Ready to take the leap into dental practice ownership but not sure where to start? From Dentist to De Novo guides you through the journey of starting or acquiring your first practice, with insights from someone who's helped hundreds of dentists in your shoes. Host Jonathan Miller brings almost two decades of experience helping dentists navigate their first practice purchase from how to find the right location and financing to opening the doors and building the dream team to see it grow from the start! .Whether you're dreaming of building from the ground up or buying an existing practice, this podcast cuts through the noise to deliver practical, actionable guidance. Jonathan focuses on real strategies over empty motivation, helping you minimize risk and confidently tackle the unknowns of practice ownership. Join him as he shares how to grow your practice, build your brand, and preserve the private practice model—one doctor at a time.
On this week's episode of From Dentist to De Novo, I sat down with a Dental territory rep with years of experience equipping startups and acquisitions to talk about: → What's actually essential for opening day versus what gets sold as essential → How lead times can quietly delay your opening if you order too late → Leasing vs. buying equipment — the real trade-offs most buyers don't consider → How to compare multiple equipment quotes when every vendor structures packages different...
2 Sept 2026
Money Matters: A CPA's Guide to Your First Practice
Buying or starting a dental practice? The financial side can make or break your first year — and most new owners don't know what they don't know. In this episode, I sit down with Bassim Michael he's both a CPA and a CVA to break down the money fundamentals every first-time practice owner needs: from structuring your entity and understanding cash flow, to what a valuation actually tells you (and what it doesn't). No jargon, no sales pitch — just straight answers from two experts who've seen it...
11 Jun 2026
Being a Mom Boss with Dr. Joyce Khang
We talk about it all! From running the house, to running her practice and how going against the advice of family and friends has helped and where it's brought in challenges. I appreciate her candid nature and willingness to share. Her authenticity rings true for all female practice owners and the ones thinking about how to go into practice ownership.
22 May 2026
Start Ups and Staffing Woes - How to fix them!
Staffing headaches keeping you up at night? You're not alone. In this episode, we sit down with Christine Sison — founder of Swiss Monkey and wife to a practicing dentist — a dental industry innovator who got tired of watching her own husband's practice struggle and decided to build the solution herself. Christine breaks down how she's tackling the staffing shortage head-on with a remote workforce model that plugs into your practice fast, and why the future of the patient experience might loo...
7 May 2026
Chairs, Choices & Cash Flow: Equipping Your Startup Practice the Right Way
We discuss how dental equipment configurations work like car options—you can get premium features like autonomous driving or strip things down while maintaining quality. We talk about why startup doctors should work directly with experienced consultants to customize equipment based on their actual needs and budget, rather than just accepting a standard setup. We explore how budgets change over time as practices grow, and how new practices can strategically choose between investing in fewer hi...
3 Mar 2026
Building a Celebrity Brand: Inside the mind of Dr. Tyler Hales
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Hales to pull back the curtain on the rapidly evolving world of cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Hales shares his journey from "learning by doing" and deciding to leave a partnership to pursue a start up, all while establishing himself as a leader in the field cosmetic dental field. We dive into the importance of authentic branding in an age where marketing companies try to turn every dentist into a "specialist," the "school of hard knocks" lessons learned from ma...
11 Feb 2026
Why Most Young Dentists Are Easily Fooled (And How to Avoid It)
This episode of the podcast features Dr. David Rice, founder of IgniteDDS and author of Is Everyone Smiling But You? discussing the transition from dental associate to practice owner. The conversation centers on moving from a "redline" state of overthinking and burnout to a "greenline" of professional control and fulfillment. Key Takeaways for Young Dentists The Danger of Overthinking: Dr. Rice emphasizes that many young dentists suffer from "analysis paralysis," worrying about productio...
5 Jan 2026
From Zero to a Million: Dr. Devon Harris' Startup Journey
Dr. Devin Harris, the "Plaque Panther", discussed his first year of practice ownership, which he described as a "roller coaster" due to the uncertainty and steep drops followed by rewarding and challenging experiences. Less than a year into operation (opened July 2024), he is currently operating with three chairs and is already pushing into building a fourth, all while collecting over a million dollars in revenue. Key Decisions and Insights for Startup Success: Go All-In and Trust Your Vision...
27 Nov 2025
Good, Better, Best: Value Engineering Your Dental Equipment
Dental equipment specialist Ben Oliver joins the podcast to talk about the biggest mistakes dentists make when starting their practice, from design and timing to equipment selection. With 14 years of experience and over 200 build-outs, Ben offers an honest, no-fluff perspective on how to approach your startup budget and vision. Learn about the 'good, better, best' of dental equipment, the massive cost difference that customization creates, and why your mechanical room and sterilization center...
25 Sept 2025
Legal Landmines: Why Every Dentist Needs an Attorney When Starting or Buying a Practice
Starting or buying your first dental practice is exciting—but it’s also full of hidden legal pitfalls. In this episode, I sit down with Levi Barlavi the founder of Polished legal with over 20 years of dental-specific legal experience. We look to uncover the most common mistakes new owners make, the contracts you can’t afford to overlook, and how the right legal partner can protect your investment from day one.
11 Sept 2025
The Dental Lease Playbook: TI Allowances, Abatement & Avoiding Rookie Mistakes
Before you build ops or pick paint, you need to nail your lease. In this episode of From Dentist to De Novo, host Jonathan Miller sits down with David Groce of CARR to demystify the first—and most expensive—step of practice ownership. We break down usable vs. rentable SF, the difference between build-out period (rent commencement) and rent abatement (free rent after opening), and why a true tenant-only rep changes your leverage. David explains NNN vs. CAM vs. full-service, how TI allowances r...
27 Aug 2025
Dr. David Rice Real Talk About the Start Up Risks in Today's Dental Industry
This episode with Dentist, Author and genuine friend, Dr. David Rice and I discuss the challenges facing the dental industry today, including the loss of recession-proof status, the impact of social media, and the burden of student debt on young dentists. We emphasize the need for financial savvy and caution against the pitfalls of social media and poor financial decisions.
7 Aug 2025
Why you need a Buyer's Advocate
In this inspiring episode, dental consultant Jonathan Miller sits down with a husband and wife dental team who turned their dream of practice ownership into a reality. From navigating the buying process to overcoming real-world challenges like financing, walking away from a purchase and expecting a second child all while navigating the due diligence, negotiations and building patient trust — they share the unfiltered journey and what worked versus what didn't work. Whether you're thinking abo...
7 Jul 2025
First Time Buyer Secrets from a Dental Practice Broker
This episode of "Dentist to DeNovo" features host Jonathan Miller has an in studio discussion with Stephen Au, a seasoned expert from McLaren & Associates, a leading dental transition group. With nearly 20 years in the dental industry, including clinical and practice brokerage roles, Stephen shares insights on navigating dental practice transactions. The conversation debunks the myth of an adversarial relationship between buyers' and sellers' brokers, emphasizing aligned interests when br...
11 Jun 2025
Dr. Kayla's Startup Journey: Building a Practice on Her Terms
Host Jonathan Miller interviews Dr. Kayla Klingensmith, who shares her experiences and insights on building a dental practice from the ground up, highlighting financial considerations and decision-making challenges.
28 May 2025
The 10 Biggest Mistakes Startup Dentists Make with Jonathan Miller
Jonathan Miller identifies the ten most common and costly mistakes startup dentists make, emphasizing team building, time economics, and budgeting for long-term success in this interview episode.
15 May 2025
An Honest Start Up Conversation with an Associate
Host Jonathan Miller interviews Dr. Tara, who reveals her journey to discover fulfillment as a dentist, discussing the fears surrounding practice ownership and the importance of aligning one's practice with personal values.
18 Apr 2025
Dentist to De Novo - Trailer
Host Jonathan Miller introduces the Dentist to De Novo podcast, which provides actionable guidance for dentists looking to start or acquire their first practice.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
3.5 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 11 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
9
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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