Are you spending money on dental ads without really knowing what’s working?

In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, Dan Brian is joined by DentalScapes co-founder Brian Craig to break down how dentists should think about online advertising in 2026 — and how to avoid lighting your marketing budget on fire.

They walk through the three primary advertising channels dental practices use today: Google Local Services Ads (LSAs), traditional Google pay-per-click (PPC), and social media advertising. Dan and Brian explain when each channel makes sense, how much practices should realistically budget, and why choosing the wrong strategy at the wrong time can quickly destroy ROI.

The conversation also dives into real-world cost-per-lead benchmarks, why front desk call handling is just as important as ad performance, and how AI-driven ads — including advertising inside tools like ChatGPT — are poised to change dental marketing in the near future.

If you’re new to advertising, frustrated with current results, or trying to decide where to allocate your marketing dollars in 2026, this episode offers a clear, practical framework to help you make smarter decisions.

Key topics covered:

• Where dentists should start with online advertising
• Google Local Services Ads vs traditional Google PPC
• How social media ads fit into a dental growth strategy
• Budget expectations and cost-per-lead benchmarks
• The hidden role of front desk conversion in ROI
• What AI advertising means for dental practices

For full show notes and resources, visit the episode page: https://www.dentalscapes.com/stop-lighting-your-money-on-fire-choosing-the-right-online-ads-for-your-dental-practice/

To get help building a smarter, more efficient dental advertising strategy, schedule a free strategy call at https://DentalScapes.com/start.

Online reviews are no longer optional for dental practices—they’re a critical driver of growth, visibility, and trust in 2026.

In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, host Dan Brian is joined by DentalScapes Content Manager Skylar Massengill to break down why Google reviews matter more than ever and, just as importantly, how dental practices can generate more 5-star reviews without feeling awkward or salesy.

The episode dives into how reviews influence patient decision-making, local SEO rankings in Google’s map pack, and even visibility in AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Dan and Skylar also share practical, real-world strategies dentists can actually implement, even if marketing isn’t their comfort zone.

You’ll learn:

• Why reviews are a core ranking factor for local search and AI visibility
• How to ask for reviews in a way that feels natural and authentic
• Why QR codes and automation dramatically increase review volume
• How hygienists and team-wide incentives can drive better results
• Why responding to both positive and negative reviews builds trust
• How to start small and build review momentum consistently over time

If you’re an independent dental practice owner competing against larger DSOs—or simply want more patients finding and choosing your practice—this episode provides a clear, actionable roadmap.

Don't miss the full show notes and complete video episode: https://www.dentalscapes.com/more-reviews-less-effort-how-to-get-more-google-reviews-for-your-dental-practice/

And if you want help implementing a review strategy that actually works, schedule a free strategy call at dentalscapes.com/start.

Dental marketing is heading into 2026 with major changes already underway. In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, host Dan Brian breaks down three clear predictions that will reshape how dental practices get discovered, how they pay for visibility, and how they turn interest into booked appointments.

The episode dives into how AI-driven search is changing local visibility, why traditional SEO alone is no longer enough, and how AIO (AI Optimization) is becoming critical for getting recommended by AI platforms. Dan explains what “confidence signals” really mean in this new landscape, including the growing role of reviews, authority, structured data, and trust signals that AI systems rely on when guiding patient decisions.

Dan also explores why AI search is likely to introduce advertising inside AI-generated answers and why this could be the biggest shift in local dental marketing since Google Ads. He explains how trust and credibility may directly impact ad performance and cost, and why practices that invest in authority now will be better positioned when AI-driven ads roll out at scale.

Finally, the episode tackles a reality many practices aren’t prepared for: fewer clicks. As AI answers more questions directly, website traffic is shrinking, which makes conversion optimization more important than ever. Dan walks through what high-converting dental marketing looks like in 2026, from faster websites and clearer messaging to better call handling, scheduling, and follow-up.

If you want to understand where dental marketing is headed in 2026—and what you should be doing now to stay ahead—this episode lays out a clear, practical roadmap.

For more information, don't miss the show notes at https://www.dentalscapes.com/3-predictions-for-dental-marketing-in-2026/