The Authentic Dentist Podcast

The Authentic Dentist podcast bridges the gap between clinical excellence and personal fulfillment in dentistry. If you'd like to be interviewed, email us at shawn@myzana.com.

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ZanaDental

In a profession filled with "should-be's" and cookie-cutter practice models, the path to fulfillment often lies in embracing what makes you uniquely you. As dentists, we're frequently told that success means 100 new patients a month, 10 operatories, three hygienists, and a specific revenue target. But what if the key to true success—both professionally and personally—is actually found in authentic dental practice?  

Breaking Free from the Cookie-Cutter Mold

"I've gone to so many continuing educations where they tell me I have to have a hundred new patients a month. I should have 10 ops in my practice with three hygienists," Dr. Allison House shares. "This is the cookie-cutter way that you should be successful in dentistry... And for me, it just never felt right."

This cookie-cutter approach creates an illusion of safety—follow these steps, and you'll succeed. But as many dentists discover, attempting to fit into someone else's model often leads to something far more dangerous: burnout, disconnection, and a pervasive feeling of isolation.

The consequences of this disconnect can be severe. The dental profession faces concerning rates of burnout and mental health challenges. Finding and following your authentic path isn't just about professional satisfaction—it can be essential for your wellbeing.

What Authenticity Means in Dentistry

Authenticity in dentistry means aligning your practice with who you genuinely are:

            
• Your natural pace and communication style
            
• Your preferred procedures and patient types
            
• Your ideal practice size and business model
            
• Your unique approach to patient relationships

Dr. House describes her journey: "I didn't connect with my patients because I felt like I wasn't allowed to be myself. I had to be this professional with the white coat, and I had to keep myself just neutral... I just felt more and more alone."

The turning point for many dentists comes when they realize that what makes them different is actually their greatest asset. When Dr. House began allowing more of her authentic self to show—sharing appropriate personal details, creating an office environment that reflected her interests, and listening more deeply to patients—everything changed.

The Business Case for Authenticity

Beyond personal fulfillment, there's a compelling business case for authenticity in dentistry. Authentic dental marketing becomes easier when what you're "selling" aligns with who you truly are.

As Shawn Zajas explains, "If you advertise that you're one thing, but you're actually another thing, everyone who comes in to see you will be disappointed. Everyone. But if you advertise this is who you are and that's who you actually are, then people who want to see you are coming and they're looking for you."

Authenticity creates congruence that patients can feel. They develop stronger know-like-trust relationships with dentists who present their genuine selves, leading to:

            
• Better patient retention
            
• More referrals
            
• Higher case acceptance
            
• Deeper patient connections
            
• Greater clinical autonomy

Creating Systems That Support Your Authentic Self

Embracing authenticity doesn't mean abandoning structure. In fact, it requires intentional systems that allow your authentic self to thrive:

"You have to have some systems that allow you to spend more time with your patients, which means that 100 patients a month is hard to do and still have a connection, an emotional connection with these people," Dr. House notes.

For dental practice leadership that values connection, this might mean:

            
• Longer appointment times
            
• Different scheduling protocols
            
• Customized new patient experiences
            
• Team meetings that include personal growth goals
            
• Office environments that reflect your personality

Finding Your Zone of Genius

One of the most practical aspects of authenticity is identifying which procedures energize you and which drain you—then shaping your practice accordingly.

Dr. House candidly shares: "I actually love to do removable. I do a lot of removable. Partials, dentures, implant retained partials and dentures. They're so fun. Some people don't like to do them... I took a lot of continuing education. I thought that was fun."

This advice challenges the conventional wisdom that you must perform every procedure that's profitable. Instead, dental clinical excellence comes from focusing on your "zone of genius"—where competence and passion intersect.

Reframing What You Don't Enjoy

Sometimes authenticity means reframing activities rather than abandoning them. Shawn describes how he transformed his relationship with sales:

"I didn't like networking, but I love meeting people, discovering who they are, honoring them. All of a sudden, the second I shifted from 'I'm going to networking' versus 'I'm just discovering people and I'm helping them,' I could do that all day long."

For dentists, this might mean:

            
• Viewing treatment presentations as education rather than sales
            
• Reframing difficult conversations as opportunities to demonstrate care
            
• Seeing team management as mentorship rather than supervision

The 70,000-Hour Question

Perhaps the most compelling argument for authenticity comes from considering the sheer duration of a dental career:

"70,000 hours is how many hours I am going to spend with patients over the course of my career. It's 36 hours a week, weeks a year for a 40-year career. That's a big chunk of my life that I'm going to be spending with patients. I should enjoy some of it."

The question becomes: how do you want to spend those 70,000 hours? Performing in a role that doesn't fit, or expressing your authentic self in a practice designed around your strengths?

Creating Your Authentic Practice

Moving toward greater authenticity in dentistry is a journey, not a destination. It begins with self-reflection and grows through deliberate choices:

            
1. Identify your authentic strengths - What procedures, patient interactions, and practice elements energize you?
            
2. Acknowledge your limitations - Where do you need support or systems to complement your approach?
            
3. Build a team that balances your style - Hire for strengths that complement your authentic self
            
4. Create an environment that reflects you - Your office should feel like an authentic extension of who you are
            
5. Communicate your unique approach clearly - Set proper expectations with patients about your style

The Courage to Be Authentic

Authenticity requires courage—the courage to deviate from established paths, to acknowledge what you truly enjoy and what you don't, and to create a practice that might look different from what others expect.

As Dr. House reflects on breaking convention by hosting team meetings in her home: "It was against everybody's recommendations. Everybody's recommendations was you have this team meeting at the office. You don't let your team into who you are at all. And so I just broke every barrier there. And it works for me."

The journey to authentic dental practice isn't always linear. There will be mistakes and adjustments along the way. But with each authentic choice, you move closer to a practice that sustains rather than drains you—a practice where you can thrive professionally while remaining true to yourself.

In a profession facing significant challenges, authenticity isn't just a personal preference—it's a pathway to sustainable success, meaningful patient relationships, and the professional fulfillment that drew you to dentistry in the first place.

Looking for more insights on building an authentic dental practice? Subscribe to The Authentic Dentist podcast and join Dr. Allison House and Shawn Zajas as they explore the intersection of clinical expertise, authentic leadership, and personal fulfillment in dentistry.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Podcasts.