The Productive Dentist Podcast

Dr. Bruce B. Baird and the Productive Dentist Academy have helped thousands of doctors through turning points in their careers. In this episode, Bruce tackles the most common but often unspoken question mid-career dentists face: what's next? From burnout to rediscovery, this episode shares real guidance and powerful mindset shifts for dentists at a crossroads.

Startup practice? Avoid years of chaos by scheduling to productivity from day one. Dr. Bruce Baird shares exactly how to design your schedule, case presentation, and clinical time to maximize growth while minimizing stress.

In this candid episode, Dr. Bruce Baird shares why most team problems aren't really team problems—they're leadership problems. Learn how better onboarding, clearer expectations, and courageous conversations can radically change the culture, productivity, and future of your dental practice.

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Baird and Dr. Wade Kifer discuss the importance of learning from mentors and courses, then implementing that knowledge to create a more enjoyable, less stressful dental practice. They emphasize that success in dentistry comes not from inventing something new, but from consistently applying what works.  

In this episode of the Productive Dentist Podcast, Dr. Bruce B. Baird sits down with the renowned Dr. Paul Etchison—host of the Dental Practice Heroes podcast and author of the book Dental Practice Hero. Together, they dive into a candid discussion about the challenges and rewards of modern dentistry, from mastering communication and leadership to dealing with difficult patients and navigating the rise of DSOs.

Dr. Bruce B. Baird and Dr. Jackson Bean reflect on their shared history, mentorship, and transformative experiences in dentistry, while discussing innovative techniques, the importance of patient-centered care, and the value of mentoring the next generation of dentists.   

Explore the inspiring journey of Dr. Tuan Phan, the Dental Maverick, as he shares his path from associate dentist to practice owner, the power of setting ambitious goals, and how taking control of your career can lead to financial freedom and personal fulfillment.  

Continuing the conversation from Episode 239, Dr. Bruce B. Baird (host of The Productive Dentist Podcast) and Regan Robertson (co-host of Everyday Practices Dental Podcast) dive deeper into the principles and philosophies that have guided Dr. Baird's career in dentistry. Listen as Dr. Baird shares his lifelong commitment to finding better, more effective ways of approaching challenges, while emphasizing the importance of continual learning and innovation.

In this episode of the Productive Dentist Podcast, Dr. Bruce Baird reveals specific ways you can create predictable growth in your dental practice. Dr. Bruce Baird explains the power of year-end planning, production analysis, and team alignment to make the upcoming year your most productive one yet.

If you've ever said to yourself, “I wish I knew then what I know now,” then this episode is for you. Dr. Bruce B. Baird joins Everyday Practices Dental Podcast co-host Regan Robertson in this special exploration of self-reflection and continuous learning in both dentistry and life. This engaging conversation takes you through the upcoming PDA Conference, and what you can expect to learn. Regan and Dr. Baird highlight the unique blend of practical knowledge and inspirational stories planned for the conference to empower dentists to enhance their productivity, get their practices ready for transition, and build a lasting legacy. 

SOPs are a simple way to get massively productive. I know it can sound boring - I see people's eyes glaze over when I say the word “SOP” - but if you're serious about delivering consistent excellence to your patients then you need SOPs in your practice. Join me today as I break down the how-tos and benefits of SOPs.

We all want perfection, but what we should aim for is excellence in how we operate our business, lead our team, and interact with patients. Join Dr. Bruce B. Baird to learn more about operating your dental business with an excellence mindset.

It's a major issue in most dental offices. The “us vs. them” mentality of the admin team at the front desk and the clinical team in the back. The problem isn't your team. It's your processes. Today, Dr. Bruce B. Baird shares how he set up his office procedures so the front and the back worked in harmony to give patients an exceptional experience.

In this powerful episode, we're diving into the concept of freedom - what it really means and how we can achieve it, both in business and life. Dr. Bruce B. Baird, Victoria Peterson S.s.D., and Regan Robertson share their personal and professional experiences to living freely and discuss how freedom extends beyond financial success, exploring inner peace, clarity, and the strength to make courageous decisions. Discover how you, too, can tap into freedom and take charge of your path to a fulfilling and purpose-driven life.

After more than 42 years beside the dental chair, Dr. Bruce B. Baird shares his candid reflections on transitioning from a bustling dental practice to a world of new possibilities in retirement. Dr. Baird shares his unique insights on the joys, challenges, and surprising discoveries that come with retirement, while offering wisdom and inspiration to those who are contemplating the next chapter in their life.

If you've ever asked yourself, "How do I fix my team?" then keep listening. The answer is simple, but it's not always easy. I had to deal with this in my career, too. Early on, I'm almost embarrassed to tell you how horrible I was. The better I got as a leader, the better my team got. So today, I want to look at some pointers and things that you can do as a leader that can help you end up with a better team.

What would it be worth to you if you could organize your business in a way that you worry less about your day-to-day, and more about building and maintaining the relationships in your life that are important to you? In this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast, host Dr. Bruce B. Baird draws from his own experiences and insights to tackle the critical aspects of being a dentist and maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Dr. Baird discusses the importance of communicating properly with your spouse, the necessity for balancing professional success with personal well-being, and the significance of planning for a secure financial future.

Do you want a great team who handles everything exactly how they're supposed to? Does that sound like magic? It's actually simpler than you might think. Over the years I developed a process in my dental practice called “trust, but verify.” Join me to learn what this can look like in your practice.

In this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast host Dr. Bruce B. Baird reflects on the profound impact of leveraging time efficiently and the art of being present in both professional and personal spheres. Dr. Baird share insights on optimizing productivity in a dental practice, emphasizing the importance of delegation and collaborative efficiency. Beyond dentistry, Dr. Baird extends the conversation to the challenges posed by technology and the necessity of balancing screen time with genuine human connections.

Dr. Bruce B. Baird talks about the intricacies of team motivation, rewarding your team for higher engagement, and how fostering a team of inclusion, support, and transparency can transform your dental practice for the better. By sharing personal experiences and strategies he's used for success, Dr. Baird illustrates how incentivizing team members not only improves productivity and profitability, but also cultivates a strong camaraderie among team members. 

Join your host, Dr. Bruce B. Baird, as he navigates the complexities of leadership, delegation, and creating a positive work environment. Explore the struggles many dentists face in letting go of control, the toll it takes on team dynamics, and the key shift needed to become true leaders. This episode sets the stage for a series in which Dr. Baird will dive into the rewards and strategies you can use to elevate the morale of your team. 

Uncertainty surrounds us, and it's made even worse by external chatter about market fluctuations, looming elections and everything else that takes your focus away from what's most important in your life. It's time to stop paying attention to the noise and spend more time working on what really matters: building trust with your patients, providing exceptional care, and setting and achieving goals. In this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast, your host Dr. Bruce B. Baird encourages you to eliminate the negatives and embrace the positives, as he provides you with tips and insights to better take control of your own destiny.  

Have you ever brought an associate into your practice only to find they weren't meeting your expectations? In this episode, we explore the ideal way to bring an associate into your practice, ensuring they understand it's not just about production, but about delivering exceptional patient care from day one. I'll share insights on building a strong mentorship relationship, understanding your associate's goals, and fostering an environment of growth and learning.

In the dental profession, there are quite a few misconceptions and controversies that surround the notion of bringing on a coach or consultant to improve the way your practice runs. In this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast, your host talks about the collaborative nature of coaching, and how it empowers dentists to achieve new heights they never thought possible. Through his personal experiences, Dr. Baird shares why he believes in the transformative power of coaching.

Lessons From a Young Dentist Producing $1,000 an Hour In this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast, Dr. Bruce B. Baird sits down with his nephew, Dr. Braden Baird, a remarkable young dentist who has already made waves in the industry just 13 months after graduating dental school. Braden shares his journey from being inspired by his dentist parents to becoming a top-producing associate dentist, earning more than $1,000 an hour.  

A relationship-driven approach to elevate your practice Are you a cosmetic dentist - or do you wish to do more cosmetic dentistry in your practice? In this episode of the Productive Dentist Podcast, host Dr. Bruce B. Baird challenges listeners to rethink what it means to offer cosmetic services by emphasizing the importance of building strong patient relationships.  

If you've ever found yourself thinking, “I want to be just like that successful dentist down the street,” then this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast is for you. Dr. Bruce B. Baird reveals key strategies that can rapidly transform your practice, starting with the power of comprehensive exams and the importance of a healthy new patient flow.  

In this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast, Dr. Bruce B. Baird breaks down the three main types of sellers: the retiring dentist, the dentist looking to take some money off the table, and the entrepreneurial dentist aiming for growth and long-term value. Whether you're considering selling now or in the future, this episode is packed with great advice to help you make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcome for your practice.

In this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast, Dr. Bruce B. Baird dives into a topic that tends to resonate deeply with dentists and dental professionals everywhere: overcoming fear to achieve confidence. Inspired by insights from renowned Australian dentist Dr. Lincoln Harris, Dr. Baird explores how fear can hold dentists back from reaching their full potential and how pushing through that fear can lead to mastery and confidence in their practice.

In this important and enlightening episode of the Productive Dentist Podcast, host Dr. Bruce B. Baird welcomes PDA VP of Client Services Brent Hogan, as they discuss what it takes to grow dental practices the right way. Dr. Baird and Brent share invaluable insights on practice growth, mentorship, and achieving work-life balance in dentistry.

The elephant in the room for dentistry is that as consolidation heats up, dentists are getting left behind. This issue is particularly acute for associate doctors, who are plagued with student debt and isolated within their operatories, leading to alarming turnover and burnout rates among young dentists. In this special episode, Dr. Bruce B. Baird and Dr. Victoria Peterson unite to unveil Productive Dentist Academy's solution to this mounting problem: the launch of the Clinical Calibration Institute. "We are here to serve dentists, period," say the PDA co-founders. "It doesn't matter if you are a solo practitioner, small group partnership, or DSO; we have an obligation to elevate patient care."

It doesn't matter how good you are if you don't have people sitting in your dental chairs. It's not enough to be a fantastic communicator with exceptional clinical skills. You need to have people walking through your doors. Join me today for the second part of this two-part series where I share marketing and acquisition strategies and how to keep your practice safe with risk management.

I get asked all the time “What are the most important things I need to do to run a dental practice?” Today, I'm going to share 5 areas every independent dentist needs to manage within their practice to ensure their productivity, as well as some tips for how to manage each area.

There's nothing wrong with being ignorant. All it means is that you don't know everything. But being arrogant means you don't want to listen to anyone else. Join me, Dr. Bruce B. Baird, today for a conversation about the cost of arrogance, and the exponential benefits of seeking out help to grow your dental practice.

It doesn't really matter how old you are – 20, 30, 60, 70 – it can happen anytime in your career. You can start feeling old. This is it, you've reached the pinnacle of your career. But this is what I know about dentists who stay on top: they keep pushing forward, learning new techniques. They don't let the old man in. So today, I want to talk about how you can stay focused on what matters in life so you can live the fulfilling life I believe you deserve. 

Weight Watchers is a well-known program designed to help people lose weight. However, some dentists have their own “losing” program called “Wait Watchers.” These are dentists who see patients with significant oral health problems, and they suggest “waiting and watching” to see what happens. Maybe it's because they aren't confident in their clinical skills. Maybe insurance is dictating too much, or perhaps it's because they can't get their patients to agree to comprehensive treatment. Whatever the case, you don't want to be a dentist on Wait Watchers, and this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast will explain why this approach is problematic, and what steps you can take to avoid it.

Wouldn't you like to have more time to do the things you want to do with the people you love? If you're looking to improve your outlook on business ownership, join me in this special episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast in which I discuss the successes, failures, and lessons I've learned over more than 40 years as a serial entrepreneur. 

"If you say you can't, then you must." ~Dr. Bruce B. Baird In this replay episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast, Dr. Bruce B. Baird delves into a philosophy that has shaped his life and career: "If you say you can't, then you must." Dr. Baird explains how adopting this mindset can transform your approach to both personal and professional challenges, making the impossible achievable. Stay Tuned for: The origin of Dr. Baird's philosophy and how it has guided his career and personal life. Practical examples of overcoming self-imposed limitations in dentistry. The importance of continuous learning and practice to master new skills. How to build confidence and achieve high productivity in your dental practice. As you listen to this episode, ask yourself the following: What self-imposed limitations have I set for myself in my practice or personal life? How can I reframe these limitations into challenges that I must overcome? What steps can I take to improve my skills and achieve higher productivity?  

Memento Mori… ”Remember, you will die”. One of my friends gave me a ring with that inscribed on it. And I have to say, it made me stop and think. As dental business owners, we spend so much time wrapped up in the process of working hard that we can lose sight of the bigger picture: what really matters, what are we sacrificing, what legacy are we leaving? Join me today as I unpack a frame of mind that can help you balance your business with your life.

Have you ever wondered what makes PDA tick? Why we do what we do? How it all works? Today, Dr. Bruce B. Baird escorts you behind the velvet curtain for a look behind the scenes at what “member-built-and-driven” means for you and your dental practice… and the answer might surprise you!

Uncertainty surrounds us, and it's made even worse by external chatter about market fluctuations, looming elections and everything else that takes your focus away from what's most important in your life. It's time to stop paying attention to the noise and spend more time working on what really matters: building trust with your patients, providing exceptional care, and setting and achieving goals. In this episode of The Productive Dentist Podcast, your host Dr. Bruce B. Baird encourages you to eliminate the negatives and embrace the positives, as he provides you with tips and insights to better take control of your own destiny.

Have you ever brought an associate into your practice only to find they weren't meeting your expectations? In this episode, we explore the ideal way to bring an associate into your practice, ensuring they understand it's not just about production, but about delivering exceptional patient care from day one. I'll share insights on building a strong mentorship relationship, understanding your associate's goals, and fostering an environment of growth and learning.

How do you hire people in the dental office? If you always hire on skill, but are still struggling to maintain your systems, you may want to look at hiring on personality instead. Join Dr. Bruce B. Baird as he shares how hiring dental team on personality, not skill, saved his systems and solidified his dental office culture.

A DSO wants to buy your practice. So…what's in it for you? There is so much pressure out there on dentists right now…you've probably received at least one unsolicited offer from a DSO for your dental practice. But the big question you should be asking yourself is “What's in it for me?” I want you to be knowledgeable so you can get the most value for your dental practice so join me today as I share some things you need to think about. 

Private equity wants to invest in dental practices right now. They're a solid investment. But I get a lot of questions about what private equity is and what it has to do with independent dental practices. If you're wondering about the impact of private equity on your dental practice and how that affects the value of your practice, join me today as I share what private equity is and the impact it could have on your financial future. 

You're running behind. Your team is stressed. You struggle to get patients to accept $2,500 treatment plans and you're doing work piecemeal. Stop! I'm here to tell you today that you can have the kind of practice you dream about: you run on schedule, your team is 100% engaged, you love to go into the office, and your numbers reflect the good work you do. The difference is comprehensive diagnosis. Join me today to learn more.

My goal as a dentist is to get to know my patients. It's to make them feel seen and heard and to build trust with them. Because if I can get in relationship with the patient then the financial arrangements become a whole lot easier when the patients want the treatment and they want me and my team to be the ones to do it. Join me today as I share some methods I used when presenting treatment and financial options to my patients.

I recently got this question from a doctor: “How can I as the doctor - through my leadership - build the skills to set expectations and promote accountability with my team?” Team management is probably the most challenging part of any dentist's job. But, if you do it right, it will save you and your team from the chaos of uncertainty and team turnover. So today I am going to hit on a few answers to this crucial question.

I get this question all the time, “What is my first step in marketing?” The answer may not be what you think. Join me, Dr. Bruce B. Baird, as I share my dental marketing tips that will help you boost value and increase job satisfaction no matter where you are in your career.

In this episode of award-winning The Productive Dentist Podcast, your host Dr. Bruce B. Baird is joined by Dr. Paul Goodman of Dental Nachos. This influential pair discuss the ever changing landscape of the dental profession, DSOs, private practice, ownership, the challenges of finding and nurturing associates, and the importance of embracing change. 

In this episode of award-winning The Productive Dentist Podcast, your host Dr. Bruce B. Baird discusses the complexities and considerations of starting your own dental practice. With decades of practical experience in the dental profession, Dr. Baird provides valuable insights into several strategies for aspiring dental practice owners, addressing common questions such as whether to start a fee-for-service practice or sign up for PPOs at the beginning. Join Dr. Baird as he offers his wisdom on navigating all of the challenges and opportunities practice ownership can bring.