How A Personal Story Sparked A Mission To Transform Dentistry
The Backstage Pass Podcast: Dentistry’s Playbook for Scaling Practices & DSOs
Manage episode 520535277 series 3702757
The conversation opens with spark and honesty: how do you build a full-arch program that actually works for patients, teams, and the bottom line? We invited CEO and founder Greg Essenmacher to share the story behind GNA Consult, and he brought a rare mix of operational precision and human depth. From his manufacturing roots with Neodent to training every touchpoint of the patient journey, Greg explains why some practices scale smoothly while others stall under the weight of their own demand.
We break down the essentials: patient lead stratification that separates buyers from researchers and tire kickers, team roles that match natural strengths, and the operations guardrails that keep surgeries timely and conversion rates steady. Greg shows how a client jumped from 22 to 50 arches a month and then dipped—proof that marketing without capacity planning is a costly illusion. He offers a grounded framework for practices of all sizes, from solo GP clinics adding implants to DSOs chasing same-store growth, and he’s crystal clear about the levers that matter most: time, talent, and treasure.
But the heart of the episode runs deeper. Greg shares the personal experiences that anchor his mission—family members who lost their teeth young, hundreds of patient reveals that redefined what a smile can restore, and a commitment to sobriety that shapes his leadership. He talks about balance as a daily practice, not a slogan, and makes a compelling case for culture that blends empathy with accountability. The result is a playbook and a posture: build systems that serve people, and success will follow.
If you’re ready to grow full-arch services without sacrificing your team or your margins, this is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review to tell us which idea you’ll implement first.
Chapters
1. Meet Greg And The Backstage Connection (00:00:00)
2. What GNA Consult Actually Does (00:01:49)
3. The Neodent Story And A Pivotal Client (00:03:32)
4. Personal Roots Of A Mission (00:06:40)
5. Authenticity, Fun, And Finding Mentors (00:09:35)
6. Guiding Dentists Beyond The Island Of One (00:12:03)
7. Misconceptions And The Lead Conversion Framework (00:14:26)
8. Why Practices Get Stuck And How To Scale (00:17:22)
9. Redefining Success, Balance, And Sobriety (00:20:37)
10. Culture, Accountability, And Heart-Centered Leadership (00:23:05)
11. Daily Practices To Stay Present (00:25:05)
12. A Bigger-Than-Business Mission: It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (00:27:32)
13. Closing Thoughts And How To Reach Greg (00:30:01)
16 episodes