The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

113: Please Share This Advice With Your Docs and Hygienists, They Need to Hear it!

If you tiptoe around diagnoses, patients pay the price. In this candid riff, Dr. Jason challenges new associates and hygienists to stop under-diagnosing out of fear and start telling patients what they actually need, with empathy and clarity. He uses common-sense analogies (optometrist, mechanic, primary care) to show why “let’s watch it” is often just avoidance, then lays out simple language to present perio care, restorations, and time-of-service expectations without drama.
You’ll learn:
How to replace scarcity and fear with professional confidence
Language that is firm, kind, and rooted in patient benefit
When to present treatment now versus truly re-evaluate later
How leaders can coach providers who keep punting hard conversations
A checklist for clear recommendations, consent, and next steps
Share this with your clinical team. Patients trust you for the truth, not a comfortable maybe.

112: In Every Single Situation, You MUST Explain the WHY

Silence breeds stories. In this solo riff, Dr. Jason lays out why leaders must over communicate the why behind goals, policies, and changes. He unpacks the John Gordon principle that in the absence of communication people fill the gap with negativity, then shows how to prevent that with clear, simple context.
You’ll learn:
How to anchor big goals in a clear purpose so teams buy in
What to say when rolling out time-of-service collections
How to frame assisted hygiene days so no one assumes you’re “turning into a mill”
A repeatable script to explain the why quickly and move forward
When pushback is useful and when it is just “we’ve always done it this way”
If you want fewer rumors and more results, start leading with the why. Every time.

111: Becoming The Best Leader You Are Capable of Being

In this special episode, Dr. Jason shares a condensed version of his full 16-hour Servant Leadership training—recorded live at Dr. Paul Goodman’s “Dental Nachos” Boost Conference in Philadelphia. Whether you’re a founding dentist, office manager, or team lead, this session will challenge how you think about leadership, character, and influence.
You’ll learn how to:
Build a culture rooted in agape love—the choice to lead with patience, kindness, and honesty
Replace “power” leadership with influence-driven authority
Create clarity through systems, feedback, and accountability
Develop your character to make better choices in the moments that matter
Dr. Jason breaks leadership down into a repeatable, practical framework you can apply Monday morning. If you’re ready to lead with purpose, clarity, and courage—this one’s for you.

110: Time to Start Planning 2026 Revenue and Budget Numbers NOW!

In this episode, Dr. Jason breaks down how to set smarter financial goals for your practice—without waiting until the week between Christmas and New Year’s when the Manhattans are flowing and the notebook comes out. He walks through a practical, no-fluff method for projecting 2026 revenue and profitability, explaining why most dentists miss the mark by setting goals without a tactical plan to back them up.
You’ll learn how to:
Calculate realistic revenue growth using real data (not wishful thinking)
Identify where to find hidden profit in your expenses
Track your performance like a business owner, not just a clinician
Avoid the “hope and hustle” trap that leads to burnout
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start leading your practice with precision and confidence, this episode is your jumpstart for a more intentional, profitable 2026.

109: How to Incentivize & Bonus Individuals & Teams (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this bonus and incentive series, Dr. Jason dives into team-based reward systems—what works, what fails, and how to design plans that actually improve performance and protect profitability.
You’ll learn:
Why “set a random goal and hope for the best” bonus systems backfire
How to calculate your BAM (Bareass Minimum) number so your team understands what it takes to break even
Simple frameworks for profit-sharing that reward ownership thinking, not entitlement
How to protect cash flow while building a transparent, high-accountability culture
What conversations start happening when your team actually knows the numbers
From arbitrary production goals to data-driven profit sharing, Jason shares how his own practices have evolved—mistakes, wins, and all. If you’ve ever struggled to balance motivation with money, this episode will help you build a system that drives results without draining your bottom line.

108: How to Incentivize & Bonus Individuals & Teams (Part 1)

When it comes to bonuses and incentive plans, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula—and the wrong plan can tank culture just as fast as it boosts production. In this episode, Dr. Jason breaks down what actually works when rewarding individuals in your practice—dentists, hygienists, assistants, and office managers—and why the key is matching the right system to the right people.
You’ll learn:
The incentive structures that motivate A and B players (and why they flop for C players)
Simple, transparent ways to bonus hygienists, associates, and managers without wrecking cash flow
How to tie rewards to behaviors that benefit patients, the team, and the practice equally
Where most practices go wrong with profit sharing and “motivational carrots”
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Next up: how to design team-wide incentives that build alignment and accountability instead of resentment.
If you’re ready to move beyond cookie-cutter bonus plans and start rewarding what actually drives growth, this one’s for you.

107: What Marketing Levers Should You Be Pulling On As We Head Into an Economic Downturn? My Conversation with Ryan Gross from CMO Share

Dr. Jason sits down with Ryan Gross of CMO Share to talk real numbers and real moves when patient demand gets price sensitive. Using multi-year call and search data, Ryan explains why more patients now lead with cost and insurance questions and what winning practices do on their websites, phones, and schedules to keep conversion high.
You’ll learn:
Which pages to upgrade first so AI and Google surface your answers when patients ask “how much” and “does it hurt.”
How to add clear fee ranges and financing on service pages without scaring people off.
The exact phone language that saves price-shopping calls instead of losing them.
Why visible online availability boosts traffic and calls, even if most patients still book by phone.
Capacity plays that create “yes, today” options without wrecking your ops.
When to cut, when to double down, and how to stay aggressive while everyone else retreats.
If you want a simple plan to protect growth when wallets tighten, this episode gives you the levers and the scripts.

106: Should I Start a DSO? A Candid Conversation with My Accountant, Scott Haberman.

In this episode, Dr. Jason sits down with his longtime accountant and tax strategist, Scott Haberman (CPA, Eide Bailly), to unpack one of the most common questions in dentistry: “Should I start a DSO?”
Together they break down what a DSO actually is, when it makes sense to form one, and the key mistakes owners make when scaling beyond a single practice. From equity and efficiency to tax implications and partner dynamics, this is a candid, real-world look at what it takes to grow responsibly.
You’ll learn:
When to consider creating a DSO—and when not to
How multi-location owners can clean up “messy books” and clarify profitability
What equity and ownership structures actually look like in practice
Whether DSOs offer real tax advantages or just extra headaches
Why clarity, communication, and clean agreements matter more than ever
If you’ve ever wondered whether a DSO could streamline your operations or just complicate your life, this conversation will help you see the full picture—no sugarcoating, just strategy.

105: Why You Should Be Recording All Your Meetings

Note takers have opinions. Recordings have receipts. In this episode, Dr. Jason lays out why hitting “record” on every team meeting, 1:1, and quick check-in is the simplest way to boost clarity, coaching, and follow-through. He covers the big four: perception vs reality, building better leaders with real feedback, keeping part-timers in the loop, and turning talk into action items that actually get done. Then he walks through the how with permission, tools, access control, and a clean workflow so nothing slips.
You’ll get:
A repeatable system for recording, summarizing, and assigning next steps
How to coach with empathy while still saying the uncomfortable thing clearly
A way to share only the right clips with the right people
The privacy and consent guardrails that keep you safe
Perfect for: owners and ops leads who want fewer “Wait, that’s not what I heard” moments and more measurable progress.

104: What If I Think Expansion Isn't Right For Me?

Not every “busting at the seams” practice needs a bigger building. In this episode, Dr. Jason coaches a young owner who’s winning on paper but questioning whether expansion is worth the debt, stress, and time tradeoffs. They dig into the real why behind growth, how to spot FOMO in your decision making, and smart ways to create progress without adding ops or headcount.
You’ll hear:
A simple test to know if you actually want expansion or just feel pressured
How to grow fulfillment, EBITDA, and team capability inside your current four walls
The “season” mindset for big moves and how to protect family time while you build
When to pass on great opportunities and trust another will appear
Practical delegation moves that buy back hours before you spend dollars
Perfect for: owners at capacity who crave progress but refuse to mortgage their peace just to keep up.