PODCAST · business
Dental Operations Unpacked
by Kolla
Dental Operations Unpacked is the podcast for leaders running dental organizations. Hosted by Jake Larsen and Clint Berry, we break down the real systems behind scaling group dentistry — from revenue cycle and tech strategy to data, workflows, and team alignment. Practical insights from operators in the field, sharing what’s actually working inside growing DSOs. Built for operators who want to execute better, scale smarter, and lead stronger teams. Real operators. Real systems. Real conversations.
Episodes
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Why Software Implementations Reveal the Truth About Your DSO
Most DSOs think software will solve their problems. The reality? Software implementation reveals them. In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, Jake Larsen and Clint Berry sit down with Jill Nesbitt, Founder of Optimized Dental Consulting, to discuss why software transitions often uncover...
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From Office Manager to Business Leader: Driving Performance Across Every Location
What does it take for an office manager to become a true business leader? In this episode, Katie Robinson, Director of Operations at Cook Dental Group, joins Jake Larsen and Clint Berry to discuss how dental organizations can empower office managers to drive performance, lead teams, and influence...
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The Talent Problem in Dentistry: What Operators Don’t Understand About Hiring
The dental talent problem goes far beyond just “finding people.” In this episode, Humberto Briceño joins us to break down what operators don’t understand about hiring, retention, candidate experience, and building strong dental teams for the long term. From recruiting specialists and hygienists…
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The Silent Cash Leak: Why Unworked Claims Pile Up So Fast and How to Prevent It
Why do claims pile up so fast in dental practices? And more importantly… why do they never seem to go away? In this episode, we sit down with Sissy Mangrum to unpack the “silent cash leak” happening inside revenue cycle processes. From eligibility mistakes to behavior-driven breakdowns, we…
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Stop Running the Practice Alone: A Better Model for Dentists
If you’re a dentist feeling stretched thin… you’re not alone. In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, we sit down with Mike Baird, CEO of Accelerate Dental, to talk about what’s really changing in dentistry—and why the traditional solo model is getting harder to sustain. From rising costs…
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Dentistry Needs to Get Over Its “Sales Complex
Sales in dentistry has a bad reputation. But what if the problem isn’t sales… it’s how we think about it? In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, Jake Larson and Clint Berry sit down with Dr. Jason Gladwell (CEO of Gladwell Orthodontics) and Emily Abecasis (Senior Director of Operations at...
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The Rise of the Financial Operator
Most DSOs don’t have a data problem. They have a visibility problem. In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, we sit down with Daniel Lopez Borge, Director of FP&A at FivePoint, to break down what it really means to become a financial operator inside a DSO. From real estate in Costa Rica to...
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Be the Teacher, Not the Doer: The Leadership Shift Operators Must Make
Most leaders get stuck doing everything themselves. But the real shift happens when you learn to step back and build others. In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, we sit down with Sarah Martin, Regional Operations Manager at Ohio Kids Dental, who shares her raw and real journey from a...
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Clean Claims, Faster Cash: The Systems Behind Great Insurance Teams
Insurance doesn’t have to feel like chaos. In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, we sit down with Taylor Ashcraft, Director of Operations at Accelerate Dental, to break down one of the most frustrating (and misunderstood) parts of dental operations: insurance and claims. If your team…
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Beyond Fee Schedules: How Strong Payer Relationships Drive Operational Stability
Insurance relationships in dentistry are often viewed as transactional. But strong payer partnerships can actually become a key driver of operational stability. In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, Jake Larson and Clint Berry talk with Osher Zaafaran, Vice President of Payer Relations…
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Lead With Purpose: Building Teams That Outlast Any KPI
In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, hosts Jake Larson and Clint Berry sit down with John Hullette of Specialty Dental Brands for his first ever podcast interview. With over 13 years of experience in dentistry and leadership roles across major DSOs including Smile Brands, Guardian, and...
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How coaching bridges the gap between data and execution
Most dental organizations are drowning in dashboards. But data alone doesn’t build high-performing teams. In this episode of Dental Operations Unpacked, Jake Larson and Clint Barry sit down with Ann Alterson , Director at Elite Dental Partners, to talk about what actually drives execution across...
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The Three Operational Pillars Every Practice Needs Before Scaling
Scaling a dental practice sounds exciting. Until your margins shrink. In this episode, we’re joined by Lesie Espanola, fractional COO at DEO, who breaks down the three operational pillars every practice must strengthen before expanding. Lesie shares: • Why most dentists don’t actually know their...
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True Hygiene Value: The KPIs That Actually Drive a Healthy P&L
Christin Lisenby, VP of Hygiene at Dental Care Alliance, joins us to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of practice profitability: hygiene. With 27 years in dentistry — from assistant to hygienist to COO to DSO executive — Christin introduces a simple but powerful metric she calls True...
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What to Build First: Prioritizing Reports in Your Data Warehouse
New year, new season, new name. We’ve officially rebranded from Dental Disruptors to Dental Operations Unpacked, a show built for operators who want practical, real world conversations that make them better at the job. To kick off Season 2, we’re joined by returning guest (and Kolla teammate)...
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Dental Disruptors 2025, a Year in Review
This is our final episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast for 2025. In this short year-end wrap-up, we reflect on the past season, share some of our favorite episodes and moments, and talk honestly about what we’ve learned after nearly 30 episodes. From passionate discussions about data access…
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Top Ops Leader Award Winner with Bonnie Thompson
In this episode, Jake and Clint sit down (again!) with Bonnie Thompson, COO of Forest Family Dentistry and one of this year’s Top Operational Leaders in Dentistry. Bonnie shares how she went from 16-year-old dental assistant to COO, how she uses EOS, KPIs and technology to scale five (soon seven)...
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Top Ops Leader Award Winner with Brandi Carter
Jake Larsen and Clint Berry launch a new Dental Disruptors series honoring the operators who keep DSOs running behind the scenes. In this episode, they sit down with Brandi Carter, Director at Sage and one of this year’s industry award winners, to unpack how she led her market to 14.5%...
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The Dental Data Wars: Ownership, Access, and Industry Impact
In this episode of Dental Disruptors, hosts Jake Larsen and Clint Berry sit down to unpack one of the biggest debates in the dental industry — data ownership. They discuss: Why most dental practices still use on-premise systems The push from companies like Henry Schein, Patterson, and Open Dental...
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The Good & The Bad: How KPIs Are Disrupting the Dental Industry
Key takeaways Lagging vs. leading: Production/collections reflect the past. Coach daily behaviors that create tomorrow’s results. EPIs > vanity metrics: Measure empathy (names used, wait time, clarity, felt-heard scores) alongside revenue. Right data, right level: Not every role needs P&Ls. Share...
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From chaos to consistency: the DSO case acceptance formula with Janet Hagerman
Janet’s path: hygienist → hygiene director for 100+ locations → fractional CHO Building a best-in-class perio program and regional hygiene leadership model Case acceptance: mindset, questions, emotional + logical alignment Why soft skills matter more as tech advances Culture you can live and...
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dental, DSO, dentistry, dental operations, patient scheduling, AI receptionist, voice AI, practice management, PMS integration, call center, after hours
AI voice is finally good enough to handle real dental scheduling—multi-kid, reschedules, emergencies, the works. Dr. Miles Beckett (MD turned serial founder) shares Flossy’s journey from a dental discount marketplace to “Fiona,” an AI receptionist that answers calls, books new patients,...
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How PerfectFitOrtho is changing the game! | The Virtual Orthodontist Model
Meet Jay Hogan and Dr. A from Perfect Fit Ortho—a “virtual orthodontist” model that helps GPs and DSOs say yes to more clear-aligner cases while freeing chair time. They’re scanner- and aligner-agnostic, do the design/setup for you, provide time estimates, help with financing, and monitor cases...
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Dental Operations Symposium Cliffnotes: Interviews, Reviews, KPIs & Career Pathways (Live in Frisco, TX)
Live from the Dental Operations Symposium in Frisco, TX, we grabbed “cliffnotes” with five standout leaders: • Bonnie Thompson — COO, Forest Family Dentistry (Austin) • Leslie Soto — VP of Operations, FivePoint Dental Specialists • Suzanne Jackson — Executive Leader, Rodeo Dental (multi-state…
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Why Traditional Analytics Fall Short — and How OSDental is Changing the Game with Emily Ryba
In this episode of Dental Disruptors Podcast, Jake Larson and Clint Barry sit down with Emily, CEO & Co-Founder of OS Dental. Emily shares her journey from dental accountant to leading a fast-growing SaaS company that’s changing how DSOs and group practices use their data.We dive into:The…
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What Stood Out at Dykema: Insights from Clint and Jake
In this episode of Dental Disruptors, Jake Larsen and Clint Barry share their takeaways from the 2025 Dykema conference. From the dominance of vendors on the floor, to the rising buzzword of “AI strategy,” to what it really takes to succeed at Dykema as a vendor or DSO—this candid conversation...
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Ask the Experts: What’s Disrupting Dentistry Right Now? | Live from Dykema
We took the Dental Disruptors Podcast on the road to the Dykema conference — one of the largest dental events in the U.S. — and did something completely different. Instead of our usual format, we hit the floor and asked industry leaders one question: 💡 “What’s the most disruptive thing you’re...
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How Vince Built a Dental Empire Without Outside Capital
From door-to-door sales and call centers to owning 30+ dental practices . Vince’s story is anything but typical. In this episode, he shares how he bought his first business with just $2,500 in the bank, scaled through seller financing, and built Platinum Dental Services by focusing on...
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Is the Future of Dentistry Here? Inside Perceptive’s Fully Automated Dental Procedure
The future of dentistry is arriving faster than anyone expected.In this special episode of Dental Disruptors, hosts Jake Larson and Clint Barry dive into one of the most jaw-dropping tech developments in dental care: a robot-performed crown procedure by perceptive.io in Colombia.They explore what...
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The Accrual Advantage: Why Dentistry Is Shifting Away from Cash-Based Accounting
In this episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, we sit down with Dallin from AccruDent, who shares his unique journey into the DSO world—starting at age 17—and how he went from front desk receptionist to tech and data expert. Dallin and his father, Ken, co-founded AccruDent, a company helping...
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Introducing DSO Compass: Matt McGaw’s Guide to Navigating the Future of Group Dentistry
In this episode of Dental Disruptors Podcast, we sit down with Matt McGaw, founder of DSO Compass, to talk about leadership, technology, and the future of DSOs.Matt shares lessons from his journey working with companies like Dentsply, Carestream, and Align, why startups inside big companies…
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Leadership Is the Multiplier: Why DSOs and Tech Startups Can’t Scale Without It
In this episode of Dental Disruptors, Jake and Clint sit down with Charles Moser—former multi-practice owner, leadership consultant, and current National Dental Director at Liberty Dental Plan. Charles shares his remarkable journey from clinician to executive, highlighting the mindset shift...
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Why Every DSO Needs a Data Warehouse | Dental Disruptors Podcast
What is a data warehouse—and why is it becoming essential for DSOs? In this episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, hosts Jake Larson and Clint Barry break down the concept of a data warehouse in simple terms. They explain how centralizing data from multiple systems can help multi-location…
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Branding that Breaks Through: How Dental Startups Can Win on LinkedIn and Connect with DSOs
In this episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, hosts Jake Larson and Clint Barry sit down with Sarah Ruberg, dental marketing expert and founder of Our Thrive Tribe, to talk all things branding, LinkedIn, and relationship building in the DSO space. Sarah shares actionable tips on: Building a...
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Culture as a Catalyst for Disruption and Growth in Dentistry | Dr. Brad Hughes
In this episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, Dr. Brad Hughes, founder of Vision Dental Partners, dives deep into how culture plays a crucial role in driving disruption and growth in the dental industry. From building a team that aligns with core values to making culture the competitive...
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The Tech Mistakes That Kill DSO Scalability
On this week's episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, we chat with Thomas from Medics Dental about common IT mistakes that can prevent DSOs from scaling efficiently. 🚀From lack of standardization to the dangers of on-premise PMS systems, Thomas shares invaluable insights on how to avoid…
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Navigating Dental Data: The challenges of data in group dentistry and how to Optimize for powerful Insights with Jordan Trentacosta
In this episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, we welcome Jordan Trentacosta, a self-proclaimed dental data nerd, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in dental analytics. Jordan shares her journey from working at the front desk of a dental practice to becoming a leading expert in…
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From Startup to Billion-Dollar Success: Lessons Learned from Scaling Weave in Dental Tech
In this episode, Dental Disruptors Podcast hosts Jake and Clint open up about their experience growing Weave, a dental tech company, from a small startup to a billion-dollar success. They share the valuable lessons they learned about perseverance, innovation, and the importance of product-market...
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AI and the Future of Dentistry: An Interview with Rohit, CEO of Newton AI
In this episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, we chat with Rohit, the co-founder and CEO of Newton AI, about how their AI-powered solutions are revolutionizing dental practices. From automating appointment scheduling to improving patient engagement, Newton AI is leading the way in dental...
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The Battle for Data Access in Healthcare: What a Lawsuit Means for the Future of Dental Software
In this episode of Dental Disruptors Podcast, Jake Larson and Clint Berry dive deep into a groundbreaking lawsuit that could change the future of data access in healthcare, with major implications for dental software solutions. We explore how a battle over data accessibility, involving a nursing...
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AI Receptionists in Dentistry: Rami Rustom from Arini Discusses the Future of Dental Tech
In this exciting episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, Jake Larsen and Clint Berry sit down with Rami Hustom, co-founder of Arini, an innovative AI tool transforming the dental industry. Co-founding an AI-powered receptionists that handle phone calls to the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in...
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Open Dental Becomes "Closed-Dental": What’s Next for Dentistry?
🎙️ Open Dental’s Big Announcement 🎙️ Jake Larsen and Clint Berry discuss the recent decision by Open Dental to switch from open-source to closed-source software. What does this mean for Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), tech startups, and the overall dental industry? We break down all the...
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Overcoming Data Challenges in Dentistry: Access, Integration, and Growth
In Episode 3 of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, Jake Larsen and Clint Berry dive into the complexities of dental data, focusing on the challenges practices face with accessing and integrating data from various sources. They discuss how disparate data structures, especially in multi-location...
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Tracking New Patient Calls & KPIs: Disrupting Dental Operations with AI & Data
In Episode 2 of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, Jake Larsen and Clint Berry dive into the world of KPIs and how new technology is transforming how dental practices track and optimize their operations. They explore the crucial metric of new patient call close rates, discussing the challenges of...
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Launching the Dental Disruptors Podcast: Transforming DSOs and Tech in Dentistry
Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Dental Disruptors Podcast, where co-hosts Jake Larsen and Clint Berry explore the dynamic world of Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) and dental technology innovation. In this episode, they share their journey from their time at Weave to launching their…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Dental Operations Unpacked is the podcast for leaders running dental organizations. Hosted by Jake Larsen and Clint Berry, we break down the real systems behind scaling group dentistry — from revenue cycle and tech strategy to data, workflows, and team alignment. Practical insights from operators in the field, sharing what’s actually working inside growing DSOs. Built for operators who want to execute better, scale smarter, and lead stronger teams. Real operators. Real systems. Real conversations.
HOSTED BY
Kolla
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Dental Operations Unpacked have?
Dental Operations Unpacked currently has 45 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Dental Operations Unpacked about?
Dental Operations Unpacked is the podcast for leaders running dental organizations. Hosted by Jake Larsen and Clint Berry, we break down the real systems behind scaling group dentistry — from revenue cycle and tech strategy to data, workflows, and team alignment. Practical insights from operators...
How often does Dental Operations Unpacked release new episodes?
Dental Operations Unpacked has 45 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Dental Operations Unpacked?
You can listen to Dental Operations Unpacked on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Dental Operations Unpacked?
Dental Operations Unpacked is created and hosted by Kolla.
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