Jeff reminds us that success isn't just about clinical excellence. It's about building resilience, leading well, finding purpose, and creating a career that makes you excited to work each day. This book is a resource every dentisting human will benefit from!
-Dr. Paul Goodman, Founder of Dental Nachos & Dentist Job Connect
About the Book
Real dentistry is messy, unpredictable, and still worth every minute.
Dental school helps you build a clinical foundation, but it doesn’t prepare you for handling a myriad of patient personalities or what to do when the perfect crown fails and takes your confidence with it. And it certainly doesn’t prepare you for the morning you wake up and quietly wonder, is this it?
That gap—between the dentistry you trained for and the profession you actually walk into—is where burnout, the weight of your debt, and disillusionment quietly take hold. It’s also where most dentists get stuck.
Dr. Jeff Grove has lived every side of it: clinician, practice owner, DSO founder, and coach. After building a thriving practice, nearly losing himself to burnout, and ultimately rediscovering his purpose, he uncovered seven tools that changed everything. Know the Drill blends candid storytelling with research-backed frameworks to help you stop swimming upstream and start thriving. You’ll learn to adopt the mindset that dentistry is like making omelets, not cakes—in other words, to embrace the beautiful unpredictability of real practice instead of simply the precision you were taught in school.
Dentistry is hard. But it’s worth it. And Know the Drill shows you how to build a career—and a life—of purpose.
Know the Drill is available everywhere books are sold on January 26, 2027
For the unfulfilled dentist — or the aspiring great one — Know the Drill belongs next to Gray's Anatomy: one is a cornerstone of the profession, the other, how to thrive in it.
-Scott B. Dudley, -DMD, MBA, MSEd, FAGD — Founder & CEO, Branin
Get Weekly Tools for Thriving in Dentistry
Join Jeff’s weekly email list for honest reflections, practical leadership tools, and real-world guidance for building a healthier, more meaningful dental career.
This is the book our profession needs right now, and I'll be handing it to every dentist I work with.
- Laura Schwindt, DDS, HPC, FDSI, Embodied Leadership Coach
About Dr. Jeff Grove
Jeff Grove, DMD, practiced dentistry for over 20 years, owning and operating ten dental practices at the peak of his career, before becoming an educator, author, and coach. Jeff enjoys speaking at conferences and schools around the country, including Harvard, Temple, the University of Colorado and at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. He also enjoys hosting retreats for dentists in the Rocky Mountains.
In his free time, Jeff enjoys adventures with his wife, Renie, and three adult children, skiing, mountain biking, rocking one of his acoustic guitars, and bow hunting. He lives in Steamboat Springs.
Ascension Dental Coaching
If you want to stay connected with Jeff or hear more of his thoughts on the current state of the dental profession, what he’s learning from coaching, writing, and researching, and what’s happening in the modern dental space, you can find him at www.ascensiondentalcoach.com. On his website you can also find more information about his services, upcoming events, and helpful resources.
Coaching & Speaking
Ascension Dental Coaching
Coaching and Support for Dentists Who Want to Lead Better
Through Ascension Dental Coaching, Jeff helps dentists move through the real challenges of modern practice: burnout, leadership pressure, team communication, ownership decisions, culture-building, and the daily work of becoming a stronger, more self-aware professional.
His coaching is grounded in real clinical experience, business ownership, and a deep understanding of what dentists are actually facing today.
- Dental coaching
- Leadership development
- Practice culture and communication
- Career clarity and burnout support
- Business strategy for dentists and practice owners
- Support during an acquisition or sale
Backed by decades of real-world experience, this is the book I wish someone had handed me 28 years ago on graduation day.
- Andres Pinto, DMD, MPH, MSCE, MBA, Professor and Chair, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Case Western Reserve University
Speaking Services
Book Jeff on Your Podcast, Panel, or Next Event
Jeff speaks to dentists, practice owners, students, and dental industry leaders about the realities of modern dentistry and the tools needed to thrive in a changing profession. His style is honest, practical, warm, and direct—combining personal stories, research-backed insight, and real-world coaching experience.
Speaking formats
- Podcasts
- Keynotes
- Panel discussions
- Dental conferences
- Leadership events
- Team workshops
- Media interviews
Speaking topics
- Burnout and resilience in modern dentistry
- Thriving in the gap between dental school and real-world practice
- Leadership, communication, and culture in dental teams
- The future of independent dentistry
- Debt, expectations, and career pressure for new dentists
- Why dentistry is a people profession, not just a technical one
- The seven tools dentists need to build a meaningful career
If you are ready to stop pretending to have it all together, break through those moments of professional paralysis, and build a career fueled by your true 'why,' Jeff's book is your ultimate blueprint.
- Roberto Monaco, InfluenceOlogy
More Endorsements for Know the Drill
Jeff dreamed of playing for the New York Giants, I dreamed of playing in the NBA. Since neither
of those plans worked out, we both ended up in dentistry, and I'm glad we did. Being a dentist
can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be incredibly challenging. Jeff reminds us that
success isn't just about clinical excellence. It's about building resilience, leading well, finding
purpose, and creating a career that makes you excited to work each day. This book is a
resource every dentisting human will benefit from!
Dr. Paul Goodman Founder of Dental Nachos & Dentist Job Connect 
Do yourself two favors. First, learn from the experiences and wisdom that Jeff highlights in this
book. And second, whether it’s Jeff or someone else, have the courage to work with a
leadership coach. It’s the single greatest thing you can do to improve your practice - and your
life. What have you got to lose? Only a more abundant and joyful future!
Doug Fettig CPA, MBA Dental Business Speaker and Leadership Coach
In no uncertain terms and as clear as could be, Jeff does a fantastic job of explaining what the
best among us have thought, and tried to articulate for decades, to those aspiring to be
successful professionally and personally in our industry. A must read if you wanna understand
what separates the best among us from everybody else. For an unfulfilled dentist or an “aspiring
to be great” dentist, this is a read that is as influential and as important as Grey’s Anatomy. This
book is a career’s worth of experience and advice perfect for any dentist wishing to achieve
greatness.
Scott Dudley DMD, CAGS, FICOI, FICD, FAADS, FIADFE
What sets this book apart is its honesty. Jeff doesn't just talk about burnout and
leadership in the abstract; he shares his own story and backs it up with real, actionable
tips you can use tomorrow morning. This isn't just a book for young dentists starting out;
it's for any of us who've ever needed a reminder to take care of ourselves first.
Dr. Eric Block DMD, CAGS, FICOI, FICD, FAADS, FIADFE
Jeff is an amazing Storyteller. His experience and insights into the real practice of dentistry will
be invaluable for newer practitioners. But what makes this book so compelling is the way he
weaves stories in to make key points. Ci2 Advisors has been teaching Business Storytelling for
over 10 years and I can truly say that Jeff has "Nailed It! " in a way that will have a lasting
impact on you and your team.
John Geraci Founder and CEO of Ci2 Advisors
A powerful reminder that dentists are not just clinicians, they are visionaries capable of shaping
extraordinary patient experiences and thriving teams. This book gives them the tools and
confidence to rise to that calling.
Dr. Heather Mitterer JM, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CEO & HR Consultant, Mitterer Enterprises, LLC
In a time when so many young dentists are struggling with burnout, Dr. Jeff Grove provides tangible solutions to help dentists reclaim their confidence, their purpose, and their joy for the profession. Not only is Know the Drill full of great wisdom and strategies, but Jeff uses his wit and creativity to keep you engaged the whole way through.
Laura Brenner D.D.S., Certified Professional Coach, Lolabees Career Coaching
Know the Drill is the book I wish someone had handed me early in my career. Jeff doesn't sugarcoat the pressures dentists face today: burnout, debt, and the loss of independence. Instead, he gives you real, practical tools to build a career and a practice you're proud of. Every young dentist should read this before burning out trying to figure it out alone.
John Montoya DDS, Founder of Dental Purchasing Partners.
In my career coaching speakers, I've learned that a presenter’s greatest assets are their vulnerability, their frameworks, and their desire to help others. That is what Dr. Jeff Grove represents. On stage and in the pages of Know the Drill, he completely removes the 'white coat' of perfectionism to help others heal. Jeff doesn't hide his failures, his clinical setbacks, or his deepest professional valleys. Instead, he shares his hard-won lessons on awareness, surrender, and relationships to equip the next generation of practitioners. If you are ready to stop pretending to have it all together, break through those moments of professional paralysis, and build a career fueled by your true 'why,' Jeff's book is your ultimate blueprint.
Roberto Monaco InfluenceOlogy
Know the Drill is the kind of book I wish every dentist could read before the profession gets heavy. Jeff doesn’t just talk about burnout—he gives dentists an honest, practical armamentarium for rediscovering purpose, becoming better leaders, building stronger relationships, and creating a career that still feels worth choosing years later. This is wisdom earned in the operatory, in ownership, and in life—and the next generation of dentists will be better because Jeff chose to share it.
Benjamin Tuinei CEO, DentalLInk IPA, Founder, Veritas Dental Resources
Jeff gets something most dental leadership books miss: he meets dentists where they actually are and hands them a real path back to purpose, presence, and a career worth showing up for. This is the book our profession needs right now, and I'll be handing it to every dentist I work with.
Laura Schwindt DDS, HPC, FDSI, Embodied Leadership Coach
Whether you are a dental student, a new graduate, or an established dentist, this book offers an inspiring perspective on how to thrive in a demanding profession while maintaining a sense of purpose and personal well-being. The writing is approachable, often humorous, and genuinely encouraging while addressing issues such as burnout, debt, self-doubt, leadership, and work-life integration.
Yanira Owens RDH, MHA, EdD
I'm not a dentist. I'm a serial entrepreneur, and I still found myself taking notes. Jeff writes about burnout as a loss of ownership over your own work, and about what it takes to lead your own career instead of just surviving it. Every professional I know has faced some version of that, and Jeff gives you a real way to work through it.
Nick Kennedy Co-Founder and Principal, VeroHx
Dentistry is a rewarding profession, but it comes with its share of challenges. In Know the Drill, the author combines practical strategies, self-assessment activities, and reflection questions to help readers navigate obstacles, strengthen their well-being, and build a career rooted in purpose and growth. Wherever you are in your dental career, this book offers valuable insights and tools to help you move beyond simply surviving in dentistry and to thrive.
Deidre Callanan RDH, DC, MPH, University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine
Jeff offers us a thoughtful reminder that we still have tremendous power to shape our own careers and the future of our profession. Love this book!
Jill Tanzi DDS, Private-Practice Owner of The Dentist at Hopkinton, President and Founder of the Alliance of Independent Dentists, and Partner at Shero Dental Advisors
Dental school teaches you the science. Dr. Grove brings forth everything else. In this refreshingly honest and practical guide, young clinicians will find the roadmap they never knew they needed, covering leadership, emotional intelligence, purpose, business, and beyond. Backed by decades of real-world experience, this is the book I wish someone had handed me 28 years ago on graduation day. A must-read for every dentist who dares to dream bigger.
Andres Pinto DMD, MPH, MSCE, MBA, Professor and Chair, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Case Western Reserve University