In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block sits down with Dr. John Montoya — a dentist who practiced in La Jolla for seven years, built multiple practices in Colorado, sold down to one before COVID after burning out from operational complexity, and went on to found Dental Purchasing Partners: a group purchasing organisation that gives solo dental practices the same buying leverage as a DSO, without giving up independence.

The conversation covers Dr. Montoya's full journey — from a childhood dream that nearly became a medical career to a seven-year La Jolla partnership, from the deliberate decision to simplify his practice portfolio to the origin of a business idea that came from a simple question to his vendors: how do I get those multi-location prices back as a solo practitioner? The answer became Dental Purchasing Partners — 80+ vendors, a $97/month membership, a procurement software that shops all major distributors simultaneously, and a promise that the first supply order will pay for the membership on its own.

The episode also covers the cost creep problem in private practice — supplies running at 8% when the target is 4–6%, credit card processing fees that nobody audits, software subscriptions that overlap, and equipment purchased at 5% discounts when group pricing offers 20–40%. Dr. Eric Block and Dr. Montoya close with advice for young dentists and both offer the same formula: cash flow is king, engineer your schedule intentionally, and stop comparing yourself to everyone else.