17 Dental Marketing Books: A Simple 2025 Guide for Busy Dentists

Reading the right dental marketing books can feel like having a private coach who shows you exactly how to fill your schedule, boost profits, and build a brand patients love. 

Following is an easy‑to‑follow guide that explains why these books are necessary, what each book covers, and how to select the best one for your practice.

17 Must‑Read Dental Marketing Books (With Quick Takeaways)

Detailed Analysis of Each Dental Marketing Book

Let’s discuss each book for the dentist a little more

1. From Search to Smile – Dan Delmain

Focus & Premise:
This 2023 guide, authored by Dan Delmain, founder of Delmain Dental Marketing Agency, is tailored to help dental practices attract more of the “right” patients through strategic digital marketing and website design

Author Credentials:
Delmain brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and has personally helped hundreds of dentists grow their patient bases via SEO, PPC, social media, and conversion-focused websites.

Key Content:

1. Identifying and understanding your ideal patient profile.
2. Optimizing websites for higher conversion rates.
3. Using SEO, pay-per-click advertising, and social media to generate more quality leads.
4. Case studies and actionable tactics proven in real dental practices.

Why It Stands Out:
It blends theory with practical, hands‑on tactics, from ad spend allocations to website tweaks, offering a playbook to convert online traffic into booked appointments. Many dentists even receive the book for free to help kickstart their marketing efforts.

2. The Complete Book on Dental Marketing – Christopher Phelps

Overview:
A comprehensive 2022 volume (~328 pages) from Dr. Christopher Phelps, a practicing dentist turned marketing entrepreneur, providing an in-depth “masterclass” on applying marketing psychology to patient acquisition and retention 

Author Credentials:
Phelps scaled his own practice from one location to four, achieving a 10× revenue increase in seven years. He’s also a certified trainer in persuasion techniques from Cialdini’s methods and the founder of Golden Goose Scheduling (a call‑tracking tool) 

Key Concepts Covered:

Why It’s Noteworthy:
Backed by real practice performance data and persuasive storytelling, this guide helps dentists transform marketing from a guessing game into a science.

3. Pillars of Dental Success (2nd Ed.) – Mark Costes

Scope & Purpose:
This 2016 second edition from Mark Costes outlines a proven framework for scaling a dental practice from modest beginnings to a multi‑location, multi‑million-dollar enterprise.

 Author Credentials:
Dr. Costes himself built a six‑practice dental group. He is also the host of the Dentalpreneur Podcast and a best‑selling author, well-recognized in the practice‑management sphere 

Core “Pillars” Addressed:

1. Financial & overhead control
2. Operational systems and team structure
3. Maximizing patient experiences
4. New‑patient acquisition strategies
5. HR and culture development
6. Marketing tactics to dominate local markets

Key Insights:

Why It’s Valuable:
These pillars offer a holistic success blueprint, balancing marketing with operations, culture, finance, and patient lifecycle strategies.

4. Growing Your Dental Business – Penny Reed

Focus & Author Background:
Written by Penny Reed, a veteran dental business coach and Chief Growth Officer at eAssist. With over 30 years of experience in coaching practices, she was named a Leader in Dental Consulting by Dentistry Today 

Core Themes:

Why It Matters:
A step-by-step roadmap to elevate your practice performance, both operationally and financially, without the fluff.

5. 21 Ways to Build Your Dental Practice With a Book – Adam Witty

Premise & Purpose:
This 2014 book teaches how publishing a book can elevate your practice by establishing you as an expert and attracting more patients 

Highlights:

Why It Stands Out:
A creative twist on marketing, using content you create (a book) to amplify credibility, referrals, and patient engagement.

6. Marketing Implant Dentistry – Marcus Hines

Overview & Experience:
Authored by experienced implant educator Marcus Hines (BioHorizons marketing director from 2003–2023) 

Coverage:

Why It’s Useful:
For practices integrating implants, it provides specialized tools and outreach techniques that go beyond general dental marketing.

7. The Dental Acquisition Manual – Addison Killeen & Mark Costes

Purpose & Authors:
Co-authored by acquisition experts Addison Killeen (owner of 8 practices) and Mark Costes, this guide helps dentists navigate buying and merging practices 

Content Breakdown:

Why It’s Essential:
A rare walkthrough for dentists considering growth via acquisition, offering practical docs and strategies to mitigate costly mistakes.

8. Everything Is Marketing – Fred Joyal

Theme & Author:
Fred Joyal (Founder of Futuredontics) emphasizes that every aspect of your practice communicates a marketing message 

Topics Covered:

Why It Resonates:
Reminds dentists that marketing isn’t just ads, it’s everything you do daily, offering immediate, actionable adjustments.

9. Grow Your Practice Online – Adam Zilko

Focus & Author Background:
Adam Zilko, founder of Firegang Dental Marketing, provides a blueprint for turning your website and digital presence into a patient-generating engine. This book distills his agency’s proven approach into an accessible format for dentists.

Core Topics Covered:

Why It’s Valuable:
Written specifically for dental practice owners who want to understand what works online, without needing technical knowledge. It’s practical, step-by-step, and focused on what brings in real patients.

10. Profitable Internet Marketing for Dental Practices – Jeff Smith et al.

Author Insight:
Co-authored by marketing consultants who specialize in dental clinics, this book offers an actionable guide to launching profitable online campaigns.

Key Content:

Why It Stands Out:
It’s a nuts-and-bolts internet marketing manual with an ROI-first mindset, ideal for practice owners who want to manage or understand what their marketing agency is doing.

11. The Ultimate Guide to Dental Marketing – Sean Daily & Zach Anderson

Scope & Structure:
This is a comprehensive framework designed to guide both startup and mature practices through every stage of marketing, from branding to patient retention.

Key Topics Include:

Why It’s Useful:
Unlike many books that focus on just one tactic, this offers a strategic view of the entire patient lifecycle and the systems needed to scale.

12. Fully Booked – Carolyn S. Dean

Author Background:
Carolyn Dean is a dental marketing coach with experience helping over 300 dental and medical professionals grow their practices.

The Book’s 9-Step Process Includes:

1. Practice mission and values
2. Strategic planning
3. Building strong branding
4. Attracting ideal patients
5. Enhancing existing relationships
6. Internal and external referrals
7. Building partnerships
8. Reputation management
9. Review and refine regularly

Why It’s Unique:
This book blends mindset, operations, and marketing. It’s especially good for practice owners seeking a holistic, repeatable process to grow ethically and efficiently.

13. How to Get New Dental Patients with the Power of the Web – Adam Zilko & Jacob Puhl

Overview:
A practical digital marketing manual aimed at dentists who want to leverage online channels for consistent patient acquisition.

What’s Inside:

Why It’s Recommended:
It gives dentists an easy-to-understand plan with measurable outcomes. Great for DIY marketers or those working with agencies.

14. Turn Your Dental Practice into a Successful Business – Gabriel Asulin

Author Credentials:
Asulin is an international dental business consultant. His “Gabriel Method” is used in over 60 countries.

Key Framework Covered:

Why It’s Popular:
Translated into multiple languages, it’s known for its clarity and directness. It’s a great choice for dentists transitioning from clinical focus to business leadership.

15. Best Dental Marketing: Leverage AI, Video, Social Media & More – Brad Newman

Author Insight:
Brad Newman is the CEO of Dentainment and host of a dental marketing podcast. This book is packed with modern tactics.

What It Covers:

Why It’s Fresh:
It’s one of the only dental marketing books that fully embraces emerging tools like AI and short video. Great for future-proofing your strategy.

16. Dental Marketing: Find Your Voice – Michael Fleming

Philosophy of the Book:
Fleming’s approach centers on developing your practice’s authentic voice and aligning it with the patients you want to attract.

Key Phases Outlined:

1. Find Your Voice – Define your core values, brand, and tone
2. Use Your Voice – Match your marketing to your personality and patients’ preferences
3. Share Your Voice – Use websites, reviews, emails, and media to promote consistency and trust

Why It Works:
It’s an introspective guide that helps practices build marketing around authenticity, not hype.

17. Marketing Your Dental Lab – Berkshire K. Greene

Target Audience:
Unlike the others, this book is written for dental lab owners marketing to dentists.

Key Topics Covered:

Why It’s Important:
Dental labs often rely on word-of-mouth, this book helps them market proactively and build stronger B2B relationships.

Picking the Right Book for Your Situation

Bonus Reading: Dental Books Beyond Marketing

Here is a list of the best dental books across various important categories relevant for dental professionals and students in 2025:

4 Clinical Technique Books

1. Dental Secrets (Jan 2024) — A practical Q&A style book covering key dental topics with expert tips and over 2000 questions and answers.
2. Diagnostic Imaging of the Teeth and Jaws (Mar 2024) — Focused on dental radiology and imaging techniques.
3. Botox and Fillers, An Issue of Atlas of the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics (Feb 2024) — Covers cosmetic and surgical applications in dentistry.
4. Essentials of Oral Histology and Embryology (Jan 2024) — Fundamental knowledge of oral tissue development and structure.

2 Leadership and Management Books for Dentists

1. Traction: Get A Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman — Practical business leadership strategies for dental practice growth.
2. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson et al. — Communication skills essential for managing teams and patient interactions.

2 Growth Mindset Books Recommended for Dental Professionals

1. Breathe: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor — Explores breathing techniques to improve health and performance.
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear: Offers strategies to build effective habits for personal and professional growth.

7 Essential Dental Books for Dental Students

1. Mosby’s Comprehensive Review of Dental Hygiene by Michele Leonardi Darby: A top resource for dental hygiene exam preparation.
2. Modern Dental Assisting by Doni L. Bird & Debbie S. Robinson: Covers fundamentals of dental assisting.
3. Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist by Ester M. Wilkins: Core clinical skills for dental hygienists.
4. Head and Neck Anatomy for Dental Medicine by Eric Baker et al.: Detailed anatomy essential for dental students.
5. Oral Pathology for the Dental Hygienist by Olga A. C. Ibsen & Joan Andersen Phelan: Focus on oral diseases and pathology.
6. Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques by Joen Iannucci & Laura Howerton: Radiographic imaging principles for dentistry.
7. Applied Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist by Elena Bablenis Haveles: Pharmacology relevant to dental care.

Additional Highly Recommended Dental Textbooks

Key Takeaways from Leading Dental Marketing Books

1. Build a Strong Brand

2. Master Digital Marketing

3. Harness the Power of Social Media

4. Focus on Patient Experience

5. Track and Optimize Results

4 Potential Reasons to Read Dental Marketing Books

1. Saves money: You learn tried-and-true tactics first before spending money on ads.
2. Accelerates growth: Real-world examples show you shortcuts that get results.
3. Gives you confidence: Step-by-step action steps eliminate guessing with easy-to-understand actions.
4. Serves as a present-day guide: Authors test out new tools (AI, video, social media) and share what still gets results in 2025.

How to Turn Reading Into Results | 5 Important Tips

1. Set a 15‑minute reading block after lunch or before the clinic starts.
   
2. Take one action per chapter. Example: update recall wording, launch a Google Ad, or script a phone greeting.
   
3. Track KPIs weekly. New patient calls, show‑up rate, case acceptance, and production per visit.
   
4. Teach your team. Share a two‑slide summary in the next staff huddle to keep everyone aligned.
   
5. Review progress each quarter and pick the next book that solves your biggest bottleneck.
   

Final Thoughts

The 17 dental marketing books above provide a comprehensive toolkit that covers branding basics to advanced digital strategies. 

Choose one that aligns with your next objective, read small pieces of it, and implement each lesson immediately. 

Daily study keeps your practice noticed, prosperous, and patient‑friendly, today and for many, many years.

These best marketing dental books that help you manage time, talk to teams, and lead growth with less stress.