Totally Oral Podcast

Russell this week talks to Brandi Nowak and Mary Beth Starr of Nowak Dental Supplies.  We talk mostly about the upcoming LabFest in New Orleans which is the 1st annual conference that is focused primary on the business of running a dental lab.  Also we talk about how Nowak Dental got its start and what it is like to sell to dentists and labs.

Clinton Timmerman and Russell Schafer are joined by Steffany Mohan, who hails from the greater Des Moines area of the Hawkeye State.  Steff has gone from owning one office to five, including a sleep center, and even has some that are completely fee-for-servcie vs others that are heavy PPO.  If you're possibly looking for a job or even just need someone to talk to, Steff invites you to reach out at steffmohan@gmail. Ask her to tell you about her favotire Tom Arnold story from her Ottumwa days. 

Peter Bowman joins Clint and Russel from The Granite State to talke about his small town practice that is bursting at the seams and how he came to be a co-owner of a golf course, one of the best Par 3 courses in America. Listen to find out his story...and if you may possibly like to join his office as he is looking for a new associate!

Paolo Lubrano joins Clinton Timmerman and Russell Schafer to discuss how his company, Implant Concierge, best serves dentists in streamlining the planning and fabrication of implant guides. He also gives his insight into the best way to experience his home country, Italy.  Listen and see if Implant Concierge can be an added benefit to your office!

John Madden joins Russell and Clinton to talk about his digital removable lab, John Madden Prosthetics, and his goal to create a lab that is 100% digital.  John also teaches of the University of Minnesota and has yet to smash a student's poured up impression in front of him or her. This is another benefit of going digital.  Listen and hear all the adventures of being a lab tech in the Upper Midwest.  If you want to learn about printed metal frameworks, go to https://www.begousa.com/production-services-wironium-rp/ If you want to learn more about AI Designed Dentures, contact stephen@voyager.dental or go to https://voyager.dental.

This week Russ and Clint interview Dr. Steven Shao from California who just loves technology.  The man finds any excuse to bring his Midas anywhere and talk about it including to Japanese customs agents.  We talk about his experience trying to bridge R&D and sales and end users (i.e. dentists) experience at Sprintray and where he thinks the next generation of materials will go.

Ben Walsh from ZyloDent joins Russell and Clint to talk about the new all-in-one 3D printing hitting the market soon, the ZyloEdge.   Listen and find out if the ZyloEdge is the next piece of equipment for your office!

This week Russ and Clint talk with Wayne Glassoff who is a dental technology consultant and runs Dental Print Solutions where he sells and supports multiple CAD/CAM systems.  Wayne was one of Sprintray's original employees and has more or less seen it all in the 3d printing space.  We talk about the current technology coming out from IDS in Cologne, Germany and stuff that has just been released.  We talk about the pros and cons of all the stuff coming out and what is exciting and less exciting.

This week Russ and Clint talk to Dr. Trent McCord out of Northwest Arkansas.  Trent runs Mint For More out of his office with the goal of providing more dentures and extractions for no charge to patients in need.  We talk about his process and how he got started doing his non-profit.  It is a pretty cool story.   Also Russell mentions low cost sectional matrix bands from Russia that Nate Lawson recommended.  

This week Russ and Clint talk with Dr. Shant Aharonian from Burbank, California.  Shant runs a small cosmetic focused office that emphasizes 3d printing.  We discuss printing and milling and smile design.  Shant teaches on smile design through photography and how to communicate with both patients and with labs using photography.  Also Shant will be giving a One Hour Webinar for Free CE through Hass Bio on the Amber Mill. Shant's Instagram If you want to contact him, his email is aharoniandental@gmail.com.  His practice website is Smile Design Burbank.

This week Russ and Clint talk with Dr. Melissa Zettler out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  We talk about the fun of running a dental office in a state that likes to tax you on your gross income (like MN), managing staff (especially when you hygienist goes crazy), and trying to get AACD credentials.  We finish off with the importance of being consistent.  

Russ and Clint talk with Baron Grutter this week.  Baron is a dentist out of Michigan who while doing all things bread and butter loves technology and teaching.  He also recently created two one day online classes Blue Sky Bio.  One focuses on ortho and the other focuses on surgical guides.  Both classes can be found on this Blue Sky University which is also where Russell's class is found.  Baron's class is more polished than Russell's but that is just how Baron rolls.   In our podcast, we talk about Midwinter and Lab Day and how Lab Day is clearly superior to Midwinter.  We also talk about 3d printing and why so many more dentists are getting into the lab space and doing their own lab work.  Also we talk about why Baron is not going to be 3d printing aligners anytime soon. If you want to see when Baron is giving in person courses, go to https://www.barongrutterdds.com to learn more.  

This week Russ talks with Dr. Robert Ramsey who runs the Facebook group Dentistry Gone Wild which offers a humorous non-political take on dentistry that we all often need in the world of dental facebook.  We talk for the hour about Robert's journey from JnJ to dentistry, and why we both left Corporate America to go do dentistry.  Robert talks about the DSOs he works for and his experience doing HMO dentistry (spoiler alert: it isn't all that bad).  Finally we discuss refunds and specialists.  

Clinton and Russell speak with Stephen Trahan.  Listen and hear his adventures in the Bayou, going to dental school in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, being a military dentist and how he ended up in The Lone Star State. 

Clinton Timmerman and Russell Schafer talk with Matthew Hernandez, a third generation denturist from Texas who now resides in the lovely town of Mukilteo, Washington. Matthew has started and sold DSO's multiple times and continues to seek opportunities that can help boost the profession. He has also hunted wild packs of hogs, which actually sounds somewhat dangerous, even when armed with uzis or whatever type of hunting item one chooses. 

This week Russell talks with Dr. Josh Nagao.  We talk about the importance of continuing education and how honestly... good CE kinda costs money.  We both love Pathways, and Josh teaches at Pathways.  Josh talk about the courses that he and Dr. Wade Pilling teach together.  The next one is an FP1 course being taught April 24-25.  If you want to sign up, reach out to one of them via Facebook.  We also talk about the importance of comprehensive treatment planning as well.

This week Russell talks with Dr. Usa Bunang and Dr. Jay Siddiqui about their new study club called the DMV 3D Printing and Digital Dentistry Study Club.  They focus on teaching dentists about practical applications of digital dentistry in the DC, Maryland, and Viriginia area from all aspects of dentistry from surgical guides to ortho to restorative.  We talk about why they formed the study club and their goals.

Clint had to take an unexpected trip to Gainsville, Florida, and attend a dental board meeting. He learned some pearls he thought he should share to help listeners avoid any potential trouble in the future. Russell also shares going to the new Implant Pathways center in Arizona and how rad it is. In summation to avoid problems with a dental board: 1) Shit's gonna happen 2) Document, document, document 3) Contact your patient and show concern; document that you contacted your patient 4) Be honest—with your patient, your lawyer, in your notes, in your testimony to the board. Honesty is the best policy. 5) Refer when indicated. Referring and documenting that you referred can go a long way.

Justin Morgan goes totally oral with Clinton Timmerman and Russell Schafer to talk about what both practice purchasers and practice sellers need to be mindful of when it comes to selling and buying a practice.  Listen and find out what advice Justin may have for you! justin@themorganadvisors.com Reach out and seek his counsel!

Russ talks with Dr. Andrew Ip from Sydney, Australia.  Andrew is a second generation dentist who works in both his mom's practice and his dad's practice and teaches CAD-CAM dentistry as well.  We talk for the hour about what it is like to practice in a former British colony as well where the technology is taking us.  It is a cool discussion. Links: https://ai3dprinting.com.au/ for his website and reviews of printers https://youtube.com/@ai3d676?si=KBbX64SSTvrRvdgU for his videos #ai_ortho_implant for his Instagram

Delaney Spaulding joins Russell Schafer and Clinton Timmerman to talk about growing up in the field of dentistry, experiecing the Northeast after college at the Univesity of Georgia and purhcasing a practice in Birmingham, Alabama.  Delaney ripped off the band-aid when she bought her office and went FFS immediately. Listen and find out how she has made her success in The Yellowhammer State, and how Dandy Lab has been a great asset to her business. 

This week Russell talks with Dr. Mustafa Shah Khan and Richard Offutt about their new platform and social group Simplifiy Dentistry.  Their goal is to bring clinicians together on a wide variety of topics from clinical skills to business discussions.  In our podcast we talk about how social media has evolved over time and how dentists have gravitated towards it.  We also talk about the downsizing of Align and Dentsply Sirona as well as why maybe that has happened.  Finally we discuss what might be done about the hygiene shortage. If you want to go to their website it is simplifydds.com .  Also their Facebook page is active as well!

Kelly Tipple shares what it's like marrying into a profession she previously knew nothing about and all the many joys the field of dentistry bring her.  Russell Schafer was presumably out 3D printer shopping but will be back with us next week. 

This week Russ talks in person with Dr. Abraham Hoellerich and Dr. Lance Timmerman live at Pathway Symposium after hours.  We talk about a variety of topics such as how to fix CE events, how Abe built his office into the magnificient beast it is, bringing staffs on trips, as well as how sedation.  Lots of cursing as well... you have been warned...

This week Russ and Clint get to talk with Dr. Artie Volker.  Artie talks about his recent residency he finished in Italy and we talk about how we enjoy taking courses and learning new things and talking with colleagues.   If you want to see Artie speak, you can find him at Dig-A-Palooza 2024 in Oct 2024 and he will be speaking at the Greater New York meeting in 2024.

This week Russ talks with Dr Jeff Hoos who create the H&H technique.  He also runs the Dental Insights Facebook group and own a rather large office with 4 other dentists.  We talk about his career since he graduated in 1978 as well as how stuff has changed and go on various topics.  We end the conversation talking about Dentapreg as well which he likes.

This week Russ and Clint talk with Sam Katacic VP of Sales for Rapidshape.  Rapidshape is a 3d printer company out of Germany that has focused more on the lab side of the dentistry than the clinician side right now in the US.  We talk at length about the changes in the market for 3d resins and how automation is driving a lot of changes.  Rapidshape has validated over 200 resins on their platform and has processes to ensure that each print is routine and predictable.  This is really nice especially if you have staff turnover, it is easy to train new employees to your resin. Also Russ gets pretty excited to hear about their curing unit which doesn't need N2 to cure but rather uses a vacuum.  He will be looking into that product for sure.   If you want to learn more about Rapidshape, go to Rapidshape.de.

This week Russ talks with Dentscape AI co-founders Bill Chou and Sylvie Liu, DDS along with their VP of Business Development Ryan Axelson.  They've all been on the podcast before when Russ went to Smilecon in 2022.  On the previous podcast, they talked about PreTeeth AI Pro which does smile design using AI to simulate what is possible doing different treatment modalities.  Dentscape AI is a web based software that currently can design bite splints and crowns using a simplified interface with the goal being to expedite the entire process so that labs can design units in a day and be more efficient.  We talk about the process of developing the AI as well as why they first started with bite splints rather than crowns as well as why humans are still needed to guide the AI.  If you are interested in hearing about how AI is "done," it is a cool conversation. If you are a lab interested in partnering with Dentscape, contact Ryan.  His email is ryan@dentscape.ai or you can find him on Facebook as well.  If you prefer LinkedIn, his page is https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanaxelson/ Also as a disclaimer, they have given me Russell a few free credits to try out their software, but I am not being paid to endorse them at all.  These people are friends of mine.

This week Russ interviews Allison Norris an RDH who pivoted to working in the industry.  We talk about her journey and how she founded the The Dentele Group which focuses on placing non-clinical roles in the dental industry.  She essentially helps everyone from FDs at small dental offices to dentists who want to work for major companies like Henry Schein.  We also talk about her app that she is developing called Cakewalk which is meant to be Indeed for Dentists to help with hiring new staff.  If you want to reach out to Allison, you can find her on Facebook or you can email her at AllisonNorris@thedentelegroup.com.   

Clint and Russ come together to talk with long time listener Dr. Tyler Rumple.  Tyler listens to darn near all the different podcasts out there.  Tyler practices near Clint and is a busy PPO dentist who has quite a few hygienists and has merged two dental offices together to create a thriving office.  We talk about the joys of owning an office and also about his experience of being in the Navy.  Finally we talk about the importance of the ADA and about sectional matrix bands.  We reference Tor Matrix bands which are a cheap matrix that seems to work pretty darn well in both Russ's and Tyler's hands.

Russ talks with Dr. Rick Ferguson this week.  Rick and his wife are both dentists in Florida but on the side Rick teaches a few things.  He runs Implant Educators where he trains dentists on full arch as well as single units.  He also runs Digital Educators which is his platform to teach 3d printing technology and digital processes.  We talk at length about the different platforms from Asiga to Phrozen to Sprintray to Formlabs and Rick gives us his opinions of the pros of all of them as well as what made him decide to create the mini plate and heat plate for the Phrozen Mini 8ks which kinda makes the Phrozen equal to the Sprintray Pro 55S for a tenth of the cost.  We surprisingly don't go political either! Finally, we talk about the greatest part of the digital dental printing revolution which has really been the comraderie between dentists.  If you want to join his big Facebook group, Dental 3D printing group click on the link and join in the coversation.  It is a great group overall. 

Russell Schafer explains to Clinton Timmerman how he is able to make Medicaid work for his office through strategic scheduling and dentures.  Learn Russell's simple 3 step denture technique at https://www.practicebiopsy.com/denture-magic-information-page/  

Russ talks with Dr. Marcus Cowan this week.  Marcus is a dentist who moved with his wife from sunny Georgia to Boston, Massachusetts as his wife goes to surgery residency at there.  We talk about his experience moving and starting a new job as well as doing a GPR.  Also Marcus has started an implant planning lab called CowTech Dental Lab focusing on helping dentists place implants from consultation and treatment planning to execution.  We talk about the need for helping doctors plan out cases because most cases are not as easy as implant courses make them out to be.  We compare printers, resins, and softwares and talk about their pros and cons. If you want to reach out and find out more about Marcus and his lab, you can find him on Instagram at MarcusCowanDMD and his email is marcuscowandmd@gmail.com.

This week Russ talks with Dr. Steven Dold from Wichita, KS.  About a month ago, they both took a botox and filler course together and of course like good dentists, neither of them has done a single case.  We talk about how practices have peaks and valleys and good months and bad months.  We of course talk about removable and Dold talks about his removable lab Kaylor Dental.  Primarily at the end, we talk about how Steven actually does all of his own insurnace billing and why he started doing it was because he kinda needed to.  

This week Russ and Clint talk with Talon Davis.  Talon runs an 8 op PPO driven office in Dallas, Tx.  We talk about how he has implemented systems to ensure that he always has a productive day as well as venture a tad into politics which is always fun.  We might also drop the F bomb a few times.  Sorry mom...

This week Clint and Russ talk with Dr. Eric Studley.  We discuss Eric's career from getting into NYU to starting a dental office in the 80's to founding Eric Studley & Associates Inc where he helps dentists with insurance.  Overall it is a wonderful conversation.

This week Russ and Clint talk about upgrading their offices.  Russell is speaking at Cad-Ray's World Series of Digital Dentistry on Sept 5 to 7 2024.  It should be great. A few products that Russ and Clint talk about.  We don't get a dime from any of these products Yabangbang Handpieces Tuttanaur Sterilizer HDX CBCT Apex Sensors Handheld X-ray Units Justin Shafer's Software that links cell phone photos to Dexis  

Clint and Russell interview Dr. Bridgett Jorgensen out of Sugar Hill, GA this week.  Bridgett ran a FFS office for many years and sold her office in 2018.  She started Dental Practice Matchmaker after trying to find an office for her daughter to purchase during Covid and looking to upend the broker model completely.  She and her company not only run the free Facebook page Dental Practice Matchmaker but also for 30 dollars a month you can be on her website and app Dental Practice Matchmaker to either look for a job, post a job, look to buy an office, or sell your office.  We also talked a bit about her husband who started LightHouse 360.  

Russell talks with Ashtyn Hoffer out of Vancouver, Canada this week. Ashtyn is a digital lab tech designer who focuses primarily on dentures.  We talk about his experiences as a young lab learning from his father who is also a denturist and also how he has seen Exocad grow in the past few iterations as well as milling vs printing.  Also Ashytn has a new lab focused on designing removable prosthetics.  If you are interested in his services, go to The Center of Dental Excellence to see what he has to offer.  He does great work and I highly recommend him.

Russell met Brandon Allison at Sprintray Next 2024 in Miami.  Brandon is practices in Mandeville, La with his wife and brother (both dentists) in a family office.  He and his wife took over from his father and has turned it into a bustling office to say the least.  Brandon bought both the Sprintray 2 and Midas printer but also has a VHF E5 mill and does a lot of his own digital designs.  We talk about his CE journey and about he strives to learn how to do excellent clinical dentistry while maintaining a good business.  

Deren Flesher goes Totally Oral with Clinton Timmerman and Russell Schafer.  He has a private practice in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and has found a niche giving advice to dentists in various ways they can invest.  Check out his podcast Wealth Beyond the White Coat  and his website for Legacy Point Group to find out what pearls and advice he can offer you. 

Harry Wheeler and Alistair Stoddart, two dental students from The University of Glasgow in Scotland, United Kingdom, had a chance to shadow Clint at Blu Dental & Wellness in Marysville, Washington, for a week.  Before they flew out, Clint had a chance to sit down and hear their story.  Listen, and find out how dental school and the dental world is on the other side of the pond. 

This week Russell talks with Jesse Flore, CDT out of Las Vegas.  Jesse runs a specialty business supporting dentists who want to get involved in the digital world.  Jesse got his start as a denture technician which obviously made Russell kinda geek out.  Jesse is also an authorized Exocad distributor and helps implement mills and printers into dental offices.  We talk for an hour about how the new MIDAS printer will likely go into dental offices as well as how milling and printing and designing should be implemented in offices.  If you are looking to expand your dental office into a lab, call up Jesse Flor.  He will be an excellent resource. 

So Russell went to Sprintray's event and his SD card was corrupt and lost a great podcast with Vu Le...  Vu graciously came back on to talk with him for an hour about the cool new happenings in the world of 3d printing.  We discuss 3d printing, glidewell, and the MIDAS printer.  Finally we talk about his invention the VPR which is a great tool that every single dentist needs to take excellent photographs with their cell phone.  If you want to find out more about the VPR, go to Photodontist and buy one.  We don't get any money from it, but Russell owns a VPR 400 and uses it regularly.  They are great.

This week Russ and Clint speak with Patrick Allen who is a denturist from Maine who teaches dentures to lab techs, denturists, and dentists.  Patrick and Russ geek on dentures because of course they do.  We talk about lower suction dentures and how they work. Patrick is doing an upcoming course in Maine in June that Russ would highly recommend if you want to learn about dentures.  It is June 14th and 15th and is phenomenal.  Registation has been extended by a bit if you want to sign up. https://trellis.org/bps-semcd-w-paul-mcnally-peter-anastasia Also we talk about how the Maine Dental Board does everything public apparently.  If you want to listen in, you can hear it here. https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/83015731890?pwd=QmhVTjRPNDZtLy9aRXZCS2VBOEJydz09   Meeting ID: 830 1573 1890 Passcode: 56815338

Ericka Aguilar, The Dental Billing Coach, joins Clinton Timmerman and Russell Schaffer to share the secrets of getting claims paid when they are initially denied.  It turns out there's not much to it; it just takes knowing how to Google search for the state dental insurance commissioner and send a message to the right resource (and don't give up if it you're reffered to a federal agency!).  Ericka also tells us her tricks to the trade for billing procesures we are most likely already doing but not including in our claims and ways she can negotiate insurance fees.  You can find Ericka on Instagram or, better yet, go to HiddenDentalProfit.com and find out how she can help your office.  Also, give her a listen at The Dental Billing Podcast.

A Lab Day 2024 Clint and Russ were invited to the Evolve party in Chicago where they met Jonny Jackson.  Jonny is one of the CDTs at Evolve Dentistry which is a dental supply company and lab out of Buffalo, NY that offers a full range of products and services for dentists.  Russ and Jonny talk about where Exocad is going as well as the importance of good training.  Finally we discuss the camaraderie that is found in dentistry and how honestly refreshing that is.  If you want to follow Jonny Jackson on IG, he can be found at @jonnyexocad for all of his latest and coolest stuffs or go to Evolution Dental Lab to learn more about everything that they offer.

Clinton and Russell talk with Rand Luka, a dentist originally from Iraq who immigrated to Canada in 1999.  Listen to his origin story of going through the steps to becoming a dentist in Iraq to the training he received in Canada in order to practice in Ontario.  He also has some key advice for administering patient care. 

This week Russell talk to Dr. Nelson Mar who practices in Phoenix.  Nelson went to University of Nebraska for dental school and then did a GPR in Oklahoma.  We talk about his journey from San Francisco through the Midwest to the Southwest as well as about running a practice and dealing with crazy patients.

Russell and Clint speak with Erik Zundo of West Lafayette, Indiana, a Fee For Service dentist who has found success in the Hoosier State.  They discuss insurance fees and reimbursement, the Overton Window and ADA meetings and associated fees.  The beginning of the conversation got cut off, but it was mainly Clinton discussing vexillology in the Southern Hemisphere, so no loss, really. 

Russell Schafer and Clinton Timmerman are joined by Mandy Arena, a Denturist in the Midwest leading the charge to make denturists legal in every state.  Surprisingly, only a handful of states have legalized denturists.   Their next step is to put legalizing denturist on the ballot in Illinois.  Citizens of Illinois, get out and vote for a worthy cause and help legalized denturists.  Except for Russell, no dentist really wants to do dentures, so let denturists take them off of their hands.