00:00:00 Dr. Mindy Richtsmeier, a dentist with a focus on airway and TMJ health, shares her background and current projects. She discusses her passion for proper dental care and the importance of nutrition, particularly the role of fat-soluble vitamins in calcium absorption and tooth health. Dr. Richtsmeier reveals that her interest in nutrition came later in life, after having children, and reading Weston Price's book. She is currently working on a blog post about the benefits of raw milk for dental health and overall wellness.

00:05:00 Dr. Mindy Richtsmeier discusses the importance of work-life balance, drawing from her experiences as a dentist and business owner. She shares how her husband, Brad Richtsmeier, who also practices dentistry with her, has encouraged their children to focus on hobbies rather than excessive sports and traveling commitments. Dr. Richtsmeier reflects on her own struggles with work-life balance, particularly around 2017-2018, when she realized she was missing her children's growth. To address this issue, she implemented systems, delegated tasks, and hired qualified staff, which significantly improved her work-life balance. Additionally, the recent addition of a COO to their dental practice has further alleviated her workload, allowing her to enjoy more time with her family. Dr. Richtsmeier emphasizes the importance of having the right people and systems in place to effectively run a business and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

00:10:00 The guests share their experience of growing their dental practice and the positive impact it had on their personal life. They express gratitude for finding the right team members, which allowed them to take time off and go on vacations without worrying about the practice. The growth of the practice from 2018 to 2023 brought financial stability, enabling them to pay off student loans and structure debts effectively. The partnership between the guest and Brad, with their contrasting personalities, helped them balance each other out and successfully manage the practice.

00:15:00 Dr. Richtsmeier discusses how his and his wife's contrasting personalities played a role in their financial decisions, specifically in paying off student loans and purchasing a dental practice. Dr. Richtsmeier describes himself as impulsive and his wife as calculated, and credits their ability to balance each other out for their financial success. They were able to pay off their student loans through frugality and a good debt structure, which allowed them to purchase a practice without the burden of significant student loan debt. Dr. Richtsmeier emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between good and bad debt, and how taking on debt to purchase an asset, such as a practice, can lead to greater returns. He also mentions the benefits of having a life and business partner who shares the same values and goals.

00:20:00 Dr. Richtsmeier discusses the importance of continuous learning and expanding expertise in dental health. While dental school provides a solid foundation, the field is ever-evolving, and dentists must keep up with new technologies and treatments. Dr. Richtsmeier emphasizes the connection between oral and overall health, focusing on airway issues and their impact on sleep disorders and chronic illnesses. He shares his passion for addressing the root causes of oral health problems and not just treating symptoms. While some dentists still focus primarily on teeth, Dr. Richtsmeier believes there is a growing trend towards considering more holistic approaches to oral care.

00:25:00 Dr. Richtsmeier shares her experiences in practicing dentistry and the advantages of continuing education. She explains how being in a partnership with her husband allows her more time for education, which is not as feasible for solo practitioners. Dr. Richtsmeier then discusses the latest advancements in dentistry, focusing on improved imaging technology and bio-compatible materials. She mentions the use of CT scans for comprehensive jaw and airway assessments and the growing popularity of ceramic dental implants as alternatives to traditional titanium implants for patients with metal sensitivities. Overall, Dr. Richtsmeier believes that the future of dentistry lies in the development of more bio-compatible materials and a more holistic approach to dental care.

00:30:00 In this section, they discuss potential advancements in dental health, specifically the use of ceramics and titanium in creating soft tissue for reconstruction, similar to lab-grown ACLs. Dr. Richtsmeier expresses his hope for future dental innovations that allow for more natural and less invasive treatments for tooth loss. They also touch on the connection between dental health and sleep apnea, with Dr. Richtsmeier expressing his belief that these fields will merge more in the future as awareness grows. Currently, sleep apnea treatment relies heavily on CPAP machines, but oral appliances are becoming more accepted as an alternative, with dental professionals and sleep doctors working together to improve patient care. Dr. Richtsmeier emphasizes the importance of prevention and proper oral development from an early age to avoid the need for extensive dental treatments.

00:35:00 Dr. Richtsmeier emphasizes that overall health, including physical activity, contributes to good oral health. He explains that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to mouth breathing, which dries out the mouth and causes decay. This, in turn, can lead to various health issues such as sleep apnea. Dr. Richtsmeier also shares his personal experience of sleeping better and experiencing fewer health issues on days when he is physically active. He concludes by mentioning that there is a strong correlation between good physical activity and oral health, and that people often overlook this connection. Additionally, Dr. Richtsmeier shares that he is unsure if his children will follow in his footsteps and become doctors, as he encourages them to explore their interests and pursue their own paths.

00:40:00 Brad and Mindy, also known as "Mad Max" Richtsmeier, discuss their future plans, including retirement. Brad expresses his desire to become a regenerative farmer, while both acknowledge their difficulty in envisioning a life without work. They share their efforts to save for retirement and seek professional advice, but admit they are unsure if they have done enough. Additionally, they mention the possibility of selling their dental practice at some point in the future.

00:45:00 Dr. Richtsmeier discusses the transformation in dental practices regarding selling and ownership. Traditionally, dentists would sell their practices to the next generation, but with increasing student loans and the challenges of business ownership, fewer young dentists are interested in buying practices. Instead, Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) are buying up dental offices and managing them, offering dentists less autonomy. However, some dentists prefer to gain experience in these managed offices before buying their own. The trend is evolving, and it remains to be seen how it will develop in the coming years. Dr. Richtsmeier suggests that he and his partner might consider teaching dental business management to young graduates as a way to give back to the profession.

00:50:00 Dr. Richtsmeier explains the shift towards a more functional and holistic approach to dentistry. He emphasizes the importance of biocompatible options, patient education, and collaboration with other healthcare providers, such as functional medicine doctors and physical therapists. Dr. Richtsmeier also mentions his work with Dr. Lori Miller, a functional medicine doctor, to build a network of "true Health-focused providers" to offer more integrated care for patients. The episode concludes with Nate inviting listeners to schedule a free second opinion of their financial plan on Wednesdays to ensure they are on track to meet their financial goals.