Business Of Dentistry with Dr. Russell Kirk

Just to give you an update of my practice right now, we initially did a gradual rollout, bringing in our team members back on piecemeal over a period of three weeks.  And now, we’re back full-time – basically, with a new way of doing business. Obviously, the downtime has given us some time to assess a few issues we have found pre-pandemic that need to be addressed.  In a clinic setting, patients can easily transfer diseases to the dental team and vice versa. This happens when you're handing stuff to and from patients (ex. paperwork, clipboards, ink, pens, insurance cards, credit cards, cash, etc.)  In this episode, I’m going to discuss a few things that we have done in our practice to reduce or eliminate person-to-person contact so we could mitigate the risk of any transfer of disease. In this episode, you’ll hear: How to implement the e-prescription system Things you can include in your online paperwork Handling payments (cards, check, and cash) Other safety practices you can do in your clinic   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/ DoseSpot e-Prescribing and Integration Software: https://www.dosespot.com/  Formstack Online Form Builder: https://www.formstack.com/ OperaDDS: https://operadds.com/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

How are you going to approach things once your state allows you to reopen your office? Do you think you’re going back to where you were pre-pandemic?  There are a lot of questions that are yet to be answered because these are unprecedented times. But there will certainly be a huge paradigm shift both in your practice and in your patients.  It’s not going to be the same – it probably won’t ever be the same. What we do and how we do it are going to be different now.  Today, Dr. Victor Martel joins me as we talk about the possible changes and challenges that we, as dental care providers and business owners, need to consider as we’re preparing for the reopening of our offices.  Victor received his dental degree from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in New Jersey. He is a Fellow at the Academy of General Dentistry and the President of Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is a visiting faculty member at Baylor University and a former faculty member at the Dawson Academy. Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, Victor is limiting his practice to high-end prosthetics and prosthodontics. Victor is also the Founder of Martel Academy. In their mission to elevate the knowledge base of the dental community, they offer courses related to dental implants, esthetic dentistry, occlusion, and comprehensive treatment planning. In this episode, you’ll hear: Safety issues (aerosol, PPE, screening patients) Looking at lower patient volume and how to approach this How this crisis will impact the value of your office Thoughts on retirement, re-engaging, and reinventing The integrity issue   Connect with Dr. Victor Martel Dr. Victor Martel Dr. Victor Martel Practice Dr. Victor Martel FB Dr. Victor Martel IG Dr. Victor Martel Linkedin Martel Academy Email Victor   Connect with Dr. Russel Kirk Dr. Russell Kirk Business of Dentistry Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

Practicing for 23 years now, Dr. Justin Moody is one of the most credentialed Implantologists in the U.S. He is the Founder and Director of Implant Pathway, a continuing education program that focuses on the surgical placement of dental implants. Dr. Moody is also an international speaker and he builds strong mentorships with doctors who take his courses through live surgical training at the end of their Implant Pathway continuum.  In today’s episode, we discuss different topics including what he’s been doing during this pandemic and his plans moving forward. We also talk about the Implant Pathway and how we can use this downtime to learn more about implants.  Justin specifically brings up the issue we’re facing right now where dentists are viewed as nonessential, and even “dangerous,” at this time of the pandemic – when we could have become force multipliers in the healthcare system. He makes a valid point about how dentists should really be regarded as specialists in our field in the same way that MDs are in their respective specialties.  In this episode, you’ll hear: ADA’s lack of support for dental care providers How to manage our practice from a business standpoint The hurdles and impediments to the dental implant industry  Realizations gleaned from this COVID-19 situation    Connect with Dr. Justin Moody: Dr. Justin Moody Dr. Justin Moody IG Dr. Justin Moody FB Dr. Justin Moody Twitter Dentists, Implants, and Worms Podcast Implant Pathway Implant Pathway FB Implant Pathway Youtube Channel Implant Pathway IG Voices of Dentistry   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Business of Dentistry Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

During this pandemic, our unemployment rate has swelled up to 30% and that may still end up in double digits. As a business owner, you have to make sure you’re prepared – and NOW is the perfect time to do that with our current downtime. It's not rocket science. It's just a matter of not taking it for granted.  In today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes talks about things related to the pandemic and how things are going to change going forward with our practices. Mark likes to call everything that’s happening right now as just a reset. Dr. Mark Costes is a keynote speaker, an author, an entrepreneur, and a multi-practice owner. During the course of his career, Mike had set up dental assisting school franchises and has acquired over a dozen successful dental practices.  He is the co-founder of Dental Success Network, a vibrant community of dentists around the world focused on helping dentists become better business owners, better clinicians, and better people. He is also the founder of the Dental Success Institute and the bestselling author of the book Pillars of Dental Success. His internet radio show, The Dentalpreneur Podcast now has listenership from over 150 countries worldwide.   In this episode, you’ll hear: Changes Mark is seeing during the pandemic and what he expects post-pandemic Where marketing should focus around and the 3 population segments you need to go after What could happen with the OSHA law Why it’s very important to be surrounded by people in your business community The kind of support and resources DSN provides to its members Four Futures Journal: what it could do for you and your business during this time   Connect with Dr. Mark Costes: Dr. Mark Costes Dental Success Institute Dentalpreneur Podcast Dental Success Institute IG  Dental Success Institute FB Dental Success TV Dental Success Network Book: Pillars of Dental Success Four Futures Journal: Email Dr. Mark Costes via info@truebusinesssuccess.com with the subject line: “Four Futures Journal” and get a link to the copy.    Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Business of Dentistry Podcast Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

With a lot of offices shut down during this pandemic, being able to continue our dental practice has become a real challenge.    Telemedicine has been around for a while, but not so much for dentistry. Part of it is that we all have this notion that we have to have face-to-face interaction to make it work. But we’re finding out in this COVID-19 pandemic that’s not necessarily the case. There are actually things we can handle remotely, especially with what our guest today has been doing in teledentistry for the last five years.    Today, I want to share with you something that you could adopt in your practice right now and even post-COVID. I’m bringing in Dr. Vilas Sastry of Teledentistry.com. Through their dental practice platform, we can use technology to perform teledentistry, which eliminates the need for patients to go to the emergency room.   Dr. Vilas Sastry obviously had not predicted that a pandemic like this could happen, not in a million years – but what he predicted was a technological revolution in dentistry… and so here we are now.   As Teledentistry.com is helping us pivot our practice during this insane time, they’re offering their dental practice software for free until June 30.   In this episode, you’ll hear: How teledentistry came about and how you can adopt it in your practice How it works HIPAA compliance and the ADA coding and billing guidelines (Find out what is not considered a consult!) How you can get involved with Teledentistry in the future   Resources mentioned: Teledentistry.com Dr. Vilas Sastry Teledentistry Insurance Partners ADA COVID-19 Coding and Billing Guidelines Email Dr. Vilas Sastry   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

In today’s episode, I’m sharing with you an email that I got from Sally Hogshead.    Sally Hogshead is an author, a speaker, and the CEO of How to Fascinate. Now she has a website and business basically centered around how you can learn how to fascinate others with who you are.    She has shared 10 lessons from the recessions she experienced through the years – the 9/11 attack in 2001, the Great Recession in 2008… and now this COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.    This is worth sharing as there are really good points that you might find useful and beneficial as they did for me.    Let’s all uplift each other as there’s no better time than now!   In this episode, you’ll hear: The 10 lessons Sally Hogshead has learned to weather economic downturns What it means to be a silver lining How you can refuse to recede and find opportunity in chaos   Resources: How to Fascinate The Recession Playbook About Sally Hogshead Fascinate Test   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

After finishing this episode, we got the following notice from the SBA. I would continue to monitor their site just in case more money becomes available. Lapse in Appropriations Notice: SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding. EIDL applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more about the relief options available for your business, click here.   We've been shut down for about three weeks now and I wanted to give you a quick SBA loan update.    Today, I’m going over some good, confirmed Small Business Administration (SBA) information that you can use today (something that I received in my inbox). This is a direct email, which is official documentation or correspondence from them.    At this point, I am optimistic that some of these programs will help us weather the storm here.    I have this healthy distrust of my government when it comes to these things. But it sounds like they're sorting it out. Our government is revamping a lot of things as they go along. They've been slower than I would like. But we all have to be patient, especially during this unprecedented time.   I haven’t received any funds yet. But there are people getting it finally… so I finally had the courage to stand here behind the mic and tell you that these things are working to some extent for some people.    In this episode, you’ll hear: An overview of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan information, who can apply, loan details and forgiveness How to use the SBA Local Assistance Tool to find lenders near you Available tools and resources (found below)   SBA General Information Copy of Small Business Administration Email Find SBA Local Assistance SBA COVID-19 Resources   Economic Injury Disaster Loan Loan Overview Apply Online Eligibility   Paycheck Protection Program Loan Information Who Can Apply Loan Details and Forgiveness Other Assistance Lender Forms and Guidance FAQ Find A Paycheck Protection Program Lender PPP Lender Form Lender Agreement SBA Standard Loan Note   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

In the face of this present pandemic, do you think dentistry is dead?   There are some posts going around on social media saying that dentistry is dead. And I fully understand how this pandemic may be causing a lot of mental turmoil because of the uncertainty it brings to our practice and our business – but nobody knows anything at this point.    Even our government is still trying to figure things out.   We can't just bash our profession. It's easy to digress to this negative mindset. But it won't play well for any of us.    It’s a matter of choosing what kind of mindset we’re going to have at this point in time.   We don't know if things are going back to the way we were before and this is something we don’t have control over. But what we can control, however, is our mindset.    We all have to intentionally come from a mindset of abundance, not scarcity.    You have to plan accordingly and ramp up your game. How are you going to approach this to be prepared to kick the doors back open and go after this and get back to where you were at, pre-pandemic?   So instead of spending some of your downtime consuming negative things, let's go get ready and prioritize ahead. So we can make sure our business is stronger than what they were pre-pandemic. In this episode, you’ll hear: The right mindset in the face of this pandemic Things to think about while we’re preparing for when things begin to kick-off Basic prioritization and goal settings Possible changes to expect in the future   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Email Russell Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

The coronavirus situation has been so dynamic and changes quickly. There has been a lot of information and misinformation. I've seen people approaching it very level-headedly, people in near panic mode, and people who seem to be taking this way too lightly. And I’ve been trying to stay in the middle of the road, trying not to be too quick to react or make any knee-jerk decisions that I might pay for later. But I also didn't want to move too slowly and fail to protect my surgical team, my patients, myself and my family.   This week, I’m just going to share with you what's going on, what I've seen on our side of things, and how I’m currently weathering the storm. I know that each of you is dealing with this in your own individual ways. You're not alone. It's not easy. It's challenging. There's going to be opportunities for us, opportunities to learn. We're going to fail. In some respects, we're not going to be able to answer all the questions correctly as we navigate this. And that's okay. We all just have to hang in there and roll with the punches.   In this episode, you’ll hear: The struggles of decision-making with my family and employees in mind Why I decided to lay off my team Short-term options for your business and your team The importance of getting support from your colleagues   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Stoicism has opened my eyes to a new way of thinking. I have been able to apply Stoic principles in my practice and my personal life. For those not familiar with Stoicism, it is a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. Dr. Matthew Standridge is the person who introduced me to this philosophy. And this week, he is my guest!  Dr. Matthew Standridge is a dentist and host of the podcast, Ketodontist. Through his work, he explores the worlds of low carb and ketogenic diets, primal and paleo lifestyles, and oral and whole-body health. In this episode, we discuss Stoicism, including how to get started, books to read, and how we both apply Stoic principles and techniques in our everyday lives. Stoicism has made a significant impact on my life. I hope you find today’s episode insightful and impactful too.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Stoicism is an actionable philosophy The practical uses of Stoicism including some applications in the dental office setting Personal mantras can help to snap yourself out of the current situation  Some resources and books for those interested in the practice of Stoicism We ponder the question, “Why do we worry about our legacy?”   Connect with Dr. Matthew Standridge: Dr. Matthew Standridge Practice Dr. Standridge’s Practice Blog Ketodontist Podcast Ketodontist Ketodontist Facebook Ketodontist Youtube Ketodontist Twitter Ketodontist IG The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey    Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Dental professionals don’t always think of themselves as entrepreneurs. Let’s face it, not all dentists are entrepreneurs. Whether you are an entrepreneurial dentist or not, the risk for all dentists is not making a life outside of work. Today, Alistair MacDonald will help to enrich our minds, relationships, and share the meaning behind what it means to be a third rail entrepreneur. Alistair will share his entrepreneurial journey and some of the lessons he’s learned. We're both ingrained in dentistry. My hope is through our conversation listeners will come away with a new perspective on what we do as dentists now and in the future. Dental practice owner, Alistair McDonald is an entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, but he is not a dental professional. So, his views and insight are very interesting (and albeit a bit different than what we typically hear on this show). He's a wonderful storyteller and always brings a great point to each of his stories. His entrepreneurial journey is pretty amazing too. He's from Zimbabwe where he started his own Safari business— subsequently built it up and then sold it. He then moved to the U.S. where he began the next phase of his career; on Wall Street. In addition to being an entrepreneur, he is the host of The 3rd Rail Entrepreneur podcast.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Alistair’s entrepreneurial journey including how he became a dental practice owner. Why Alistair says not all dentists are entrepreneurs. Dentists aren’t taught the skills needed to be entrepreneurs: soft skills, budgeting skills, implementation skills. Every business is a human business. Leanness is a methodology. It's not a goal. Plus, how to measure leanness or margins in business.  The risk for dentists is they don't actually make a life.  How and why the third rail can be a super force in your life and help challenge you.   Connect with Alistair MacDonald: Alastair MacDonald TedX Talk Parallax Strategic Advisors 3rd Rail Entrepreneur Podcast   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Are you considering selling your dental practice? Whether you are thinking about it or not, it is beneficial to know your options if that time comes.  This episode goes over some of the details including the risks and benefits of selling a private practice to Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) and to the private equity market. There are tremendous opportunities in the market right now for selling in one of these methods as opposed to selling directly to another dentist. My guest this week is Brian Colao, an attorney specializing in dental support organization, structuring, restructuring, and sales of private practices to dental support organizations or private equity agreements. Listen to this episode to consider ways to receive the best value possible for your practice and to have a greater understanding of your involvement in deals to make the future successful for your organization. In this episode, you’ll hear: Consolidation of practices is continuing at an unprecedented rate and selling directly to other dentists is a process that is phasing out. What a DSO is, how selling to one can benefit you, and the level of involvement you can still have. What a private equity transaction is and what that means to you. There is a shortage of dentists in the United States right now and DSOs typically do not want to “clean house,” instead they want to keep productive offices moving forward.  Dentistry has proven to be recession-resistant and since 2010 or 2011 has stirred increased attention with private equity investors.  How to know whether you like a hands-on or hands-off oversight when considering going with a DSO versus a private equity deal. The importance of asking for references before getting involved with people in the industry. Staffing programs for practices around the country and opportunities in remote areas. Information on the upcoming conference this July in Dallas. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this marketplace.   Connect with Brian Colao:Dykema Brian Colao DSO information   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

This episode is filled with great information on the importance of taking a step back and ensuring your priorities, such as your health, are staying central to how you are living. Sometimes radical changes are necessary to achieve a level of self-care that is necessary for a good quality of life.  I am pleased to welcome Dr. Josie Dovidio to the Business of Dentistry podcast. After 22 years of owning her own practice, she is currently on a sabbatical from her dental career. She experienced a great deal of success within the field of dentistry, however, about a year ago she began to evaluate her health and realized she needed to make some changes.  So, she sold her practice. And yes, the adjustment period brought its own challenges, which we discuss in this episode. She also learned how to fill her time in productive ways aimed at calming instead of adding stress.  In this episode, you’ll hear: The importance of self-care in the dental profession. It’s so easy to let work control life and add stress. Stress is hard on your health and must be controlled. The importance of living within your financial means so you can make a change in your professional life—if the need arises. Dentistry should be a part of your life but you should not let it define you. Dr. Dovidio’s entrance into the world of podcasting. How she learned to love humanity again after a period of feeling bitter.   Connect with Dr. Dovidio:Dr. Josie Dovidio Articles (Dental Hacks) Dr. Dovidio The Author Josieology.com Josieology Podcast Josieology Facebook Josieology Instagram Josieology Twitter   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

This week it is my pleasure to speak with Duane Tinker and he has a very interesting background! Duane worked in the Texas law enforcement industry then transitioned to a dental office investigator. His challenge with transitioning to this role was learning the dental industry so he could do his job well. He dealt with areas such as investigating clinical complaints against practices, fraud, and people working outside the scope of their licensure.  Through this role, Duane met many dentists and realized they were great people—some just didn’t know, what they didn’t know. Drawing on his law enforcement experience, Duane recognized the value his experiences could have when shared with dental professionals, in a meaningful way, to prevent them from getting into situations such as the ones he was being assigned to investigate. This realization was the catalyst for opening his own business to help stand in the gap for dentists and help dentists prevent situations that could bring about legal action against them. Duane’s perspectives are very important for all dentists to hear so be sure to listen to this episode. After all, you may not know what you don’t know. In this episode, you’ll hear: Tips for dealing with an investigator if you are faced with this situation. Make sure you have an attorney on your speed dial. Know which one to use and which ones to avoid. Make sure the attorney is someone you know and trust. Lying to an investigator is obstruction of justice so make sure you are protecting yourself and preserving your rights by not commenting initially to an investigator. Electronic records would need to be printed for an investigator working under a subpoena. Duane realized how many great people are in dentistry and that he wanted to work with dental professionals to help them understand which dangers can occur in their practices they may not be aware of.  How Duane’s company, Dental Compliance Specialists, can help dental practices. The importance of having your paperwork and compliance information in order. That details matter. For example, having expired medications could result in disciplinary action. Duane’s office is in place to help the good dentists out there prevent situations from getting out of control.   Resources mentioned in this episode:Dental Compliance Specialists Speak with the Tooth Cop Talking with the Tooth Cop - Facebook Talking with the Tooth Cop Podcast   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Voice search and voice optimization are growing trends. After getting an Amazon Echo over the holiday season, the idea of artificial intelligence and voice search became intriguing. We have these voice-activated Smart Home devices in our homes that can control security cameras, lights, and even the thermostat. Smart Home devices also have the ability to tell you sports scores or current news. There is a remarkable amount of information at our fingertips.  How is voice search going to impact dentists and dental practices?  In this episode, I am going to share some of the information I’ve found which may help you to recognize what you need to do in order to get ahead of the curve. When someone asks their Google home device, “Okay, Google, find me the nearest oral surgeon” will your practice come up in the search results? Voice search is on the rise. Are you ready?  In this episode, you’ll hear: The growth of voice search and the importance of being top of mind in voice search capability for your specialty or practice. Statistics on voice search marketing and how it differs from text-based marketing. My thoughts around voice search optimization and what it could mean for dentists.   Resources mentioned in this episode:Voice Search Trend Article   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Situational awareness is all about being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your health and safety.  In this week’s episode I wanted to talk about situational awareness from the standpoint of business and having the awareness of things that may affect your business, your practice, and the way you operate on a daily basis; in this case, new laws coming into effect in 2020.  To prepare for this episode, I did a superficial, cursory internet search on new laws that are going into effect in 2020 for the business of dentistry.  I share some of the important ones that are being implemented and may have an impact on your business or on your practice. My hope is that this episode will bring to light some laws that may not have been on your radar and/or encourage you to do some research on new laws in your state so that you can be prepared.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Some laws that affect minimum wage in several states and thoughts on how it might impact a dental practice; plus some other laws that may affect the way you work with and/or hire staff “Surprise medical bills” laws are being implemented in various states and what you need to know about it About North Carolina’s Dental Bill of Rights and how it might affect you   Resources mentioned in this episode:→ Download 2020 State Laws of Interest for The Business of Dentistry   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com     

As we end one year and begin a new one, I wanted to do something a little different this week on the show. After going over various topics, I settled on sharing my top ten list of software and apps I have used in my practice in 2019. Now these are not your typical oral surgery tools or products. In fact, most stray outside of the lane of dentistry. However, I've adopted, tweaked, and have used each of these products in my practice.  Today you will hear me talk about tools such as Camtasia, Enguard, and Rev, and how I am utilizing them in my day-to-day work. I will also share my experience and use of the Dental Success Network, which is a pseudo-Facebook app for dentistry. Listen to learn how I use these various tools on a daily and weekly basis; and how you might be able to do the same. Best wishes for a prosperous and productive New Year!  In this episode, you’ll hear: The unique way I’ve been using a podcast recording platform, Squadcast, to dictate short clinical notes How I use Camtasia to record information about patient cases for my Orthodontist referrals and send using a secure email HIPAA Compliant email hosting by Enguard How the Dental Success Network can help keep you connected to other dentists and dental specialists Some dental practice specific tools and how to utilize them in my practice, including ICD10Data and Sowingo Resources mentioned in this episode:Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Camtasia  Dental Success Network: use mentor code RK when you submit your application Enguard Freedom Google Drive IDC10Data Rev Sowingo: 10% off an annual subscription Stop Doing That Shit Squadcast   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

I will be the first to admit that I have difficulty maintaining focus when it comes to clinical and administrative tasks. Lately, I've been troubled by the distraction of the internet, because it is always there. It buzzes around in the background, when I should be trying to maintain focus between patients. I've made some attempts to find productivity applications that help me in this area. Recently, I’ve found an app that might just be the answer I’ve been looking for.  I’d like to introduce you to the app called Freedom Application. It is an app and website blocker for Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Chrome.  In today’s episode I share how I’ve been using the app to block out the internet noise and bring my focus back to my patients.  In this episode you’ll hear: How I deal with the distraction of the internet The myth of multitasking Freedom Application Blocker Getting real about habits   Resources mentioned in this episode: Freedom Application Voices of Dentistry 2020   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Nothing is more frustrating than wasting time looking for what you need. My clinical team recently surprised me by creating a master inventory list for our office. They went through everything, reorganized and even recompiled our inventory numbers. Plus, what they did works in conjunction with our Sowingo. I must admit, it is great to have everything organized.  If you’re struggling with finding supplies in your office, I encourage you to take some time to organize. You will eliminate a great deal of frustration and enjoy more peace of mind. In this episode, I’ll provide some details on exactly how our office is organized, right down to the shelves, and offer inspiration so you can organize too. Today I also talk about year-end holiday sales and taxes. Are you in the market for equipment for your office? If so, now may be the time to buy new equipment and then take advantage of the Section 179 deduction on your taxes.  In this episode, you’ll hear: The importance of tracking your inventory How labeling drawers can help your efficiency and reduce frustration Equipment purchases should have a good ROI The potential benefits of purchasing equipment before the end of the year for deductions on your Section 179 Where to go to calculate possible deductions if you do need to purchase equipment Resources mentioned in this episode: Section179.org Voices of Dentistry 2020   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

I’m coming clean.  In this episode, I will discuss some recent patient situations I’ve been in where I didn’t feel I handled myself in the best way possible and how to cut ties when it has to be done. Communication is a key to good chairside manner. Sometimes, those lines of communication break down. It may be a significant other who tries to control the conversation instead of the patient. It may be a conflict in personalities. I’m here to tell you that you are going to run into some patients that you are glad to see go. You might feel guilty but, in the end, you will likely realize it’s for the best.    Sometimes you might come across a patient who disagrees with your professional opinion. You may have feelings of frustration or even guilt when this happens because your goal is to help as many people as you can. Having a patient try to drive treatment that goes against your professional opinion can be disheartening and as professionals, we have to accept that we can’t help every patient who walks through our door.    In this episode, you’ll hear: Conflicting feelings when you let a patient go The importance of feeling comfortable with patient communication When a significant other drives the conversation instead of the patient How to diplomatically turn down a patient Approaching your patients with a calm and peaceful mindset Being ok when we can’t help a patient   Resources mentioned in this episode:Peaceful Practice Podcast Peaceful Practice Dr. Alan Mead Dr. Dawn Kulongowski Business of Dentistry Voices of Dentistry 2020   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

What are you doing to generate internal referrals? If you haven’t really thought about internal referrals or the system you are using isn’t working as expected, you’re in luck! This week I am talking on the topic of internal referral systems. I'll be completely transparent with you, in the past I’ve primarily focused on external marketing or cold marketing, if you will. Sure, we’ve had regular referrals from patients, but unrelated to any internal referral system strategy we may or may not have.  As a practice owner I decided it was time to create a strategy for internal referrals. Some of what I learned was surprising, like the cost to acquire a patient from an internal referral or from another patient is so much less than traditional marketing efforts. On today’s episode I’ll be discussing the benefits of internal referrals systems, some of the reasons we disregard setting them up, and some steps to set up referral systems for success in your practice.   In this episode, you’ll hear: The benefits of setting up an internal referral system strategy How overcoming the trust barrier through internal referrals can improve client rapport Some reasons why dental practice owners, like myself, may be ignoring or disregarding internal referrals Variations of rewards for patients who refer you to their friends and families Pondering the question, “How do you ask for referrals from your patients?” Some thoughts on how to craft language that doesn't sound salesy or pushy   Resources mentioned in this episode: Business of Dentistry Voices of Dentistry 2020   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com   

I've talked about burnout and how the dentistry profession can grind us down. It's a difficult profession. We oftentimes feel isolated and jaded. It can be a daily occurrence or more of an ebb and flow. I have learned how to become aware of when this is happening. I’ve also learned that one way to take a step back and relax is to have a hobby. I am a fan of Stoicism and Stoic philosophers. I am also a huge fan of Ryan Holiday. One of the things he recently talked about was how successful people have hobbies. He honed in on Winston Churchill and how painting helped him disconnect from the stress and requirements of being Prime Minister of England during World War II. So, Ryan really gave me a moment of pause to think more about hobbies. How can having a hobby help dental professionals disconnect from the daily grind? How can we as dentists enjoy a hobby without letting work creep into our mind? When you are enjoying a hobby, do you actually feel detached from work? I explore these questions and more, on this week’s episode of the Business of Dentistry podcast. I hope it stimulates your thinking and helps you reassess where you're at in your practice and in your life.  If you have hobbies you have put on the shelf, maybe it's time to dust them off. If you don't, now is a great time to start. In this episode, you’ll hear: The importance of hobbies as a way to distance yourself from work Ensuring your hobby is a true leisure and something you’re passionate about Finding and making the time for hobbies Making your hobby, and time for your well-being, a priority   Resources mentioned in this episode: Ryan Holiday Article On Hobbies Ryan Holiday Website Business of Dentistry Voices of Dentistry 2020   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

This week I am joined by a much-anticipated guest on the show. I welcome Dr. Bryan Stimmler. We share not only a love of dentistry but also a passion for the practice of the martial art Jiu-Jitsu. There are some wonderful similarities between practicing Jiu-Jitsu and living life… and we’ll discuss those in this episode. As a dental student, have you stressed out over grades and focused on just learning a procedure to be able to move along to the next class? Bryan and I discuss education and our common belief that we need to take a different approach to education. There should be more of an emphasis on looking at what you are doing in class as preparing you for the work you will be doing in life and not just focusing on the pass/fail grade. Honing and mastering our skills is where our focus should be because we practice on human beings who need our expertise. We sometimes only have one opportunity to do a procedure for someone, and we need to get it right.  Speaking of education, many dental practices face common issues when they consider what the biggest problems facing their practice are. One recurring issue is the importance of training our teams. After all, nobody is a mind reader, so we have to be realistic with our approach to our staff members. In this episode, we discuss the fact that our teams need to have the education, training and resources to do their jobs properly and handle their days with a better mental state while at the office.  This episode of The Business of Dentistry will not only provide you with some insight on ways to improve your mindfulness and manage your practice but also leave you with a challenge. So, listen to this episode, and let us know your thoughts as we try to put together a new event for you! In this episode, you’ll hear: The importance of education and realizing that you are learning the work you will be doing in real life  The benefits of taking some time to back down from work and make new connections with people Bryan’s experience with going “off the grid” for a few weeks without technology and the positive effects it had on him Many types of success are out there - the need to look at what is important to you It’s difficult for most people to articulate why they want to do things The level of mindfulness that is learned through Jiu-Jitsu Skills to introduce to your team to get them to a better mental state at the office - the training and then the resources that are needed The biggest problems facing some dentists at their offices   Connect with Dr. Bryan Stimmler:NorthBrooklynDentalCare.com The Better Dentistry Podcast thebetterdentistry@gmail.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thebetterdentistrypodcast/   Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

This week I am taking a break from interview episodes and instead, I am flying solo. I wanted to talk about some lessons I recently learned while being a spectator at my son’s baseball game. Yes, baseball. You may be thinking, well, baseball to dentistry, that’s kind of a stretch. On the surface it seems like it.  When it comes to both professions, we have to learn to filter out a lot of the noise (from spectators, supervisors, or team players), differentiate between useful and non-useful information, and my favorite parallel, learn to seek out someone in the field to help guide and mentor us. And when it comes to mentoring, how do you know who to choose? How do you evaluate potential mentors? In this episode, I touch on all of these topics and more.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Differentiating between useful and non-useful information Things to consider when evaluating and choosing a potential mentor Why a mentor’s background and achievements are important A thought about communication styles How to ask someone to be your mentor and managing your expectations Connect with Russell: Dr. Russell Kirk Podcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/businessofdentistrypodcast/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/businessofdentistry/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/businessdentist  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-of-dentistry/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Are you tired of taking time away from work and family to attend conferences? Are you looking for an easier way to learn a new skill? This week I welcome Blake McClellan to the show to discuss his software, Implant Compare. This is a new method of dental education, live streaming surgeries, lectures, and courses to provide students and other viewers with a new perspective for their continued education. With so much technology to leverage in today’s world, this online platform provides a way for educators to present their information to students - and nobody has to travel. For example, a doctor can live stream a procedure on their own channel, one that is similar to a YouTube channel, and expose their students to a real case...one that may not be perfect. By seeing the real challenges of a case, students learn from the best perspective on how to adapt to a situation and resolve the issue. Blake emphasizes the need for community as we share our information. This platform offers just that. It is a way to reach out and be heard by the people who want and need to hear your message. This does not cater to a particular product on the market, so it is unbiased instructional programming aimed at educating others from an incredible perspective that is often better than if you were there in person.  Listen to this episode of The Business of Dentistry to hear about how you can benefit from Implant Compare’s platform. Whether you are an educator or a student, you will see the incredible value being offered through this platform. In this episode, you’ll hear: About streamlining education that is available to all How the Implant Compare platform works The value in live streaming so students can learn from real cases and their inherent challenges The benefits of teaching what you care about vs. promoting a particular product Different types of content are being streamed in addition to those in the dental industry The importance of having a community around educational methods Stepping outside your normal zone helps you to discover new methods and outside talent who can help your business process Phenomenal content is available on social media, so take advantage of it Resources from this episode:ImplantCompareAll In PodcastBlake McClellan   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Is your inventory management causing you some issues? Are you looking for a better tool to manage all of the “stuff” in your practice? This week on The Business of Dentistry I welcome Dr. Paul Bhatti. He has created an inventory management software titled “Sowingo” which is changing the way dental offices are managing their inventory.  Sowingo provides the clinical team with a way to organize and streamline their process for tracking inventory and open up time for other purposes. Lost inventory is lost money. When we consider how much is wasted in our offices due to expiration dates, the costs can be staggering. In fact, millions of dollars worth of products are lost each year. And we also lose money as staff members spend their time tracking inventory by hand when they could be using their talents elsewhere in the office, perhaps helping to increase revenue. This software tracks general inventory, medications, and implants and has modules to track things such as certifications and safety data sheets as well. And, the software continues to expand its capabilities due to the feedback from clients. Are you ready to change the way your practice is managing inventory? If you’d like to consider a transparent, cost-effective way to cut down on lost inventory and get organized, listen to this episode of The Business of Dentistry. This software is solving problems so we can become more productive in our practices as we work to provide the best care for our patients. In this episode, you’ll hear: About the Sowingo inventory management system that can bring some transparency and clarity to your practice and serve as a tool for your clinical staff to use The core areas of general inventory, medications, and implants that are tracked The other modules that help you manage your practice This software is developed by a dental professional who understands the needs within the practice Scanning software allows staff to easily remove products from the inventory as they are used, allowing the system to notify you when items need to be reordered so shortages can be avoided How to schedule a demo of Sowingo to see the value it can bring to your practice Resources from this episode:Sowingo website: https://www.sowingo.com/ Dr. Paul Bhatti: https://www.parkviewsurgery.ca/meet-us/dr-paul-bhatti/   *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Burnout is alive and well in our profession. Studies show that 7%, and as high 21% of dentists struggle with the symptoms of practice burnout.           These dentists feel drained. They complain of chronic tiredness.  They suffer from mental fatigue. They deal with frazzled emotions. They start to see patients as "procedures" rather than people. Cynicism reigns their life.          It is common for these colleagues to seek isolation. At first, they turn away from their team and patients. This can expand to friends and family.  They suffer in silence. They can drift into substance abuse as a means to cope.       Adding to these problems, they start to blame themselves.  They devalue their self worth and feel a lack of personal achievement.  They feel as if they offer no value to others. Every time they hear the phrase, "no offense, I hate dentists,"  it reinforces this belief.         This downward spiral starts to take its toll.  It starts with the dentist. But begins to impact the dental practice.  Lost patients, lost team members, and falling revenues add to the stress. Burnout's tentacles start to reach into all aspects of the dentist;s life.  This starts a move on a spectrum from general stress to burnout. Burnout leads to depression. A path on one wants to be on.          Does any of this sound familiar? I hope not. But there is a chance some of the above statements describe you.     This begs the question.  How do I know if I'm suffering from burnout?  No simple answer exists. Burnout has a multitude of symptoms.  Dentists have varying degrees in which they experience each of them. So, with no simple solutions, what is a good starting point?  We say you should start with a personal wellness assessment. One designed for dental professionals.       In this type of  self assessment you will be able to gauge your risk for burnout.  The results of your assessment will give you information to make future decisions.  Some of us don't need to do anything because we have a low risk. Others may need to make some self directed adjustments or seek outside help.       To get you started we have connected with Mind Garden to offer you a limited (100), no cost, wellness survey.  This will help you better understand if you are trending towards, or in the throws of burnout.       You can get this limited offer by clicking on the link below.   Get Your Free Personal Dental Burnout Assessment Your first name and a good email address will get you the link to an anonymous wellness assessment . The actual assessment gathers no personal information.   At its completion you will have a private report provided to you. You may review the report at the end of the assessment or download it to review at a later date.    Take the first step to beat dental burnout.  Click below to take the free dental professional wellness assessment now.  Get Your Free Personal Dental Burnout Assessment

Have you found yourself going through your days, seeing patients, but wishing you were actually handling a different kind of patient workload? That’s the situation that my guest this week, Dr. Brian Harris, found himself in. He found that he really enjoyed doing cosmetic cases over any other kind of patient case and wanted to increase his patient cosmetic base. That’s when he decided to reach out to potential patients virtually. He came up with a new system, Smile Virtual, as a way to reach out to potential patients. Today, he is sharing this amazing new program with all of us.  If you’re ready to practice the way you want to practice and work the way you want to work, his virtual consult platform may be able to help you create the workload of your dreams. Your practice can change.  Today, Dr. Harris explains how virtual consulting is removing barriers with new clients and saving practitioners precious time that can be spent the way they want to spend it.  Are you ready to take a step on the path to doing things a little differently and reduce open chair time? If so, you won’t want to miss this episode! In this episode, you’ll hear: How his software builds a connection and value with a client through a virtual consult that is recorded at the dentist’s convenience  The removal of barriers with new clients so they know the cost and process upfront and can decide if a procedure is affordable and feasible The challenge of breaking away from your normal routine to the new line of projects you want to do The necessity of remaining HIPAA compliant  How Smile Virtual is increasing referrals, networking, and collaboration with specialists for comprehensive cases That this software platform is a time-efficient way for the patient and doctor to share information and get to the point of meeting for a diagnosis Resources from this episode:Smile Virtual website: https://www.smilevirtual.com Dr. Brian Harris: https://www.harrisdental.com/dr-brian-harris/  

This week on The Business of Dentistry, Gerry McGoldrick, Chief Marketing Officer of Kleer, joins me to talk about how dentists can create customized dental membership plans for their practice. On average, 20 to 30% of dental practices patients are uninsured and they're only coming in every other year. How can practices help this specific patient base without hurting their own bottom line? Enter Kleer, a cloud-based platform, where dentists can easily design, implement, and manage their own dental membership plan.  In today’s episode, Gerry shares how Kleer originated and who they serve. Plus, you’ll hear the benefits of creating your own membership plan, how their system works, and how it helps uninsured clientele. If you’ve been wondering how to answer the question, “How do I serve my uninsured patients better and still make money?” then this is an episode you won’t want to miss.  In this episode, you’ll hear: Some key benefits and features of Kleer How financing works for specialists as opposed to general dentists Referrals, discounts, and membership cards Marketing and promoting your dental membership plan Resources from this episode:Kleer’s website: https://www.kleer.com  

On this episode of The Business of Dentistry, I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Casey Culberson. He likes to “work hard but play hard, too!” This is a great way to live, as we all need to have favorite pastimes to reduce the stress in our lives. Speaking of reducing stress, Dr. Culberson has created a way for phobic patients to take their mind off of dental procedures while at the office, which we discuss in today’s episode.  Dr. Culberson recognized a need for entertaining for his patients while they received treatment, and now with his new invention, he is helping to calm phobic patients in many dental offices too. In this episode, you will hear about his Molar Media Mount, what it is, how he invented it, and how he is using it in his practice today.  You’ll also hear about the benefits of shared office space and how a change in perspective helped him manage his practice in a new way.   In this episode, you’ll hear: The benefits of a shared office space, plus some ways to use your time most efficiently The benefits of participating in a mission trip and how it can change your perspective on how you manage your office The process and steps of inventing an item for dental office use About his Molar Media Mount, its benefits and how it helps to calm and entertain phobic patients   Resources from this episode: The Molar Media Mount: https://www.molarmediamount.com/ Dr. Casey Culberson: http://www.caseyculbersondds.com/

This episode of The Business of Dentistry discusses an incredible opportunity for dental professionals to explore: the often undiagnosed disease of sleep apnea and its treatment options. My guest, Michael Cowen, and his business partner, Chad Wooters, discuss how their platform, Awaken2Sleep, is changing dental practices across the country. Chances are, you have many, many patients coming through your practice who are suffering from sleep apnea and may not even know it. This program can empower you to help the patients who entrust themselves to your care. In this episode, we discuss their educational program and how it can be utilized in your practice. This program is designed not only for the doctors but also for the dental office team. By educating your staff, you are equipping the entire office to help patients. As Michael notes, they have “created a platform for doctors to be heroes for patients.” Do you have any idea how lucrative this segment of your offered services could be? You may be very surprised at the answer! In this episode, you’ll hear: The life-saving importance of recognizing patients who may be suffering from sleep apnea and how to diagnose this disease Dispelling some myths associated with dental insurance billing The simple and usable training and coaching available through this program that educates not only doctors but their staff as this process needs to be a team approach How the program continues to develop with new courses added monthly The financial impact on a dental practice if they decide to offer sleep apnea services and the opportunity cost involved if you are not providing this service The training and support levels available Resources from this episode:Awaken2Sleep’s website: https://awaken2sleep.com/ For a free 7-day trial: https://www.sleepheronetwork.com/ *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Part 1 of our Burnout series. This week we talk about how to recognize burnout with its multifaceted features.

After a long hiatus, the Business of Dentistry is back.  As a re-launch episode, I figured we would start off talking everyone's favorite - hate mail.   

Outside of my family, the two things that I’m the most comfortable and passionate talking about are dentistry and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Today I want to share with all of you a few thoughts on the lessons I’ve learned after losing a match during the jiu-jitsu tournament I had signed up for. My experience there taught me a few important things, and I later realized that these things can also translate well to my practice. So I will use these lessons in the future, both on a business and a jiu-jitsu side. When you have something go wrong, I strongly encourage you to not just quit on the first try. It may be something that will work in the future. Reorganize, regroup, come back and try it again. Key takeaways: Doing something a little uncomfortable to get out of your comfort zone Prepare, have a strategy, be ready to adjust and shift things Take ownership, give credit where credit is due, and work harder the next time

Today I have a very short episode for you. It’s all about rekindling the excitement and the fire by trying something new. I know that I haven’t posted anything in awhile, but I needed some time in order to breathe, recharge, and think deeper. Now I’m back and I’ll be having some pretty exciting guests coming on the show, so stay tuned! Key takeaways: Doing something new and exciting Taking yourself out of stagnant, dormant waters, and refreshing your mindset

Reese Harper is the founder of DentistAdvisors.com. He started working in the financial service industry in 2003, and had several business owner clients. Over time, he realized that dental practice owners were really different from the rest. Compared to his other clients, dental practice owners had a lot more financial questions, and seemed to be carrying more financial anxiety and stress. So Reese figured out that the generic solutions that the financial planning industry were providing to dentists were just not meeting their needs. Dental practice owners had a more complex financial picture, and that made him choose to work exclusively with them now. Key takeaways: Reevaluate your financial plan every year and make adjustments How much wealth do you need to have in order to make work optional? Avoid cash holdings, renegotiate your debt, and borrow against your own investments Links: Dentist Advisors Elements® Comprehensive Financial Planning The Dentist Money Show Podcast

This week I’m flying solo again. I share some practical tips that have helped me in my practice in the hope that you will feel prompted to make some changes as well. First I talk about why I find documenting my protocols very important. All these steps are very intuitive now, but I got a lot out of just writing them down and sharing them with other people. I also really think you should take a look at your credit card statements once in a while, because you might discover automatic payments that you completely forgot about. Finally, I am currently looking at implementing the agile methodology in my practice. If you’ve already done that, I’d really appreciate your feedback. You can email me at drkirk@businessofdentistrypodcast.com. Key takeaways: Look at documenting your protocols Consider reviewing your credit card statements quarterly Bringing the agile approach to the team

As promised, my guest this week is Mr. Chuck Blakeman, the author of Making Money Is Killing Your Business and Why Employees Are Always a Bad Idea. Join us for a very captivating show where we touch on some very important strategic aspects that we all tend to forget too often. Today’s lesson is that your business can really take off if you understand and apply some simple concepts. Too often we tend to get in our own way when it comes to our practices because we’re too busy trying to make money. The tyranny of the urgent wraps itself around us, while the priority of the important quietly sits in a corner waiting for us to pay attention to it. There are two types of business owners: the income producers that always need to be in their practices in order for everything to function properly, and the true business owners that can take a month off to go on holiday while they keep making money even when they’re away. After reading Mr. Blakeman’s book I re-evaluated my own situation. And after speaking to him, I found yet more hidden practical gems that I can use in order to bring my practice and my life to the next level. Key takeaways: The tyranny of the urgent vs the priority of the important Shifting your mindset The 1000 to 1 principle Strategic plans vs business plans Figuring out your big why Why it’s important to focus on one objective every year Links: Making Money Is Killing Your Business Book GOTT (Get Off The Treadmill) Summit Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! Full show notes at: http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/

Full show notes at: http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/ This week I want to touch on a few more things regarding the book I mentioned last week,  Making Money Is Killing Your Business by Chuck Blakeman in the hope that you might get a bit of practical inspiration that you can implement in your daily life. First things first, I have some great news: I have been contacted by Mr. Blakeman’s team, and I am going to have him as a guest in a few weeks. I’m very, very excited, and events like these are for me some of the hidden advantages of podcasting. So I’m going to keep you updated about that. If you happen to have any questions that you’d like me to ask Mr. Blakeman, you can send me an email at DrKirk@businessofdentistrypodcast.com. In this episode, I also speak a bit more in-depth about the tyranny of the urgent, a concept introduced by Mr. Blakeman in his book, and one that I find truly thought-provoking. So please remember that if you want to get somewhere in your professional life, it’s crucial that you always keep an eye on your overall strategy, and you don’t get buried in your daily activities. I started implementing a few things for myself, and I’m more than happy to share them with all of you. Key takeaways: Chuck Blakeman is coming on the show in a few weeks Dealing with the tyranny of the urgent Some practical solutions that I’ve come up with Links: Making Money Is Killing Your Business

This week I want to give you a little bit of an update on what’s going on around here. I read a book that got me thinking a lot, and I recommend it to every solo practitioner out there: Making Money Is Killing Your Business, by Chuck Blakeman. Reading it makes you really reflect on the state of your business, and your long-term objectives. Personally, I realized that I would like a few things to change, and I am most likely going to bring in another surgeon to help me out. Blakeman makes some very interesting points on the so-called “tyranny of the urgent”. We can become so caught up in our daily activities, that we lose track of what we want to achieve in the long run. It’s something to keep in mind: be aware of what you really want to achieve and check yourself from time to time to see where you’re at. Finally, I’m really excited to announce that we’ve started a new digital magazine for dental practice owners, ownR Magazine. Go check it out and let me know what you think, I appreciate every piece of feedback I receive. Key takeaways: The stages of a true business Taming the tyranny of the urgent A new digital magazine for dental practice owners Links: Making Money Is Killing Your Business Foundr Magazine ownR Magazine

My guest this week is Travis Hornsby, the founder of Student Loan Planner, a student loan advisor company. Behind every great man there’s a great woman, they say. In Travis’s case, the great woman is his wife, a physician in Saint Louis. When they first started dating, she had a lot of student debt. So Travis decided to help her out by making a model of how they can pay off her student debt. He used all the knowledge he got from bond trading and modeling complex debt instruments and started researching what are the most advantageous choices you can make while repaying your debt. His then girlfriend, now wife, started spreading the word about what he was doing, so he started helping more and more dentists. He advised about 250 dentists and dental specialists in the past 18 months. Key takeaways: The grim current landscape of student debt Choose your plan according to your goals The current state of student loans is not sustainable, and that might change Links: Student Loan Planner Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter!

This week I am joined by Dr. Paul Etchison, host of The Dental Practice Heroes Podcast, and author of Dental Practice Hero: From Ordinary Practice to Extraordinary Experience. Paul comes from Illinois, and studied in Chicago. After finishing dental school, he worked for a specialist who owned several practices. There he got the chance to learn a ton of things, and after about two and a half years, he started thinking about creating his own business. The next step for him was taking Dr. Scott Leune’s Breakaway Practice Seminars and gathering as much information as humanly possible. He then started looking for a location for his office, found the perfect spot and grew the business really fast. Fast forward to six years later, they now have almost 3 million visits every year and still counting! Key takeaways: Success narrowed down to effort and dedication Devoted to creating an exceptional practice culture Some of the marketing strategies they’ve used Burnout and coming up with a solution Why he become an author Links: The Dental Practice Heroes Podcast Dental Practice Hero: From Ordinary Practice to Extraordinary Experience Book Breakaway Practice Seminars Productive Dentist Academy Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! Full show notes at: http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/

My guest this week is a self-declared Nebraska farm boy whose first career pursuit was athletic medicine. He later realized that athletic trainers are really married to their job, and this wasn’t the lifestyle he wanted for himself. Dave Maloley then switched to dentistry and never looked back. Today we talk about why it’s necessary to keep an eye on your vision, and why you should constantly remind yourself of what’s important to you. We also touch on Dave’s 16 life categories that help him be more focused on his goals, on how he discovered high-performance training and how it completely turned his life around. Finally, it’s useful to remind you that you can always sign up for the Dental Success Network, whenever you have questions, or if you need to double-check something. It’s an enormously valuable resource. Key takeaways: Building vision and clarity Dave’s 16 life categories How high-performance training changed his life The Dental Success Network initiative Links: The Relentless Dentist Podcast The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed On Your Own Terms Dental Success Network Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! Full show notes at: http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/

This week I speak about two things that have helped me improve my practice and my wellbeing.   The first one is treating myself to a buffer day before jumping back to work on a Monday morning. I realized that by doing so, I was more relaxed, and I could tackle the everyday problems better. I strongly suggest you give it a try if you’ve never considered it before. The second thing that I truly benefited from is painting a whiteboard in front of my desk. So now every time I need to add something to my schedule, I can just add it to the list, and I will have it in front of my eyes until I solve it. This small trick has helped me be more organized and it took away the stress of having to keep things in my head. Key takeaways: Why I find buffer days important A small trick: using a whiteboard in order to keep everything in check What’s next for the show Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/

This week I touch on a few things I’ve noticed in my area lately. Consider revisiting some policies and protocols from time to time, to make sure you are in compliance with state and federal regulations. I found out from my Marketing Director that OSHA has been paying some visits to dental offices in Tennessee, checking if our business is up-to-date with their requirements. As you might be aware of, we have a problem here in Tennessee with opioid prescriptions. The state legislature is trying to tackle it by passing a new bill, which I’m not so excited about. I also speak about a new credentialing organization we recently switched to, and some DEA visits I heard about from an oral surgeon friend of mine. Key takeaways: Revisit the OSHA compliance in your state A potential new bill regarding the opioid problem in Tennessee An alternative to CAQH and some DEA visits Links: ICD-10 Codes 2018 CAQH Availity Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter!

This week I speak about the challenges I’m faced with as a small practice owner. Sometimes the administrative tasks that I need to solve stress me out, and I am still working on improving my problem-solving skills and coping mechanisms. I often get complaints from my patients about the fact that I sometimes step out of the practice. It’s impossible for me to always be there, sometimes I need to take care of certain things. I also recently remembered how important it is to observe your office from the patient’s point of view. I strongly suggest you give it a try and do so periodically. We’ve been having some problems with the dental camera and with the website. If you know a good web developer or a long-lasting, top quality dental (video) camera, get in touch with me at drkirk@businessofdentistrypodcast.com. I really appreciate your help. The challenges we are all faced with in our professional careers are part of our journeys. And I’ve learned to care more about my journey than about my destination. Key takeaways: Observe your practice from the patient’s point of view Issues with our camera and with the website It’s all about the journey, not the destination Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! Full show notes at http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/

Full show notes at: http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/ This week is all about the strategies I’ve used in order to set boundaries in my professional life. These helped me handle my burnout and ended up being a valuable tool for everyday use. In December 2011, I was a bit of a mess. I was endangering my personal and professional life, so I took my wife’s advice to go and seek professional help. I went to see five different specialists, and they each gave me their advice. I started implementing it, and slowly, but steadily, I started improving. This episode is a heartfelt testimony of my journey. I share the three types of boundaries I’ve set that made the biggest difference for my well-being. Key takeaways: If you feel overloaded, ask for help Establish administrative time Say no to distractions and set gatekeepers Links: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It Join me for a talk on some important strategies to use in order to overcome your burnout. Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! Full show notes at: http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/

Full show notes at http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/ Kevin Donlin, doctor, and manager of We Care Dental and member of the South Dakota Army National Guard, shares his challenges and solutions to being a small town practice owner. When you’re living in a small town, you will most likely end up being either the only dentist in town or one of two or three others. This situation poses challenges if you are considering expanding your practice. Kevin shares his opinion on what your options are and how to best tackle this situation. Apart from managing his practice, Kevin is also involved in the National Army Guard. This means that his schedule is most of the time full, leaving him little time for other activities. Kevin speaks about how he copes with being away from home for extended periods of time. Are you a small practice owner in a small town? Then this episode is just for you. Key takeaways: What are the challenges of being a small practice owner in a small town? Combining being a small dental practice owner with Army Guard duties If you have doubts about doing something, just go ahead and do it instead of living with regrets Links: We Care Dental Join us for a conversation on the advantages and demands of small-town dental ownership. Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! Full show notes at http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/

Boomcloud founder, Jordon Comstock, is no fan of insurance companies. He is convinced that dental practices don’t need a third party providing them with clients, so he developed a software that enables practitioners attract and retain customers through in-house membership plans and financing. He is not alone in this venture. More and more dental and medical offices become tired of having to deal with insurance companies and develop plans of their own. If you’re a dental (or medical) practice owner thinking about making a change and reducing or renouncing your insurance dependence, then you’re in for a treat, as Jordon carefully lays out the steps you need to do in order to become more independent. As a bonus, you should know that generating recurring revenue stream will increase the valuation of your practice. Key takeaways: The dental insurance industry is deeply flawed, but there’s something else arising at the horizon Generating recurring revenue stream will increase the valuation of your practice Membership plans vs in-house financing Links: Veritas Dental Resources Say No To PPOs How to Grow Your Dental Membership Plan: Secrets behind my 1.4 million dollars of growth Join us for more information on how to create recurring revenue stream through membership plans or in-house financing. Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! Full show notes at: http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/

Brian Colao, Director of leading US law firm Dykema, shares with us his expertise on how to get started with expanding a solo practice to a DSO or securing a private equity deal. The dental industry is currently heading towards more DSO affiliations from solo practitioners. Getting affiliated with a DSO or doing a private equity deal can result in a much higher ROI over time, so many practitioners choose to expand. What are the first steps towards restructuring to a DSO, or doing a private equity deal? What questions should you ask yourself and how much money would you need? What should you know beforehand when deciding between a DSO and a private equity deal? Brian Colao comes to the rescue with answers to these questions and more. Key takeaways: Affiliating with a DSO vs doing a private equity deal How much money you will need to get started and how much ROI you can expect What the process of reorganizing to a DSO looks like Links: Dykema Tune in to hear more on how Brian Colao’s company is helping solo practitioners get the best investment return out of their business. Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter! Full show notes at: http://businessofdentistrypodcast.com/