Introducing The Apex Perspective Podcast

Private practice dentistry is changing. 

Dentists today are navigating decisions that have evolved significantly from what previous generations faced. Questions around ownership models, marketing strategy, patient expectations, and long-term growth are playing an increasingly visible and complex role in the day-to-day reality of running a practice. 

Despite that shift, many of the most valuable conversations about running a practice still happen privately. Those discussions often contain the kinds of lessons that help other dentists navigate similar challenges, but they rarely reach a broader audience. 

That gap is what led to the creation of The Apex Perspective, a new podcast hosted by Apex Dental Partners co-founders David Lohmann and Matt Hale. The goal of the podcast is simple: to create space for thoughtful conversations about the leadership decisions and real-world challenges dentists face as they build and grow their practices.

The Leadership Side of Private Practice

The Apex Perspective was created with that idea in mind. Rather than focusing on quick tips or tactical advice, the podcast explores how leaders in dentistry think through complex issues and what lessons they have learned through experience. The conversations aim to surface perspectives that might otherwise stay inside leadership meetings or private discussions among colleagues.

As David Lohmann puts it, “Dentistry is full of smart people trying to build great practices. Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is share the lessons we’ve learned along the way.”

For many dentists, the biggest challenges in running a practice are not clinical. Dental school prepares clinicians to diagnose conditions, perform procedures, and deliver patient care. What it does not always prepare them for are the leadership responsibilities that come with owning or operating a practice.

Building teams, developing systems, navigating growth opportunities, and making strategic decisions about the future of a practice all fall into that category. These responsibilities rarely come with clear answers, as markets differ, patient expectations evolve, and every practice has its own culture and goals. As a result, many of the most useful insights come from hearing how other experienced industry leaders approach similar decisions.

The First Conversations

The first two episodes of The Apex Perspective are now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

The inaugural episode introduces listeners to the story behind Apex through a conversation between co-founders David Lohmann, Matt Hale, and Dr. Layla Lohmann. The discussion explores how the three founders came together and how their different backgrounds shaped the philosophy behind the organization. In particular, Dr. Lohmann’s early experiences in dentistry sparked conversations about how dentists could maintain the autonomy and patient relationships associated with private practice while still receiving support in areas like operations and leadership.

Episode two turns to a topic that nearly every practice owner wrestles with: marketing. Joined by Apex Chief Marketing Officer Jake Dold, David and Matt discuss how marketing influences the entire patient journey, from a patient’s first interaction with a practice to the long-term relationships that drive retention and referrals. The conversation reframes marketing as something broader than advertising campaigns or promotions, highlighting the role that trust, consistency, and patient experience play in how practices grow over time. 

Rather than presenting quick answers or universal formulas, the discussions focus on the thinking behind real decisions that shape successful practices.

What Listeners Can Expect

Future episodes of The Apex Perspective will continue exploring the ideas and challenges dentists face as they build and grow their practices. Each conversation focuses on a specific topic that affects how practices operate, giving guests the space to explain how they approach challenges such as leadership development, marketing strategy, patient experience, and long-term growth.

Many of these topics are the same ones dentists encounter every day: 

• How do you build a team that can grow with the practice? 
• What does effective marketing actually look like in today’s environment? 
• How do you create a patient experience that leads to long term relationships instead of one-time visits? 

These questions rarely have universal solutions. What works in one practice may not translate directly to another, which is why the goal of the podcast is not to provide a single answer, but to explore how experienced leaders think through these decisions in real-world situations. 

By focusing on those conversations, The Apex Perspective aims to give listeners a clearer understanding of how experienced leaders approach complex decisions, and how that thinking can be applied within their own practices.

Where to Listen

If these are the kinds of conversations you find yourself thinking about in your own practice, you can listen to The Apex Perspective on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to explore current episodes.

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