34. Bringing the Fun Back to Dentistry: Building Team Culture, Giving Great Gifts, and Making Patients Smile
In this episode of The Dentists Show, Chase and Ryan are diving into the light-hearted side of building a dental practice that doesn’t suck—and the laughs are real. Broadcasting in front of a live audience, the guys take questions from team members and share hilarious behind-the-scenes stories that remind us all how culture, creativity, and a bit of fun can go a long way.
From patient smile ratings to the idea of giving adults a prize box (spoiler: it goes off the rails 😂), they explore ways to make the dental experience memorable for both patients and staff. They also get real about how leadership evolves, how to encourage ownership in your team, and what it really means to create a workplace people want to be a part of.
If you're a practice owner trying to find that balance between high performance and high vibes—or you're just here for the inside jokes—this one’s for you.
🔑 6 Key Takeaways:
- Culture isn’t just built—it’s lived, one weird inside joke at a time.
- A strong practice has both top performers and top culture fits.
- Patient communication should focus on outcomes, not just treatments.
- The idea of a prize box for adults? Surprisingly brilliant... and hilarious.
- Encouraging team ownership helps leaders step back while scaling up.
- A thriving practice has room for both growth and gratitude.
LINKS:
https://www.thedentistsshow.com
Episode Minute By Minute:
- 00:00 – Welcome and live audience vibes
- 01:42 – Rating your smile: 2 out of 10 or 10 out of 10?
- 04:30 – Stickers, kids, and why fun matters
- 06:10 – Should adults get prizes too? Ryan takes it way off script
- 08:45 – Why patients remember feelings, not just treatment plans
- 10:30 – Leadership tip: how to get your time back without burnout
- 12:00 – Wrapping up: Culture-first, performance-aligned practices