{"id":16383,"date":"2026-01-15T09:35:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T17:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=16383"},"modified":"2026-01-15T09:35:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T17:35:06","slug":"jeff-leger-canada-dso-growth","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/resources\/jeff-leger-canada-dso-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeff Leger on What it Takes to Build Canada\u2019s Fastest-Growing DSO\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Canadian dental support organization (DSO), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.123dentist.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">123 Dentist<\/a>, has become the country\u2019s fastest-growing dental organization. How? We\u2019re unpacking it all in this episode of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wVLnSHAjcsU&amp;list=PL8sPE8UqEy5i-ReuTOqL_BFzw0VAOucuT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Dental Economist Show<\/a> as host CRO Mike Huffaker of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Planet DDS<\/a> sits down with CEO, Jeff Leger, for the ultimate insider\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What you\u2019ll learn:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How to translate expertise from adjacent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/blog\/transforming-healthcare-increasing-patient-satisfaction\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"12902\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">healthcare<\/a> sectors\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why visiting your frontline teams isn&#8217;t optional; it&#8217;s your competitive advantage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The regional doctor mentor model for balancing clinical autonomy with organizational standards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to protect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/resources\/joshua-gwinn-unlocking-growth-through-culture-and-vision\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"resources\" data-id=\"13962\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">culture<\/a> during rapid acquisition-driven growth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why operational excellence and clinical care aren&#8217;t competing priorities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The digital <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/resources\/demias-pegues-on-optimizing-patient-engagement-strategies\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"resources\" data-id=\"13323\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">engagement<\/a> platform opportunity in dentistry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Most importantly, this conversation highlights what we all know and cannot afford to ignore: strong people-focused culture is a non-negotiable in today\u2019s day and age.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Building Canada\u2019s Fastest-Growing DSO ft. Jeff Leger\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wVLnSHAjcsU?list=PL8sPE8UqEy5i-ReuTOqL_BFzw0VAOucuT\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Episode Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This episode of The Dental Economist Show explores this critical yet often overlooked nuance of dentistry today. Here are some highlights from the show:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First growth move: Meeting your teams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Leger&#8217;s strategy of visiting more than 100 clinics in his first six months reveals a critical <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/blog\/leadership-framework-for-growth\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"15620\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">leadership<\/a> principle: Understanding operations requires boots-on-the-ground observation before deploying spreadsheet solutions. Many leaders default to analyzing profit and loss (P&amp;L) statements and data dashboards, missing the real friction points that slow clinicians down and block <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/resources\/dso-dental-group-growth-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"resources\" data-id=\"14988\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">growth<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By engaging directly with frontline teams and simply asking what&#8217;s working, what&#8217;s getting in the way, and what training gaps exist, you uncover bottlenecks that data alone never surfaces. For anyone building a DSO or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/resources\/scalability-guide-dsos-dental-groups\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"resources\" data-id=\"14920\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">scaling<\/a> a dental practice, this approach transforms strategy from top-down mandates into collaborative problem-solving that clinicians actually adopt and sustain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clinical autonomy doesn&#8217;t mean isolation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Leger&#8217;s solution to balancing clinical independence with organizational standards is elegant: Establish regional doctor mentors and a dental advisory council rather than imposing clinical protocols from headquarters. This peer-to-peer model, where experienced clinicians coach newer practitioners on standards and best practices, removes the perception of corporate control while elevating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/resources\/dr-mariz-tanious-on-the-quality-assurance-way-to-dentistry-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"resources\" data-id=\"14596\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">care quality<\/a> across the network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By involving academics and regulatory experts alongside practicing dentists, you create a credible, independent body that sets standards, not a DSO mandate. The outcome is clinicians who feel supported and validated rather than restricted. This structure protects both autonomy and excellence, giving clinicians the mentorship early-career practitioners desperately need while preserving their independence to make patient decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best ideas are hiding in high-performing locations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of importing operational playbooks from outside consultants, Leger shares that the majority of scalable best practices already exist within high-performing clinics. You just need to identify them, understand why they work, and amplify them across the network. This flips the traditional &#8220;central office knows best&#8221; approach on its head and positions frontline operators as the real <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/blog\/leadership-culture-and-dental-innovation\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"15066\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">innovators<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you spot a clinic running efficient scheduling, nailing treatment acceptance through patient education, or retaining staff better than peers, reverse-engineer that model rather than defaulting to external solutions. The speed and adoption improve dramatically because clinicians see the proof in a peer&#8217;s results, not in a corporate directive.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Culture is your shock absorber during growth <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Leger defines culture as how your organization treats colleagues, patients, and clinicians. And it matters because strong culture allows teams to navigate uncertain periods and rally behind purpose when execution gets tough. During rapid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/blog\/dso-ma-101-understanding-dental-mergers-and-acquisitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"11465\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">acquisition<\/a>-driven growth, culture becomes your invisible safeguard. Without it, each new clinic acquisition dilutes your values and creates friction. Leger protects 123 Dentist&#8217;s culture by being visible, approachable, and transparent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples: Doing thirty to fifty town halls annually as a CEO, visiting 100 clinics in six months, and explaining the &#8220;why&#8221; behind every major change. This consistent demonstration of values (caring, operational excellence, continuous learning) sends a message to new team members: &#8220;This is how we actually operate here, not what&#8217;s written in the manual.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About The Dental Economist Show<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t miss insightful conversations with industry experts on the latest trends and top strategies to grow your DSO or dental group. Tune in to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/2GG6pL2h3sSuoWYmPWDCKw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Dental Economist Show<\/a>\u00a0each week as we meet at the intersection of profit and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen to the full podcast: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/5xedcm3r\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple<\/a>  <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/57yej3tr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a>  <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/jvp8hvrf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a> <\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/book-a-demo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Request a Demo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canadian dental support organization (DSO), 123 Dentist, has become the country\u2019s fastest-growing dental organization. How? We\u2019re unpacking it all in this episode of The Dental Economist Show as host CRO&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":16384,"template":"","categories":[80,1427,128,1416,88],"tags":[1604,282,1603,13,43,169,454,57,491],"resource_type":[1336],"class_list":["post-16383","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dental-industry","category-dental-service-organization","category-dso","category-growth","category-planet-dds","tag-acquistions","tag-culture","tag-cuture","tag-dentistry","tag-dso","tag-growth","tag-leadership","tag-planet-dds","tag-scaling","resource_type-podcast"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/16383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resources"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16383"},{"taxonomy":"resource_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_type?post=16383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}