Daily Dental Podcast

Hosted by Addison Killeen DDS

Business Entrepreneurship

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Episodes

928

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Dentists are stressed and sometimes need help focusing on the right stuff to succeed in business and life. The goal of this daily short podcast is to share information, tips, and stories - gleaned from the Dental Success Network community - that will help you become a better dentist, business owner and human.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 21, 20263 min

917. Back to School for Dentists

Back to school season is a great reminder that learning should never stop. Today, Dr. Killeen encourages dentists to embrace the mindset of a lifelong student and asks an important question: what are you learning right now? Whether it's improving your clinical skills, becoming a stronger business owner, or investing in your personal life, growth starts with choosing to keep learning. He shares why standing still in dentistry is really falling behind and challenges listeners to enroll in something that will move them forward. Sometimes the best investment you can make is simply picking up your backpack and getting back in the classroom.

August 20, 20266 min

916. Active Optimism Means Putting Your Shoulder to the Wheel

What separates wishful thinking from meaningful progress? In this episode, Dr. Killeen shares the timeless fable of Hercules and the farmer to explore the idea of active optimism. It's not enough to believe things will work out. Real optimism is paired with action, and that combination is what creates lasting results. He also looks at research showing the impact optimism can have on success and longevity, while explaining why passive optimism can be just as limiting as pessimism. Whether you're facing challenges in your practice or your personal life, this episode offers a simple reminder to stop waiting for change and take the first step toward making it happen.

August 19, 20266 min

915. Don't Bury Your Talent

What if the biggest risk isn't failing, but never trying? In this episode, Dr. Killeen shares a personal story about encouraging a talented dental assistant to pursue dental school and reflects on the parable of the talents and the danger of playing it safe with the gifts you've been given. He also shares a simple question from an old Dear Abby column: if your dream will take seven or ten years, how old will you be at the end of that time if you don't pursue it? Time is going to pass either way. The real question is what you'll have to show for it. This episode is a reminder to stop waiting for the perfect timeline and put your talents to work.

August 18, 20266 min

914. Find a Purpose Strong Enough

Why do some people consistently do the things they don't want to do? Dr. Killeen explores Albert Gray's idea that the difference isn't discipline, talent, or even enjoyment of hard work. Successful people have a purpose strong enough to make the uncomfortable work worth doing. From following up on treatment to studying your practice numbers or having difficult conversations with your team, the hard parts of practice ownership aren't going away. He explains why a stronger purpose can make those tasks easier to face and turn them into habits that move you toward the life and practice you're trying to build.

August 17, 20264 min

913. Entropy is Coming For Your Practice

Dr. Killeen explores the law of entropy and what it can teach us about running a great dental practice. Just like a garage gets messier when nobody maintains it, practice systems naturally drift over time. Scheduling protocols get skipped, standards slip, and good habits slowly disappear unless someone actively puts energy back into them. The good news is that this isn't a sign of failure. It's simply the reality of leadership. It's explained why maintaining a strong practice requires continuous reinforcement through training, accountability, reminders, and regular check-ins. The goal isn't to build perfect systems once, but to keep putting energy into them so they stay strong.

August 15, 202621 min

Special Weekend Episode with Ryan Gross: The Math Behind Hitting Your New Patient Goals

How many new patient appointment slots does your practice really need to hit its monthly goals? Dr. Killeen sits down with Ryan Gross to break down the numbers behind new patient scheduling, why a one-to-one ratio doesn't work, and how cancellations, limited hygiene availability, and emergency exams all impact your ability to grow. They discuss strategies like dedicated hygiene and emergency blocks, the 24 to 48 hour scheduling rule, ghost columns, and why every practice needs to find the scheduling formula that fits its unique setup. They also explore how your schedule can become the biggest bottleneck in your new patient funnel, referencing concepts from The Goal and explaining why practices may need 30, 40, or even 50 percent more available appointment blocks than their monthly target. A preview of Ryan's session at the Fall Dental CEO Bootcamp coming up in November is discussed, where he'll share practical ways to improve marketing, optimize KPIs, and use AI to drive practice growth one percent at a time. Visit https://www.addisonkilleen.com/events/ to learn more and sign up for the limited spots available for this event.

August 14, 20264 min

912. Ask the Dumb Question

What if the questions we’re most afraid to ask are actually the ones that could teach us the most? Today, Dr. Killeen shares a lesson from Randall Munroe’s What If? and explores why curiosity and asking "why" are essential to becoming a better dentist, leader, and practice owner. Whether it’s a clinical technique, a business system, or something you’ve been doing for years without really understanding, questioning the familiar can lead to better decisions and deeper knowledge. Dr. Killeen challenges listeners to pick one thing they’ve never questioned and simply ask why. Staying curious may be one of the best ways to keep improving throughout your career.

August 13, 20266 min

911. The Power of the Week

What if the best way to manage your dental practice isn't day by day or month by month, but week by week? In this episode, Dr. Killeen explains why seven days may be the perfect window for spotting meaningful patterns without getting distracted by daily noise or waiting too long to make a change. He also shares how his weekly scorecard helps him stay ahead of production, new patients, reappointment rates, collections, and other key metrics. By reviewing the numbers consistently between Friday and Monday, you can walk into each new week with a clear picture of what happened and a plan for what to improve next.

August 12, 20266 min

910. Leaders Who Build Leaders

In this episode, Dr. Killeen shares how he is developing leadership within his own practice by teaching his Team Leader, Stephanie, not only how to lead, but how to teach leadership to the leaders beneath her. The goal is to move beyond an owner-centered practice where every decision runs through one person. He breaks down the three layers of this approach: clarity, ownership, and multiplication. When leaders understand the vision, have real authority to make decisions, and learn how to develop other leaders, the impact can spread throughout the entire organization. The goal isn't to become the best leader in the practice. It's to build a practice full of leaders.

August 11, 20266 min

909. Stay Calm When the Fire Comes

What do a group of canoe paddlers trapped by wildfires have to teach dentists and practice owners? Dr. Killeen shares a remarkable real-life story about decision-making under extreme pressure and the habits that helped a team stay calm, work together, and make smart choices when everything around them was changing. Unexpected challenges are inevitable in dentistry and in life. Dr. Killeen explains why the best leaders don't avoid adversity, they develop a process for responding to it. By gathering the facts, leaning on trusted people, and making thoughtful decisions instead of emotional ones, you can navigate uncertainty with confidence, no matter what comes your way.