The Doctor Avi Show

She Couldn’t Practice Dentistry Anymore. Here's What Happened Next | Dr. Mariz Tanious 10.07.2026 42min

What happens when a dentist can no longer practice?In this episode of The Dr. Avi Show, Dr. Avi Patel sits down with Dr. Mariz Tanious, Chief Dental Officer at Affinity Dental, to discuss an unexpected career pivot that transformed her perspective on dentistry, leadership, and the future of DSOs.After being diagnosed with arthritis, Dr. Mariz Tanious was forced to step away from clinical dentistry. Rather than leaving the profession, she found a new way to make an impact—leading quality management and clinical excellence across large dental organizations.In this conversation, they discuss:• Why dental school doesn't prepare you for the realities of practice.• Student loans, burnout, and financial pressure in dentistry.• The importance of mentorship and continuous learning.• What Chief Dental Officers actually do (and why no one trains them).• The biggest challenges facing DSOs today.• Why conferences need more honest conversations and less surface-level content.• How AI is changing dentistry—and what it takes to implement it successfully.Whether you're a dental student, associate, practice owner, or DSO leader, this episode offers an honest look at career growth, leadership, and building a profession through collaboration instead of competition.Shoutout to our sponsors:SprintRay Midas: https://bit.ly/SprintRay-PodcastOrthoBrain: https://bit.ly/4vFk9OINeer: https://bit.ly/4vzRFG3Connect with Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/Connect with Dr. Mariz Tanious : https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariz-tanious-dds/

From Broke Dentist to 10 Practices | Dr. Hardik Chodavadia 26.06.2026 54min

Dr. Hardik Chodavadia co-founded Enamel Dentistry, growing it from a single startup practice with no formal business plan into a 10+ location dental group across Austin and McKinney. In this conversation, he's refreshingly honest about how much of that journey came down to timing, taking calculated risks, and what he jokingly calls a "dangerous level of lack of risk tolerance."In this episode, Dr. Hardik joins Dr. Avi to discuss:How he convinced a bank to fund his first startup practice despite having no business plan and a negative net worth.Why being a "terrible employee" ultimately led him to practice ownership.The books and mentors—including Buy Back Your Time, Dan Martell, and Alex Hormozi—that have shaped his leadership and business philosophy.Learning to delegate after being diagnosed with ADHD at age 38.The story behind Enamel Dentistry's signature purple branding (inspired by the Sacramento Kings).His current focus on marketing efficiency, AI-driven automation, and scaling a growing dental organization.Shoutout to our sponsors:🦷 SprintRay: https://bit.ly/SprintRay-Podcast🦷 Neer: https://bit.ly/4vzRFG3🦷 OrthoBrain: https://bit.ly/4vFk9OILearn more about Clear Aligner Advisor:https://clearaligneradvisor.coConnect with Dr. Hardik Chodavadia:https://linkedin.com/in/hardik-chodavadia-b1970820

How 25 Years at Heartland Dental Changed My Dental Career | Dr. Anna Singh 12.06.2026 45min

25 years ago Anna Singh was a new grad with no map. Today she's Senior VP of Clinical Operations at Heartland Dental, overseeing care across nearly 2,000 practices. In this episode, she breaks down the systems behind that growth: why "bread-and-butter" dentistry beats chasing big procedures, how time studies transform efficiency, why the doctor-PMO partnership makes or breaks a practice, and why radical transparency around production numbers builds stronger teams. Anna also shares the mindset shift that changed how she saw clear aligner cases—and why patient quality of life, not aesthetics, should drive the conversation.Sponsors for this episode: SprintRay Midas: https://info.sprintray.com/midas-podcast OrthoBrain: https://orthobrain.co/ClearAlignerAdvisor Neer: http://getneer.com/patel Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/Connect with Anna Singh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-singh-b87a086a/

The 3 Promises Every DSO Should Make Before You Sign | Dave Gaspar 29.05.2026 1t 2min

Dave Gaspar, CEO of Smile Partners (120+ practices), pulls back the curtain on what it actually looks like to lead a DSO without a clinical background and why that forces better decisions.In this episode, Dr. Avi and Dave break down the three promises every DSO should make before a doctor signs, why clinical autonomy is only meaningful when you're willing to sacrifice for it, and how grit — not just IQ or EQ — determines whether a partnership actually works.They also get into the real conversation around AI adoption in group practices, what the next generation of dentists gets right (and wrong) about grinding, and why social media is the most underutilized tool in the DSO playbook.If you're a dentist considering a DSO partnership, or already in one, this episode is worth your full attention. The tools and resources mentioned are linked below — use them.Sponsors for the episode:SprintRay Midas: https://info.sprintray.com/midas-podcas; OrthoBrain: https://orthobrain.co/ClearAlignerAdvisor ; Neer: http://getneer.com/patel ; Clear Aligner Advisor: https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/ Connect with Dave Gaspar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-gaspar-2a930311/

Why Oral Care Hasn't Innovated in 50 Years — Until Now | Gulshan Kumar 15.05.2026 49min

What happens when a serial CPG entrepreneur meets a disrupting dentist — and they start building together? In this episode, Dr. Avi sits down with Gulshan Kumar, CEO and co-founder of Swishables, the portable mouthwash brand disrupting oral care. From his roots building Pathwater to identifying a massive white space in dental wellness, Gulshan breaks down how curiosity, strategy, and imagination drive real innovation.They go deep on why oral care has lacked innovation for decades, how Swishables fits into both DSO and solo practice models, and what dentists can learn from the CPG playbook. Plus: why education kills imagination — and how to get it back.If you're a dental professional thinking beyond the chair, this one's for you.🦷 Try Swishables for your practice:https://getswishables.com/pages/dentalUse code AVISWISH for 10% off📈 Scale your aligner revenue with Clear Aligner Advisor:https://www.clearaligneradvisor.co/🔗 Connect with Gulshan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gulshan-kumar-b23900b6/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gulshanjaikumar

I Built a DSO the Hard Way — Here's What I'd Do Differently | Dr. AJ Acierno 01.05.2026 51min

Dr. AJ Acierno built a 27-location dental group while still practicing four days a week, and he's not sugarcoating what that actually took. In this episode, he breaks down why dentistry is falling from within, what standard of care really means in today's climate, and how AI is reshaping diagnostics and accountability.He also shares the leadership lessons he learned the hard way scaling Decision One Dental before merging with Smile Brands, where he now serves as Chief Dental Officer. If you want to understand where dentistry is headed, and what it takes to lead in it, this one's for you.

Hard Truths About DSOs | Brian Colao 17.04.2026 54min

Brian Colao has spent 31 years at the intersection of law and dentistry — and in that time, he's watched the DSO industry go from a misunderstood concept to the most powerful force reshaping the profession.In this episode, Brian breaks down why most dentists still don't know how to leverage technology for same-store growth, what the biggest mistake is when selling a practice (hint: it's not the price), and how he went from being turned away at every conference to building the industry's premier event from scratch.If you're a dentist, DSO leader, or anyone navigating the business side of dentistry, this one's worth your full attention. Brian's event, Dykema DSO, is happening July 15–17 in Denver. Use code PODCAST300 at registration for $300 off. Register here: dykemadso.com/conference

Your Office Manager Can't Save You. Here's What Can. | Craig Iott 03.04.2026 27min

Most dentists are great clinicians. Nobody taught them how to run a business.Dr. Avi sits down with Craig Iott, operational consultant to 200+ businesses , to break down why dental practices feel chaotic, and what to do about it.They cover systems, DSO mistakes, shiny object syndrome, and why your personal brand matters more than ever.If you own a practice or plan to, this one is worth your time.Craig Iott: www.allsolutions.consultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-iott/Dr. Avi: @Doctor.Avi | clearaligneradvisor.coLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-avi-patel-clearaligner-advisor

The Honest Truth About Dentistry: Burnout, Boundaries & Finding Your Way | Dr. Ellie Halabian 20.03.2026 41min

Dr. Avi sits down with Dr. Ellie Bucklin, dentist, podcaster behind Teeth Matter, and NYU faculty, for a candid conversation about what dental school doesn't prepare you for.From mental health and people-pleasing to navigating toxic mentorship and building resilience, Ellie shares the raw reality of early-career dentistry and how she turned her lowest points into a platform that's helping the next generation.If you've ever felt like you weren't enough, moved too fast, or wondered why no one talks about the hard stuff, this episode is for you.

From Dentist to CEO: Building a 100x Vision in Modern Dentistry - Dr. Brad Hughes 06.03.2026 51min

In this episode, Dr. Avi sits down with a third-generation dentist and founder of Vision Dental Partners, Dr. Brad Hughes, to discuss the mindset shift that transformed his career—from thinking about 5x growth to building a 100x vision. They explore the power of community, personal branding, and social media for young dentists, the reality behind DSOs and mentorship, and why leadership and patient trust are the true drivers of practice growth. This conversation offers practical insights for dentists who want to move beyond the chair and build something bigger.

The Disconnect in Dentistry - Dr. Naved Fatmi 20.02.2026 35min

What does success in modern dentistry really look like?In this episode of The Dr. Avi Show, Dr. Avi sits down with entrepreneur and clinician Dr. Naved Fatmi to discuss scaling without burnout, building strong systems, and redefining ownership in today’s dental landscape.They cover why most dentists get in trouble, the importance of communication and culture, the myth that everyone needs to own a practice, and how to optimize for time, money, and fulfillment — not just production.A must-listen for dentists, associates, and DSO leaders looking to build smarter, not just bigger.

Unleashing the Power of Clear Aligners with Dr. Stephane Reinhardt 26.07.2024 1t 5min

In this insightful episode, Dr. Stephane Reinhardt delves into the importance of aligner education and the surprisingly low adoption rate of aligners among dentists. He underscores the immense potential and profitability of incorporating aligners into dental practices and addresses the common fear of orthodontics, advocating for a focus on improvement rather than perfection. Dr. Reinhardt discusses key aspects such as: Aligner Education: The critical need for better education among dentists regarding the use of aligners. Case Selection: The importance of selecting appropriate cases for aligner treatment. Financial Simplification: Simplifying financial agreements to make aligner treatments more accessible. Personal Journey: His transition from clinical dentistry to becoming an educator and the creation of the Clear Institute. Empowerment through Education: The Clear Institute’s mission is to empower dentists to integrate clear aligners into their practices and provide comprehensive dental care. Dr. Reinhardt also shares his journey into dentistry and his shift towards clear aligners, emphasizing the principles behind their use, the necessity of informed consent, and alternative treatments with clear aligners. He encourages dentists to embrace clear aligners to enhance their practice and better serve their patients.