Special List #20: How Saying No to Endo, Ortho, and Implants Builds a Better Practice with Dr. Andrew Skasko

Andrew Skasko spent a full year working shoulder-to-shoulder with his associate on every procedure, paying him the whole time, before they opened a second location together. That associate is now his partner across multiple practices, with three to four more sites in the pipeline.Skasko is a restorative dentist in New Albany, Ohio, a clinical assistant professor at Ohio State, and a two-decade Seattle Study Club member who's competed on the mainstage at the annual symposium. He joins Cameron, Souyias, and Seda to lay out how he built a restorative-only practice in a profession that pushes every clinician to do everything.The throughline is what Skasko calls the "super dentist trap": clinicians who haven't mastered the basics taking on endo, ortho, and implants because the procedures are sexy and the margins are good. He explains how he built his brand on the opposite premise — stay out of network with insurance, refuse procedures he can't master, and earn the referral network's trust by handing teed-up cases back to the specialists instead of trying to keep them in-house.Mentorship runs through every part of the story. Skasko names the dentists who shaped him (Michael Cohen, Tal Moore, Greg Kinzer, Pat Allen, Ward Smalley) and explains how Seattle Study Club, the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and Pat Allen's IIDC each pushed him to a different level. He's also direct about what he thinks is broken: academies and corporate models that mentor for bonuses and daily numbers instead of for the patient and the profession.The practice-development thread is where the model gets concrete. Skasko walks through how he turned Dr. Nick Molnar (left-handed, like him) into a clinical partner over a year of supervised reps, then bought into Molnar's father's oral surgery practice and partnered with Dr. Lee, his former assistant turned oral surgeon. The group is now eyeing three to four more sites built on the same template.Plus the closing story about a high-school classmate who thought he was a jerk in math class, then 30 years later came in to have him restore her smile.GuestDr. Andrew Skasko is the founder of Elite Dental and Skasko Smile Design Studio in New Albany, Ohio. He earned his DDS from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2004, opened his comprehensive interdisciplinary practice the following year, and currently serves as a clinical assistant professor in the restorative and prosthodontics division at Ohio State. He is a member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and has been a member of Seattle Study Club for over 20 years. In January 2023, he was named team lead for Team North America in a treatment planning square-off against Spain at the Seattle Study Club Symposium. Through his mentorship work, he co-founded Molnar and Skasko Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to bring advanced interdisciplinary care to underserved communities.Learn more about Elite Dental and Skasko Smile Design Studio: newalbanyelitedental.com.Follow Andrew on Instagram @drandrewskaskoQuestions answered by this episode:1. How do I build a restorative-only dental practice without taking on endo, ortho, and implants?2. Why should a dental practice stay out of network with insurance?3. How do I turn an associate dentist into a partner?4. What is the role of the restorative dentist in interdisciplinary treatment planning?5. How do I find the right mentors as a dentist?6. What is Seattle Study Club and is it worth joining?7. How do I get into the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry or the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry?8. Should a general dentist place implants or refer them out?9. How do I quarterback a complex restorative case across multiple specialists?10. How do I build a multi-practice dental group through mentorship?About The Special ListsThe Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.ioHostsCameron FullCo-Founder of Referral LabCameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.Connect with Cameron on LinkedInJason Souyias, DDSPeriodontist and Co-Founder of Referral LabDr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason SouyiasMichael Seda, DMD, MSPeriodontist and Co-Developer of Referral LabA clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael SedaFollow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperioCo-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDSProducer: Eva Sheie @ The AxisAssistant Producer: Mary Ellen ClarksonEngineering: Cameron LairdTheme music: Papa Funk, spring gangCover Art: Dan ChildsThe Special Lists is a production of The Axis.