Dr. Greg Grillo, DDS, Visionary Dental Coach
Share
Meet Dr. Greg Grillo, Chief Vision Officer at Method Pro. With decades of clinical experience and a passion for mentorship, Dr. Grillo empowers dental professionals to master patient connections, streamline practice management, and embrace innovation to grow personally and professionally.
quip: Your career has taken you from Navy Dental Officer to Chief Vision Officer at Method Pro. What inspired this unique journey, and how has each phase of your career shaped your approach to dentistry?
Dr. Grillo: The joy is in the journey, right? I wanted to own a practice and had an opportunity waiting for me. But the Navy offered adventure; I took a Health Professions Scholarship before heading to Parris Island with the Marines. I then served pilots and their families at NAF Atsugi, Japan, before returning to Washington State in 1999. I bought my father’s practice, which evolved into a busy partnership, and then sold it in 2022.
I started creating content and strategy for our industry ten years ago as a side gig, which opened doors outside the operatory. COVID hastened my exit from clinical practice; even more global projects opened up as the profession grappled with post-pandemic challenges. Today, I love working with our talented team at Method Pro, helping practices with marketing and support services. I guess I see the profession from a unique angle by blending unique macro and micro perspectives. Now, I just want to continue to impact the success of my colleagues.
quip: At Method Pro, you help dental practices navigate marketing and operational challenges. What’s one common challenge you see, and how do you guide practices to overcome it?
Dr. Grillo: Dentists and their teams are superstars, and I don’t just say that because of my history: I love talking to these heroes every day. Dentistry is intensely technical, but you must be an entrepreneur and manager, too. We’re not prepared for that multi-faceted role in today’s world. Most dentists are trying to figure it out, and trial and error can be expensive. Setting yourself up with a strong mentor, crafting a vision, developing systems, and investing in the right tools is an overlooked necessity. The team I work with has a century of combined experience in dentistry. We help dentists implement the right combination of business fundamentals with today’s head-spinning array of resources for maximum effectiveness.
quip: You’ve had the opportunity to witness quip’s growth over the years, including milestones like the launch of the new quip 360. What excites you most about quip’s journey?
Dr. Grillo: Dentistry tends to trend ultra-traditional, and that’s not all bad. But it also means our perspective doesn’t always extend beyond the operatory walls. quip brings a fresh, consumer-driven ecosystem to the oral care space that stretches far beyond a cool new toothbrush. I've worked on projects that bring one or two interesting products to the market and then plateau or fade away. But quip created a movement, and they’re just getting started. Can I say that with millions of users and relationships with major retailers?!
I’ve seen the excitement building within the profession when I worked the quip booth at some trade shows. And the quip-sponsored CE course that I presented at RDH Under One Roof recently generated a lot of buzz. Providers are just starting to get onboard, and they differentiate their practices when they align with this innovative brand that wants to add value to the profession. I love that quip isn’t content to rest; we’ve recently set up a provider testing panel to gather feedback to further improve the entire product line.
quip: You’ve worked with dental teams worldwide and developed groundbreaking products. Can you share more about your patent for a sterilization product and how it addresses key challenges in dentistry?
Dr. Grillo: The best solutions come from insiders or from end-users. quip’s founder sat in a dental chair and believed a better toothbrush could exist. My hygienist-colleague and I have 60 years combined experience in dentistry, and we saw a pain point in sterilization that plaques every team. Loose instruments and cassettes end up in piles, increasing sharps injuries, broken tips, and soggy towels. We created a patent-pending series of racks called DriRak that reduce handling time by at least half. Our partner, Paradise Dental Technologies, serves dental teams in 57 countries, and many hygienists love their instruments. Our first two racks are reaching final production and should be on the market this winter or spring. We’re excited because they could become a new Standard of Care that supports dental teams in every country. “Gamechanger” is a term we’ve heard a few times!
quip: With your extensive background in psychology and patient care, what’s one strategy you recommend for building strong, lasting relationships with patients?
Dr. Grillo: Love people. See the story in every person. Be authentically curious. You can take many courses and study complex techniques, but there’s nothing new under the sun regarding the human condition. One of the most impactful practices for providers is simple: Sit down at eye level with a patient, look them in the eye with a smile, and ask (by using their name), “Lisa, how can I help make your life better today?” Then, just wait and really listen. Many teams have morning huddles, discussing production, financial goals, etc. That’s fine, but something interesting happens when you change the focus to, “How can we impact individuals today and give them an exceptional experience?” Production and financial gains take care of themselves, and we proved that in my practice for over twenty years.
quip: Your experience spans leadership, innovation, and education. What’s a key piece of advice you’d give to dentists looking to grow both personally and professionally in 2025?
Dr. Grillo: We talked about those three roles: Clinician, manager, and entrepreneur. They’re like a three-legged stool. If one is short-changed, the stool is unstable. Dentists will spend thousands of dollars training as a clinician, but they often underestimate the other roles. Take a look at each hat you wear and make a commitment to invest in each one this year. I spent six-figures in my first five years of private practice on business coaching. It was a sacrifice at the time, but I’d do it all again without hesitation. And it became a basis for what I provide dentists today, at a much lower price, through The Dental CEO at Method Pro. But it’s about much more than money. Dentists and hygienists burn out too often; becoming a confident leader with a vision, organization, systems, strategies, and culture-building acumen means more profits and more fulfillment in a grueling profession. You need both elements to play the long game, but it doesn’t happen without intention.
quip: Dental marketing has become increasingly important for practice growth. What’s one marketing strategy or trend you think practices should focus on in 2025 to stand out and connect with patients effectively?
Dr. Grillo: When I first started in private practice, a Yellow Page ad and local soccer team sponsorship did the trick. I’m giving away my age. Today, you need a cohesive, omni-platform approach. People spent about seven hours daily online in 2024! Are you part of their experience, and have you identified the best tools for your brand? Patients are consumers first, and they expect you to provide the same user experience as any other brand. Most people need seven exposures to a brand before they make a buying decision, including in healthcare. At Method Pro, new clients are usually shocked to see our online audits and the opportunities they’re missing. We could spend hours on this topic, but I recommend engaging with an experienced dental marketing agency and get your digital assets on the top shelf. The competition is doing it, and “dentist near me” searches are up 900% the past ten years. Independent dentists need to take this seriously in 2025! We are also helping clients implement Ai in ways that make sense, and some of these solutions are mind-blowing.
quip: From mentoring dental teams to innovating products, you’ve worn many hats. What’s a fun or unexpected fact about you that readers might be surprised to learn?
Dr. Grillo: I don’t think I’m very interesting, but I love looking at life and dentistry from outside the box. My grandparents came from a poor village in southern Italy, and my dad was the first to go to college (and dental school). My mom boarded a boat for the U.S. from Australia at 18, seeking a new adventure. I adopted the Japanese “continuous improvement” philosophy, Kaizen, early in life. I discovered I could make enough to pay for my entire college career with a busy painting business, and I served as a volunteer firefighter at the same time. But one of my most interesting phases was working with the County Coroner as a forensic dentist on many fascinating cases. Helping solve criminal cases and give families closure about missing loved ones added a special dimension to a decade of my career.
quip: Finally, as you look ahead to 2025, what are your goals for Method Pro and the broader dental community? Is there a particular vision or project you’re excited to pursue?
Dr. Grillo: I’ve worked on many projects, but my passion rests in two places; Method Pro and quip. Both include exceptional people with special ideas. I’m excited about connecting my profession with quip’s vision and helping practices learn how quip can attract new patients, nurture relationships, and increase oral health. At Method Pro, we’ve created a unique offer that helps drive new patient growth using the power of quip’s consumer appeal, for example.
I also love coaching individual practices and developing relationships with my colleagues. I only work with about six practices at a time to provide the attention they deserve. I’m joining forces with two colleagues in 2025 to further differentiate our support: One for owners leaving dentistry along with a more robust practice coaching program. Exciting times, and I just keep trying to live the Kaizen philosophy!
---
Check out Method Pro