DENTAL LIFESTYLES
Publisher & Editor
Glenn L. Vo, DDS CEO, Dental Lifestyles Publishing
Managing Editor
Ethan Webb
Project Manager
Hanna Garcia
Art Director
Jess Beltran
Editorial Board
Dr. Adam Vega
Dr. Brittany Vo Nick Pavlidis
Kyle Summerford
Contributors
Dr. Glenn Vo. Dr. Joy Void-Holmes
Kirk Teachout
Advertising Inquiries info@dentallifestyles.com
Send Any
Correspondence to:
Dental Lifestyles Publishing 2450 Lakeside Pkwy Suite 150-107
Flower Mound, Texas 75022
Dental Clerk to Industry Leader:
Summerford’s
Publisher’s Note
The Truth About Masterminds: How the Right Room Creates 10X Returns..........................................
In Memoriam
Shooting for the Stars: Remembering Dr. Noel Liu’s Fearless Pursuit of Excellence.................................
Business Life
The “Savannah Ball of the Dental World”: How Michael Swider is Revolutionizing Refurbished Dental Equipment................................
Your Hygiene Department Isn’t Just a Service: It’s a Business Within Your Business...........................
Practice Life
Dental Practice Rockstar: Kirk Teachout’s Blueprint for Working Less and Earning More...........
The “Fee-for-Service Freedom”: How Dr. Jim Arnold is Building Dentistry’s Third Option........
When Your Lab Becomes Your Partner: Peak Dental Studio’s Game-Changing Approach....
Dental Lifestyles is published quarterly by Dental Lifestyles Publishing Group. Advertisers may sponsor some articles and/or content. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion. Dental Lifestyles is not responsible for omissions or information misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and their agencies assume all liability for advertising content. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the publisher.
Group
The Truth About Masterminds: How the Right Room Creates 10X Returns
The secret that transformed my business wasn’t working harder. It was finding my people.
Entrepreneur mastermind that’s taking everything to the next level.
Here’s the truth that still blows my mind: almost every major breakthrough in my career, every game-changing opportunity, every quantum leap forward came from being in one of these rooms. Not from working harder. Not from reading another book. But from being in the right room with the right people.
stuff. Just real operators telling the truth about what moves the needle.
But here’s what I’ve learned after being in four different masterminds: each room opens different doors.
Not All Masterminds Are Built the Same
Let me tell you about the day everything changed for me.
I was sitting in my office, staring at my laptop, completely overwhelmed. How do I improve the culture in my practice? My team felt disconnected and I had no idea where to start. Should I implement a bonus system to motivate my team members?
I’d heard horror stories about bonuses backfiring and creating competition instead of collaboration. Could I make the investment in new technology to level up my practice? The price tags were huge and I had no idea if the ROI would actually materialize.
I’d been running my business for years, but I felt like I was still guessing. Still winging it. Still hoping I was making the right calls.
Then I joined my first real mastermind group. And that’s when everything shifted.
Since then, I’ve been part of four different masterminds. First was a Dental Practice Growth mastermind that transformed how I ran my practice. Then a Marketing mastermind that completely changed how I thought about attracting patients. After that, an Investing mastermind that opened my eyes to building wealth beyond just my practice. And now I’m part of a Dental
Here’s What Nobody Tells You About Going Big
When people hear that joining a mastermind can 10X your investment, they usually think I’m exaggerating. I get it. I would have thought the same thing. How can sitting in a room with other business owners possibly create that kind of return?
But here’s the thing. When you’re running your business solo, you’re basically playing life on hard mode. You’re limited by what you know, what you’ve seen, and who you know. You’re making expensive mistakes that someone else already figured out three years ago. You’re walking right past gold mines because you don’t even know they exist.
Join the right mastermind? Suddenly you’ve got 20, 30, 40 other brains working on your problems. You’ve got people who’ve already made those million dollar mistakes sharing exactly what not to do. You’ve got access to solutions that would have taken you years to figure out on your own.
I’m part of Backstage Mastermind now, and let me paint you a picture of what this actually looks like. For four years, this group was the best kept secret in dentistry. Over 44 founders and CEOs, all sharing what actually works in their practices. No BS. No vendors trying to sell you
I’ve been in groups where it was basically just expensive networking. Everyone trying to impress each other, nobody actually being real. Complete waste of time and money.
The difference with groups like Backstage? They’re insanely selective. They say no to more companies than they say yes to. Not because they’re snobby, but because they’re protecting something precious. They’re protecting the culture that makes everything else work.
You need people who’ve actually done what you’re trying to do. Not people who talk a good game, but operators who’ve built real businesses. You need people playing at your level or above, who’ll push you to grow instead of letting you stay comfortable. You need different perspectives but shared values.
Time to Make the Leap
I know what you’re thinking. You’re busy. You’re not sure if you have the time. You’re wondering if you’re successful enough to belong. You’re worried about being vulnerable with strangers.
I had all those same fears. But here’s what I learned: every month you wait is another month of making preventable mistakes. Another month of leaving money on the table. Another month of carrying all that weight alone.
There’s this myth that successful entrepreneurs are lone wolves who figure everything out themselves. That’s complete BS. Behind every great business is someone who figured out that the right relationships are the ultimate life hack.
Your Invitation to the Inner Circle
Whether it’s Backstage Mastermind or another carefully selected group in your industry, the principle is the same. When you surround yourself with people who are committed to everyone winning, your own success becomes almost inevitable.
The 10X return isn’t just possible. When you’re in the right room, with the right people, operating from the right values, it’s basically guaranteed. Because you’re not just growing a business anymore. You’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a movement of leaders who understand that we all rise higher when we rise together.
So here’s my challenge to you. Stop thinking about it. Stop waiting for the perfect time. Stop wondering if you’re ready.
The door is open. The room is waiting. Your people are waiting.
The only question is: are you ready to step inside and claim the success that’s waiting for you?
Trust me, your future self will thank you.
Dr. Glenn Vo Dental Lifestyles Magazine
“What we FOCUS on is what we get! One thing I learned and experienced is to ALWAYS practice GRATITUDE to keep the connection intact with the universe.”
-
Dr. Noel Liu
Shooting for the Stars: Remembering Dr. Noel Liu's
Fearless Pursuit of Excellence
There’s a moment that keeps replaying in my mind—a phone conversation from just three weeks before we lost him. “Glenn,” Noel told me with that characteristic enthusiasm of his, “I’ve taken up skydiving.” When I asked why on earth he’d chosen such an extreme hobby, his answer stopped me in my tracks: “To overcome my fear of heights. I want to make myself better.”
That was Dr. Noel Liu in essence—a man who saw every limitation as an invitation to grow, every fear as an opportunity to become stronger. As we dedicate this edition of Dental Lifestyles Magazine to his memory, I find myself reflecting on the profound poetry of his final act. Here was a man who spent his life reaching for professional and personal heights, who literally took to the skies to conquer his fears, who understood that shooting for the stars meant leaving the safety of solid ground behind.
The dental profession has lost titans before, but rarely someone who combined clinical excellence, business acumen, and personal courage the way Noel did. From building a 10-practice empire across the Midwest to having NYU name an implant fellowship in his honor—the Liu Advanced Clinical Fellowship in Implant Dentistry—Noel’s professional achievements were extraordinary. But what made him truly special was his relentless pursuit of becoming the best version of himself, right up until his final moment among the clouds.
A Love Story Born in Karachi, Tested by Distance
In speaking with Dr. Nazish Jafri—Noel’s remarkable wife and partner in every sense of the word—I learned the depths of their incredible journey together. Their story began in dental school in Karachi, Pakistan, where a Chinese man born and raised in Pakistan met the woman who would become not just his wife, but his business partner and the force who would push him into the spotlight he never sought but was destined to occupy.
“He was an introvert who liked giving,” Dr. Jafri told me, her voice carrying both pride and profound loss. Their path to success was anything but straightforward. After finishing dental school in Pakistan, Noel made the difficult decision to move to Canada, pursuing opportunities in a new country.
In Canada, Noel worked overnight security shifts while studying for dental exams, a humbling start for someone who would later become a titan of the industry. The rejections came fast and frequently—eleven, twelve times, Canadian dental programs turned him away. Two years of “no” might have broken a lesser spirit, but not Noel. “He was not afraid of the ‘No’s’, he was not afraid of the setbacks,” Dr. Jafri explained. “He was like, okay, what do you need me to do to get it done? And then we can follow that path.”
When Canada’s doors remained closed, Noel cast his net wider, applying to three schools in the United States. NYU saw what others had missed—potential waiting to explode into greatness.
While Noel studied in New York, Dr. Jafri made her journey to Canada, living with his family while following the same grueling path: security work to fund her education, studying for exams, applying to schools. As foreign-trained dentists,
traditional loans were out of reach. Every dollar had to be earned through sweat and determination.
From Three Chairs to an Empire
Their professional journey truly began in 2010 when Noel joined a DSO in Rock Island, Illinois.
Working out of four chairs simultaneously—a pace that would exhaust most dentists— he quickly became one of the highest producers. “A very loved doctor,” Dr. Jafri called him, and you could hear in her voice that this wasn’t just about productivity numbers. Patients adored him because even then, racing between operatories, he gave each person his full presence.
But by the time Dr. Jafri graduated in 2011 and joined the same DSO, they both recognized that Noel’s potential was being capped. He wanted to do more—more implants, more surgeries, more digital dentistry. The vision they shared was ambitious a 12-chair practice where they could truly serve their community without limitations.
The banks saw it differently. “You’re very young. You are a risk for us,” they were told repeatedly. The dream shrank from 12 chairs to six. Still no. Finally, they asked the question that would change everything: “What will you give us?” The
answer was a $300,000 loan for a practice with just three chairs. They took it.
“Let’s just take it and let’s just start from there,” Noel had said. From those three chairs in Peoria, Illinois, they built an empire that would eventually span 10 offices across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
The Accidental Mentor Who Changed Lives
Around their third or fourth practice, something shifted in Noel.
What began as clinical mentoring—teaching associates about implants and root canals that dental schools glossed over— evolved into something deeper.
“He loved teaching, he loved mentoring, he loved brainstorming with these new grads because we kind of struggled in all those perspectives,” Dr. Jafri shared.
The monthly Zoom sessions Noel held with practice leaders across all their offices became legendary—beyond scheduled meetings. “His phone was always on for anybody,” Dr. Jafri told me. “They would call him at nine o’clock at night, ‘Hey, Dr. Liu, I am going through this or whatever.’ And he would attend to it.”
Associates would call him at six in the evening to discuss their
entire day. They’d ask about spaces they’d found in Texas or New York. Noel would read their contracts, offer advice on hiring, share management strategies—all without charging a penny. “None of it was transactional,” Dr. Jafri emphasized. Many of those associates have since opened their successful practices, carrying forward the lessons Noel freely shared.
“Only four hands cannot do much,” Dr. Jafri explained their philosophy. “And now I, with two hands, can’t do much. I have to make sure that I empower people. Whatever knowledge you have, you pour it over to others, and then you multiply yourself.”
The Woman Behind the Legend
One of the most revealing aspects of my conversation with Dr. Jafri was learning about her crucial role in Noel’s transformation from introvert to industry icon. “He hated Facebook six years ago,” she laughed. “He said people just waste their time.”
But Dr. Jafri saw something Noel couldn’t—or wouldn’t— see in himself. She started putting his face on marketing materials, arguing that “people associate dentistry with Chinese medicine.”
She secretly arranged radio interviews, telling him at eight
in the morning, “Got to go to the radio station.” She created his LinkedIn and Facebook accounts, gradually coaxing him into the digital world.
The turning point came when she signed him up for presentation training in Missouri without telling him the full scope of what he was getting into. That training, combined with an opportunity to donate to NYU, led to the dean inviting Noel to teach leadership to first-year dental students—a class of 300 to 400 students.
“We were just thinking, these are D1s, what are they going to understand about business?”
Dr. Jafri recalled. But Noel didn’t talk about business. He spoke about mindset, about coming out of comfort zones, about the belief systems that hold us back. The dean was so impressed, he signed them up for another five years.
The Relentless Pursuit of Self-Improvement
Seven or eight years ago, Noel underwent a dramatic physical transformation. He became intensely health-conscious, lost significant weight, and gained the energy that would become his trademark. But the physical transformation was just the beginning.
“He was never a book person, more like an audio style person,” Dr. Jafri explained.
Together in life, love, and dentistry: Dr. Noel Liu and Dr. Nazish Jafri.
But when he discovered Bob Proctor from the Gallagher Institute, something clicked. “He dissolved the books and drank them. He could quote Bob Proctor like anything.” The words became so natural to him because he didn’t just memorize them—he lived them.
Then came Dan Peña’s course in Switzerland, an experience that exemplified Noel’s approach to growth. Peña, known for his brutal honesty, makes participants box because, as he puts it, modern professionals are too soft, too sheltered. “The first thing I’m going to teach you is to take a beating,” Peña says, believing that resilience comes from facing physical and mental challenges head-on.
Noel, “the pampered firstborn son whom his mother had never even scolded harshly,” stepped into that boxing ring. “He was like, oh, I need to get this done. I have to get over that,” Dr. Jafri shared.
Dreams Realized and New Heights Sought
As a child in Pakistan, Noel had kept a calendar featuring Ferrari cars, a gift from someone who had traveled to the United States.
That calendar represented a dream so distant it might as well have been on another planet. “He dreamt of owning, or at least taking one before he
was 50,” Dr. Jafri told me. He ended up owning several, not for show but because they represented dreams made tangible through determination.
But material success never satisfied Noel’s hunger for growth. After conquering his fear of heights through skydiving—becoming a licensed skydiver no less—he immediately sought the next challenge. “What am I going to do next?” he asked himself, and the answer was flying planes. He enrolled in flight school in Peoria, completing three classes before his passing.
Two Titans, One Magazine, Infinite Impact
It was just two editions ago, in our 10th edition tribute to Dr. Robert Pick, that I had the privilege of interviewing Noel for what would become one of his final in-depth profiles. That edition celebrated Dr. Pick’s remarkable life and legacy, and Noel’s feature article, “The Implant Advantage,” showcased his journey building a dental empire through specialized care.
In that conversation, Noel shared insights that now feel prophetic. He spoke about constantly pushing boundaries, about never settling for comfort, about facing challenges head-on. His “waterfall effect” philosophy—starting from the highest point and letting success cascade down—sudden-
ly takes on new meaning when you realize he literally lived this philosophy, ascending to 15,000 feet to conquer his deepest fears.
The Million-Dollar Heart
Tommy Varghese, Noel’s business partner and dear friend, revealed something that Noel never publicized: his quiet donation of $1 million to NYU. No fanfare, no press releases, no buildings named in his honor. Just Noel being Noel— giving because he believed in lifting others up to heights they couldn’t reach alone.
“Noel was a giver in every sense of the word,” Batya Comunale, who worked with him for ten years, shared. “Whenever there was a need, especially for a donation or cause, he was always the first to say, ‘I’m in.’”
This generosity went far beyond money. Every November, all their practices participate in veteran charity programs, providing free dental care to those who served. “There are tons of veterans that we help,” Dr. Jafri explained. “They don’t get any service anywhere.”
“System Reset”
When I asked Dr. Jafri how we should remember Noel, she spoke about how we ought to do a “System Reset.” Our beliefs about ourselves—inherited from family, culture, and
experience—often cap our potential without us realizing it.
“We are seeing other people progress, and we are thinking, why can’t I do what that other person is doing?” she explained. “Sometimes that belief system caps us badly.”
Noel’s mission became helping others break through these invisible barriers. Whether mentoring a young dentist afraid to place their first implant or counseling an associate dreaming of opening their own practice, he helped people recognize and overcome the limitations they’d placed on themselves. “You leave a legacy because sometimes you don’t even know who you’ve inspired,” Dr. Jafri reflected.
She’s been receiving messages from people she didn’t even know existed, telling her how Noel’s words changed their lives, how a single conversation or Facebook video altered their trajectory.
A Legacy Written in the Stars
As Tommy Varghese wrote in his tribute, “He chose integrity over ego every time and showed us what it meant to lead with grace. In a world full of noise and self-promotion, Noel was steady, grounded, and true. Just being around him made you want to be better.”
Batya Comunale added, “He brought light into every conversation, kindness into every exchange, and confidence into every decision. To know him was to admire him.”
The dental profession, the Nifty Thrifty Dentists community, and the world lost an amazing person when we lost Dr. Noel Liu. But his example challenges each of us: What fears are we avoiding? What heights are we afraid to reach? What belief systems are holding us back from our own stars?
“And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you— ask what you can do for your country.”
When Dr. Jafri asked how people could honor Noel’s memory, her answer was simple: “Treat a veteran. Make them happy, take them out of pain.”
Noel would want us to remember not how he died, but how he lived—fearlessly pursuing growth, generously sharing knowledge, and always reaching higher. He showed us that success without generosity is hollow, that comfort without challenge is stagnation, and that a life without continuous growth is a life not fully lived.
“In the end, you just don’t take anything with you,” Dr. Jafri said. “What you do is leave things that you have done here.” Noel left us a blueprint for living fully—from a security guard studying for exams to a dental empire builder, from an introvert afraid of heights to a licensed skydiver reaching for the clouds, from a struggling immigrant to a million-dollar philanthropist who never forgot where he came from.
There’s a detail Dr. Jafri shared that perfectly captures
Noel’s spirit. They would work together on full-arch reconstructions, with Dr. Jafri handling the IV sedation and initial work while Noel placed the implants. He would look out the operatory window at the clouds and say, “Okay, Dr. Jafri, I’m going to go and I’m going to do two more skydives while you do the rest of the work.”
His skydiving bag was always ready, always packed. She’d be suturing the patient or placing MUAs, and he would just grab his bag and say, “Okay, I’ll see you in the evening.” Then off he’d go, heading straight from the dental chair to the sky, as if commuting to the clouds was perfectly normal.
“He just loved doing both things really well,” Dr. Jafri reflected. “He trusted people.” She would finish the surgery while he went to jump, to conquer his fears, to touch the stars he was always reaching for.
Rest in peace, Dr. Noel Liu. You shot for the stars in everything you did, and in your final act, you literally touched the sky. You died doing what you loved, becoming who you wanted to be, reaching for heights most of us only dream about. You live on in every dentist who decides today to face their fears, in every practice owner who chooses
mentorship over competition, in every veteran who receives care in your honor.
When we look up at the stars, we’ll remember the man who wasn’t afraid to reach for them—and who spent his life making sure the rest of us knew we could reach them too.
This edition of Dental Lifestyles Magazine is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Noel Liu, whose fearless pursuit of excellence and generous spirit will continue to inspire our profession for generations to come. Our deepest condolences go to his wife, Dr.
Jafri, and their three beautiful children. Please keep them in your prayers during this unimaginable time.
To honor Dr. Liu’s memory, we encourage dental practices to provide free care to veterans in their communities—a cause close to his heart that embodied his belief in giving back to those who gave so much.
SUMMERFORD KYLE
Gritty
Strategic
Resilient
Visionary�
By Dr. Glenn Vo, Editor-in-Chief of Dental Lifestyles Magazine�
I
’ll never forget the first time I saw Kyle Summerford’s name pop up in the Nifty Thrifty Dentists community. Members were raving about his insights on practice management, sharing his posts like they’d discovered gold. As someone who’s always looking for game-changers in our industry, I had to know more.
When I eventually connected with Kyle, what I discovered was even better than I expected. Here was someone who had cracked the code on what really makes dental practices profitable—and he’d done it from the most unlikely starting point imaginable.
Twenty-two years ago, Kyle was 19, newly married with a baby on the way, commuting five hours daily to a minimum-wage dental job despite having zero experience in the field. Today, he’s coaching practices to achieve 15–20 percent annual growth and leading a community of 21,000 dental professionals. His transformation from dental clerk to founder of the Dental Office Managers Alliance is more than inspiring—it’s a blueprint for what truly drives practice success.
Spoiler alert: it’s not what most dentists think.
An Unlikely Beginning: When Necessity Meets Opportunity
Kyle’s entry into dentistry wasn’t part of a grand career plan. In 2002, as a young father with a family to support—married at 18, with his first child on the way at 19—he simply needed a job.
“I found a listing for a dental office clerk in the local Queens Gazette newspaper,” Kyle recalled. “I had zero experience in dental, but I decided to call anyway.” The position required a grueling commute from Astoria, Queens, to Bayside— two trains, two buses, and a 15-minute walk—for a twoday-a-week, minimum-wage position cold-calling patients for overdue cleanings.
It was hardly glamorous work— Kyle likened it to “Wolf of Wall Street-style cold calling”—but it was a foot in the door. After two weeks, he realized he was barely covering his travel expenses, yet he persisted. That grit would become the foundation of his success.
What transformed this survival job into a career was his encounter with Mary, the office manager who would become his mentor. Through Mary, Kyle
discovered that dental practice management was about more than scheduling and insurance—it was about building relationships, understanding patient psychology, and communicating value effectively.
The Art and Science of Dental Practice Success
Under Mary’s mentorship, Kyle absorbed lessons that shaped his philosophy. “I saw what the doctors valued in her,” he explained. “It was her ability to create relationships with patients, have them come back, and understand their needs.”
Mary taught him that selling in dentistry isn’t something to be ashamed of—it’s helping patients accept care they truly need. That belief would later fuel Kyle’s success in growing practice revenues through empathy and education.
As he moved from clerk to receptionist—“a very womanly position at the time,” he jokes— Kyle discovered a natural talent for relationship-building and discussing treatment costs comfortably. “I became the face of the practice,” he said. “And over time, I got very comfortable asking patients for money.”
His results spoke volumes, and the owners took notice. That connection between clinical excellence and business success would define his career.
Building and Flipping: A Different Kind of Dental Success Story
After six years of growth, the owners acquired a struggling second location and needed an office manager. Kyle seized the opportunity.
“I told them, ‘Put me there. I’ll turn it around.’” And he did—implementing systems Mary had taught him, turning the practice profitable, and ultimately helping facilitate its sale. This became a pattern: find struggling offices, rebuild them, and leave them thriving.
“I’ve helped facilitate the sale of multiple profitable practices,” Kyle said. “Each one taught me something new—PPO, Medicaid, fee-for-service. You name it.” That broad experience gave him a rare 360-degree view of how dental businesses succeed.
Today, Kyle still manages a New York City practice two days a week, achieving 15–20 percent year-over-year growth. “I like selling quality dentistry,” he said. “It feels good to sell something that truly helps people.”
Creating a Community: From Connection to a Complete Ecosystem
Before Kyle launched DOMA (Dental Office Managers Alliance), there was DOMC—the Dental Office Managers Community—founded in 2016 as a free Facebook group to connect office managers across the U.S. and help them learn from one another.
But DOMC wasn’t just another social group. “We’ve always been selective about who we let in,” Kyle explained. “It’s sort of an elite club for real office managers and dental leaders. What makes us different is that we’re an office-manager-founded group, not a corporate or vendor-founded one.”
By 2020, DOMC had become a lifeline during the pandemic. “People were panicking, and we helped them navigate the chaos,” Kyle recalled. Today, the community boasts over 21,000 verified members, still free and closely vetted to maintain integrity. “That group will always be home base,” Kyle said. “It’s where authenticity and education meet.”
To Kyle, DOMC isn’t a Facebook group—it’s a family. “I talk with office managers from across
the country every day,” he said. “We share wins, frustrations, and sometimes tears. I’ve had managers message me saying they were ready to quit—and today they’re leading multimillion-dollar practices.”
He recalled one manager from Colorado who reached out after losing two key team members. “She was burned out and ready to walk away,” Kyle shared. “We worked through her systems together, rebuilt her confidence, and within six months her collections were up 18 percent. That’s what the DOMC family is about—lifting each other the way Mary lifted me.”
The
Evolution: Building the Dental Office Managers Alliance (DOMA)
As the community matured, Kyle noticed a troubling pattern: “A lot of so-called education for office managers was just disguised sales pitches.”
Determined to change that, he launched DentalOfficeManagers.com—a hub offering free articles, downloadable forms, and templates that actually solve real-world practice challenges. From there, he created DOMA—a membership-based organization designed to raise the standard of dental management education.
DOMA offers three tiers—Free, Pro, and Elite—each with growing access to forms, scripts, and courses. Within the first week, 200+ members subscribed; today, that number exceeds 1,000 active Pro and Elite members.
DOMA Academy Online & DOMA Academy Live
Next came DOMA Academy Online, an education platform with practical training modules on everything from morning huddles to delegation and leadership. “It’s education from someone who’s lived it and still lives it,” Kyle said. “That’s what makes it real.”
The success of the online program led to DOMA Acade-
my Live, a series of in-person workshops designed for deep, hands-on learning. The first event in Hackensack, New Jersey, sold out. Dallas, Texas, is now the official home base for 2025 and 2026 events, with the March 2026 session already on pace to sell out.
“These aren’t massive lecture-style conferences,” Kyle noted. “They’re interactive round-table events where managers and dentists can actually talk, learn, and solve problems together.”
Fueling the Mission with Trusted Partners.
As DOMA Academy Live scales, Kyle has been intentional about partnering with reputable companies whose products genuinely support practice growth and patient experience.
“We work with brands we trust and use,” he explained. “Partners like Mango Voice, Adit, RevenueWell, CareCredit, and others help us keep education accessible while bringing real solutions to the table.” Their support strengthens DOMA’s community initiatives and makes the live workshops possible—without compromising the education-first philosophy that defines the ecosystem.
Expanding the Vision: DOMA Influence Alliance (DIA)
Kyle’s commitment to lifting others didn’t stop with office managers. He saw similar struggles among coaches and consultants trying to gain visibility in the dental space. “I’ve been there,” Kyle said. “It’s hard to break through when you don’t have stage time or audience reach.”
Enter the DOMA Influence Alliance (DIA)—a network helping dental coaches and consultants build credibility, secure collaborations, and access Kyle’s established audience through stage time at DOMA Academy Live, podcasts, Facebook Lives, and lead-generation partnerships. “It’s about creating opportunities for everyone,” Kyle explained. “Managers get access to amazing educators, and educators gain a platform to reach the people who need them most.”
Diagnosing What Really Ails Dental Practices
Through years of consulting, Kyle has identified two core issues: misalignment and poor execution. “Teams aren’t aligned with the owner’s vision,” he said. “They can’t hit goals they don’t understand.”
The second issue: training without accountability. “Teams
attend conferences and learn new ideas, but when they get back, execution stalls. There’s no one ensuring follow-through,” Kyle explained. That’s where DOMA’s coaching fills the gap—providing mentorship, accountability, and real-world implementation support. “Dentists should be doing dentistry,” he said. “They didn’t go to school to manage drama or fix operational chaos. That’s where we step in.”
The Path Forward: Mentorship and Momentum
Kyle’s formula for transformation isn’t about one-size-fits-all systems. It’s about understanding each practice’s culture and providing personalized guidance. “We all need mentors,” he said, crediting Mary again. “Someone who’s walked these steps so we don’t repeat their mistakes.”
That same mentorship shows up in his day-to-day interactions with the DOMC and DOMA members. “I might be on a Zoom with an office manager in Texas talking about insurance breakdowns, then an hour later messaging with someone in California who’s trying to lead her first morning huddle,” Kyle said. “It’s full circle—Mary once coached me the same way. Now I get to do that for others.”
That spirit of mentorship runs through every DOMA initia-
tive—from his membership organization and online courses to live events and collaborative coaching with his Redefining Dental team, where he helps dentists, office managers, and clinical teams develop leadership and communication skills remotely.
The DOMA Ecosystem: A Movement, Not a Membership
What started with a 19-year-old making cold calls for overdue cleanings has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem serving every corner of the dental profession:
• DOMC (Facebook Community) — 21,000+ members strong; free, authentic, and peer-driven.
• Dental Office Managers Alliance (DOMA) — Membership programs delivering real tools, templates, and resources.
• DOMA Academy Online & Live — Online and in-person learning that bridges theory with execution.
• DOMA Influence Alliance (DIA) — Empowering coaches and consultants to grow their visibility and impact.
Supported by Partners Who Share the Mission.
Across this ecosystem, DOMA collaborates with trusted brands—including Mango Voice, Adit, RevenueWell, CareCredit, and others—that align with its education-first values and help fund community resources and events. These partnerships expand access without turning education into a sales pitch.
Each branch serves one purpose: to elevate dentistry by empowering those who manage it. “At the end of the day,” Kyle said, “my goal is to make sure no dental professional—whether an office manager, dentist, team member, coach, or consultant—ever feels alone, unsupported, or unprepared again.”
A Legacy of Transformation
When I asked Kyle what advice he’d give to dental professionals reading this, he didn’t hesitate: “Build systems that work whether your best team member is there or not. Success shouldn’t depend on one superstar—it should be built into the process.”
Kyle’s journey—from a twoand-a-half-hour commute to building a national organization—shows what’s possible when grit meets purpose. He still works in the office two days a week, proving his methods
daily. And in every talk, he still honors Mary, the mentor who believed in him before anyone else did.
Through DOMA, DOMC, and the DIA, Kyle Summerford is paying it forward—ensuring that the next generation of dental leaders won’t have to figure it out alone. For those ready to stop spinning their wheels and start leading with clarity, Kyle’s message is simple: align your team, invest in their growth, and watch your practice transform.
Ready to transform your dental practice? Whether you’re a dentist, manager, or team member looking to level up your leadership skills and access daily courses, training, and essential forms, visit dentalofficemanagers. com to join Kyle’s elite club. If you’re interested in attending an upcoming DOMA Academy Live workshop event and earning CE credits, register now at dentalmanagerevents.com. For coaches and consultants eager to expand their influence and grow their business by connecting with a network of over 20,000 dental professionals, explore partnership opportunities at www. domainfluencealliance.com. Your journey to dental practice excellence starts here.
The “Savannah Ball of the Dental World”: How Michael Swider is Revolutionizing Refurbished Dental Equipment
By Dr. Glenn Vo, Editor-in-Chief of Dental Lifestyles Magazine
W
hen I first encountered Michael Swider, I knew immediately he was different. While most equipment vendors push the latest and greatest at premium prices, Mike was asking thoughtful questions about what dentists actually needed versus what they were being sold. His approach? Provide factory-quality refurbished equipment at nearly half the price of new—but that’s just the beginning of what makes his company extraordinary.
After witnessing firsthand how Mike has transformed practices across the country and saved dentists hundreds of thousands of dollars, I had to share his story. What I discovered was a business philosophy so refreshingly customer-centric that Mike himself calls it “the Savannah Bananas of the dental world”—entertainment and customer experience above all else.
From
Credit
Card
Startup to 20,000 Square Feet
Mike’s journey began with 30 days on a credit card, no customers, and operations running out of his parents’ third car garage. As a 23-year-old who had just moved back home after leaving a job at Sherwin-Williams, the situation wasn’t
exactly ideal. He and his father initially bought into a dental franchise opportunity that, as Mike candidly admits, wasn’t profitable.
The turning point came unexpectedly. After scraping together enough money to move into a tiny 100-square-foot office with a storage unit, Mike stumbled upon an opportunity at a closing hygiene school auction. Against his father’s wishes— and with steam practically coming out of his dad’s ears—Mike spent $500 cash on some old dental equipment.
“I put one autoclave on eBay while driving to McDonald’s to escape my dad’s anger,” Mike recalls. “By the time I got there—maybe five minutes—it had sold for $3,000. That’s when we knew we were onto something.”
From that moment, growth was exponential. When I invited Mike to join our Nifty Thrifty Dentists Facebook group, I told him straight: if he could do refurbished chairs, there was a massive need. He took that challenge and ran with it. Since joining our community, Mike has grown from a 1,500-squarefoot warehouse to 2,500, then 5,000, and now he’s purchasing a 20,000-square-foot facility.
The Secret Sauce: Military-Grade Procurement
What separates Mike’s operation from other refurbishing companies starts with procurement. Through years of relationship building, Mike has become the exclusive procurement partner for major military installations, including Fort Bragg and Camp Pendleton. This unique position means he receives 20, 30, or even 50 high-quality chairs annually from a single source.
“Nobody is better at spending money than the government,” Mike jokes, “which means they cycle through equipment regularly, and I get first access to barely-used, top-tier equipment.”
This exclusive pipeline allows Mike to maintain pricing that’s $2,000 to $4,000 less per chair than even manufacturer-certified pre-owned options. But competitive pricing is just one piece of the puzzle.
Refurbished vs. PreOwned: Understanding the Difference
While many companies offer “pre-owned” equipment—essentially spot-fixed chairs with selective repairs—Mike’s
refurbishing process is comprehensive.
“Pre-owned is like buying a used car where they’ve fixed the dent in the door and changed the oil,” Mike explains. “True refurbishing means we’re replacing everything that might fail. New tubing, rebuilt blocks, brand new upholstery for everyone, new plastic pieces, painting, lights, potentiometers—everything gets switched out.”
Mike takes it even further by upgrading components with superior alternatives. For instance, he replaces manufacturer brass water cartridges with stainless steel versions that last three times longer—and cost less. “Anything I can do to prevent that doctor from calling me with a problem, I’m going to do it,” he says.
The result? A remarkable 5% warranty rate across all equipment, compared to the industry standard, which is significantly higher.
A Team That Takes Pride in Their Craft
Walking through Mike’s warehouse, you’d think you were in an art studio rather than a refurbishing facility. His
seamstress creates upholstery so perfectly matched to original manufacturer specifications that Mike proudly notes, “Our upholstery looks exactly like factory originals—you literally cannot tell the difference.”
This attention to detail isn’t accidental. Mike’s team has completely bought into the mission, taking personal pride in every chair that leaves the warehouse. “My guys get genuinely angry if something isn’t perfect,” Mike shares. “They understand these doctors are spending serious money, and they ask themselves: ‘Would I be okay if I spent that money and received this?’”
Customer
Service That Goes the Extra Mile—Literally
The stories of Mike’s customer service read like fiction, but I’ve witnessed them firsthand in our community. When a Georgia dentist needed a part fixed and local technicians couldn’t arrive for two weeks, Mike’s father was on a plane Monday night and fixing the issue Tuesday morning.
During another installation where everything that could go wrong did go wrong—while Mike was in France—he coordinated emergency support, with a specialist driving three hours to the practice within 30 minutes of the call. “I will never leave anybody out to dry,” Mike insists.
Perhaps most impressive is Mike’s approach to mistakes. When one doctor accidentally ordered fixed-base chairs instead of adjustable ones, Mike waived all restocking fees and personally drove to swap them out—a 12-hour round trip. “For anything under 13 hours, I’ll drive it myself,” he says matter-of-factly.
Full-Service
Partnership from Start to Finish
Mike’s company doesn’t just sell equipment; they provide comprehensive support throughout the entire process. For new practice builds, Mike works directly with contractors on equipment layouts, power requirements, and installation logistics. He’ll even review equipment lists from other suppliers to help doctors avoid unnecessary purchases.
“When this Tampa doctor saw she could save $75,000—almost a year of dental school tuition— we went through her entire equipment list together,” Mike recounts. “I helped her delete things she wouldn’t use. Just because other supply houses say you need everything doesn’t mean you actually do.”
The company offers $500-750 in travel credits for doctors to visit the warehouse and handpick their equipment. Those who take him up on it get the full Mike Swider experience, including dinner at a local brewery where his brother-in-
law happens to be the head chef. “We might stack the deck a little,” Mike admits with a laugh, “but it’s about building relationships, not just making sales.”
The Numbers That Matter
For our Nifty Thrifty community members, here’s what Mike’s approach means in real terms:
• Chairs at $2,000-4,000 less than manufacturer-certified pre-owned
• Comprehensive bumperto-bumper warranty versus selective coverage
• 5% warranty claim rate
• Full installation and support services included
• Typical savings of $15,00020,000 per chair package
Dr. Adam Vega, another prominent member of our community, has purchased equipment from Mike and plans to buy more—perhaps the strongest endorsement possible.
The Bottom Line: People Over Profits
In our entire conversation about his business, Mike never once mentioned profit margins or revenue targets. Instead, he spent the time talking about customer relationships, team pride, and going above and beyond. “They’re not a number to me,” he emphasizes. “Whether someone spends $10 or half a million, they’re a person with a name.”
This philosophy permeates every aspect of the operation. When practices need equipment faster than Mike can deliver from his current stock, he’s been known to purchase new equipment at a loss rather than leave a customer hanging. It’s this commitment that’s generated a 40% referral rate for new business—extraordinary in any industry.
Looking Forward: Quality Over Quantity
Recently, Mike made a deliberate strategic decision that speaks volumes about his priorities. “I could turn and burn products quickly, but I chose to focus on quality over quantity,” he explains. “I’d rather have repeat business than constantly chase new customers.”
Currently working on a 23-chair complete practice overhaul scheduled for next year, Mike is methodically preparing to ensure every piece meets his exacting standards. It’s this long-term thinking that’s positioned his company as one of the premier refurbishing operations in the country.
Ready to Experience the Difference?
For any dental practice looking to maximize value without compromising quality, Mike Swider’s approach to refurbished equipment represents a paradigm shift. Whether you’re a new graduate facing six-figure equipment costs or an established practice looking to expand efficiently, Mike’s combination of exclusive procurement, true refurbishing, and unparalleled customer service sets a new industry standard.
As someone who’s built a 60,000+ member dental community on Facebook, I’ve seen countless vendors come and go. Mike Swider is different. He’s not just selling equipment— he’s partnering with dentists to build successful practices while treating them like family along the way.
To learn more or schedule a consultation about refurbished dental equipment, contact Michael Swider at diversifieddentalsystems@gmail.com. Visit the warehouse, experience the difference, and discover why so many in our Nifty Thrifty Dentists community trust Mike with their practice equipment needs.
YOUR HYGIENE DEPARTMENT ISN'T JUST A SERVICE:
It's a Business Within Your Business
By Dr. Joy Void-Holmes, DHS, BSDH, RDH, FADHA, AADH
Let me share a truth that has transformed both my career and countless practices: your hygiene department is not a cost center. It’s a thriving business within your business, but only if you know how to unlock its potential. The difference between viewing hygiene as an expense and recognizing it as a revenue-driving business unit can alter a practice's entire trajectory.
I discovered this early in my journey, starting at 16 as a front desk assistant. There, I learned the heartbeat of dental practice operations: day sheets, accounts receivable, insurance coding, and everything in between. I absorbed all that I observed, seeing how the business and clinical sides connected and the impact that alignment could have on practice growth.
When I became a hygienist, that business foundation came with me—because if you can marry clinical excellence with business acumen, magic happens. By
a hygienist can shift from simply delivering care to actively driving efficiency, profitability, and patient outcomes.
The Numbers Don't Lie
In one practice, I partnered with a dentist who had never brought a hygienist on board before. We took the hygiene department from zero days to six fully booked days, scheduled out six months in advance. Periodontal case acceptance rose to 45-50 percent, and adjunctive service rates climbed—not because we were pushing unnecessary treatment, but because our approach centered on educating patients and building authentic trust.
Let’s be clear: hygienists are the second-largest revenue producers in any general dental office. We spend significant time with patients and develop the deepest
Early in my career, I focused on technical perfection—polishing every surface, removing every deposit, maximizing productivity. Yet, something was missing. The turning point came when my priorities shifted from procedural output to building rapport and providing education.
Sometimes, my most impactful new patient appointments involved more conversation than instrumentation. I performed thorough assessments, took radiographs, and then spent the bulk of those visits educating patients and building trust. The result? Revenue increased—without ever having to “sell” treatment. Educated patients accept care because they understand its value, not because they’re pressured into procedures.
The Missing Piece
Business acumen is rarely taught in dental or hygiene schools, but it is central to our professional survival. Understanding billing, coding, and revenue tracking doesn’t make you any less of a caregiver. Rather, it completes your professional toolkit and gives you leverage. I made it a practice to run my own day sheets and coding, not as a burden but as a way to ensure credit for my contribution and to bring hard data to performance reviews and compensation conversations.
Healthcare and business are not mutually exclusive.
Every hospital, clinic, and dental practice must be both profitable and clinically excellent. Hygienists who understand this dual mandate are better positioned to articulate their value in meaningful, measurable ways.
A Call to Rise
Right now, dental hygiene as a profession faces real threats. A national shortage of hygienists is driven, in part, by a lack of understanding—by both hygienists and dentists—about the real business value of the hygiene department. To advocate for our profession’s scope, autonomy, and growth, we must be fluent in the language of value and revenue, not just clinical metrics.
Advocacy in dental hygiene isn’t optional; it’s essential. It means mastering clinical skills, getting comfortable with business data, mentoring future hygienists, and stepping up at the policy level. Each of us must recognize our vital role and be proactive in defending it.
We are not powerless. We are not alone. When we pair excellence in clinical care with solid business intelligence—and can clearly articulate both in operational and financial terms—we become unstoppable. Own your value, master your craft, and be an advocate for yourself and for the future of our profession.
For more insights on maximizing your hygiene department’s impact or professional development in this area, contact Dr. Joy Void-Holme at Info@drjoyrdh.com.
Six years ago, I faced a pivotal moment that would transform not just my career but the trajectory of countless dental practices across the country. When my wife—fresh out of dental school and fed up with being an associate—asked me to help her buy a practice, I brought an unconventional perspective to an industry I’d never worked in. As a former touring musician who’d performed across Europe and produced records for artists on American Idol and The Voice, I understood something most practice consultants don’t: how to create raving fans and evoke powerful emotions that drive action.
Today, my wife works just three days a week while running a seven-figure practice, and I manage it entirely from home—having visited the office only twice this year (once as a patient). More importantly, I’ve helped dental practices generate over $7.3 million in increased revenue through the systems we’ve perfected. Here’s how any practice owner can achieve similar results.
The Rockstar Experience: Your Foundation for Growth
In the music industry, artists invest thousands of dollars and travel hundreds of miles to perform a 30-minute set, all to create raving fans who become the backbone of any successful tour. I’ve applied this same principle to dentistry. Creating raving fans isn’t a matter of one transaction; it comes from building a devoted following that sustains and grows your practice. When 80% of your new patients come from referrals (like ours do), you know you’ve successfully created that same passionate fan base.
Our secret? We create experiences so remarkable that patients become walking billboards. We greet every patient by name before they walk through the door. We perfect every handoff between team members. We ensure estimates are accurate and communication is flawless. This isn’t just good customer service; we’re creating the kind of memorable experience that turns patients into raving fans, eager to tell everyone they know about their amazing dental visit.
Three Systems That Transform Your Practice
1. Focus Relentlessly on Your Ideal Patients: Look at your schedule honestly. If seeing certain names doesn’t bring you joy, ask yourself why. Either have the difficult conversation needed to elevate these patients to your practice standards, or respectfully dismiss them. This single shift in focus fundamentally changes your daily energy and practice culture.
2. Master the 3D Column Schedule: Structure each provider’s day with three distinct columns: a large procedure column for major treatments, a smaller column for fillings and extractions, and an emergency/assistant-driven column for flexibility. This system maintains efficiency even when schedules fall apart and naturally increases same-day treatment acceptance.
3. Revolutionize Your Morning Huddle: Most practices either skip huddles or treat them as obligatory check-ins. We require our team to arrive 15 minutes before the huddle
to prepare. The front desk clears last-minute cancellations while the clinical team reviews their actual schedule for the day. By the time we huddle, everyone’s prepared to maximize each appointment. We start drilling and cleaning at 8:30 AM—not just bringing patients back.
The Hidden Gold in Your Practice
Here’s what most practice owners miss: the average American practice sits on $500,000 to $750,000 in unscheduled treatment. While the industry averages 30-40% treatment acceptance, my wife maintains an 86% treatment dollar acceptance rate. The difference? We don’t rely solely on the doctor’s charisma.
Our team does 80% of the heavy lifting through education and rapport-building, setting up the doctor to simply confirm and close. When an associate covered my wife’s maternity leave—someone who’d never produced more than $6,000 daily in her own practice—she consistently hit $15,000 per day using our systems. That’s the power of letting your team shine.
Leadership: The Ultimate Practice Multiplier
Your practice lives and dies through your leadership. I recently worked with a doctor who was hemorrhaging tens of thousands
monthly and ready to close his doors. The first thing I had him do? Call a team meeting and say: “I’m sorry I haven’t been the leader you need. I’m working on myself and hired a coach so I can be the leader you deserve moving forward.” This vulnerable admission transformed everything. Within two months, he went from bleeding money to profiting $60,000$80,000 monthly. When you own your growth areas and commit to improvement, your team responds with unprecedented buy-in and performance.
Your Next Step Toward Freedom
The path to working less while earning more starts with clarity. What do you truly want from your practice? If you desire to bring home $500,000 annually working three days per week, we can reverse-engineer exactly what your daily production needs to be.
It’s not magic, it’s math combined with proven systems.
As someone who successfully transitioned from the music industry to dental practice management, I’ve learned that excellence in any field comes down to creating
remarkable experiences, building bulletproof systems, and leading with authentic vulnerability.
Ready to transform your practice? Download my free $16,000 Daily Schedule Template at DentalScheduleTemplate.com and discover the exact framework we use to maximize production while working just three days per week. For personalized coaching on implementing these systems in your practice, reach out directly—because your dream practice isn’t just possible, it’s waiting to be built.
The "Fee-for-Service Freedom":
How Dr. Jim Arnold is Building Dentistry's Third Option
By Dr. Glenn Vo, Editor-in-Chief of Dental Lifestyles Magazine
W
hen Dr. Jim Arnold and I connected at Pod Fest earlier this year, we discovered we share the same mission: helping dentists escape the insurance treadmill and build practices that reflect their values.
Now, as fellow members of the Backstage Mastermind, Jim has shown me what he's building with the Foundation Dental Alliance. It's not just another consulting group. It's a transformation system for dentists who refuse to choose between burning out alone or selling out to corporate.
THE INSURANCE TRAP NOBODY TALKS ABOUT
Let's be honest about where dentistry stands today. Nearly one-thirdof practices now have DSO affiliation, with projections hitting 50-65% within five years. Burnout rates hover between 44 and 63%.
Most coaching programs teach you how to survive in a PPO-driven system, how to squeeze a few more dollars from shrinking reimbursements.
But here's what Jim taught me: You can't optimize your way out of a broken model. PPOs don't just limit profit. They limit identity. They strip autonomy, attract the wrong patients, and quietly erode your love for the profession. After building multiple fee-for-service practices to 31% EBITDA andfacilitating over $100 million in transitions, Jim proved there's another way.
"I've been the seller, I am a buyer, and I've been corporate," Jim explained during our recent strategy call. "Fee-for-service isn't just a payment model. It's a freedom model."
Your marketing team treats healthcare differently from how it treats retail. It's integrated support without corporat oversight.
The results? Jim's mentees have averaged a 39% increase in production. His advisory board includes 15 industry veterans. His faculty covers 21 niche areas from implants to AI integration. And for transition-minded dentists, Jim engineers what he calls “continuations, not closings.” Practices aren’t commodities, after all—they’re legacies where clinical vision survives ownership change.
THE FOUNDING MEMBER OPPORTUNITY
DR.JIM Arnd
The Foundation Dental Alliance operates through six pillars that rebuild practices from the inside out: Leadership and Identity, Clinical Excellence, Business Systems, Patient Communication, Marketing and Growth, and Wealth and Legacy Planning.
But what really sets Jim apart is his focus on culture. In a world where "culture" gets thrown around without meaning, Jim brings it back to what it really is: a practice where your values drive everything, patients feel it from the first phone call, and top talent actually wants to work.
BUILDING A CULTURE THAT PATIENTS CAN FEEL WHY THE NIFTY THRIFTY COMMUNITY SHOULD PAY ATTENTION
His Foundation Dental Mastermind doesn't just teach systems; it also teaches strategies. "Every session starts with one question: What did you execute since we last met?" Jim told me. Members get documented frameworks, templates ready for Monday morning, and accountability that actually drives results.
Jim isn’t trying to build a crowd. He’s building a core. The first dentists who join get lifetime pricing, retreat discounts, private intensives at Jim’s home, and direct access to implementation tools that won’t be offered again.
“Independence doesn’t mean isolation,” Jim emphasized. “We’re proving you can maintain autonomy while accessing everything DSOs promise, without the strings.”
I know I’m betting on Jim Arnold, and I believe you should too. For dentists ready to build practices that reflect their purpose, not their PPO contracts, this is your third option.
Visit FoundationDentalAlliance.com to learn more about the mastermind and determine whether you qualify for the founding cohort.
Jim's trusted partner network of 25+ vetted specialists resonates with our community's practical mindset. Your attorney already understands dental valuations. Your CPA knows how to structure transitions.
When Your Lab Becomes Your Partner: Peak Dental Studio’s Game-Changing Approach
By Dr. Glenn Vo, Editor-in-Chief of Dental Lifestyles Magazine
I recently had an enlightening conversation with Rick Cromar and Braden Bennett from Peak Dental Studio that reminded me why relationships matter so much in our profession. In an era where corporate dental service organizations and mega-labs seem to be swallowing up everything in their path, Peak is proving there’s still room for a different approach— one that combines cutting-edge technology with old-school personal service.
As someone who’s been in this industry long enough to see countless labs come and go, I can tell you that finding the right lab partner isn’t just about price or turnaround times. It’s about finding a team that understands your practice and your patients, and, most importantly, treats your success as their success.
The Disappearing Middle Ground
The truth is, thousands of dental labs have closed since COVID hit. The industry is increasingly split between massive corporate production facilities and small mom-andpop shops struggling to keep up with technology and regulations. “Dental labs are the nexus where all dentists congre-
gate,” Braden told me. “They’re where technology, products, and service come together.”
The problem? Those small local labs that built their reputation on relationships often can’t afford the latest milling equipment, 3D printers, or AI technology. Meanwhile, the corporate giants treat your crowns like widgets on an assembly line, with customer service calls routed to who-knows-where.
Peak Dental Studio figured out how to bridge that gap. They’ve preserved the personal touch of a local lab while investing in the infrastructure and technology you’d expect from a major player.
Why 97% of Dentists Never Leave
Let me throw a number at you that got my attention: Peak maintains a 97% retention rate. In our world, where switching labs is as easy as making a phone call, that’s remarkable.
The secret? They’ve cracked the code on three things that matter most to practices like ours:
Best-in-Class Experience: When you call Peak, you’re talking to someone in their Utah headquarters who actually understands dentistry. No off-
shore call centers, no endless phone trees. They’ve got Japanese-trained technicians bringing artisan-level craftsmanship to every case, whether it’s a single crown or complex full-mouth rehabilitation.
Quality That Speaks for Itself: While the industry average remake rate hovers around 3%, Peak focuses on something different: getting it right for the patient. Their combination of domestic operations in Salt Lake City and a manufacturing facility in California enables them to control quality at every step.
Pricing That Makes Sense: Here’s where it gets interesting for my Nifty Thrifty community. Peak delivers premium quality at prices that won’t make your accountant faint. They’ve figured out how to leverage technology and efficiency without sacrificing the craftsmanship we need.
More Than Just a Vendor
What really resonates with me is their philosophy. As Braden told me, “We care more about the patient’s experience than just getting the restoration out the door.” That’s the kind of thinking that transforms a vendor relationship into a true partnership.
They specialize in everything from crown and bridge work to removable prosthetics and orthodontic appliances. But more than that, they understand that dentists aren’t just “teeth doctors”—we’re oral physicians treating the whole patient. That comprehensive mindset shows in everything they do.
An Offer You Can’t Refuse
For my Nifty Thrifty Dentists community, Peak is extending an exclusive offer: Use code NIFTYPEAK to receive 5 free full contour zirconia crowns or $265 toward any lab work of your choice. That’s real value you can apply to your next case.
Ready to find a true partner, not just another vendor? Visit peakdentalstudio.com, email sales@peakdentalstudio.com, or call 801-397-2222 to see how Peak Dental Studio can become an extension of your team.
Scan to Connect with Rick Cromar.
Start a real conversation with the lab that’s redefining partnership in dentistry.
THE NOMINEES ARE IN!
