah reflect on the biggest lessons and transformations dental practices experience...
How to Thrive with Fewer Days doing Chairside Dentistry
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share a practical plan for dentists who want to move toward a 4-day workweek without sacrificing inco...
How to Grow Your Practice with Sleep & Airway Services in 2025
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gary and Naren dive into a major growth opportunity for dentists—sleep and airway services. They talk about why sleep apnea is a se...
Designing a Career -- and Life -- You Love; A Conversation with Dr. Whitney D. Weiner
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this inspiring conversation, Gary Takacs interviews Dr. Whitney Weiner, periodontist, multi-location practice owner, and Chief Growth Officer at Ic...
How to Create a Remarkable New Patient Experience Online
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your first impression used to happen at the front desk. Now, it happens online—before a patient ever calls. In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren A...
Building a Dental Team That Can Thrive Through Change
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah explore how dental teams can not only handle change - but thrive through...
The Concept of Influence at Work with Dr. Chris Phelps
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, host Gary Takacs sits down with Dr. Chris Phelps, dentist, entrepreneur, and certified trainer at the Ci...
90 Days to Fast-Track Your Dental Team's Performance
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share how to fast-track your dental team's performance in just 90 days u...
My Schedule is Weak. What should I do?
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share real-world strategies to fix a weak dental schedule and keep your ...
The Dark Secret Dental Insurance Companies Don't Want You To Know
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this eye-opening episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, host Gary Takacs uncovers a shocking truth about dental insurance that most professionals ar...
How AI is Transforming Dentistry with Dr. Wardah Inam, CEO of Overjet
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, host Gary Takacs welcomes Dr. Wardah Inam, CEO and Co-Founder of Overjet, the global leader in AI-powere...
Common Denominators of Thriving Practices
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs reveals the common traits shared by thriving dental practices. Drawing from over 45...
How Patients Decide If You're the Right Dental Office in Seconds
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah reveal how patients decide within seconds whether your dental office is ...
New Metrics and New Benchmarks to Thrive in 2025 and Beyond
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Running a successful dental practice in 2025 takes more than production numbers. In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren A...
Understanding Group Dentistry with Ian McNickle
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, host Gary Takacs talks with Ian McNickle, CEO of Icon Dental Partners, about the shift from DSOs to Dent...
A Strategy to Help your Patients Accept Conservative Periodontal Therapy when Clinical Signs and Symptoms Indicate the Need.
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling with patients rejecting periodontal therapy? In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share proven strategies to increase patient a...
31.8% of US Dentists are Planning to Resign from PPO Plans in 2025
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
By 2025, almost one-third of US dentists are expected to resign from PPO plans. In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah reveal why rising cos...
Profit Killers in Your Practice You're Probably Ignoring
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are hidden profit killers draining your dental practice? In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah reveal 4 overlooked areas — from mishandle...
How to Build a Marketing Funnel That Actually Brings in New Patients
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share the 4 proven steps to building a dental marketing funnel that attracts quality new patients and...
Why Your New Patient Experience Could Make or Break Your Practice
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Discover why the new patient experience in dentistry is the key to case acceptance and loyalty. Gary Takacs shares a 7-step process to improve patient...
Seven Goals of a Thriving Practice
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and co-host Naren Arulrajah reveal seven goals that can transform your dental practice into ...
Tips To Control Your Team Member Wages Within Budget
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah address a critical financial challenge in dental practices; how to keep ...
Can You Raise Fees and Retain Patients?
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can you increase your fees without losing patients? In this powerful episode, Gary Takacs and co-host Naren Arulrajah explore the truth behind dental ...
Marketing Lessons Learned from Thriving Practices
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to attract better patients, reduce PPO dependence, and grow your practice with confidence? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Tak...
A 21st Century Placement Agency With Trey Tepichin
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling to hire quality dental team members? Staffing issues shouldn't hold your practice back. In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary ...
Four Specific Strategies For Building A Thriving Practice That Provides Lasting Success
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to build a dental practice that's not only profitable today but still thriving decades from now? In this episode of The Thriving Den...
Women Leaders in Dentistry with Dr. Aman Kaur
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what the future of dentistry really looks like? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs sits down with Dr. Aman Kaur, ...
How To Determine if Your Patient is Ready to Accept Comprehensive Care?
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs explores one of the most common challenges dentists face: knowing when a patient is truly re...
AI Applications in Dentistry
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial Intelligence isn't just a tech buzzword anymore - it's transforming the modern dental practice. But how does AI actually show up in your da...
What is the One Thing You Know Now, That You Wish You Would Have Learned Earlier? (Thriving Dentist 700th Special Episode)
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special 700th episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, hosts Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah ask one powerful question: "What is one thing you kn...
The Struggle Between Efficiency and Connection
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling to balance efficiency with patient connection in your dental practice? In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs shares exp...
Is Your Website Costing You New Patients? Fix These 5 Mistakes
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gary and Naren uncover the top 5 dental website mistakes that could be turning potential patients away. From outdated design and poor...
The 3-Day Work Week – Can It Work in Dentistry?
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could work just three days a week… and still run a thriving dental practice? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs a...
Everything you Need to Know about OSHA, HIPAA and Health Department Regulation Compliance with Terre Harris
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this latest episode, Gary sits down with Terry Harris, founder of Harris Biomedical, to discuss how dentists can confidently handle OSHA compliance...
The Most Profitable Services You Could Be Overlooking
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah unpack a powerful question: Are you leaving money on the table? From sam...
The Role of Community Engagement in Practice Growth
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah on The Thriving Dentist Show as they uncover the power of connecting with your local community to attract new pat...
Attracting and Keeping The Best Gen Z Team Members
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can your dental practice attract and retain the best Gen Z team members? Join Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah on The Thriving Dentist Show as they...
Is a Hygiene-Driven Practice Model Even Viable Today for a PPO Practice?
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can a hygiene-driven model thrive for PPO dental practices in 2025? Tune into The Thriving Dentist Show with Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah to uncove...
Tech Trends Redefining Dentistry in 2025 with Curve Dental
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does your software support the growth of your practice—or hold it back? In this episode, Gary sits down with Jana Macon, President of Curve Dental, ...
A Winning Marketing Strategy To Achieve A Thriving Practice
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you spending money on marketing but not seeing results? In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah tackle 10 re...
How to Increase Case Acceptance for High-Value Dentistry
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, we explore one of the most important—and often overlooked—topics in practice growth: how to increase...
A Game Plan to Successfully Onboard New Team Members
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Gary Takacs and co-host Naren Arulrajah discuss how to build a successful onboarding process that integrates new hires smoothly, reduc...
An Amazing Dentist Community: Our interview with Seattle Study Club CEO Gary Dickenson
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs interviews Gary Dickenson, CEO of Seattle Study Club. They explore the role of study clubs i...
The Complete Guide to Creating more Referrals in Your Practice
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, we dive deep into The Complete Guide to Creating More Referrals in Your Practice. Gary Takacs and Naren ...
The Value of Continuing Education in 2025
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, we explore the critical role of continuing education (CE) in shaping the future of dentistry. The dental...
How to Win Back and Reactivate Inactive Patients in Your Practice?
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some patients stop coming back to your practice—not because they are unhappy, but because life gets busy. The good news? Many of them still see you ...
Is Private Practice Becoming Obsolete?
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is private practice in dentistry becoming obsolete? In this insightful episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah dive deep into the future of private d...
How Can You Build Generational Wealth with Your Dental Practice?
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, we tackle an essential yet often overlooked topic—How to Build Generational Wealth with Your Dental Pr...
Is A Second Practice A Wise Decision?
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered if owning a second dental practice is the right choice for you? It sounds exciting—more patients, more growth, more success. ...
The Value of A Team Planning Meeting To Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs kicks off 2025 with success by diving into the value of team planning meetings. Discover how...
Leveraging Technology to Drive Growth and Efficiency in Dental Practices: Insights from Planmeca
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this latest episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast, Erin Diggs from Planmeca shares how modern dental technology can transform your practice. Disc...
How Far Can a Solo Dentist Practice Go?
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gary Takacs explores the possibilities for solo dental practices, offering strategies to maximize collections, add high-value services, and maintain w...
How to Create Loyal Patients Who Stay?
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What's the secret to keeping patients loyal and excited to come back? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs shares simple yet powe...
2024 In Review and What Does 2025 Hold?
25 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Discover why this episode of the Thriving Dentist Podcast Show is an unmissable listen for dental professionals looking to make 2025 their best year y...
'Systems and Accountability' Your Solution To A High Performance Practice
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah talk about how to use systems and accountability to improve your dental ...
Specific Strategies to Grow the Adult Orthodontics Component of Your Practice
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you considering adding adult orthodontics to your practice? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, hosts Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah ex...
Everything You Need to Know About Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO's) with Dr. Lou Graham
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs interviews Dr. Lou Graham to explore how Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) can help dent...
Building a Strong Dental Practice Brand
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs dives deep into the essential strategies for building a strong and lasting dental practice b...
12 Specific Take Aways from the 2024 Reducing Insurance Dependance Academy Summit
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this insightful episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and co-host Naren Arulrajah present 12 powerful takeaways from the 2024 Reducing ...
5 Specific Things to Do 3 Years Before Your Practice Transition
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about the future of your practice? In this episode, Gary shares a practical, five-step game plan for setting up a smooth and successful trans...
Disrupting the DSO Model with Ian McNickle
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast, Gary is joined by Ian McNickle to provide an insightful look into the evolving role of DSOs. Together...
Useful Forecasting in Your Practice
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Podcast, Gary explores the art of forecasting in your dental practice. If forecasting your schedule ever feels...
How Do You Know When Your Systems Need Improvement?
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to another episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast! In this discussion, Gary and Naren talk about the importance of having effective systems i...
Strategies to Grow Your Practice and Reduce Your Overhead!
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in to our latest podcast episode, "Strategies to Grow Your Practice and Reduce Overhead," where Gary breaks down some simple but powerful ways to...
An Inspirational Interview with Dr. David Rice
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this inspiring episode, Gary interviews Dr. David Rice, founder of igniteDDS, about the incredible resources available to help dentists thrive. Dr....
Are You Overstaffed or Understaffed? Where is the Sweet Spot?
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are You Overstaffed or Understaffed? Where is the Sweet Spot? In this episode, we're tackling a question many dentists struggle with: how do you know ...
How Much is Enough?
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this insightful episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast, we explore the critical question: How much is enough? Specifically, how much do you need t...
Can You Afford To Spend Enough Time With Your Patients?
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast, Gary asks an important question: "Can You Afford To Spend Enough Time With Your Patients?" Many denti...
What Does Exceptional Dental Marketing Look Like?
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, we're talking about something every dental practice deserves—exceptional marketing! We know our listen...
2024 DSO Leadership Summit Interview with Jill Hasselmann
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Gary Takacs and special guest Jill Hasselman on this episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast as they discuss the upcoming 2024 DSO Leadership Sum...
An Insightful Interview with Steve Parker from The Profitable Dentist
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast, Gary Takacs interviews Steve Parker, the President/CEO of The Profitable Dentist, LLC. Steve shares h...
Best Practices for Delegating Tasks to Team Members
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast, we're sharing some simple yet powerful tips on how to delegate tasks effectively within your dental p...
Three Most Pressing Issues Facing Dentists Today
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the new episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast! We're diving into the three most pressing issues that are impacting dentists right now. Th...
Leadership in a Thriving Practice
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Thriving Dentist Podcast! We're diving into a crucial topic: Leadership in a Thriving Practice. As a practice owner, your leadership pl...
How to Effectively Convert 70% or More New Patient Calls to Booked Appointments?
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Thriving Dentist Podcast! Today we're tackling a game-changer for your practice: 'How to Convert 70% or More New Patient Calls to Booke...
When Should I Add Additional Marketing Activities Along with Organic SEO?
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Thriving Dentist Podcast! In this must-listen episode, we dive deep into the ultimate marketing question: "When Should I Add Additional...
3 Specific Strategies to Make the 2nd Half of 2024 as Strong as Possible
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we hit the halfway mark of 2024, it's a great moment to pause, recalibrate, and see where your practice stands compared to the goals you set at the...
Owning a Practice vs Being a Dentist
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to another episode of The Thriving Dentist Podcast! Today, we're diving into a topic that's probably crossed your mind more than once: Owning ...
Solutions for Creating a Hygiene Driven Profit Center in Your Practice
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready to transform your dental practice? In this episode, "Solutions for Creating a Hygiene Driven Profit Center in Your Practice," we'll shar...
Overcoming Patient Objections with Confidence
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our latest podcast episode, 'Overcoming Patient Objections with Confidence'! This episode is all about improving your case acceptance with ...
Increasing the Value of Your Practice Every Year
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode discusses the importance of increasing the value of a practice every year, especially for early practice owners. It emphasizes the import...
Mastering A Productive Daily Schedule
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The importance of scheduling in business operations cannot be overstated. Scheduling represents a fixed commitment in time, making it a cornerstone of...
Everything You Need to Know About Increasing Case Acceptance
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling to get patients to say yes to treatment? This episode flips the script on traditional dentistry. Ditch the one-size-fits-all approach and d...
Tips to Achieve a Practice that Provides Personal Satisfaction
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered why some practices struggle to create a fulfilling environment while others thrive? Let's explore the practical reasons behind this and ...
Staying Accountable To Your Practice Goals
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of feeling burnt out? Here's how staying accountable to your goals can help you create a thriving dental practice. In this episode of the Thrivi...
4 Exit Strategies to Consider
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is your dental practice a dream...or a golden cage? Building a successful practice takes years, but what happens when you're ready to cash in or simpl...
SMART Goals for Dental Practices
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ditch the vague "make it our best year yet" goals! This episode explains how dentists can achieve real success by setting SMART goals. SMART stands fo...
Why Your Website Isn't Bringing in Patients and How to Fix It!
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of expensive marketing and a quiet waiting room? This episode of Thriving Dentist equips you with actionable strategies to ditch expensive marke...
Managing Your Practice in Less Time with Better Results
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas