Hiring an associate dentist is meant to create leverage, free up your time, and help your practice grow. But when an associate becomes unproductive, the opposite often happens. Many practice owners find themselves working harder than ever, still carrying the bulk of the load, and wondering why the associate model isn’t delivering the freedom they expected. In this episode, Jesse explores why unproductive associates are such a common challenge, the patterns that lead to poor performance, and how practice owners can respond when an associate isn’t contributing as expected.

1. [00:00] Why hiring an associate often feels like the “freedom move” that backfires
2. [00:30] The moment practice owners realise they’re more involved than ever
3. [01:19] Why full appointment books don’t always equal productivity
4. [02:22] The hidden problem that causes patients not to come back
5. [03:09] What’s really happening when associates say patients won’t accept treatment
6. [04:18] Why confidence matters more than explanations when presenting treatment
7. [05:35] How perfectionism and slow dentistry quietly burn out your team
8. [06:20] The expensive impact of poor case selection and inefficient workflows
9. [07:57] The three choices every practice owner faces with an unproductive associate.

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory. That’s why we created the Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle - five powerful, system-driven programs including Front Desk All Stars, the Million Dollar Dentist, Practice Manager Masterclass, Advanced Treatment Coordinator Training, and High-Performance Hygiene. Each course delivers practical, step-by-step systems your team can use every day to build accountability and create a self-managing practice. Save $2,000 for a limited time — visit savvydentist.com/team-training.

Team Training Bundle 2025

Scaling your dental practice can feel like the natural next step once things are going well — but if it’s done at the wrong time or in the wrong way, it can quickly turn a profitable practice into a stressful, cash-draining business. In this episode, Jesse breaks down the three fatal mistakes dentists commonly make when scaling, why they happen, and how to avoid them so you can grow sustainably without doubling the chaos.

1. [00:00] Why scaling can be the fastest way to destroy a profitable practice
2. [00:33] The uncomfortable truth about growth that most dentists ignore
3. [00:56] The early warning sign that tells you scaling will backfire
4. [02:08] Why adding chairs, rooms or teams too soon creates financial pressure
5. [02:50] The simple principle that separates smart growth from costly expansion
6. [02:59] How practice owners accidentally become the biggest bottleneck
7. [03:54] The mindset shift that allows a practice to run without constant oversight
8. [04:35] The hiring decision that quietly kills leverage and freedom
9. [06:16] How planning for the future changes every scaling decision you make.

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory. That’s why we created the Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle - five powerful, system-driven programs including Front Desk All Stars, the Million Dollar Dentist, Practice Manager Masterclass, Advanced Treatment Coordinator Training, and High-Performance Hygiene. Each course delivers practical, step-by-step systems your team can use every day to build accountability and create a self-managing practice. Save $2,000 for a limited time — visit savvydentist.com/team-training.

Team Training Bundle 2025

What does it take to sell a thriving dental practice in just 81 days? In this episode, Dr Jesse Green is joined by returning guest Michael Filosi, who opens up about the mindset, strategy, and execution behind his successful business exit. From humble beginnings with possums in the walls to running a ten-chair, thirty-person operation, Michael shares how he built a high-performing, sale-ready practice, and why he chose to let it go.

Whether you're considering a future exit or simply want to build a better business today, this candid conversation dives deep into leadership, culture, team management, and knowing when it's time to move on. It's a must-listen for any dental entrepreneur.

1. [00:01] Michael announces the sale of his dental practice and reflects on why he made the decision to exit
2. [04:12] The turning point: how he realised the business no longer aligned with his values or energy
3. [06:00] From two chairs and possums in the walls to a 10-chair, 30+ staff high-performing operation
4. [08:38] Why being “sale-ready” long before selling enabled an 81-day exit
5. [10:55] What makes a practice attractive to buyers: reduced key-person risk, systemisation, and culture
6. [14:25] Building culture by design - leading through values, action, and high expectations
7. [17:04] Scaling lessons: how every two-chair jump brought new systems, structures, and complexity
8. [20:37] Transitioning from dentist to CEO: why Michael leaned into business as his craft
9. [30:15] The “solar system” metaphor: how Michael sees the practice team—and the value of flagpoles over flags
10. [44:19] Final advice: why owning a practice comes with risk—and how to ensure it's truly worth it.

Resources & Links:

Michael Filosi on LinkedIn

• Join the free Savvy Dentist Facebook Group
• Follow Dr Jesse Green on LinkedIn
• Visit Savvy Dentist website

Mentioned in this episode:

Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle

If your practice can’t run without you, it’s time for systems - not more theory. That’s why we created the Savvy Dentist Team Training Bundle - five powerful, system-driven programs including Front Desk All Stars, the Million Dollar Dentist, Practice Manager Masterclass, Advanced Treatment Coordinator Training, and High-Performance Hygiene. Each course delivers practical, step-by-step systems your team can use every day to build accountability and create a self-managing practice. Save $2,000 for a limited time — visit savvydentist.com/team-training.

Team Training Bundle 2025