The Making of a Dental Startup

This is the making of your goals, your dreams, and your life.

The Making of a Dental Startup is a business podcast hosted by Ashley Joves, with 291 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Ashley Joves hosts The Making of a Dental Startup, a business show with 291 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  The Making of a Dental Startup

  Michelin Star Moves: The Smile Design Process

  Aug 18, 202636 min

  Michelin Star Moves: The Smile Design Process Dr. Ashley Joves sits down with co-host Collin Al-Samarrie to walk through how Smile & Co. approaches cosmetic cases, from the first consult to the sneak peek reveal, and why she built this into her practice in the first place. Where It Started Ashley's interest in aesthetics began in dental school as part of NYU's honors aesthetics program, taught in part by a then up-and-coming Dr. Michael Apa. She later completed a highly competitive three-resident program outside Philadelphia, where weekly specialist-led sessions gave her hands-on experience across surgery, perio, and complex case planning. Finding Her Niche Ashley initially considered orthodontics before dental school but found her calling in the artistry of general dentistry instead. After years of "bread and butter" work as an associate, including an implant residency she ultimately stepped back from, she didn't return to cosmetics full time until opening Smile & Co. in 2017. The Digital Smile Design Process Patients start with a virtual or in-person consultation, Kois-protocol photos, and an iTero scan sent to Ashley's ceramist for an initial digital design. Weeks later, patients return for a "sneak peek" try-in day using Luxatemp, a no-drill preview Ashley calls the test drive before commitment. Setting Expectations Ashley reframes the "cement day" as a "try-in day," to remove pressure from the process. Patients are told upfront that a smile may take more than one try to get right, and that dentistry isn't meant to last forever given how hard people are on their teeth. Vanity vs. Need Ashley pushes back on the idea that cosmetic dentistry is purely vanity, pointing to Kois' teaching that healthy enamel should wear only one millimeter every 150 years. Visible chipping, thinning, or shortening are signs of an active disease process, not aging or vanity. Looking Ahead Ashley shares her longer-term goal of building Smile & Co. to a place of profitability that allows for more charity smile work, referencing past "Give Back a Smile" cases. The conversation closes with a teaser for an in-person TMO community meetup. Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof . Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vsl Kasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register . Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

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  The Making of a Dental Startup

  Brian Is Back | On Purpose, Fulfillment, and Reevaluating Everything with Ashley and Brian Joves

  Aug 11, 202622 min

  The Making Of | Brian Is Back: A Life Update From The Centurion Lounge In this episode Ashley and Brian record from the Centurion Lounge in Phoenix while waiting for a delayed flight home from a conference in Scottsdale. It is the first time Brian has been on the podcast in months and they cover a lot of ground together. From completing radiation to returning to work part time to the big questions this past year has forced both of them to sit with. What You'll Hear In This Episode: Brian's Health Update Brian completed radiation at the end of May. Eight to nine weeks post radiation he is returning to work part time and progressing better than his doctors expected. He still has some recovery ahead but the momentum is there. The Forced Slowdown This past year gave both Ashley and Brian something they never would have chosen but are genuinely grateful for. Time. Time with the boys. Time at the park. Time to sit with the big questions about purpose, fulfillment, and what they are actually building and why. Reevaluating What Matters Brian opens up about the deeper work this year has asked of him and Ashley reflects on the new filter it has given her for everything. What is the true calling? Why did they go through this? And how do they want to spend the energy they have going forward. Brian also talks about the urgent versus important framework and how he has started walking out of meetings that do not move the needle. The Conference And The Community Both Ashley and Brian reflect on what they loved most about the conference they just attended. Not the keynotes. The conversations. The connections. And how much it reminded them of why The Making Of retreat is so special and why they cannot wait to get back to it. The Comeback Ashley is back in the practice figuring out how to grow leaders so the business can not just run without her but be profitable without her. Brian is going back part time and easing back into life one day at a time. They are both still figuring it out and they are grateful to have this community figuring it out alongside them. Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof . Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vsl Kasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register . Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

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  The Making of a Dental Startup

  The Making Of Smile & Co. #2 - Episode SIX: The Tech Behind The Practice

  Aug 4, 202637 min

  The Making Of Smile & Co. #2 — Episode SIX: The Tech Behind The Practice In this episode Ashley and Collin get into all the technology behind Smile & Co. #2. From practice management software to in house milling, scanners, 3D printing, and the music that patients always comment on. This one is packed with real world insight for any startup doc trying to figure out what technology is actually worth investing in and when. What You'll Hear In This Episode: Practice Management Software Ashley shares why she went back to what was tried and true after exploring a cloud based option for the Roseville location. She also breaks down the pros and cons of cloud versus server based software and why the ability to see both locations in one consolidated view has been a game changer. IT Support: Local Versus Remote Ashley makes the case for local IT every single time. When the phones go down or the server goes kaput you want someone who can just come. Not someone you have to troubleshoot with over the phone. Imaging Software and Sensors Ashley walks through the imaging software and sensors at Smile & Co. #2 including why she chose to rent sensors instead of buying them and what she has learned from the very expensive lesson of owning sensors at the Folsom location. AI Radiograph Analysis Ashley and Collin talk about how AI radiograph analysis has changed the patient education experience at Smile & Co. #2. Patients see shades of gray on a radiograph. AI shows them exactly what is going on in a way that actually makes sense to them. CBCT No CBCT at Roseville yet. Ashley explains why and when she would invest in one. Spoiler. It comes down to what you are actually doing clinically. Scanners: Folsom vs Roseville Two different locations. Two different workflows. Ashley breaks down the scanners at both offices and why the difference between them is night and day when it comes to restorative cases. 3D Printing The 3D printer has been at the Folsom location for years. Ashley shares what they use it for now, where 3D printing is headed, and why the latest advancements in printable restorations have her attention. Cerec and In House Milling Ashley walks through the entire same day crown workflow at Smile & Co. #2 from the pre-scan to the prep to the design to the mill and fire. Her fastest case? Three crowns in under 25 minutes of milling time. She also shares why she would not recommend in house milling to a startup doc right out of the gate and why she has no plans to bring one into the Folsom location. The Music 90s and 2000s hip hop and R&B. It is in the core values. Patients love it. And yes there have been assistants sprinting down the hallway to skip a song mid appointment. Coming Next Episode Ashley and Collin get into systems. How Smile & Co. #2 got off the ground and everything that went into building the workflows that run the practice today. Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof . Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vsl Kasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register . Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

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  The Making of a Dental Startup

  The Making Of Smile & Co. #2 — Episode FIVE: Operatories, Chairs, and the Sterilization Area

  Jul 28, 202639 min

  The Making Of Smile & Co. #2 — Episode 5: Operatories, Chairs, and Everything In Between In this episode Ashley and Collin get into the equipment decisions behind Smile & Co. #2. From how many ops are plumbed versus equipped to why Ashley switched from Sirona to A-dec, this one is packed with real world advice for any startup doc trying to figure out where to spend and where to save. What You'll Hear In This Episode: The Operatory Layout Smile & Co. #2 is plumbed for nine operatories and currently equipped with five. Ashley walks through the layout including her open bay hygiene section with floor to ceiling windows, the restorative rooms, the cosmetic suite, and her plans for the remaining ops including a dedicated sedation room and a potential Botox suite tucked away in the back. The Sterilization Setup Ashley and Collin break down the sterilization area from dirty to clean, the gorgeous marble black countertops that patients actually compliment, the slat wall system from Uline that replaced traditional tip-out bins, and the tech cubby that keeps all the scanners and equipment tucked away and out of the patient flow. Sterilization has somehow also become the unofficial team hangout. No complaints. The Chairs Ashley went with A-dec for Smile & Co. #2 after her experience with the Sirona Intego chairs in Folsom. She breaks down the difference between the 500 Series in the cosmetic suite and the 400 in the restorative rooms, why she chose continental delivery, and why patient comfort should be the number one deciding factor when choosing a chair. The Assistant Package Two high speed suctions on the assistant side. A dedicated workstation. A round table. And garage style drawer doors for the tubs that slide out instead of swing open. Ashley is very extra about her millwork and zero apologies are being made. Electric Handpieces Once you go electric you never go back. Ashley makes the case for investing in electric handpieces from day one and shares the full mouth sedation case that reminded her exactly why she would never work without them again. The Equipment Philosophy If it improves the patient experience or makes your job more enjoyable, more efficient, and more profitable, it is worth the cost. That is Ashley's filter for every single equipment decision and it is the advice every startup doc needs to hear before they start spending. Coming Next Episode Technology, the Cerec, 3D printing, the music in the rooms, and all the little things that make Smile & Co. #2 what it is. Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof . Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vsl Kasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register . Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  ListenShow Notes
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  The Making of a Dental Startup

  The Making Of Smile and Co. #2 — Episode FOUR: Design Details, The Cosmetic Wing, and The Details That Make All The Difference

  Jul 21, 202631 min

  In this episode Ashley and Collin dive into the design details behind Smile Design Studio in Roseville. From the Pinterest board that started it all to the $200,000 lighting package that got vetoed, the $45,000 fireplace that never happened, and the cosmetic wing that patients cannot stop raving about. What You'll Hear In This Episode: The Design Vision If Tom Ford met dentistry, what would that look like? Ashley shares the Pinterest board of boutique hotels, restaurants, and resorts that inspired the entire aesthetic of Smile Design Studio. Neutrals, blacks, clean lines, and a vibe that is anything but a dental office. She also shares the one scent detail that had patients asking questions the moment they walked through the door. The $200,000 Lighting Reality Check Ashley wanted uplighting, downlighting, chandeliers, and statement fixtures throughout the entire space. The lighting package quote came back at $200,000. She scaled back. Tastefully. And the office still looks stunning. The Fireplace That Never Was A see-through fireplace separating the lounge from the consultation room was on the original design. The quote came in at $45,000. It did not make the cut. Neither did the full kitchen in the break room. Sometimes champagne taste has to meet the hotdog budget. The Design Box After flying to Denver to meet with the architect for the 3D walkthrough, Ashley received a large box of every material sample for the office. Flooring, tile, millwork, wallpaper, and hardware. She and Collin spent hours going through it and there is an unboxing video to prove it. Hardware, Furniture, and Finishing Touches Matte black hardware throughout. Chandeliers from Crate and Barrel, West Elm, and CB2. Sofas and lounge chairs from Rove Concepts. A white sofa in the patient lounge that the team Scotchguards on the regular and would do again in a heartbeat. The Coffee Bar A single serve machine that grinds beans fresh for every cup, sparkling waters, flavored syrups, and creamers. Ashley also shares the California ADA accessible counter height detail that catches a lot of practice owners off guard. The Cosmetic Wing The crown jewel of Smile Design Studio. A dedicated cosmetic photo studio with a black wall and light boxes, a private patient restroom with river rock flooring, a concierge desk, and Ashley's personal office with a couch and TV for patients during long procedures. It feels like a completely separate business within the practice and it is the single thing patients compliment most. The Advice Worth Writing Down Know your long game. Design for who you are and where you are going. And if this is your first location do not go balls to the wall. Save that for when you have already proven the concept. Resources Mentioned: Scent diffuser and espresso machine links coming in the show notes and newsletter soon Thank You to Our Partners Net32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof . Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vsl Kasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register . Support the show Find Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful. Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day! Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

  ListenShow Notes

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

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