The Thriving Dentist Show by Gary Takacs guides dental practice owners and dentists in creating a profitable practice with financial independence while delivering hallmark-level quality of care. Gary’s lively discussions run the gamut from eye-opening lessons for you to become successful.
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Gary Takacs Podcasts
My name is Carrie Ibbetson and I am a Registered Dental Hygienist with nearly 20 years experience in the dental world. I have worked as a dental assistant, front office coordinator, and as a dental hygienist. I like to think that because I have immersed myself in all facets of the dental office that I have a pretty rounded idea of what dentistry and dental offices are all about. One unique thing about my career is that I have spent many years working as a temporary fill in for offices (think ...
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Common Denominators of Thriving Practices
48:32
48:32
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48:32In this powerful episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs reveals the common traits shared by thriving dental practices. Drawing from over 45 years of coaching and consulting experience, Gary outlines the seven goals of a thriving practice—from achieving financial independence and reducing insurance dependence to strengthening leadership a…
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How Patients Decide If You’re the Right Dental Office in Seconds
44:37
44:37
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44:37In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah reveal how patients decide within seconds whether your dental office is the right choice for them. Discover why attention spans are shrinking, how website design and trust cues shape first impressions, and which visual elements instantly turn browsers into booked patients…
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New Metrics and New Benchmarks to Thrive in 2025 and Beyond
49:37
49:37
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49:37Running a successful dental practice in 2025 takes more than production numbers. In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share the five essential metrics every dentist should track to build a profitable, patient-focused, and stress-free practice. Learn how to shift from production to profitability, reduce PPO d…
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Understanding Group Dentistry with Ian McNickle
47:44
47:44
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47:44In 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 Dental Partnership Organizations (DPOs) and how they’re reshaping dentistry. Discover how true clinical autonomy, stronger ownership opportunities, and smart staffing solutions help dentists reduce insura…
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A Strategy to Help your Patients Accept Conservative Periodontal Therapy when Clinical Signs and Symptoms Indicate the Need.
50:26
50:26
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50:26Struggling with patients rejecting periodontal therapy? In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share proven strategies to increase patient acceptance of conservative periodontal therapy, highlight the oral-systemic health connection, and provide simple verbal skills for hygienists to boost gum disease treatment acceptance and grow hygiene…
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31.8% of US Dentists are Planning to Resign from PPO Plans in 2025
44:11
44:11
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44:11By 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 costs, wage pressures, and shrinking reimbursements are making PPO participation unsustainable—and how many practices are unknowingly losing $500k+ each year in write-offs. You’ll also learn Gary’s prove…
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Profit Killers in Your Practice You’re Probably Ignoring
46:54
46:54
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46:54Are hidden profit killers draining your dental practice? In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah reveal 4 overlooked areas — from mishandled new patient calls to weak treatment follow-ups — that could be costing you thousands. Learn simple, proven strategies to boost conversions, improve case acceptance, and strengthen practice profitabili…
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How to Build a Marketing Funnel That Actually Brings in New Patients
58:29
58:29
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58:29In this episode, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share the 4 proven steps to building a dental marketing funnel that attracts quality new patients and gets them to book—without depending on PPO plans. Discover how to rank higher with SEO, use Google reviews and patient stories to build trust, and train your team to turn calls into appointments. Lis…
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Why Your New Patient Experience Could Make or Break Your Practice
57:58
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57:58Discover 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 trust, reduce PPO dependence, and transition to a fee for-service dental practice.
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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 one that delivers greater profit, satisfaction, and balance. Gary explains how these goals work together to help you control overhead, achieve financial independence, build a strong team, and enjoy a …
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Tips To Control Your Team Member Wages Within Budget
50:24
50:24
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50:24In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah address a critical financial challenge in dental practices; how to keep team member wages within a sustainable budget. With inflation and wage expectations on the rise, this episode outlines actionable strategies to maintain financial health without compromising team sati…
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Can you increase your fees without losing patients? In this powerful episode, Gary Takacs and co-host Naren Arulrajah explore the truth behind dental pricing strategies and why many practices leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table. You'll discover how a data-driven, annually recalibrated fee structure can significantly boost profitability,…
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Marketing Lessons Learned from Thriving Practices
44:11
44:11
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44:11Want to attract better patients, reduce PPO dependence, and grow your practice with confidence? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah share real-world marketing lessons from thriving practices. Discover what actually works, why most dental marketing fails, and how top practices grow with long-term strategy. B…
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A 21st Century Placement Agency With Trey Tepichin
38:09
38:09
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38:09Struggling to hire quality dental team members? Staffing issues shouldn't hold your practice back. In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs interviews Trey Tepichin, co-founder of Cloud Dentistry, about a smarter, tech-powered way to solve today’s dental staffing crisis. You’ll discover why traditional hiring methods like job board…
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Four Specific Strategies For Building A Thriving Practice That Provides Lasting Success
44:06
44:06
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44:06What 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 Dentist Show, dental business coach Gary Takacs and co-host Naren Arulrajah reveal four proven strategies for long-term success in dentistry. You'll learn how to build a rock-solid dental practice founda…
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Women Leaders in Dentistry with Dr. Aman Kaur
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32:12
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32:12Ever 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, founder of Women in DSO, for an inspiring conversation about what’s changing and what’s possible. They dive into the rise of women in leadership, how DSOs are evolving, and why emotional intelligence …
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How To Determine if Your Patient is Ready to Accept Comprehensive Care?
48:36
48:36
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48:36In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs explores one of the most common challenges dentists face: knowing when a patient is truly ready to say yes to ideal, comprehensive care. He shares a powerful yet simple question that helps reveal your patient’s readiness - no pressure, no guessing. You’ll also hear a relatable analogy compar…
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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 daily workflow? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah break down four real-world applications of AI in dentistry - from chart notes to treatment planning - and ex…
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What is the One Thing You Know Now, That You Wish You Would Have Learned Earlier? (Thriving Dentist 700th Special Episode)
45:20
45:20
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45:20In this special 700th episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, hosts Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah ask one powerful question: “What is one thing you know now that you wish you had learned earlier in your career?” Ten amazing voices from the dental world share their honest answers, including tips on achieving work-life balance, overcoming burnout, ne…
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The Struggle Between Efficiency and Connection
52:19
52:19
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52:19Struggling to balance efficiency with patient connection in your dental practice? In this episode of the Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs shares expert tips on how to increase patient trust, improve case acceptance, and create a new patient experience that builds lifelong loyalty. Learn how to reduce PPO dependence while delivering exceptional ca…
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Is Your Website Costing You New Patients? Fix These 5 Mistakes
38:04
38:04
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38:04In this episode, Gary and Naren uncover the top 5 dental website mistakes that could be turning potential patients away. From outdated design and poor mobile experience to weak SEO and missing CTAs, they share practical tips to fix these issues and turn your website into a powerful new patient engine. If you're looking to improve your dental websit…
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The 3-Day Work Week – Can It Work in Dentistry?
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47:30What 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 and co-host Naren Arulrajah explore a powerful idea that’s on the minds of many dentists today: how to create more free time without losing income or control of your practice. If you’ve ever felt burned …
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Everything you Need to Know about OSHA, HIPAA and Health Department Regulation Compliance with Terre Harris
46:25
46:25
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46:25In this latest episode, Gary sits down with Terry Harris, founder of Harris Biomedical, to discuss how dentists can confidently handle OSHA compliance, HIPAA regulations, and infection control protocols. Whether you're a solo dentist or lead a growing practice, you'll learn how to reduce risk, stay audit-ready, and create a safer practice environme…
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The Most Profitable Services You Could Be Overlooking
50:34
50:34
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50:34In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah unpack a powerful question: Are you leaving money on the table? From same-day dentistry to expanded hygiene services and high-value procedures, they share practical, real-world insights on the most profitable services practices often overlook. Gary draws on decades of coa…
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The Role of Community Engagement in Practice Growth
44:42
44:42
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44:42Join Gary Takacs and Naren Arulrajah on The Thriving Dentist Show as they uncover the power of connecting with your local community to attract new patients and build trust. From sponsoring sports teams to offering free dental care for veterans, this episode is loaded with practical ideas to boost your practice while making a difference. Plus, catch…
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