In this raw and relatable episode of The Dentists Show, Ryan opens up about one of the most stressful sedation cases he’s ever faced—a situation that pushed him to his edge as a dentist and leader. What started as a routine All-On-X procedure under IV sedation turned into a chaotic and dangerous experience when the patient became combative mid-surgery.

Ryan walks us through the moment-by-moment decisions he had to make—balancing patient safety, team confidence, and the legal and emotional weight of it all. Chase jumps in with his own stories, and together they unpack the wild world of sedation dentistry, sharing lessons on teamwork, emotional resilience, and knowing when to laugh so you don’t cry.

If you've ever thought, Why do I do this? — this episode is for you.

🎧 Loved this episode? If you’ve ever had a day where everything went sideways in the operatory, you’re not alone. Share this episode with a fellow dentist who could use a laugh (or a therapy session), and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss these real, unfiltered convos from the trenches of dentistry.

LINKS:

https://www.thedentistsshow.com

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 0:00 – Sweaty backs, gas station food, and Scottsdale heat
• 2:00 – Team outings and fine dining in surprising places
• 3:00 – Burnt wood decor and the irony of fire
• 3:40 – Ryan’s no-good, very bad sedation day begins
• 5:00 – When a patient goes from peaceful to combative
• 6:20 – The mental chaos of making high-stakes calls fast
• 7:30 – Giving reversal meds and hoping for the best
• 9:00 – How flumazenil saved the day—after a quick Google
• 10:30 – Was she over-sedated? Or just hit fight-or-flight?
• 12:00 – Redheads, weed, and sedation unpredictability
• 13:40 – When dentistry feels like a combat sport
• 15:00 – Why sedation stress hits differently
• 16:20 – Ryan’s go-to coping mantra on bad days
• 17:30 – The moment you walk past your family and just need a minute
• 18:30 – Chase’s sedation fails and why weed smokers are the worst
• 20:00 – Rookie assistants, real-time chaos, and how to train on the fly
• 21:20 – PSA: Your worst day isn’t your last one
• 22:15 – Dark dentist humor and the stress of “almost”
• 23:00 – Pulse ox tricks and unexpected saves
• 24:30 – What stress actually means for your growth
• 25:00 – Learning from the frustration and doing it better next time
• 26:00 – Keep calm, finish the case, and go home at 3

Welcome back to another episode of The Dentists Show!

In this candid and strategy-packed conversation, Chase and Ryan sit down to talk about what it really takes to scale a dental practice without losing your mind (or your margins). From understanding the key metrics that actually move the needle to challenging outdated beliefs about marketing spend, the guys dive deep into what it means to be growth-minded and numbers-driven in today’s world.

Whether you’re just getting started, prepping for expansion, or feeling stuck in the middle of a plateau, this episode will help you zoom out, refocus, and take smart, strategic steps forward. (Spoiler: It’s not about chasing every new patient—it’s about building systems that retain and multiply them.)

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How they track numbers across multiple practices without getting overwhelmed
• Why high-performing teams need more than financial targets—they need ownership and clarity
• The surprising insight that not all marketing spend is created equal—and how to know what’s working
• When to pivot from patient acquisition to patient retention—and how to measure that success
• Why 1% improvements in daily systems are often more valuable than chasing shiny new tools
  
  

LINKS:

https://www.thedentistsshow.com

Success doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by intention, structure, and a team that knows what winning looks like. This episode is a powerful reminder that data isn’t boring—it’s your roadmap to growth.

📊 Ready to make your numbers actually work for you? Hit play and let Chase and Ryan show you how to bring more clarity, consistency, and cash flow to your practice.

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 – Intro: Why Tracking Matters More Than Ever
• 02:16 – Chase breaks down how they track production by provider and team
• 04:45 – From reactive to proactive: how dashboards create momentum
• 07:12 – Why they stopped chasing “more new patients”
• 09:58 – Marketing spend check: what’s actually driving results?
• 12:20 – Ryan’s reminder: “Retention > Acquisition”
• 14:35 – The new game plan for retention and reactivation
• 16:02 – Helping your team own the goal without micromanaging
• 18:44 – What’s next: staying aligned as you scale

Welcome back to The Dentists Show! In this episode, Chase and Ryan dive into one of the most overlooked yet powerful drivers of practice success: culture. They don’t hold back, sharing real stories from their offices and peeling back what truly motivates a team—and what happens when perks take center stage instead.

Together, they explore why some teams thrive on camaraderie and service, while others seem to lose their edge even when showered with freebies. From potlucks that bring people together to the downsides of catered meals that feel more like obligations, Chase and Ryan talk about what really binds a team: shared goals, contribution, and purpose.

Ryan reflects on the deeper impact of “serving one another,” suggesting that when leaders model generosity (think home-cooked meals over take-out) it breeds a sense of pride and teamwork that money can’t buy. Chase agrees, noting that perks may feel good in the moment, but they rarely build the kind of enduring loyalty that drives long-term results.

By the end of this candid conversation, you’ll see why leaning into team culture and creating real connections will always matter more than free food or short-term incentives—and you’ll probably feel inspired to look at your own leadership through a new lens.

Key takeaways you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why offices with the most perks often have the highest turnover
• The power of potlucks and shared meals for team bonding
• Why perks can backfire without a strong underlying culture
• How serving each other raises morale and builds commitment
• How to recognize when your team feels more “entitled” than “engaged”

🎧 Hit play to listen to the full conversation, and then forward it to your team lead, your ops manager, or that front-desk MVP who’s ready to level up. Let’s grow better cultures together!

LINKS:

https://www.thedentistsshow.com

Episode Minute By Minute:

• 00:00 – Why perks don’t build culture
• 02:45 – The power of shared meals and potlucks
• 05:30 – What happens when free food feels like an obligation
• 07:50 – Serving one another as the secret sauce
• 10:15 – Why perks often backfire without real connection
• 12:35 – Creating a culture of contribution over entitlement
• 15:00 – How home-cooked meals show you care
• 17:20 – Leaders must model generosity first
• 19:45 – Turning perks into meaningful moments that last
• 22:10 – Final thoughts: Real culture drives long-term success