Growth sounds exciting—until you realize one of the hardest parts of getting from where you are to where you want to be is people. Turnover, leadership changes, hiring, training, and letting go of good people can test even the strongest practice owners.
In this episode, Dr. Sully gets real about the challenges of leading through significant team turnover while keeping the practice moving forward. He shares what happened behind the scenes at his practice in 2026, including replacing doctors, rebuilding the front office, hiring new leadership, and navigating the emotional side of making difficult personnel decisions.
He breaks down why growth inevitably brings change, why “lifers” aren't always realistic, and how having a few trusted “rocks” can help stabilize your practice when everything else feels uncertain. Dr. Sully also discusses holding the line on fundamentals, resisting the temptation to return to grinding, maintaining morale as a leader, and giving new team members and doctors the support they need to succeed.
@05:06 Why People Are the Hardest Part of Growth
@06:37 Building Your “Rocks”
@08:24 Why Growth Inevitably Creates Turnover
@10:05 Creating Stability Through Core Team Members
@10:58 Making the Hard Decision to Let a Doctor Go
@13:31 When Other Fires Get in the Way of Leadership
@17:12 Rebuilding the Front Office From the Ground Up
@26:05 Holding the Line on Fundamentals Through Change
Who is Dr. Sully Sullivan?
Dr. Sully is a fourth-generation dentist from Nashville, Tn. After receiving his doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Tennessee, he moved back to Nashville to practice with his father. By continuing to invest in his education through adult orthodontics, soft tissue grafting, dental implants, third molar extractions, and obstructive sleep apnea, he helped double his practice in just 24 months.
As a millennial, he truly believes in working smarter not harder, which has led him to utilize technology to not only deliver better patient care but more efficient care. Dr. Sullivan regularly uses CEREC, 3D imaging with Galileos, 3D printing, and multiple lasers. In addition to his practice, he started the Millennial Dentist Podcast in February of 2017 to help push his fellow colleagues to take their dental careers to the next level. Dr. Sully lectures around the country on cone beam technology, cad/cam dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, and practice management. He is also an ambassador for the 3D-Dentist teaching facility in Raleigh, NC.
As always, thanks so much for listening! If you like the show, we would love for you to review the show on Apple Podcasts as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at [email protected]
Links and Resources
Email: [email protected]
The Millennial Dentist Website: http://millennialdentist.com/
Millennial Dentist Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MillennialDentist
Millennial Dentist Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/millennialdentist/
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