Dental Marketing Theory - A Podcast by Gary Bird

Hosted by Gary Bird

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Episodes

228

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

A Top Rated Dental Marketing Podcast. Providing like-minded, passionate individuals, a platform to share experiences and expertise in the dental marketing industry and discuss how marketing theory, development and acquisitions enhance an overall success plan. We’re passionate about marketing and collaborations of all kinds and want to share the process to support others.🚀COME SAY HI! 👋 Gary Bird thegarybird.com/ Podcast Website dentalmarketingtheory.com/ Website smcnational.com/

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October 27, 202654 min

#224 Claude Code Is Changing Dental Practices

📥Resource Download: https://go.dentalmarketingtheory.com/resources/dental-ai-opportunity-checklist 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://bit.ly/48RHMt2 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ Most dentists are experimenting with AI, but very few are using it to drive real practice growth. In this episode, Gary Bird sits down with Dr. Richard Low to break down how Claude Code is helping dentists automate workflows, organize business operations, build custom AI tools, and improve productivity without learning to code. They discuss AI receptionists, new patient conversion, practice management systems, and the future of dental operations. You'll learn how AI helped generate 197 new patients in a single month, why most AI tools are being used incorrectly, and how dentists can use automation to eliminate busywork while improving patient acquisition and team performance. If you're interested in dental marketing, AI, practice management, DSO growth, new patient growth, and the future of dentistry, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Subscribe to Dental Marketing Theory for more strategies, case studies, and real-world systems that help dentists grow faster and market smarter. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 AI in Dentistry: An Overview 04:06 Exploring Claude Code and Its Applications 06:40 Managing Workflow with AI 10:22 AI as an Executive Assistant 11:02 Legal and Financial Applications of AI 14:45 Navigating AI Limitations and Contextual Understanding 17:20 Building Contextual Knowledge for AI 22:20 Creating Opportunities with AI 29:00 Recording for Clarity and Training 30:29 AI in Dental Practice Management 31:10 AI Phone Answering: Opportunities and Challenges 33:10 Building a CRM for Dental Practices 35:00 AI Receptionists: The New Frontier 38:44 The Future of AI in Dental Scheduling 40:30 Understanding Patient Interactions 45:30 Proactive Patient Management with AI 49:28 The Operations Problem in Dental Marketing Connect with our Guest Here ⤵️ Website: https://nextlevelfathers.com/ Website: https://sharedpractices.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.richard.low/ Connect with our Host, Gary Bird, Here ⤵️ SMC: h ttps://bit.ly/4jFhb5T Personal: https://bit.ly/3SCEQZy Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

October 13, 202629 min

#223 Why You're Still Trapped by Insurance

📥 Free Resource: https://hubs.la/Q04B1Vlw0 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://bit.ly/48RHMt2 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ Most dentists think insurance companies are the reason they're stuck. Dr. Farokh Jiveh believes the real problem is mindset, leadership, and the stories dentists tell themselves. In this episode, Gary Bird sits down with Dr. Jiveh to discuss how he built a thriving fee-for-service practice after leaving insurance roughly 17 years ago. They cover self-worth, patient communication, leadership, personal growth, and the habits that separate thriving practice owners from stressed and overwhelmed dentists. You'll learn how to attract better patients, create a stronger team culture, improve case acceptance, and build a fee-for-service practice without living in fear of insurance companies. If you're serious about dental practice growth, leadership, fee-for-service dentistry, and building a practice that supports the life you actually want, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations on dental leadership, practice ownership, fee-for-service growth, and the strategies top dentists use to thrive. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 The Emotional Math Problem in Dentistry 02:38 Personal Transformation and Decision Making 05:31 The Shift to Fee-for-Service 08:38 Becoming the Leader You Want to Attract 13:17 Quieting the Noise in Dentistry 18:52 Mindset and Energy in Practice 21:27 Authenticity and Patient Attraction 27:03 Emanate Leadership and Community Support Connect with our Guest Here ⤵️ Website: https://smilesbyjiveh.com/ Connect with our Host, Gary Bird, Here ⤵️ SMC: h ttps://bit.ly/4jFhb5T Personal: https://bit.ly/3SCEQZy Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

September 29, 202621 min

#222 He Built a 35-Office DSO and Lost Himself

📥Resource Download: https://go.dentalmarketingtheory.com/resources/is-ai-recommending-your-practice 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://bit.ly/48RHMt2 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ Most dentists think success will solve their problems. For Dr. Richard Low, building a rapidly growing DSO and leading 30 offices in just two years revealed a different reality. In this episode, Gary Bird sits down with Dr. Richard Low to discuss burnout, entrepreneurship, mental health, marriage, fatherhood, fitness, and the hidden cost of chasing professional success. You'll learn the frameworks he uses to prioritize health, build accountability, manage competing responsibilities, and create a life that doesn't revolve entirely around dentistry. Drawing from real-world leadership experience, DSO growth, and lessons learned through helping dozens of dentists improve their health and well-being, this conversation challenges the traditional definition of success and offers a roadmap for sustainable growth. If you're a dentist, practice owner, entrepreneur, or DSO leader trying to balance business success with personal fulfillment, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations on dental leadership, practice growth, entrepreneurship, personal development, and building a better life inside and outside the practice. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Introduction and Unique Journey 04:30 Transitioning from Dentistry to Consulting 08:00 Mental Health and the Dental Industry 13:50 The Importance of Prioritizing Well-being 18:57 Future Endeavors and AI in Dentistry Connect with our Guest Here ⤵️ Website: h ttps://nextlevelfathers.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.richard.low/ Connect with our Host, Gary Bird, Here ⤵️ SMC: h ttps://bit.ly/4jFhb5T Personal: https://bit.ly/3SCEQZy Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

September 8, 202619 min

#221 Why Dentists Can’t Hire Great Staff

📥Resource Download: https://go.dentalmarketingtheory.com/resources/10-hacks-to-attract-retain-elite-dental-talent 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://bit.ly/48RHMt2 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ Most dentists think new patient growth is their biggest problem. It’s not. The real bottleneck is hiring and retaining great staff fast enough to support growth. In this episode, Gary Bird and Blake Peay break down why elite candidates disappear within 48 hours, how bad hiring systems quietly kill practice momentum, and the exact recruiting strategies top practices use to build a destination culture. You’ll learn the 30-day Indeed refresh strategy, the scorecard system that replaces gut-feeling hiring, and the onboarding fixes that prevent losing staff during the critical first 90 days. If your practice struggles with hiring, retention, culture, or scaling operations, this episode gives you the tactical framework to fix it. Subscribe for more dental marketing, hiring, leadership, and practice growth strategies from SMC National and Dental Marketing Theory. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 The Challenge of Dental Growth 03:50 Hiring Hacks for Dental Talent 05:28 Speed and Efficiency in Hiring 10:02 Building a Scorecard for Interviews 12:20 Attracting Quality Candidates 14:38 Creating a Destination Practice Connect with our Guest Here ⤵️ Website: https://unityleadershipgroup.com/ Email: blake@unityleadershipgroup.com Connect with our Host, Gary Bird, Here ⤵️ SMC: https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T Personal: https://bit.ly/3SCEQZy Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

August 25, 202630 min

Special Episode: Industry Impact: 5 Years of Dental Marketing Theory

🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://bit.ly/48RHMt2 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ Five years of Dental Marketing Theory, a Podcast by Gary Bird. Hundreds of episodes. And a few conversations that actually changed how people think about building a practice. This anniversary episode goes back into the archive and pulls the moments that mattered most. Not tips or tactics, shifts. The kind of clarity that hits you and you think, now I see it differently. In this episode you will hear from Dr. Richard Low on what it really costs to build something you never wanted to own. Josey Sewell and Dr. Eric Roman on why the associate revolving door is not what most dentists think it is. Nate Williams and Elijah Desmond on the DSO question that every practice owner is asking right now. Dr. Mark Costes on what happens when practices scale before their systems and leadership are ready. Dr. Scott Leune on what building a dream practice actually requires. Dr. Saam Zarrabi on the brand move that most practices are not even considering. Eddie Coleman on what AI is already doing for practices that are paying attention. And Dr. Sidak Singh on what it looks like to build something from scratch, with intention, and do it again. If you have ever felt like your practice owns you instead of the other way around, this one is for you. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Introduction & Part 1 - The Real Problems Dentists Face But Rarely Name Out Loud 01:39 Dr. Richard Low 02:32 Josey Sewell & Dr. Eric Roman 07:26 Dr. Nate Williams & Elijah Desmond 09:11 Part 2 - How the Best Operators in This Industry Are Responding 10:09 Dr. Mark Costes 16:36 Dr. Scott Leune 22:32 Dr. Saam Zarrabi 24:33 Dr. Eddie Coleman 27:44 Dr. Sidak Singh 29:30 Closing remarks Connect with our Guests Here ⤵️ Website: https://nextlevelfathers.com/ Website: https://www.joyfullgrowth.com/ Website: https://dentalpitchbrokerage.com/ Website: https://practicefinancialgroup.com/ Website: https://www.truedentalsuccess.com/ Website: https://scottleune.com/ Website: https://www.rodeodental.com/ Website: https://vault.dental/ Website: https://columbusparkdental.com/ Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

August 11, 202613 min

#220 Why “Scaling Without Exposure” Is the New Mandate for DSOs

📥Sign-up for the Event Before August 15th for the Discount: https://event.practiceprotection.com/ 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://bit.ly/48RHMt2 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ AI is transforming dentistry, but most practices are adopting new tools without understanding the compliance risks. Gary Bird sits down with Linda Harvey, CEO of the Dental Compliance Institute, and Dee Fischer to explain how to evaluate AI vendors, protect patient data, and build safeguards before AI creates costly legal problems. You'll learn the questions every practice should ask about HIPAA, SOC 2 security, vendor risk, and AI implementation so your technology supports growth instead of exposing your practice. If you're investing in AI, practice management, or DSO growth, this conversation could save you thousands. Subscribe for more Dental Marketing Theory episodes covering AI, dental marketing, practice management, compliance, new technology, and strategies that help dentists grow smarter. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Introduction to the event and its focus on dental risk management 02:06 Common AI risks: data security and regulatory fines 04:23 The importance of vetting AI vendors and understanding security measures 05:36 How to identify and vet AI vendors effectively 06:52 The toolbox for implementing AI safely and legally 08:50 Beyond OSHA: A broader view of enterprise risk management 09:56 Legal considerations and the role of legal experts at the event 11:29 Why attending the event is crucial for practice protection 12:00 Cost-effective strategies: workshops vs. legal fees 12:49 Event details and registration information Connect with our Guests Here ⤵️ Website: https://www.fischerspro.com/ Website: https://dentalcomplianceinstitute.com/ Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

July 28, 202652 min

#219 He Built a $6M Dental Empire Differently

📥Resource Download: https://hubs.la/Q04qYV6r0 🚀Explore Dr. Tommy Dooley’s clinical courses and use code BIRD for 20% off: EliteDentalPodcast.com 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://bit.ly/48RHMt2 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ Most dentists can barely scale one office without chaos. In this episode, Gary Bird talks with Dr. Tommy Dooley and Dr. Alex Silvia from the Elite Dental Podcast about how they built a $6M multi-location dental empire while generating 170 new patients per month through smarter systems, recurring patient growth, and operational discipline. You’ll learn dental marketing, phone conversion, Google reviews, SEO, AI scheduling, and practice management strategies that help growing practices scale without losing culture or profitability. Backed by real-world case studies and insights from SMC’s work with 1,195 practices, this episode is packed with tactical frameworks for fee-for-service practices, dental startups, and DSO-minded owners looking to grow faster. Subscribe for weekly conversations that help dentists grow smarter and lead better. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Introduction to the Legends of Dentistry 02:53 Tommy's Journey: Expanding Practices 05:30 SEO Strategies for New Locations 09:23 The Importance of Google Reviews 13:01 Challenges of Multi-Location Practices 16:54 Merging Practices: Alex's Experience 22:05 Marketing Strategies for Complex Care 25:25 Balancing General and Specialized Dentistry 31:10 Building a Cohesive Team Culture 34:22 Maximizing Patient Acquisition 37:16 Marketing Strategies for Dental Procedures 40:00 Tracking ROI in Dental Marketing 43:47 Innovations in Dental Software and AI Connect with our Guests Here ⤵️ Website: https://elitedentalpodcast.com/ Website: https://cedarvillagedentistry.com/ Website: https://successfulsmiles.com/ Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

July 22, 202634 min

#218 I Sold My Dental Practice to a DSO. Here's What They Don't Tell You.

🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://hubs.la/Q04mc4V_0 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ Dentists assume that once they earn out, they get paid, but that's not always how DSOs play it. In this episode, Gary Bird sits down with an anonymous dentist (protected by NDA) who built a $3.5M practice over 25 years, sold at a 6.5 - 7x multiple, completed his full earn-out, and then spent over a year fighting to collect the $2M he was owed. He breaks down exactly what went wrong, what he'd demand from a DSO before signing, and why he'd buy his practice back today if he could. Gary and his team at SMC National work with thousands of dental practices, and this is one of the most honest DSO conversations you'll find anywhere. Subscribe for strategies that help dentists grow, protect their business, and make smarter decisions at every stage. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 Introduction to the DSO Transition Experience 02:51 Dr. Sean's Journey: From Practice Owner to DSO 08:41 The Decision to Sell: Burnout and Financial Considerations 09:58 Understanding the Financial Structure of the Sale 12:07 Operational Changes Post-Sale: The DSO Impact 15:34 Challenges Faced During the Earn-Out Period 21:16 Lessons Learned: Protecting Yourself in a DSO Sale 26:15 Future of Dentistry: The Role of DSOs and Private Equity 27:57 Final Thoughts: Navigating the DSO Landscape Connect with our Host, Gary Bird, Here ⤵️ SMC: https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T Personal: https://bit.ly/3SCEQZy Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

July 7, 20261 hr 17 min

Special Episode: From 1.2M to 3.7M: How Dr. Shane Scaled His Practice & Life

🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://bit.ly/48RHMt2 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://bit.ly/4p48qoC ➖➖➖➖ Most dentists think they have a marketing problem. In reality, their biggest bottleneck is usually leadership, operations, scheduling, or team execution. In this episode, Gary Bird, Dr. Shane Wingler, and Richard Low break down how one practice grew from approximately $1.2M to over $3M while increasing new patients from 30 to nearly 90 per month. You'll learn how to identify the real constraint in your practice, improve phone conversion, use AI the right way, build scalable systems, and create sustainable growth without sacrificing your family or health. Drawing from real-world experience helping hundreds of dental practices grow, Gary shares the operational and marketing principles that separate practices that plateau from those that continue scaling. If you're serious about dental marketing, practice management, AI, leadership, fee-for-service growth, new patient acquisition, or building a high-performing dental practice, subscribe for weekly episodes packed with practical strategies you can implement immediately. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 - Dr. Shane’s Practice Journey 03:53 - Acquisition and Vision for Growth 06:33 - Overcoming Growth Pains 09:30 - The Value of Masterminds and Leadership 14:20 - Operational Bottlenecks in Growing Practices 18:04 - Managing Capacity and Hiring Strategies 22:04 - Building and Protecting Culture 25:46 - The Theory of Constraints 28:55 - Implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) 31:00 - Recruitment as Marketing 39:07 - Shifting from Capacity to Demand 44:46 - Scaling Specialty Services 48:05 - The Math of Marketing Budgets 55:56 - AI Integration in the Patient Journey 58:12 - Patient Financing for Case Acceptance 01:05:08 - Dr. Shane’s Personal Transformation Connect with our Guests Here ⤵️ Website: https://nextlevelfathers.com/ Website: https://carolinapinesdentistry.com/ Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

June 30, 202650 min

#217 Why Your Practice is Losing $100K a Year

🚀 Free Resource: https://go.dentalmarketingtheory.com/resources/beyond-basic-chatbots 🚀Check out our new Dental AI Receptionist! It schedules better than humans: https://hubs.la/Q04m7MK80 🚀Grow Your Practice with Cherry Payment Plans: https://hubs.la/Q04m7Q_S0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental practices are losing as much as $100,000 a year without even noticing. With 30–35% of calls going unanswered and most patients never leaving a voicemail, every missed call is a missed opportunity. What appears to be a simple front desk issue is actually a deeper system breakdown, one that’s draining marketing budgets and limiting growth. In this episode, Adrian Lefler explains how AI chatbots and voice agents are changing the way practices handle patient communication. You’ll discover how leading offices are capturing missed and after-hours calls, boosting scheduling conversion rates to 70–80%, and automating follow-ups while maintaining a strong patient experience. The conversation covers what makes AI effective, from proper training and sales frameworks to handling objections, and how to implement it across calls, texts, and web channels while supporting your front desk team. Hosted by Gary Bird of SMC, this episode delivers practical dental marketing insights alongside real operational strategies from Adrian Lefler, Founder of My Social Practice. If you want to increase conversions, eliminate revenue leaks, and modernize your systems, this is a must-watch. Subscribe for weekly conversations that help dentists grow smarter and lead better. ✨ Timestamps ✨ 00:00 — Intro: AI in Dental Marketing 02:30 — Why Everyone Got Burned by AI 03:17 — The Real Problem: Missed Calls 05:38 — Wasted Marketing Spend Explained 07:10 — Why Voicemail Doesn’t Work Anymore 10:30 — What Changed: AI Is Now Working 12:00 — What Makes AI Actually Convert 15:12 — AI Agent vs Front Desk Performance 17:57 — Real Revenue Gains From AI 20:36 — How to Implement AI Correctly 23:40 — The Future of Dental Practices 25:07 — Understanding the Cost of AI 27:40 — AI vs. Human Receptionists 31:10 — The Future of Automated Patient Communication 34:15 — Technical Integration: API Read and Write 41:27 — The Risks of DIY AI Marketing (e.g., OpenClaw) 50:23 — Final Thoughts and Resources Connect with our Guest Here ⤵️ Website: https://mysocialpractice.com/ Want the strategies we talk about delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to Dental Marketing Digest: https://hubs.la/Q0436vZG0 ➖➖➖➖ Dental Marketing Theory gives dentists real strategies to grow smarter and scale faster. Hosted by Gary Bird, founder of SMC — recently recognized as the best dental marketing company — the show features candid conversations with top dental leaders about marketing, operations, and what’s actually working in today’s practices. If you want predictable, profitable growth, this is your podcast. 🚀 Want to see how SMC can help you grow? 📱 Book a call here:➡️ https://bit.ly/4jFhb5T 🎙️ Check out our 3 Dental Podcasts ➡️ https://smcnational.com/podcasts/ 📅 Upcoming Events ➡️ https://smcnational.com/events

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