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Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Dr. Drew McDonald is a board-certified orthodontic specialist renowned for his expertise in airway and temporomandibular joint (TMJ)-focused treatment planning, surgically facilitated orthodontic therapy (SFOT), and complex interdisciplinary care. He is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he leads McDonald Orthodontics, a practice dedicated to comprehensive, patient-centered orthodontic solutions.
The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode 397 HOSTS: Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak GUEST: Dr. Alex Edgerly DESCRIPTION In this podcast, Peter Boulden and Craig welcome Alex Edgerly, a general dentist from Southeast Texas, about growing his dental practice. They discuss managing patient demand, leaving insurance networks, strategic expansion planning, and maximizing chair utilization. The conversation covers construction strategies that minimize patient disruption, financing options, tax benefits of real estate investments, and architectural planning using 3D visualization tools. They also explore financial projections, overcoming expansion fears, community engagement, and the value of mastermind groups for professional development and support. TAKEAWAYS Alex Edgerly welcome and background Alex is currently planning to expand his practice from 7 to 12 operatories. He has transitioned out of insurance networks to improve profitability. Alex trained his staff on effective patient scheduling and communication. Alex's journey reflects the challenges and rewards of dental entrepreneurship. The excitement during construction can positively impact practice revenue. Engaging patients and staff during construction can minimize disruption. Understanding the structure of construction loans is crucial for financing. Community needs should drive decisions about practice expansion. Cost segregation analysis can lead to substantial tax savings. Strategic planning is essential for sustainable growth in a dental practice. Spend copious amounts of time with your design. Utilize technology like Revit for better planning. Overcoming fear of growth is essential for success. Mastermind groups provide valuable support and accountability. Transparency with your team and family is important. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Alex Edgerly and his journey in Dentistry 07:20 Planning for Expansion 15:05 Serving the Community Through Expansion 18:01 Transitioning Out of Insurance Networks 21:24 Current Status and Future Plans 24:26 Minimizing Patient Disruption During Construction 30:10 Navigating Lending and Financing for Expansion, tax benefits and ROI in real estate 38:44 Strategic Planning for Future Growth 42:32 Architectural Planning and Design Importance 49:15 The Value of Community and Team Engagement 50:57 Financial Projections and Growth Strategies 54:50 Overcoming Fear of Growth and the role of Masterminds in Personal Development REFERENCES Bulletproof Summit Bulletproof Mastermind
Have you ever wondered how the insurance plans you accept today could make or break the sale of your dental practice someday? In this powerful episode, Michael Walker sits down with Kim McCleskey and Kyle Francis from Professional Transition Strategies to uncover how your current insurance participation, especially with PPO plans, can dramatically affect the value and marketability of your dental practice. Kim and Kyle share real-world stories, actionable advice, and clear steps for dentists who are planning a future transition or simply want to strengthen their financial foundation. They discuss common misconceptions about reimbursement rates, the role of insurance in buyer interest, and how to begin making smart, strategic changes. Book your free marketing strategy meeting with Ekwa at your convenience. Plus, at the end of the session, get a free analysis report to find out where your practice stands online. It's our gift to you! https://www.lessinsurancedependence.com/marketing-strategy-meeting/ If you're looking to boost your case acceptance rates and enhance patient communication, you can schedule a Coaching Strategy Meeting with Gary Takacs. With his experience in helping practices thrive, Gary will work with you on personalized coaching, ensuring you and your team are prepared to present treatment plans confidently, offer financing options, and communicate the value of essential dental services. https://www.lessinsurancedependence.com/csm/
Tiff and Kristy discuss how to best support patients during limited exams, including centering your own team's frame of mind, creating proper triage protocol, building trust through communication, and more. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript Tiffanie (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. We are back today with some really, really exciting things. We speak to the doctors, we speak to the team side, and we really want that to come together in today's podcast. We've got a lot of information for you doctors, but then we've also got a lot of information for you to pass off and train your team members on or pass off this podcast, and we will help train your team members on this space just here within this podcast even. Jam-packed with a ton of information. It's for everyone. Team members, if you're here listening and your doctor's not a listener, vice versa, send it on over because I do think this is going to be some great information for everyone to start implementing right away. So you guys, I have Kristy here with me today. You know her, you love her. I know her, I love her. There's just no one on this earth that will meet her and not love her. So Kristy, you are just an amazing human being. are an excellent coach. and consultant. You've been doing this for many years and I am just constantly impressed by you and how you really work so well with doctors and especially team members. I've seen you really diffuse a lot of situations, handle with care, and you constantly make people feel seen and feel heard. So thank you for being here with me today, Kristy. And really before we pop into this, I'm going to I like to surprise you and Dana. Dana will tell you I do this a lot. So something pops into my head and I'm like, actually, that's gonna be really great. I think before we even get started on this, you guys, so that you know, we're gonna be really, we're gonna be talking about how to really, really maximize a limited or an emergency exam and how to enlist the team to support and getting the most out of it for yourself and for your patients. So before we get started, Kristy I would love for you to share with everyone here today and myself. on a couple of ideas or maybe even tools, I don't know, but how do you do so well at presenting yourself for other people to be able to feel so comfortable and the ability to allow people to be able to feel vulnerable in your space to be able to learn and to be able to make changes and impart changes with practices? Like, how is that? I know it's a natural tendency of yours, but if there's anything you can help doctors and team members really learn on how to show up so that they can do that too, I guess is what I'm asking. Kristy (02:35) I suppose you're right. I think it does come natural to me. I'm a pretty great listener yet. Also, I think it's very important to validate people where they're at and never make them feel small. You know, Tiff, I do not like being in the limelight, but I get a lot of thrill out of watching other people's growth or really watching them and seeing their brilliance within them and making that shine, bringing it out. I suppose I look again, it's meeting them where they're at, showing them maybe something different than they even thought possible for themselves and just touching on their brilliance. It's okay if we don't know everything right now, but dang, together we're gonna grow and we're gonna do this. So really just partnering with them and making them feel safe in that space, know, treating them like I would have wanted to be treated too. So, yeah. Tiffanie (03:30) Yeah, thank you. Thank you. And it sounds like for implement implementation tools, it's really seeing people and acknowledging. what it is that they're doing. if you've got a front office team member and you're like, gosh, like we've got 99 % of our patients confirmed for tomorrow, acknowledging that like, how did you do that? And really, like you said, partnering, I love that you use that word use it often, really partnering with that person and celebrating some of the things that they're doing really well. But also acknowledging there may be space for growth, we might have 99 % confirmations, but maybe we have three, four, five hygiene openings on the same day. So acknowledging spaces that are going really well, but also that there is growth in everyone to be found and how do we layer on top of what we're doing really well already to create change in all of the areas to get the results we're after. Yeah? Yeah, yeah. So I love that theory and idea and I love how you do handle that. I think it's key and Kristy (04:28) You nailed it. Tiffanie (04:36) imparting any kind of change or any kind of just updates even, right? Like handbook updates, like all of those pieces that are scary to go back to your team and say, hey, we're going to change this, we're going to do it differently, because human nature says, no, keep doing it the same. Even if it's not working, this is comfortable. So I want to stay here with what I already know. So really being able to have that candor and be able to have those conversations and utilize communication really well to be able to impart the the changes is going to be key. And then acknowledging once that change has happened, that it's working or not. So making sure we're tracking the results, but then also acknowledging the work that's being put in. think, Kristy, that's something you do really well is going back and saying, gosh, this is what we did. Look at how amazing these results are. This is what you guys put in. This is why it's working. And going back and re-acknowledging the steps that it's taking to do that. Huge massive kudos to you, Kristy. I know you don't love the spotlight, but we're on a podcast, so your spotlight is always with me. I do think that really flows right into being able to maximize the limited exam. Kristy (05:43) Yeah. Tiffanie (05:52) There's so many spaces, there's so many spaces of growth, there's so much space of support for the team to give to the patient and to the doctor. And then also, I think everything you just said, Kristy, for team members, for doctors and team members to utilize, this works hand in hand with our patient base as well. With anyone, you guys take this home to your family and just be shocked at how amazing your kids' rooms will look if you utilize those communication tools and really acknowledge them for. picking up that one stuffed animal when there's 15 more, like great, like let's get these other ones. So let's figure this out. Like really take these tools to any space of life, but it goes hand in hand with our patient communication as well. And the emergency slash limited exam space can be really tense for both of you. And it's a vulnerable space. Dentistry is a vulnerable space for patients anyways, but then knowing that gosh. 100 % something is wrong. Like, I'm stressed. I don't I'm stressed about cost. I'm stressed about what this is going to be. Is my tooth savable? Is it going to hurt? maybe it hurts now. There's so much emotion wrapped around these appointments that we've really got to handle them with care, love, candor, all of those spaces. Like Kristy like how is Kristy, put that in your head, what will Kristy do? How Kristy handle this this communication? And how can your team support you in getting the best results and outcome for your patients? And Kristy, you and I were just chatting right before this and really talking about like the triage, incoming call, because we always say everything, right? Everything starts with the call. But how can that, in your opinion, Kristy, how can the front office team member taking that phone call, how can they support? the back office dental assistant's hygienist doctor in that appointment. What's that first step look like for them to truly support this patient in getting the best care possible? Kristy (07:47) I love how you talked about the limited exam in the very beginning and opportunity. think number one, that's where we need to go. And also you mentioned about supporting them. They need us. And many times, I mean, you've been in the practice just like I have. You've been an assistant too when that limited exam has messed up your day and it just, you know. Again, it maybe didn't make for a real positive day, but truly I think taking a step back and looking at it a little bit differently, really we all got into dentistry at the heart of it for some reason to care for other people. And yes, while it may mess up our day, those people truly are the ones that need us, probably the most, right? And so taking that step back and putting that frame of mind, when that phone call comes in. And like you said, also triaging it, right? Sometimes it truly isn't the emergency that the patient thinks it is. So having a set protocol or questions that we can ask on the front, you know, I'll share with you. I love the, a scale of one to 10, how bad is it hurting today? And on that same scale of one to 10, you know, have you taken anything for it and where does it land when you take something on that same scale? Because if they're at a nine for pain, but they take something and it subsides to a five, I may have a little bit of time to get them in and not necessarily mess up my schedule, right? But if it's a nine and nothing's helping, know, yeah, we got to find the best, worst, worst, best time, however you say that, to put them in. But really, it's an opportunity to make a difference for them and truly do what we- Tiffanie (09:34) I'm sorry. Kristy (09:44) What we love to do is care for people, right? And hopefully make a different outcome for them. So on the first call, we can make a difference. We can triage it to also help the best, but also take great care of the patient. Tiffanie (09:58) Absolutely. Yeah, I agree. And that triage you guys I would I would create I mean, I have them we can send them to you Hello@TheDentalATeam.com just ask us for them. I would create an intake card, an intake form. And what I used to do actually, when I was in the in the front office at my dental practice, I had it on like a sticky note or a card, it was laminated and it was up by my computer so that I would ask those questions and what I would do and what I encourage team members to do. is to throw it into the notes section of the appointment. So how long has it hurt? Like Kristy said, on a scale of one to 10, what would you rate your pain today? Are you taking anything for it over the counter or otherwise? Have you ever had this looked at before? Is this the first time that this has occurred? And really, and what is it? What area of the mouth? What is happening? What are your symptoms? And then now we can, that's a triage to be able to say, okay, where does this appointment go? I do have to say there are so many practices, so many dentists that reach out and they're like, Tiff, Kristy, Kiera, Dana, Britt, like on my schedule is nuts. And I can think of a doctor in specific that one of our first calls, he's like, Tiff, I have like 10 limited appointments a day. And my if you called me today to schedule my limited availability is two weeks out. And I was like, what? That's wild. Like there's I have so many questions right now. Like, why are patients not getting treatment done? Are these new patients? It's so many questions like that is wild to me. And that's the extreme but I definitely have doctors who are like, hey, I've got I've got limited emergency exams air quotes there if you're listening in the car that are coming in and it's like, well, I had a filling done a week ago and it's still high. Okay. we didn't triage then to figure out what the actual quote unquote emergency is. That's an office visit y'all. Like that's a, you know what, great, let's get you in where we can to get that adjusted. But I'm saving this spot here for someone who's in pain because they have a toothache, right? And I get you, I hear you team members, a high filling is going to cause pain. Yes, get them in. Don't make them wait a week. Don't make them wait two weeks. Get them in. But the patient who calls if their face is swollen or their tooth has fractured or they just got into an accident. I had a kid that fell at baseball practice and knocked his tooth out or broken. These, guys, how are we getting these patients in? So being able to triage that and asking the right questions ahead of time is gonna help you to manipulate the schedule accurately and really, like Kristy said, get those patients in where they need to be seen. And I have oftentimes myself taken phone calls that a patient is like... You don't understand, I gotta get in and I'm like, okay, great. Like, let's talk through this. Let's let's talk about what you've got going on. And I'm like, okay, like it's 355. And you're all you're gonna survive. Let's get you in at 8am. Let's get you in at 9am with the doctor, we're going to be ready for you. We're going to be able to do treatment, we're going be able to do something to get you out of pain tomorrow. let's get you in in the morning, right? Because it's like, okay, on the scale of I know dental emergencies, the person calling me doesn't have that same scale. And so to them, what they are experiencing is massive. But when the grand scheme of things to ask a team to stay late, probably not, and you can survive until tomorrow morning, right? So you get to triage these things and make the best schedule for you all. and then also prep the team, you guys. I mentioned at the beginning that I'm putting all of those things in the appointment notes because I then want my dental assistant to be able to say, my gosh, Kristy. Kristy (13:37) Thank Tiffanie (13:49) Come on back, like let's get you taken care of. And then on the walk even, used to, as a dental assistant, I'd be like, Kristy, gosh, how are you feeling it? From the notes here, it looks like that upper right tooth is really bothering you. How are you doing? And I'm sitting Kristy down and I'm putting her bib on and I'm like, tell me more about it. It looks like you're taking ibuprofen and it's kind of reducing it. Have you tried anything else? Like now we're in conversation and Kristy, how does it feel on the other side to be like, my gosh, great. They already, they took the information yesterday and now we're actually, we're in conversation about it. And Kristy, from your point of view, how does that conversation utilizing the information, which caveat you guys, if your front office team is putting the information in there and you're not using it, they're gonna stop putting it in there. And then you're gonna be upset that it's not in there. So make sure you're using it. But Kristy, from the patient standpoint and from your point of view, your perspective, how do you feel that conversation? lands for the patient in respect to going back to what we talked about earlier with the communication. How does that help that open that space in those lines? Kristy (14:54) Yeah, I love that you bring that up because it is a true opportunity to make a huge difference and it really does elevate the patient's level of trust and we have to remember that those patients coming in on emergency are probably even a little higher level of anxiety than just the normal dental patient, right? Almost every person coming to the dental office, even if they don't mind it, have some level of anxiety. And your limited exams or your limited emergency patients definitely probably are ratcheted up another level. being heard is huge in, you know, diminishing that anxiety and, or at least lessening it, right? And then just elevating that level of trust so that when you guys do diagnose something, figure out what's going on. they're more likely to say yes to the treatment because you validated them, you heard them. How many times do we call the doctor's office, because we have to get in for a sore throat, and you go through every person and you think, why did I just tell the last five people? Because nobody listened to me. Everybody walked in and said the same thing. So I agree with you, Tiff, that is so huge. And I'm gonna even like maybe plant another seed of opportunity that if ever, We talk about handoffs all the time with our clients, right? If ever you can have a new patient limited come in and the admin team walks them back and hands it off and gives them that information, wow, knock it out of the park. They're already like, whoa, this is very different than I've ever experienced. And they listened from the first phone call, right? Tiffanie (16:41) Yeah, yeah, I love that that elevated experience is what we're always after. And it's that concierge style. I know. I just got back from vacation. So it's super fresh for me and everybody. My boyfriend works for a company that is an incredible company and they have these trips that you can earn. And he he earns them. He's an incredible worker. And these trips are just incredible. And there I was sitting with someone and he said, gosh, it's so cool. companies don't do this. Companies don't do things like this. Like he's like, my company got me the Calm app for a year. And I was like, well, bro, I love the Calm app and that $80. Like I hear, I hear why that would be great. But side note to that, you're right. Companies don't do this as like a bonus structure as an incentive, right. But what actually sticks out to me is not just the trip, right, because we can get myself Kristy (17:15) Just what? Tiffanie (17:32) to London somehow, some way I can get myself to London. What I can't and won't do is go the extra mile to have a tour agency right there scheduling everything. At my beck and call, I had someone that would tell me what the schedule was. The concierge members would schedule dinners for us. The show that I wanted to see, I could tell them to schedule it. That's the level. of difference for me, because we can get ourselves anywhere, but going on a vacation like that, that the company set up so many spaces that you don't have to think about anything, is what makes these trips exciting to me, right? Yes, I acknowledge they're really cool, but what's cool about them is the level of service that we get at every step of the way. Dental offices are on every corner, sometimes two or three in the same parking lot, you guys. Your concierge, your level of service that you're providing to the patients is what makes it stick. That's what you're here for and that's what's gonna make you feel the best. So I totally agree. What can we do for these patients to level it up that much more? And really to maximize those appointments, I know from... me saying it from Kristy saying like do these things it sounds like more but it actually decreases the amount of time spent because you've you've quickly and easily created a relationship with a human and they're ready to then move forward to the next step they trust you the relationship is there they're hearing you because they felt heard and they're ready to push forward so even that concierge style on that first phone call and maybe even saying like gosh you know what We've got this space to look at. I have an idea. What if we bring you in and we look at everything with a high focus on this area because my gut says if this is happening there, this isn't the only spot that's going to be troublesome. And I would rather give us the opportunity to catch it ahead and be proactive than wait for another call like this where you're in pain. So let's get you scheduled and let's get you scheduled for a full exam and x-rays with a high focus on this area. I've just converted a limited exam into a comp exam. That's maximizing an emergency appointment. If I didn't convert it over the phone, dental assistant, hygienist, whoever's getting this limited exam, we're doing the same thing. Hey, I have an idea. Let's maximize your time here. Let's be proactive and let's make sure there's nothing else in there that's going to pop up like this because I don't think you want to be in pain like this again, I venture to say. Let's make sure that everything else is taken care of as well with a high focus on this today. So making sure we're maximizing your time, the patient's time and your time and creating more value out of a very seemingly simple appointment. But it takes knowing what the patient is coming in for. passing that information off, passing that information off to the doctor correctly, and making sure that everything that we're getting from the patient, all that information is being used. That's how you make those appointments maximized and how you efficiently and effectively use your time wisely. You guys know, if you've listened to anything at all, Kara always says, efficiency is my jam. It will be on my headstone, on my grave. That is locked in stone. Kristy (21:00) you Tiffanie (21:04) Listen to me when I save. This is how I personally have saved time and built stronger relationships very quickly with my patients in office and watched and trained practices to do it forever. So build that protocol and you guys, doctors, that protocol of information, the triage that we're gathering, it's based on the information that you want. when you're gonna sit down and talk to that patient. What are the questions you are going to ask that patient that they can gather, your support team can gather the information ahead of time and give it to you, saving you that time and you can jump into relationship and diagnosis. What are those things that you want to know? Allow them to build that intake form, that triage form. team members, support the doctor in utilizing that form, and support the whole team in scheduling properly based off that triage, and that's gonna be huge for you. And if you schedule optimally, you know what you're scheduling for, you guys, can probably even pop in some same day treatment very frequently, very often because you're already prepped. As a dental assistant, Kristy, there were so many times where I'd see an emergency, and I'm like, or I'd see an emergency of a patient that had been in and had a... filling or a crown or whatever diagnosed on that tooth already. So I already had a pack ready to go so that when Doc confirmed what that treatment was, even a new patient saying this is my pain, like as a dental assistant, I'm like, okay, these are probably the two, three things that he's potentially diagnosing. Let me have these things prepped and ready for quick grab in case we can move forward with treatment today. And then I'm talking to my patient about that. Like, gosh, you know what? Typically when I see this, I already know, I know what the options are, right? Typically when we see this, I usually see doctors say things like this. I'm preheating and prepping that patient for what the doctor may come in and say. Again, doctors building that relationship. That's that co-diagnosis space. And dental assistants, do not do yourselves the disservice of thinking that you can't do that. It is not just for hygiene. Hygienists cannot diagnose. You cannot diagnose. But both of your positions can co-diagnose and support the patient and the doctor in moving forward with treatment. So triage, make sure you've got something really easy for them to utilize. Implement it, get your hand off straight, you guys. Probably practice them, I love role playing those. And work to maximize your time by utilizing these systems, but also by saying, hey, let's get your whole mouth taken a look at today. We don't have to do everything, I don't even have to show you everything. I just need to know what's going on there and get a treatment plan so that we can move forward. I digress. And I think, Kristy, I really feel like all of those spaces go straight back to the first conversation we had today of really opening up that communication and making those changes for the team, but also for the patients. And one thing I want to highlight before we finish, something I loved doing as a dental assistant for my, especially for my emergency patients, but any patients, something I loved doing, you guys, was really saying like, gosh, I know that this is rough for you, or know you've got, you know, this is this might be overwhelming for you. But I want to highlight some things that are going really well. Two, one, you're here. You walked through my front doors. And my patients with the highest anxiety would cry when I would say that. I would say you're here, you're here with me. I'm not going to let you down. And I'm going to be here for the long haul. So number one, you're here. Number two, you're ready to take a proactive step. And again, I'm here for you. So just Again, that relationship, being in relationship and Kristy, that goes back to like acknowledging. That's hard for a lot of patients walking through that door. It's hard. And when they're scared, gosh, I've had patients that they're like, no, I haven't been to the dentist since I was 12 and they're 42. I'm like, well, congratulations, here we are. And you've still got a lot of teeth in your mouth after 30 years. Like that's huge. So let's take a look. But Kristy. I think we've given them a ton of information on how to maximize a limited exam appointment. What do you feel like if they could take one step today? Doctor might be listening to this, maybe it's Saturday or Tuesday night. What's one thing that our doctors listening today can do to get this process started for their practice? Kristy (25:37) Yeah, again, going back to what you said, really dialing into those questions and also, know, doctors remembering back when they very first started, they welcomed a lot of a limited exams, right? Like we wanted them. We used to cheer when we'd have them because we knew it was putting something in the chair and more than likely they had other things going on. So challenging them to kind of reframe it and look at it in that direction. The other thing with doctors too, for limited, maybe when they come to morning huddle, they scan the schedule and see if I had to have an emergency today, where's the best time to put it? Because that's the other thing too, Tiff, when people call in and front office doesn't know where to put it and then they put them on hold forever because they gotta find somebody, identify those times, go through your questions that you would ask. And honestly, I also say doctors, I know this is hard for you because you walk in the room and you kind of take charge, but be the guest in the room. Acknowledge the patient is sitting there. It'd be weird if you didn't, but then quickly turn to your assistant and let them hand off to you. Give them that space to do that. And like you said, it truly will save time because patient doesn't have to repeat themselves. And for the team members, you don't have to be afraid of leaving anything out. All you have to say is, hey, May I share with Dr. Smith everything that we talked about, right? And then turn to the patient. Was there anything that I forgot or anything you want to add? Then you don't ever have to be afraid. You can feel confident. And if they speak more, so be it. You know what I mean? But those would be my tips there. Tiffanie (27:23) Yeah, I love it. And I think we wrap on that. So go do those things. Go create the best process possible for your patients and for your team. If it's working for your team, it works for your patients and your flow is great. And guess what? We hit goals and patients are happy and satisfied and teams happy. So go do all the things you guys. Thank you so much for listening. Kristy, thank you so much for being here and letting me surprise you and put you in the spotlight for so many things. So thank you for that. And you guys. As always, drop us a five star review, let us know if this was great information, how much you loved it, and allow others to find it as well. Share with your friends, your coworkers, your doctors, if your team member's here, and doctors with your team members if you're a doctor here. So share with everyone, we wanna make sure that these protocols really get put into place, and if you need help with any of it, Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. We are always here to help, and just so you know, when those do come in, I said it before, they do come to us consultants, so you are getting actual information, reliable. And we are here to help. So thank you everyone and go have a great rest of your day.
DAMIONLet's start with a softball: Tesla's Europe sales plunge 49% on brand damage, rising competition. Who Do You Blame?ElonLiberals Who Hate ElonTrump 2.0The Tesla board (I'm looking at you Robyn and Kimbal)Apathetic Tesla investorsNobody. Share price is king. MMISS backs Dynavax directors in board fight with Deep Track CapitalDeep Track Capital, which is Dynavax's second largest shareholder with a nearly 15% stake, is pushing on with a proxy fight and wants new directors to prioritize development of the company's hepatitis B vaccine instead of pursuing new acquisitions."Vote for all four management nominees," ISS wrote in a note to clients that was seen by Reuters. "The dissident has failed to present a compelling case that change is necessary at this meeting."Despit that "There has been a stall in momentum" and that "the market has in no way rebuked the company's strategy" even though Dynavax's stock price has fallen 18% over the last 12 months.Who Do you Blame?ISS, for an inability to articulate big ideas with data.Dynavax's current board knowledge profile: while pretty balance overall with science-y stuff like Medicine and Dentistry (14%); Biology (15%) along with a reasonable amount og Economics and Acounting (12%), the board notably lacks Sales and Marketing (0%).Deep Track Capital nominee probably fits that bill: an experienced drug development and commercialization professional most as interim CEO/COO at Lykos Therapeutics, including overseeing the commercialization of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine and marketing and sales at Sanofi PasteurISS, again, for ignoring the presence of 15-year director and Nominating Committee chair Daniel Kisner. Why is this guy allowed to maintain dominance over the selection of new directors?Especially consider the presence of fellow long-tenured director Francis Cano on the committee who is 80 and has served for 16 yearsCano had 29% votes against in 2018, but then only 4% in 2021 and 8% in 2024 The board's atrocious lack of annual elections. While the company celebrities the appointments of two new directors in early 2025, one of them, Emilio Emini, will not be up for shareholder review until the 2027 AGMCan I blame DeepTrack (14%), BlackRock (17%), Vanguard (7%), and State Street (6%) = 44%PepsiCo Is Pushing Back its Climate Goals. The Company Wants to Talk About ItPepsiCo said Thursday it pushed back by a decade its goal to achieve net-zero emissions from 2040 to 2050, as well as a handful of delays on plastic packaging goals, to name a few of the shiftsJim Andrew, chief sustainability officer, said PepsiCo's ability to make progress at the rate it would like to “is very very dependent on the systems around us changing.” He added the “world was a very different place” when it was working on these goals in 2020 amid a completely different political and regulatory landscape.Who Do You Blame?Pepsi's very large board of 15 directorsmost governance experts and research converge around an ideal range of 7 to 11 directors. Which really means 9?Beyond 11, boards often suffer from slower decision-making and diluted accountability.Pepsi's completely protected class of directorsAccording to MSCI data: no current director has received more than 9% votes against since the 2015 AGM. Average support is over 97%Despite hitting .400 overall (peers hit .581): .396 carbon (vs. 473) and .180 on controversies (vs. 774)The fact that the company is named Pepsico and not Pepsi which is kinda irritatingPepsi's Gender Influence Gap of -11%In fact, of the top 7 most influential directors, 6 are men with 68% aggregate influenceThe woman is Dina Dublon (11%), the former CFO at JPMorgan Chase, who has been on the board for two decades. I guess her experience as a director on the Westchester Land Trust is not enough to sway the gentlemen.The Land Trust is chaired by Wyndham Hotels director Bruce Churchill, whose experience at DirectTV must really be crucial in the protection of the natural resources of Westchester CountyWhat Makes a Great Board Director? It's Hard to Define, but It Has Rarely Been More Crucial. Who Do you Blame?The WSJ for still failing to define it appropriately despite being the effing WSJ!Proxy advisory firms, for not having the data that could better inform shareholdersThe SEC/listing exchanges for not requiring data that could better inform shareholdersEvery person in the world who does not use Free Float Analytics data2025 U.S. Proxy Season: Midseason Review Finds Sharp Drop in Shareholder Resolutions on BallotTrump 2.0Darren Woods and ExxonThe anti-ESG shareholder proponents for depressing us with their political theaterApathetic investorsMATTBall CFO to depart after less than 2 years in roleHoward Yu: The departure is not related to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to its accounting practices, financial statements, internal controls, or operations.Because everyone leaves in less than 2 years when they're happy? Who do we blame!:Ball's Audit Committee - only 29% of company influence, but maybe they're too busy to pay attention to the CFO at all? We know audit committee roles are hugely time consuming, so Cathy Ross (ex CFO FedEx) on two audit public audit committees, John Bryant (ex CEO of Kellogg) on FOUR audit committees, Michael Cave (ex Boeing exec from 787 Max days) on just Ball audit, and Todd Penegor (current CEO of Papa Johns) on THREE boards AND an acting CEOBall's Nominating Committee - 48% of company influence, maybe they suck at their jobs? Stuart Taylor, who's been on the board since 1999, Dune Ives, Aaron Erter, and… Cathy Ross and John Bryant, also on the audit committeeHoward Yu, who departed unrelated to “any disagreement with the Company” on anything he actually did thereCEOCathy Ross and John Bryant93% of U.S. Executives Desire Board Member ReplacementsOld people: There are 14,440 non executive directors in the US on boards with an average age of 63 years old and 2,569 executive directors with an average age of 58.298 companies in the US have at least ONE director over the age of 80. Directors over the age of 80 have on average 9% influence on the board and on average 19 years of tenure - old and no one actually listens to them.Two US directors - Tommy Thomson (82 years young) and John Harrington (87 years young) are on THREE boards eachMeyer Luskin is 100 years old on the OSI Systems board - he is UCLA class of 1949 and has 6% influence after 35 years on the boardMilton Cooper is 95 years old on TWO boards - Getty Realty and Kimco Realty, where he has 53 and 34 years of tenureImagine being a 58 year old CEO and chair of your board and showing up to have to listen to John Harrington and Meyer LuskinOutlandishly outsized influencersOf 24,000 US directors, 591 have more than 50% influence on their boards. Those boards average 7 other people - is there a point to those 7? Connected directors hating on unconnected directorsThere are 575 directors on boards who are connected to 50% or more of the board… A fun example - at Target, 92% of the directors are connected through other boards or trade associations - that's 11 out of 12 directors. Do you think the board just hates Dave Abney for having no obvious connections to them?Shrill womenThere are 7,450 female directorships on US public boards596 have advanced degrees from elite schools80 of them are non executives at widely held corporations with no ties to the company or family with zero known connections to the existing board membersDon't the other directors just wish they weren't there being smart asses?Meta Buys 650 MW of Renewable Energy to Power U.S. Data CentersAES, the woke Virginia based energy company with 5 women and 6 men on the board where 63% of the board has advanced degrees and four of the board members aren't even AmericanArkansas, the woke state that allowed solar energy to get built thereMeta AI, because AI can't even discriminate against renewable energy because it's so wokeMark Zuckerberg, the dual class dropout dictatorMark Zuckerberg, the government ass kisser, MAGA convert, and attendee at the oil state Qatari meetup with Trump who set up this purchase, like, BEFORE the world hated woke, so it's not his fault because he's REALLY super into oil and stuff
Shared Practices | Your Dental Roadmap to Practice Ownership | Custom Made for the New Dentist
This episode features Richard Low and Alex Sharp in a deep dive on culture as a foundational driver of practice success. From turnover and team expectations to measurable metrics and mission-driven leadership, they outline how to build a culture that's both intentional and resilient. Whether you're just starting out or refining your systems, this conversation offers actionable strategies you can implement tomorrow. Check out our events page for all 2025 events https://sharedpractices.com/events/
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter She started charging just $40 a month—now she runs a business that hit 7 figures. In this episode, Amanda DeMoura shares how her small side hustle evolved into a thriving dental business, what it really took behind the scenes, and the unexpected turns that shaped her success. In this episode, we talk about her journey from the ground up, navigating remote work and entrepreneurship, and what happens when growth forces you to make big, uncomfortable decisions. If you're in the dental industry, healthcare admin, or just curious how real businesses are built behind the scenes, this conversation is full of honest moments. It's a story about ownership, reinvention, and figuring it out as you go. Connect with Amanda: Website: https://amandademoura.com/ Email: Amanda@amandademoura.com Podcast: Breath of Fresh Air - Dental Podcast ------------- I created Dental Revenue Network to foster collaboration and networking amongst RCM professionals. Billing company owners and billing professionals will have access to skill building sessions, current carrier news and insurance discussions beyond “what's the code?" Check it out - I hope you'll join! https://dentalrevenuenetwork.mn.co/ ------------- Medical Billing Made Easy! Dental Classroom Online: https://www.dentalclassroomonline.com/ Use ODYSSEY for a 10% courtesy ------------- *Is your AR out of control? Is your admin team burning out?
Dr. Brendon Gallagher comes from an athlete background that he taps into to help him on his dental journey. He is a big thinker with great ideas and wants to one day revolutionize the insurance industry as it pertains to dentistry. He's also the host of the Dose of Dental Podcast! Ladies & Gentlemen, you're listening to "Confessions From A Dental Lab" and we're happy you're here. Subscribe today and tell a friend so we can all get 1% better :)Connect with Dr. Gallagher on instagram at @doctorgallagher and email him at brendankgallagher@gmail.comFollow KJ & NuArt on Instagram at @lifeatnuartdental, you can also reach us via email: kj@nuartdental.comLearn more about the lab and request information via our website: https://www.nuartdental.com/new-dentist-contact-form/
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!
Fred Heppner of Arizona Transitions is back for part 2 of his chat with Kiera! Life comes at you fast, and sometimes, it comes in the form of a surprise. Kiera and Fred talk about creating an exit strategy today for your departure from dentistry, as well as what the economics look like for moving on from a practice. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript Kiera Dent (00:01) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera and I am so excited for you to have part two of me and Fred Heppner going through associates, DSOs, how to really grow this. You guys, we had such an incredible first half of this episode. It was so long and so much information that I wanted to break it into two parts. So here's part two. I hope you enjoy. And as always, thanks for listening. I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team podcast. Kiera Dent (00:24) should people be talking when they're in their 20s 30s or is it something we're like start to think about it I know Ryan and I from Dentist advisors we we talk shop about this quite often of like there I mean there are studies that show that when you retire you actually start to atrophy in life and ⁓ there isn't as much of a purpose and so we talk often of like how can we continue that mental stamina, the things that are going to fulfill us, whether it's working or something else of philanthropy, like whatever is going to keep you going as a human, whether you're working in the chair or you're not, I think is important. So that's I was curious of like, really probably connecting with you three to five years before we think we might retire, but with the caveat of, hey, if something were to happen to me, what would kind of be my exit strategy? your like death list like I do, like if I die, this is what's going to happen. It's creepy, but it's awesome. Fred Heppner (01:15) No, it's, it's creepy and it is awesome. And at the same time, it's a really good conversation to have because if we're three to five years out, then one of the first things to do is say, okay, so what's going to happen if you're not here? And that carries on to the discussion we had earlier. So once the discussion about, what do want to do when you, when you retire or you stop practicing dentistry, then the questions start coming up. What about the economics? Kiera Dent (01:27) Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (01:44) So in any... Yep, absolutely. Kiera Dent (01:44) I was just going to say, like, is it sell? Is it DSO? it? And also, I mean, this to me also, I think might exponentially accelerate some people's plans because the DSOs are hot and it's like 10x EBITDA. That might accelerate your retirement or your sell because you're on a wave right now that who knows if in the next 20, 30, 40 years we'll be there. Fred, I'm super curious, like, how is this whole DSO model maybe shifting it for transitions? Or is it? I'm curious. Fred Heppner (02:13) It is, it's shifted quite a bit, but what it's shifted is a real desire for dentists to be able to sell their businesses and release the management responsibility and to have somebody else take that over. 15, 20. Yeah. I just want to do, I just want to do dentistry. I don't want to manage a business. I don't want to manage people. Um, I don't want to run the company. I want to be able to practice my trade. Well, Kiera Dent (02:22) you The dream for every business owner. ⁓ Exactly. Fred Heppner (02:43) I can tell you that in the last 15, 20 years, it's certainly exploded in dentistry and not in a bad way. And here's why. Dentists graduating from dental school today need a place to work. The banks that loan money to dentists to buy dental practices are looking for dentists that have a couple years experience in dentistry. They have a production track record. The banks can see what it is that the dentist can do. Chair aside. a good credit score and some liquidity, usually 8 to 10 % of the purchase price of the business that they're looking at in cash. So one of the things to consider is graduating dentists should be able to make the minimum payments on their debt, on their student loans, on what debt they have, and begin to put money away as quickly as possible to gain some liquidity. So as we look at the equation of what DSOs are doing, they're providing them with a place to work. Because as dentists come out, I mean, the majority of dental practices that I work with, maybe you can echo this or discuss it, are just single dentist practices. Right, they don't have a, somebody called it a plus one at some point time, and I thought, okay, that's decent. So you have the dentistry, but there's the ability to bring somebody on maybe one or two days a week. Well, that doesn't, Kiera Dent (03:44) Mm-hmm. Totally same. Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (04:09) That doesn't feed a hungry young dentist coming out of dental school who really has a lot of debt and wants to begin to work and develop a way to reduce that debt. They're looking for four days a week, five. They might have a quality of life thing where they just want to work three tens and be off Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. That's okay. But the point is, is that most private practices don't have the capacity to be able to bring on a full-time dentist and feed them right away and keep them very busy. The DSOs, corporate dentistry, Kiera Dent (04:19) Right. Fred Heppner (04:39) have offices that can provide that place. So essentially, if a dentist comes out of school and begins to work, they may very well work for one of the corporate DSOs, which gives them experience. It gives them the ability to work five days a week. It gives them the ability to practice in what I call civilian dentistry out of dental school. And it gives them the opportunity to be able to see what it's really like. I can tell you, Kiera, that 15, I think 15 years ago, Kiera Dent (04:57) Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (05:08) the most popular phone call I would get on my phone line was, hey, we just got 50 million from a private equity firm. We're starting a DSO, but we're different. And we want to buy practices from you because we heard you're good. And I just tell them, great, thanks very much. Get in line, register on my website. And when an opportunity comes up, I will email to you like I do everybody else the opportunity. Because most of my clients call and say, I... Kiera Dent (05:17) you Fred Heppner (05:34) Hard no to a DSO. I'm a private practitioner. I've got a legacy practice and I want to sell to another private dentist Okay, so that was the most popular second most popular call was I'm sick of working for a company find me a practice to buy Now it's shifted More so do I hear I'm sick of working for somebody else find me a private practice to buy I'm ready to go The the DSO calls have filtered off of it and I don't know that that's a global Kiera Dent (05:48) Mm-hmm. ⁓ Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (06:03) representation of the DSOs starting to slow their buying and really focus on the profitability of the offices they have to really maintain the profitability due to higher interest rates. Maybe they're slowing down their buying. Who knows? The interesting thing about it is that it's somewhat of a closed loop in DSO work. You really can't get into and find out exactly what everybody is doing unless you're member of their organizations, which is fine. And I respect that. Kiera Dent (06:12) Yeah. Fred Heppner (06:32) private information, but it begs the question. And ultimately, if a dentist is looking to buy their own practice, eventually they're going to need those one to two years experience, liquidity, good credit score, in order for them to go to one of the commercial banks and say, I want to buy a practice and let me get a practice to buy and then we'll put it together. Okay? So I can tell you that private practice is alive and well. Kiera Dent (06:55) Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (07:02) very bullish on the individual dentist who's out there still practicing and doing quite well. I can also tell you that those kinds of doctor to doctor transitions are extremely successful. The idea is some people who look at a transition like that would think, my gosh, the dentist leaves, all the patients will leave. They'll go somewhere else, they'll go to other practices. Well, if that was true, let's carry that forward. If that was true, Kiera Dent (07:14) Mm-hmm. No. Fred Heppner (07:28) then that would mean that the loans that the dentist used to buy the practice would go in default, would they not? Because if all the patients left, there would be no revenue and they'd have to fold up camp and see you later, right? The default rate on dental practice loans still over the last 15, 20 years and even recently is 40 basis points. 100 basis points is 1%. 40 basis points is four tenths of 1%. So if you follow the math, Kiera Dent (07:33) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (07:58) The default rate is less than half of 1 % on the billions of dollars that are loaned by banks for dentists to buy practices. They don't fail. Okay. Kiera Dent (08:08) Totally. They don't and they're such a good investment. I think that that's why so many people like, that's why I think DSOs are buying up practices. ⁓ And I think that that's where so many private practice owners now, I would say I've watched where it used to be legacy practices and there's still legacy practice doctors who do not want to sell to a DSO. Like when they're there, they want to sell doctor to doctor, they want to bring in an associate, they want to bring in partners. I think By default, dentistry tends to be a more humanistic, ⁓ very relationship model ⁓ versus I still think though, right now DSOs, you're right. I don't think people are getting as many calls. ⁓ But what I will say is my doctors are probably getting 20 to 30 emails every month from a DSO interested in buying their practice. So they are getting it as private practice owners. And so I think that that's where, ⁓ like I said, some people within the last eight years bought a practice as a private practice. the DSOs, they were profitable. were within the metrics that the DSO wanted. And it just made sense. was like, I'm going to get 10x EBITDA on this. My EBITDA is great. No private party is going to pay me what this DSO is going to pay me. And while yes, I'd love it to maintain a legacy practice, I'm in my 30s and I could basically have retirement today. mean, there's more risk selling out because they have a lot of it in their stocks and there's a whole ⁓ game around that. I think that that's where maybe some of the younger generation might be looking at transitions sooner than I think the more senior population of dentistry is. think that they're starting to be the shift and that's where I'm very curious of like, maybe conversations need to be had sooner. Maybe because DSOs are aggressive on the emails to the dentist. Like it is wild and they are sexy offers to them that are not always true. And that creeps me out too, because they're hearing a number. Like I had a doctor and he had a DSO. Fred Heppner (09:49) Yep. Yep. Kiera Dent (10:04) come to him and they said, Hey, we're going to give you 5 million. And he's like, here, it seems like a great deal. And I said, yeah, but you're going to do 5 million next year just in your own production. So that's actually a bad deal because you're already going to make that without selling to them and having to work for them for the next five to 10 years or like three to five is usually what their requirement is. So again, I think that this is where it's like, how do we cut through that noise to know when I do transition? Because I think people are getting asked to transition from private practice. sooner. You're right, they go work at the DSO, they go to some of those bigger corporate practices to get the experience, then they go buy their private practice, and then it really is, or they do a startup. And then it's pretty aggressive because I think Wall Street's pretty hot right now and private equity is very, very luring, but they do have to hit certain requirements to join DSOs. Fred Heppner (10:53) Yeah. There are tons of verticals that people are getting into, the private equity is getting into, you're right. There's a ton of money at it. You know, I would tell you that the devil is in the details. It may very well be that there are transitions that occur where a DSO or a corporation acquires the assets of a private practice and the dentist stays and works back in the office. And that transition works swimmingly well for the dentist who sells for the DSO. Kiera Dent (11:02) Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (11:21) And ultimately everything works out fine. There are others that don't and they're, they're out there. And I think what you mentioned earlier is, you know, I could get 5 million from my practice. Well, why would you, you will be able to make that in, your earnings in 2.3 years, whatever it might be, whatever the math pencils that be. But if you think about it, if it, if 10 times EBITDA is their offering price, what are, what are the details? How much cash at closing? Kiera Dent (11:38) Right. Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (11:49) Is there a work back or a work back arrangement where you will be paid to be the dentist? And what is your compensation? What are the benefits that you would receive? And what is the term of that work back arrangement? You're right. It's creeping up now more into five years. 15, 20 years ago, was maybe, you know, stay on one or two years and we're good. There's a claw back. There's a hold back provision that holds back part of the purchase price. And the dentist has to meet the Kiera Dent (12:04) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Fred Heppner (12:17) has to meet certain metrics from the trailing 12 months to be able to get that back. Well, let's pretend. Let's pretend that the DSO comes in and sets up the practice and nothing changes and the business continues to grow and develop because there's more marketing promotion and advertising. There's better cost control. There's just better stuff going on and that works. Well, what if it doesn't? What if all of a sudden the company comes in and says, we're changing these policies? You were Delta Dental Premier, we're jumping into PPOs because we've got really good reimbursement rates on these 12 PPO contracts. Well, if that reimbursement rate drops from fee for service, does that hinder the doctor to be able to generate the income necessary for that hold back to be acquired in the next two to three years? And then there's equity. You mentioned that they offer a stock in the company to be able to ultimately participate in a Kiera Dent (13:09) Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (13:15) recapitalization should that happen? Well, it'd be really interesting. You're going to love this one. I know you're going to love this one. So for any of your listeners, any of your A-Team clients, if they get approached by a DSO and they look at it and they think it's really, really good, have somebody look at it. What you will hear typically is you really don't need an advisor. You don't need an attorney. We've got all the contracts ready to go. You can come. Kiera Dent (13:35) Mm-hmm. Lies. Lies. Fred Heppner (13:44) Exactly. You can just take all of this and we'll be good. Well, trust but verify. And ultimately a good team would be able to review these. I would be glad to review. I review paperwork all the time from dentists that are looking to transition. And if there's an equity piece in that offer, I turn around and contact the DSO on behalf of the client. And I say, we'd like to see your financials. Kiera Dent (14:08) Absolutely. Fred Heppner (14:11) What do you mean? Well, you're asking my client to acquire stock in your company in lieu of cash at closing. yeah, that's part of the deal. I need to see your financials. I need to advise my client on whether or not you have a healthy company and whether or not my client's going to be at risk by taking stock in your company. Well, nobody's ever asked us that. Well, I am. And doesn't it make sense? We've just provided to you tax returns, profit and loss statements, but sing along if you know the words, balance sheets, W-2, production reports, everything on the business. Kiera Dent (14:21) Yeah. things. Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (14:39) And yet you're not willing to provide the other. Just provide the other. Show us that your business is solvent. Show it that it is something that my client would like to receive in stock. So, mon bro. Kiera Dent (14:50) And there's strategy for tax around that too. there are benefits to having stock rather than all the cash at closing for your total dollar amount when you want to retire, but only if that stock actually is valuable. Fred Heppner (15:05) Pays back. Correct. Good. And that is so brilliant. You see, you're good looking, you're smart, and that's a rare combination today. So, so, but think about it. You just mentioned something that people really don't think. If, if I have a practice and they give me 1.5 million chopped up into the ways that we've mentioned, and I have $200,000 worth of equity in the company, what if that $200,000 is half of 1 %? Well, when they recapitalize, I get half of 1 % of what proceeds, right? Kiera Dent (15:09) Thank you. Mm-hmm. I love it. It's such a... Fred Heppner (15:35) So map it out. Yeah, map it out. mean, can you sell your practice twice? sometimes yes, sometimes no. Kiera Dent (15:43) And there's so many sticky pieces around it. And that's where I feel like it's just a, think this is where people get leery to do it. However, I think like there are some, you said, that go really, really well, but agreed. And when I look at this people like Kiera, like I thought about that doctor and I was like, so sweet. You're going to five mil. That's your 10 X. You're going to produce 5 million. Your overhead right now is sitting at a 50 % overhead. So right now you're taking 2.5. Let's say you do get a $5 million check. you give me 10 taxes, it's barely over your 2.5, which you're already going to get next year. So like, yes, next year, you still have to pay taxes because you're at a 50 % overhead. So you will still get a small amount more of cash to you. But there's a lot of strategy that goes into that 2.5, pending upon what you need when you invest that, like for every million, it's about like on average, if it's in the stock market, about 35,000 right now is like a very, very, very loose number to like estimate your financial future. But I'm like, you throw 2.5 into the stock market right now, we'll high five, you're making about 100K a year. Like that's just to me, those are the things that I feel you need to be really smart about to make sure that your practices are assets and not liabilities and something that really will provide the retirement for the work you've put in rather than it just feeling good in the moment, but not really giving the life you want. Fred Heppner (16:59) You know, excellent point. And what you also said earlier, just in passing was, what dentists could buy my practice. can't sell to a private dentist. I've got to sell to a DSO. ⁓ surprise, surprise. That's a myth. There are dentists who would, I can tell you right now, if you could give me your client's number, I'll buy her practice. Well, yeah, well, I mean, that's gonna, that's gonna pencil. So the, the point that I would make is know that Kiera Dent (17:12) It is a myth. Right? I know, me too. I'm like, actually, actually I would. Fred Heppner (17:29) Dentists that are out there who are looking to buy really profitable practices and can meet the production goals. So there's an important aspect there. Your client's doing two and a half million in profit, five million in productivity on her own. If a person coming in to buy that won't be able to quite meet those production numbers, they may hire the client back for a year or two. The bank may want them to make sure that there's some kind of arrangement where they have some help. But if a bank is looking at a practice that has that kind of liquidity and profitability, they'll gladly loan the money to the dentist if other measures are there because they know it's going to be paid back. So I want to dispel the myth that big practices with large productivity and big profitability are excluded from private practitioners being able to buy them. It's not true. Is it? Yeah. Kiera Dent (18:10) Mm-hmm. I agree. They get nervous because of the debt, but I have somebody that I know that just bought into a $2.5 million is how much they had to bring to the table. Plus they have their student loan debt, plus they have their house debt and they were able to do it to buy into a practice. so I'm like, I think let's not assume that that's the only route. think figure out what you want and there is a buyer based on the outcome you want. I think Fred, I want to switch gears because I want to ask some questions about associates. because I think we've kind of gone through like private practice. There's so many things like make sure you're taken care of, make sure you know where you're going. But now I want to switch gears because I think this is something I get asked all the time. And so selfishly again, welcome to curious therapy with Fred. I want to know all the pieces. This is my podcast that you get to be a part of. No, it's for all of you. ⁓ we get asked often, how do you set up a great associate buy-in? So like, how do I buy these people and how do I tether them in? I think one of the greatest, I would say Fred Heppner (19:06) I'm listening. Kiera Dent (19:19) stressors and like blind spots in practices and the thing that can really hurt a practice is when they have an associate that associate leaving. ⁓ And so they want to like golden handcuff these associates, but they want it to be good for both parties. What are some of those associate transitions to retain associates to get them in as partners? Is it a good idea? Is it not a good idea? And I think like we can wrap on this because I, I'm super curious of like what you recommend to help with that transition. Fred Heppner (19:45) The capacity for the business volume has to be there. You've got to have, not only are you working, but there's this phantom practice out there that you can't get to as the provider. And you need somebody to be able to get to that. So bringing on an associate to get to that phantom practice immediately creates incremental income, which is, to the owner of the business, very liquid. Kiera Dent (20:03) Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (20:07) The cost associated with treating extra people during the course of the day is the associate's compensation and variable cost supplies in lab. And if you're ⁓ providing can-to-can technology and your lab costs are very low, but you're producing crowns in a day, for example, and using that kind of technology, then the cost associated with treating every incremental patient and creating that revenue is very low. we're suggesting that the team in place can handle the extra work. We don't have to hire an extra assistant or hire an extra administrative person. So given those things. ⁓ One of the best transition plans, in my opinion, is one that has time built into it. The associate has to develop some traction. They have to generate some productivity. They have to show that they can produce the numbers. But more importantly, the outcomes are good. The treatment outcomes are successful. The patients are adapting to them. The team connects with them. This is a good relationship. As an aside, really quick, when you mention relationship business in dentistry, I think DSOs traditionally are a transactional business. They're really focusing on the transaction, right? Private practice focuses on the relationship. Not to say that corporate dentistry doesn't focus on relationships. They're focused more so on the transactions. I might get ridiculed for that statement, but that's what I see. And that's my opinion. Kiera Dent (21:19) I would agree. Sure, sure. Fred Heppner (21:36) So back to the associate, need the associate to develop some traction. And essentially that traction comes from being in the office, seeing patients, working with the team, and ultimately getting feedback along the way. And I think that's a one to two year cycle. Will you know as a practitioner and owner of the business within the first one or two months, if the associate is working two or three days a week or four days a week, will you know, do they get along with the patients? Do they get along with the team? Yes. Will you know about treatment outcomes? Kiera Dent (21:40) Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (22:05) To some degree, yes. So early on, you'll know if this is cut bait, this is not going to work. Or yes, this person's fitting in great, primarily because they were vetted. So quick, quick retract back to how do you hire them? Go through a long process of vetting. Don't just take the first one that appears. Get to know them, make sure they're going to integrate well. I see a lot of associate plans. work real well when the dentist knows the dentist owner knows the associate coming on board from some past experience. Great example is the dentist associate grew up in town, did an internship kind of in the office as a sterilization tech, kind of worked in the office, found out that dentistry was their passion, went to college for undergrad, went to dental school for dental degree and came back to the town to work for that dentist. Right. Okay, good. So somebody you know, ⁓ Kiera Dent (22:38) Mm-hmm. Totally. Fred Heppner (23:00) son of doctor, owner's best friend. So there's history there. You know, the quality of the individual. Okay. So once traction is developed during the part of that associate agreement, there's some discussion about ownership and building an understanding of how the practice works so that when time comes to be a partner and buy in, there's already some traction. There's already some traction so that if the person elects to buy the seller out, in a couple years, then they can switch roles. But there has to be some traction. One of the things that's really perilous is thinking about jumping into a practice and being a partner right away. If you want to practice and you do two million a year, hygiene does 500, you do 1.5. I'm going to come in and I want to be a partner of yours today because I've heard how great your practice is. And you have the physical plant capacity, you have the patient capacity, and I can step right in. If I pay you half of the value of your practice today to buy in, we can split up the medicine and supplies and drugs. can split up the equipment. We can split up the office equipment. ⁓ we can split up all the operatories, but how do we sort out the patients? Because come Monday morning, say we close tomorrow, Friday, come Monday morning, I need to have in my schedule, the ability to generate half of the revenue in the business so that I can pay myself and I can pay. to having bought in. that make sense? And that doesn't really happen easily when somebody just freshly wants to buy in as a partner. So fast forwarding to partnerships, which I hope we get a chance to talk a little bit about today, that associate has to be in that process, in that business for a period of time. And that traction needs to get up so that they've got productivity under their belt. And again, going back to what we talked about about banks, Kiera Dent (24:32) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I agree. Fred Heppner (24:59) they wanna see that that productivity is there, that they'll be able to generate it because they wanna make sure that they get the loan paid for. And a really good associate agreement has, in my opinion, good restrictive covenants, not to compete, not to solicit patients or staff. ⁓ In some states, that's not allowed. The FTC voted that associate agreements or employment agreements should not have restrictive covenants, but there's no legislation yet that has actually mandated that. Kiera Dent (25:05) Totally. Fred Heppner (25:26) So keep in mind that it's probably not appropriate to think that you'll be able to limit somebody's ability to work. Now for them to essentially buy your practice, for example, and you as a, agreement have a restrictive covenant that you will agree to that's different because somebody paid you good and valuable consideration money for you not to compete against them because they bought your business in an employment agreement. It's a little different. Kiera Dent (25:49) Mm-hmm. Great. Fred Heppner (25:56) So if a dentist comes and works for another dentist who owns the business, and after a couple of months, it's just not gonna work out, they're not gonna have enough connection with the patient base to solicit patients or solicit staff or the team. They won't. So would it matter if there was a restrictive covenant in that initial agreement? Probably not. because after a couple months, if they've alienated patients and alienated staff and they're not very good at dentistry, you want them out of there anyway, forget about the restrictive covenant, they could go work for somebody else close by. It's probably the same thing that'll happen. Kiera Dent (26:36) I think it's really wise because I think so many offices hire an associate, but they're so scared to move them along in two months. I think that was wise advice you listed. It is so much easier to move them on in two months than it is to keep them for six months, eight months, 10 months, and then realize their dentistry or their team connection or their patient connections not there. so ⁓ it's, it's be very intentional within those first 90 days and make sure that this will be a long-term fit. ⁓ You can see it in two months. Fred Heppner (27:01) So how does this, you can, I'm sure you can. How does this sound? For the first six months of an associate agreement, maybe you don't have quite a good background, deep background about that individual, but you feel that they would be good in the practice. They come recommended by their instructors at university, at dental school. was highly, someone was highly recommended. How about a single page, six month agreement that says you come to work for me, I will pay you this. And if you want to go, you can go. If I feel you need to go, I'm going to release you. It's an at will agreement, no restrictive covenants, nothing in it that locks anybody down. Because again, what I mentioned earlier is how much traction can you generate really in one or two, three, four months, because you'll know after four or five months that this is somebody really want to lock in at six months, develop a really strong, well-written attorney reviewed. employment agreement that has restrictive covenants that has specific on how to redo cases in case they need to be done at the end of the employment agreement. Right. What do you think? I mean, does that give that give the opportunity? Kiera Dent (28:08) Sure. I think, I mean, I like it. think that the devil's advocate in me would say, I'm not sure that the ⁓ millennial Gen Z generation coming through would say yes to six months. I think that they're looking for more security. They're looking for more guarantees. They come in with a lot more debt and a lot more risk that I am really curious. As a business, I think it's freaking brilliant. As on the other side, I'm curious, would you be able to get candidates that would want to come or is it too risky of an offer? Fred Heppner (28:43) You mean, yeah, do you mean the associate dentist coming on board is thinking more about themselves rather than the practice? Kiera Dent (28:52) I think with the associate offers that are given currently, ⁓ I think agreed. It does show that they're thinking about it, but I also feel for a practice making sure that they're competitive with offers. I don't love having to be ⁓ like with hygienists. I don't want to have to go chase them, but you have to at least be competitive with other people in the market. So I think I agree with you. I just feel for practices making sure that maybe Fred Heppner (29:05) ⁓ I understand what you're saying. Kiera Dent (29:19) you are so competitive with other people and offer. So you do get the candidates, but you can have some of these ideas within like that I think would make you even maybe more attractive. So maybe it's a year that we're offering, but like, Hey, in the first six months, there's no restriction. There's no nothing. We add that in in six months. So that way you are competitive with other people. Cause I think associates, they need that security and I'm watching more and more come through. I mean, they're walking out with one mil plus 2 million in debt. Like, so I think that I think to be competitive with others, might need to be a possibly. This is my hallucination that could possibly just make sure you're competitive. Fred Heppner (29:53) Well, well, no, you're so you're right on you're in a you're in another section of what the employment agreement might look like called compensation and benefits. I'm looking at just the period of time that you would be that a dentist would be employed in the practice to determine if it's a right fit for them and if it's a right fit for the practice and if it's a right fit for the patients and the team. Compensation can say exactly what you were saying. Now, Kiera Dent (30:16) Right. Fred Heppner (30:22) Unfortunately, it isn't the responsibility of the practice to provide for somebody who is unproven in their debt or to satisfy their lifestyle requirements. Yes, they're competing with other organizations that are offering salary, health insurance, vision, life insurance policies, all of those benefits that come along with big corporations. However, It's a private practice. And the sooner I think that dentists who are coming on as associates know the intricacies and the difficulties of running a business and also the rewards that come with it, they would understand better how those arrangements are made. And I've seen compensation programs set up where it's the greater of over two weeks, a compensation per day or a percentage of a certain amount over a certain amount of productivity. So you can meet those requirements. can kind of meet. Kiera Dent (31:15) Mm-hmm. Fred Heppner (31:16) Kind of need halfway in between. Kiera Dent (31:18) Yeah, and I think that that's where I was saying of I feel like making sure that you're meeting in the middle. I love the idea of being able to protect like, you're right, like not being stuck in this with someone who's not working out and getting stuck, I think is actually something that happens all the time with associates. ⁓ And so I think like, Fred, it was such a fun like, chat about us. I agree, we need to chat more partnerships because now it's like, okay, we've got these associates, we've got some ideas on it. We've heard about figuring out where we want to go and how we're going to be able to get there and needing to think about our future life and how when we need to transition, you said the three to five years, I think looking for like, what do need to do to be able to buy a practice? If I want to buy a practice, what do need to get? Then we talked about like the DSO offers coming for private practices, and how to assess that through Fred. And then we moved into associates. So Fred, like that was such a like smorgasbord of topics, which I love. And I think definitely reconnecting because I think there's the next step is like, how do we bring in these associates for partners if we want them? How can we build a legacy practice? That's not necessarily just the DSO. So I'd love to get you back on the podcast and chat partnerships and like alternative transitions beyond, but gosh, Fred, such a fun podcast today. Fred Heppner (32:10) It was fun. I am happy to do it anytime. I appreciate what you do for dentistry. So I'll absolutely support you and be glad to do it. Kiera Dent (32:36) Thank you. Well, Fred, as we wrap up today, were there any last thoughts you had to give to the listeners? And of course, ArizonaTransitions.com, ArizonaTransitions.gmail. If you're looking to transition or associates or what do I do or hey, Fred, I just need help. But any last thoughts you have as we wrap up today? Fred Heppner (32:52) Yeah, I think I tell you a funny quip that I think resonates with most people that I talk to. Dentists are excellent at curing dental disease, at diagnosing conditions and recommending treatments and working with patients to get them well. And, ⁓ coming into an event like purchasing a practice or selling a practice where they've never done it before. They don't have the experience or the education. going in to understand what to do. I would encourage them to get advice and guidance from a great team. ⁓ I have a deal with my dentist. Mike Smith is brilliant. He has a practice called the biting edge here in Phoenix and he's brilliant. And he and I have an agreement. I don't do my own dentistry. And he doesn't do his own practice transition stuff or practice management stuff. He relies on me to do that because they're in the middle. meet. So I want him to cure my dental conditions and make sure I'm in the optimum dental health that I could be. And I'm to make sure that I provide the services to him so that if he's looking to acquire a practice or merge an office into his, or figure out how the next plan would be for his practice growth or his transition, that he's going to sit down with me because he understands that that's my expertise and he. he benefits from. Kiera Dent (34:15) Yeah, I love that. That's such a good way to look at it. Let's sit in our lanes. Let's do what we're really good at and not try to be a one-stop shop. I think that that's brilliant, Fred. And I feel like for all those looking for the transitions for what do we do? How can I do it? Reach out, Fred. I think you're a wealth of knowledge. You've been in it for a long time and just truly so grateful to have you on the podcast today. Fred Heppner (34:36) It's my pleasure. Absolutely. Have a great day. Talk to you soon. Bye here. Kiera Dent (34:39) Awesome. Thank you. And thank you, Fred. Thank you, all of you. And for all of you listening, thanks for listening. And I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Dr. Drew McDonald, DDS, MS Dr. Drew McDonald is a board-certified orthodontic specialist based in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is renowned for his expertise in airway and temporomandibular joint-focused treatment planning, surgically facilitated orthodontic therapy, and complex interdisciplinary care. Dr. McDonald lectures internationally and has contributed to literature and textbooks in these areas. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Dr. McDonald's passion for baseball led him to the University of New Mexico, where he played as a catcher for the Lobos and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. He pursued dental education at Creighton University, graduating cum laude and receiving honors including induction into Omicron Kappa Upsilon and Alpha Sigma Nu. He then completed a rigorous orthodontic residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, earning both his certificate in orthodontics and a master's degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences. Outside the clinic, Dr. McDonald enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, grilling, and playing golf.
The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode 396 HOSTS: Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak GUEST: Clifton Cameron, Lightwave Dental DESCRIPTION Clifton Cameron, Chief Dental Officer of LightWave, discusses the dental service organization (DSO) landscape, covering industry challenges like labor inflation, financial strategies, and market consolidation. The conversation explores how dentists should evaluate partnerships, the impact of consumerism on practices, challenges facing solo practitioners, and the importance of strong leadership in navigating the evolving dental industry TAKEAWAYS LightWave is America's only Dental Leadership Organization (DLO). Labor inflation has significantly impacted the dental industry. Dentistry is resilient and can withstand economic fluctuations. The importance of understanding earn-outs and financial risks in DSO agreements. Stability in the market is becoming increasingly important for investors. The majority of dental practices are still solo practitioners. Financial strategies must adapt to current economic conditions. Consolidation in dentistry is ongoing, with a significant percentage of practices under DSO contracts. The need for camaraderie among dental professionals is crucial. Consumerism is reshaping patient expectations in dentistry. Dentists must adapt to changing market dynamics to remain relevant. Investing in leadership and technology is vital for growth. The dental industry is seeing a trend towards consolidation. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to LightWave and Leadership 05:00 The Current State of DSOs 10:01 Understanding Earn-Outs and Financial Risks 14:58 Navigating Labor Inflation and Financial Strategies 20:07 The Future of Dentistry and Market Resilience 25:00 Consolidation in Dentistry: Current Trends and Insights 32:06 The Rise of Startups and DSOs 36:19 Consumerism and the Future of Dental Practices 40:19 The Value of Dental Practices in Transition 44:25 Two Paths for Dentists: Business Owner vs. Employee 53:39 The Future of DSO Consolidation REFERENCES Bulletproof Summit Bulletproof Mastermind
Thinking about going out of network? In this episode, Gary and Naren break down five real reasons why some dentists should wait. Learn how to tell if your practice is ready—or if you need more time, training, and trust-building first. A must-listen before you make the leap. Book your free marketing strategy meeting with Ekwa at your convenience. Plus, at the end of the session, get a free analysis report to find out where your practice stands online. It's our gift to you! https://www.lessinsurancedependence.com/marketing-strategy-meeting/ If you're looking to boost your case acceptance rates and enhance patient communication, you can schedule a Coaching Strategy Meeting with Gary Takacs. With his experience in helping practices thrive, Gary will work with you on personalized coaching, ensuring you and your team are prepared to present treatment plans confidently, offer financing options, and communicate the value of essential dental services. https://www.lessinsurancedependence.com/csm/
Dentistry gets a bad rep - for reasons known and unknown to us. But times are changing, for the better. In the latest episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker welcomes Emmet Scott, CEO of the Dentist Entrepreneur Organization (DEO) and co-founder of Community Dental Partners, to explore the entrepreneurial mindset that elevates the dental landscape and the players in it. Through the conversation, they unpack how to scale your practice effectively, implement strategic frameworks like iDOPE for better project management, and build a strong foundation for growth without sacrificing quality of care. Tune in for eye-opening insights into the complexity of the dental landscape, the community outlook that can simplify the day-to-day and solid direction to build a scalable and sustainable dentistry empire. If you want to grow more, without settling for less, this is the episode for you!
What if you could work just three days a week… and still run a thriving dental practice? In this episode of The Thriving Dentist Show, Gary Takacs and co-host Naren Arulrajah explore a powerful idea that's on the minds of many dentists today: how to create more free time without losing income or control of your practice. If you've ever felt burned out or just wish you had more balance in life, this episode is for you. Gary shares how he's helped many dentists make the three-day work week a reality. From smart scheduling to reducing insurance headaches, you'll hear real-world strategies that work. They talk about how two dentists can share the week and still keep the office running five days, or how a solo dentist can stay just as productive by working smarter—not longer. You'll also learn how to build a strong, happy team that loves the schedule as much as you do. Naren jumps in with simple marketing tips to help attract patients for high-value services like implants, Invisalign, or cosmetic dentistry. He explains why great landing pages, real patient stories, and search engine optimization (SEO) can help you get more of the right patients—without spending a lot on ads. These ideas make it easier to grow your income, even with fewer workdays. Whether you're just starting to think about a lighter schedule or you're ready to take action, this episode gives you a clear path forward. Gary and Naren break it all down in a way that's easy to follow and proven to work. It's not just a dream—you really can build a life and practice your love with more time, more freedom, and less stress.
When's the last time you reviewed your office policies? Regular check-ins keep your practice running smoothly and your team on the same page. In this episode, the DPH coaches share how they've updated their own policies to reflect today's workplace, cut down stress, and avoid playing favorites.Get tips on managing cell phone use, stopping patients who start recording in the chair, and creating policies that are fair to all employees. Plus, find out how staff discounts can strengthen your team and grow your practice!Topics discussed in this episode:Evolving cell phone policiesHow to handle cell phone use by patientsAppearance policies: tattoos, piercings, and apparelCreating fair, consistent policiesThe benefits of employee discountsWhy you need updated policies in your practiceText us your feedback! (please note: we cannot respond through this channel))Join our Online Mastermind Community with All the Training, Systems, and Plug and Play Protocols for you and your team. https://www.dentalpracticeheroes.com/DPHcoaching Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life I help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Join the DPH Hero Collective and get the tools, training, and support you need to transform your practice: Team and Doctor Training for every aspect of Practice Management Comprehensive Training: Boost profit, efficiency, and team engagement. Live Q&A Sessions: Get personalized help when you need it most. Supportive Community: Connect with practice owners on the same journey. Editable Systems & Protocols: Standardize your operations effortlessly. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.
In today's episode, we're diving deep into the art of same-day dentistry with Dr. Ben Kacos, founder of CMOshare Ryan Gross, and host Dr. Mark Costes. They break down the critical systems behind becoming a same-day clinical powerhouse—from expanding your team and optimizing your facility, to building a hustle-driven culture and offering flexible financing options. Plus, they share real-world strategies for boosting patient satisfaction, driving emergency traffic through marketing, and maintaining momentum in a challenging economy. This is a masterclass in how small operational shifts can lead to massive production gains! EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast
In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru, founder of Ashburn Children's Dentistry, based just outside Washington, D.C. Dr. Lynda shares her inspiring journey of healing her own sleep apnea without surgery and how it led her to pivot her practice toward airway-focused pediatric care. She explains how early intervention in children's breathing and sleep issues can transform their long-term health. Tune in to hear how she's making a global impact by helping kids breathe better, sleep deeper, and live healthier lives. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Dr. Lynda believes the hardest thing is staying focused and committed to your vision, especially when it's not popular or easily understood. For her, the challenge was sticking with an innovative and nontraditional model of pediatric dentistry despite obstacles. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Her favorite business book is "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek. She values how it emphasizes understanding and communicating your purpose, which has been crucial in leading her team and connecting with patients. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Dr. Lynda highly recommends The Ed Mylett Show for its personal and professional growth insights. She also listens to Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi, and uses ChatGPT to help organize her thoughts and explore ideas in her business. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? She recommends becoming great at telling your story with conviction. She emphasizes the power of storytelling to connect with patients, build trust, and market effectively—something she has used to grow her own practice. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Dr. Lynda would tell her younger self to believe more, be patient, and stay persistent. She reflects on the importance of self-confidence and trusting your vision, even when others don't yet see its value. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Success is changing the trajectory of a child's health, not just fixing their teeth – Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru Tell your story with heart—that's how people truly connect – Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru Most lifelong health issues start in childhood—we just have to know what to look for – Dr. Lynda Dean-Duru
At what point does imitation cross the line from flattery to appropriation? In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I highlight various pieces of evidence that prove how a core concept I engineered years ago has started a movement in the dental industry. As people continue to get on board with the concept of Connected Dentistry®, they need to be informed of the true origins of this registered trademark. I'm Dr. Bryan Laskin—dentist, author, entrepreneur, CEO of Toothapps® and the engineer behind the original concept of Connected Dentistry®. Read Dental Disorder. Subscribe to the Connected Dentistry® Newsletter by following Toothapps® on LinkedIn.
SummaryIn this episode, Dr. Effie Habsha shares her journey as a prosthodontist and her role in empowering women in dentistry. She discusses the balance between her professional and personal life, the evolution of her community initiatives, and the impact of digital dentistry on her practice. Dr. Habsha also reflects on the challenges faced by women in the dental field and the importance of mentorship for early-career professionals.https://www.instagram.com/womensdentistry/https://womenindentistry.ca/welcome/Engage with the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentaldownloadpodcastHaley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.haley.dds Keywordsdentistry, women in dentistry, prosthodontics, digital dentistry, mentorship, work-life balance, Spear Education, community growth, career advice, dental education, dental podcast, women in dentistry podcast, female leaders, leadership, work-life balance, female leaders, canadian dentists, toronto dentist
Are dentists missing a critical opportunity when it comes to investing in their own technology? Dr. Jeremy Krell, Managing Partner of Revere Partners (the first independent venture capital fund dedicated to oral health) brings his experience from years of building and exiting startups and clinical expertise, and makes a compelling case for why dentists should consider investing not only in their practices, but also in the very tools and technologies they already use! If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you'll enjoy: Ep #534 - Russ Morgan – Becoming a Better Investor: What to Pay Attention to and What to Ignore Ep #529 - Dr. Peter Dinh – Unlocking Peak Performance – A Dentist's Guide to Health, Productivity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset Check out the show notes for more information! P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think): 1. Schedule a Call with My Team: If you'd like to replace your active practice income with passive investment income within 2-3 years, and you have at least 1M in available capital (can include residential/practice equity or practice sale), then schedule a call with my team. If it looks like there is a mutual fit, you'll have the opportunity to attend one of our upcoming member events as a guest. 2. Become a Full-Cycle Investor: There are many self-proclaimed genius investors today who think everything they touch turns to gold. But they're about to learn the hard way what others have gained through “expensive” experience. I'm offering a free report on how to become a full-cycle investor, who knows how to preserve and grow capital in Up and Down markets. Will you be prepared when the inevitable recession hits? Get your free report here. 3. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard: Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals, and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Click here to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.
Dr. Kelvin Khng is a dentist practicing in Singapore who flew all the way to Chicago to attend lab day because he understand the importance of dental technology in dentistry. This is an episode unlike any other! Ladies & Gentlemen, you're listening to "Confessions From A Dental Lab" and we're happy you're here. Subscribe today and tell a friend so we can all get 1% better :)Connect with Dr. Khng on instagram at @dr.kelvinkhng and email him at dzm216@nyu.eduFollow KJ & NuArt on Instagram at @lifeatnuartdental, you can also reach us via email: kj@nuartdental.comLearn more about the lab and request information via our website: https://www.nuartdental.com/new-dentist-contact-form/
The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode 395 HOSTS: Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak GUEST: Paul Vigario, Founder and CEO of SurfCT DESCRIPTION Craig, Peter, and Paul Vigario explore the dental industry's complexities, discussing competition among doctors, sales perceptions, and entrepreneurial challenges. They emphasize personal growth, brand development, and redefining success in dentistry. The conversation highlights the importance of embracing risk, living authentically, and seeking mentorship while breaking free from industry constraints and societal expectations. The speakers encourage dentists to pursue their passions, make aligned choices, and leverage community support to navigate career challenges and achieve meaningful success. TAKEAWAYS The dental industry fosters a competitive environment among doctors, hindering collaboration. Sales skills are essential, despite the common belief that dentists should only educate. Many dentists view themselves as commodities due to a lack of branding and marketing. Entrepreneurship in dentistry is not for everyone, but everyone deserves a chance to try. Falling in love with the journey is vital for personal and professional growth. Instant gratification is a societal issue that affects the entrepreneurial mindset. Failure is a part of the journey, and learning from it is essential. Dentists often feel pressured to conform to societal expectations rather than pursue their true aspirations. Engaging in practical experiences is necessary for growth, rather than just theoretical learning. The older you get, the more risk-averse you become. Mentorship can be a catalyst for personal and professional growth. Dentists should not limit their identity to their profession. You can choose your path and make decisions that align with your happiness. The industry often positions dentists as operators, limiting their potential. Happiness should be the ultimate goal in your career. CHAPTERS 01:25 The Concept of Doctor Competition 05:00 Sales vs. Education in Dentistry 09:31 Entrepreneurship in Dentistry 12:45 The Journey of Dentistry and Personal Growth 18:04 Societal Perspectives and Personal Experiences 24:52 The Importance of Mentorship and Community 26:42 Breaking Free from Industry Constraints 30:11 Understanding the Game of Dentistry 39:01 Choosing Your Path: Authenticity Over Shame REFERENCES Bulletproof Summit Bulletproof Mastermind
In this episode of Clinical Unfiltered, Dr. Sausha explores advancements in 3D printing technology in dentistry. He discusses the evolution of the technology, differences between additive and subtractive methods, and various printer types. Dr. Sausha emphasizes selecting the right printer for specific dental applications and the importance of software in the workflow. He also shares insights on the post-printing process, including cleaning and curing, and addresses common challenges faced by dental professionals in adopting this technology.
In this episode, Gary and Naren discuss a powerful but often overlooked concept: discretionary spending and how your dental practice can benefit from it. Americans spend over $6 trillion every year on things they want, not just things they need. That includes healthcare decisions, like cosmetic dentistry, implants, and other elective treatments. Gary breaks down how understanding this mindset can help you better position your services, attract fee-for-service patients, and break free from insurance limitations. Book your free marketing strategy meeting with Ekwa at your convenience. Plus, at the end of the session, get a free analysis report to find out where your practice stands online. It's our gift to you! https://www.lessinsurancedependence.com/marketing-strategy-meeting/ If you're looking to boost your case acceptance rates and enhance patient communication, you can schedule a Coaching Strategy Meeting with Gary Takacs. With his experience in helping practices thrive, Gary will work with you on personalized coaching, ensuring you and your team are prepared to present treatment plans confidently, offer financing options, and communicate the value of essential dental services. https://www.lessinsurancedependence.com/csm/
Associates on Fire: A Financial Podcast for the Associate Dentist
If you're a dental practice owner—or planning to become one—this episode could save you thousands. Wes Read, CPA and CFP, breaks down the financial fundamentals every dentist needs to master, especially when it comes to getting money out of your business without triggering IRS penalties.Wes unpacks the critical role of choosing the right business structure—S Corporation, LLC, or sole proprietorship—and how that decision directly impacts your taxes. You'll learn why S Corps are often the go-to for dentists, and how your “stock basis” plays a central role in what you can legally distribute from your business.What's the danger? “Excess distributions”—taking more out of the business than your basis allows. Do this, and you could be looking at capital gains taxes and serious IRS scrutiny.Wes explains the three primary ways dentists take money out of their practices—payroll, direct distributions, and personal expenses—and how to do it smartly. If you're in the middle of a buildout, just bought a practice, or making big equipment purchases, this episode is a must-listen.With clear explanations and actionable advice, Wes helps you sidestep costly tax traps and plan your cash flow more strategically.What You'll Learn:How excess distributions work—and why they're a silent profit killerWhat “basis” really means, and how it affects your ability to take money outThe pros and cons of S Corps, LLCs, and sole proprietorships for dentistsThe three most common ways money exits a dental practice—and the tax implications of eachHow to work with your CPA to avoid penalties and optimize your income #DentalBoardroom #DentalCPA #DentalFinance #ExcessDistributions #SCorporation #DentalPracticeOwner #DentistTaxTips #DentalPo
Kiera and Tiff share highlights from the Dental A-Team Summit — the best one yet! They touch on communication, the life cycle of a business, keeping teams energized, and more. Mark your calendars for the Dental A-Team Summit 2026! Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: Kiera Dent (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners, this is Kiera and ⁓ gosh, today's a great day. I have the one and only Spiffy Tiffy on the podcast. I feel like we're going back to like OG status here, Tiff. Like it's been a while. Welcome to the podcast. How are you? Tiffanie (00:14) I'm good. Thank you. Luckily, Shelbi snuck a time in here for us. I mean, gosh, we've got a birthday podcast. We've got this coming up. Like we've got all kinds of stuff in the works, but I'll see you in a gear in a year. Right? That's all we get. Kiera Dent (00:26) I know, right? See ya! See you next May. I'll see ya. No, I love it because honestly, you and I host, we podcast, you take a lot with the consultants and so ⁓ I selfishly put you in on my day of podcasting because I miss, I miss our OG days. I miss ⁓ us hanging out. I mean, I did take us on a hike and podcast. Like that was really going back in style. Supposedly the video works. If you guys saw it, give us a thumbs up. ⁓ We were both very awkwardly uncomfortable sitting up there, but it was awesome. And the things like this, got sunburned. So that was funny when we were up there, all the pieces, but it was a good time. And I felt like this back to our original roots, Tiff. Sometimes I think we need to remember where we came from and how we got here. So, I mean, I was just talking to Shelbi and Kristy and told them about our Venmo days and how you stayed with me through all these years. If you don't know the Venmo story, Tiffanie (00:57) There were so many courts. I agree. Here I am. Kiera Dent (01:22) When Tip first started, I paid her via Venmo and Venmo has maxes if you didn't know that. Tip was a 10.99, so I paid her via Venmo. I would not recommend this. And why Tiffanie stayed with me, I don't know because the Venmo would max and I'd have to text her and be like, hey, so it's maxed out. Give me like two days. It wasn't that I didn't have money. It's just that Venmo would max. So Tip, I don't know. Like how did you feel like that wasn't a shady business? That's question number one and then we'll get into our real topic today. Tiffanie (01:31) Thank you. have no idea. Honestly, I don't have an answer for that. I truly just don't. I just trusted and I mean, by early on, it was like the first two months of working together and you didn't have employees yet. So I guess in the back of my mind, I was like, we're just creating the systems, like we're figuring it out. And worst case scenario, like I always, I always have a backup plan and I was still in my office. So it was like, that's fine. We're figuring this out. We're going to see how it works. And here we are almost eight years later. Kiera Dent (01:51) Ha you You are. It's incredible. Nope. Definitely not Venmo. And it was funny because I was thinking back to like startup businesses and I did a podcast with someone else and we were talking about like, I think you forget when you like go to open your second location or your third of like, ⁓ yeah. Like we had to scrap it that hard when we first started. So Tiff, thanks for, thanks for being an OG, which stands for original gangster, not oldie, but goodie, but it's okay. If you want to do Kiera's style, I had to ask Tiff. Tiffanie (02:18) Not Venmo-ing. Kiera Dent (02:44) a things in my life. had to educate me on a few and that was one of them. was like, Tiff, does OG stand for? And here we are. So, Tiff, I figured with you and I on the podcast today, I thought it'd be really fun. You and I just in person did our fifth summit. Can you believe five summits? Like Tiff. Tiffanie (02:49) Luckily I'm all filtered. No, when we had, actually saw it on social media, on our social media. It said like, our fifth summit is coming. And I was like, oh my gosh, is that true? Like, you sent the postage on our Instagram and that's how I knew. So no, I can't believe that it was our fifth summit. It blew my mind when I saw that. Kiera Dent (03:09) you Yeah, it was well and there was a point in time where I debated if I wanted to keep doing summits. And the only reason that I actually went through is because we started the summits. Our first one was in 2021. And I knew I would be able to remember how many we had done because 2021 is one, two is two, and I was like, we got to keep this up. Otherwise, I'm going to really get off count. So that's why I know it's the fifth because it's 2025. ⁓ But I think honestly, Tiff, you and I, I wanted to give some highlights. If you missed it, you missed out and you should definitely mark your calendars for next year. I will say with wild confidence and Tiff, I think you would agree of all the summits that we have put on, ⁓ this was by far, think our best production that we've ever done. I think it was our best content. I think it was our best flow. And like the feedback that we got from this summit was off the charts, like shocking how good it was. That's my opinion. Next year, it's April 24th. So if you missed us, Tiffanie (03:45) piece. Kiera Dent (04:14) this year, mark your calendars right now, block it out. It is a Friday. We do it for a half a day. It is CE. So you're definitely going to want to block April 24th, 2026. That's coming to you guys. But Tiff, I felt it was our best and I've got some ideas and we want to give some recaps, but what were kind of your takes on the summit this year? Tiffanie (04:30) Yeah, I think we just got it dialed in. We take feedback every time we do anything. Every time we consult a practice one-on-one, every time we group consult practices, webinars, like anything we do. So Summit, there's always been feedback requests. And I think we've done really well narrowing it down and figuring out what the biggest requests were. I think one of the major things that played to our advantage was really getting a ton of information in a short amount of time. I think, crammed as much in, what do we do? Like four and a half hours as we have done in a day and a half. And we did really, really well. The presentation was clean. It was crisp. had a ton of engagement and honestly, we're still getting people scheduling the calls right now. ⁓ Today you've even done some during your podcasting day. I know just to make sure that everybody's gotten the resources that we had available. And I just think it was jam packed with a ton of information and Kiera Dent (05:02) Yeah, four and a half. Yeah. ⁓ Tiffanie (05:28) It stacks really, really well with the consulting that we do for our one-on-one clients and for our group consulting. It just honestly played right into how all of the consultants operate with all of our clients. So it was fantastic. I agree. Kiera Dent (05:42) Yeah, I thought it and I agree with you. think it was, ⁓ I think we really dug into this extraordinary and something Tiff, you and I, this was Tiff's vision. So Kiera's vision was summit, Tiff's vision were these in-person like doctor, leadership, masterminds. And you have been pushing me for probably what? Like four five years to do this. Like it has been, we're at five years then. It's been a solid push. I remember the day this came about, I think you do too. were, ⁓ Tiffanie (05:59) Bye as long as we've been doing summit. Kiera Dent (06:08) definitely team was on a budget back in the day. And I still think to this day, even not on a budget tip and I would still do this. We're sharing a hotel room and we were sitting there chatting late at night. And I remember Tiff, you're like, Kiera, I have this vision of these in-person events where we get all our doctors together and we do like life and we do business. And I was like, I see it. And then you're like, and I also think we should have a coffee shop. Like it was like both mixed into one. I think the coffee shop also threw me cause I'm like, how are we going to do all that? Tiffanie (06:29) I'm you Kiera Dent (06:37) But we literally came to it, by the way, just highlighting, you're in the blue shirt, I'm in the pink shirt today. How perfect is that? If you guys don't know, this is another vision. Tiff and I aren't going to be 90, 90 plus year old grannies. We have the same birthday. I'm gonna be cotton candy pink, Tiff's gonna be cotton candy blue. So whenever we show up this way, it always makes me giggle just how in sync we always are. But back to our vision of these in-person that Tiff had, I think it played into our summit of we're really getting intentional of like, Tiffanie (06:56) You can have steak. Kiera Dent (07:06) life on purpose and business on purpose. And so this year's theme was ⁓ unlocking, gosh, was unlocking extraordinary leadership and profitability. And what we wanted to do is I get really annoyed as a CEO when I do CE and it just is coming to me as the owner to then take it back and rally TIF. And honestly, when I've tried to come back and rally the whole team, I just noticed there was this disconnect. And I think as a company, we've always had this vision of like, it's dental, it's doctors and team. Like, look at our name. Dental A Team doctors and team, like it really flies together. And so being able to bring teams together and doctors together in your office, in your space, but teach you life skills and dental skills. And Tiff, know like when you go to offices, people tell you all the time, like how grateful they are. You teach them life through dentistry. Like walk me through why you do that, how you do it. I know it's just like who you are as your DNA, but I think that's why you have so much passion for what we do. Tiffanie (08:00) Yeah, thank you. I appreciate that. I truly believe that ⁓ if I can create passion in someone for what they do for a living, that they'll stay lifelong. think that, I don't know. I don't know, Kara. I think, like you said, it's just naturally ingrained in me. It's just who I am. I take a lot of... what I learn personally, and I duplicate that and I kind of like copy and paste it onto who I am as a as a team member and as an employee because I don't believe I hate the term work life balance. ⁓ I have like a Jars and crazy because I live one life I have one life and I have different spaces of life for sure. But if I 100 % show up differently in every space of life, I'm going to feel like I'm running ragged. So if I can look at Kiera Dent (08:31) Ha ha! Mm-hmm. Tiffanie (08:48) relationships as just relationships. And then there's the stack of like, intimate versus friendship, like for sure, there's that deviation. But if I can treat every relationship with the same basics, and communication with the same basics, then I'm not confusing myself. I'm not trying to be something I'm not, and I'm not working harder. You know, I love easy, you know, I love nothing more than defined efficiencies. And like, that's a major efficiency in my life is really being able to stack a belief that I have and then copy and paste it into work. So the way that I communicate with you is the same way that I communicate with my boyfriend, Aaron, or my son Brody. It just, I'm using different words ⁓ to get a different, to get a point across. So when I go into practices and I work with teams and I work with doctors, that's the kind of stuff that I leave them. So when I'm speaking about how we can communicate, I'm also mixing in how those communication tools not only have helped our company and UNI's communication tenfold, but also how it helps me and my personal relationships at home. So I constantly, I think if you polled all of my offices, I don't think there's anyone out there who doesn't know who Brody is. He secretly probably hates that. He gets hellos, gets birthday cards, all these things. But I utilize him as such an example for how we can show up for our families and for our kids using the same tools. And so when I walk away and teams are saying that, they're saying, my gosh, Tiff, like. Kiera Dent (10:00) Mm. Mm-hmm. Tiffanie (10:17) I went home and I talked to my husband last night and I had the first real conversation that I've been able to have with him in forever because I listened, because I used the tools that you told me to use on patients. So the way that you're listening to a patient, the way that you're putting your ego aside and allowing your patient to be the most important. person in the room, sometimes we have to put that aside and allow our spouse to be the most important person in the room for the time being and have a conversation instead of having a telling where we kind of just sit and we just talk at each other. We're not actually listening. We're not actively engaged and jumping to the assumptions, all those pieces. So I think that's how I do it. And then I want like mass scale of that because I can only hit so many, so many people one-on-one. And I think that's something that you and I have envisioned for the company for a really long time. We know that there's a limit of how many teams and how many doctors each consultant can affect. So being able to take these pieces and these skills and these developments that do smash life and work together on a mass scale like summit or these in-person events that we're doing now for our doctors and our leaders was really something that I think spoke to both of us to be able to just get the message out, get things changed on a mass scale. Kiera Dent (11:32) Totally. And I think that that just ties right into our vision of Dental A Team is to positively impact the world of dentistry in the greatest way possible. And we do that through expert consulting for dentists and teams. And you're right. Like it's funny, we always run into these zones of like, we've hit the ceiling, we've hit the ceiling of where we are. So how do we like turn and pivot and give more? Because as you were saying that I might actually think that that's the secret sauce to Dental A Team. I think we focus on life and business. We focus on you as a human and we do it through dentistry and like dentistry is our vehicle. What did I say the other day? said, ⁓ life is my passion, dentistry is my avenue. And so really, or our platform. So we're able to come and like help you have this amazing life. And that's, think what all the summit was about. Like it was literally, how do we do this? And so we walked the participants through like, what does extraordinary mean to you? And so if you attended the summit, hopefully this is a good like analysis and like, how did you do and how are you doing? And kudos to all those who joined our Dental A Team family. By far, this was our best year of welcoming new offices in. And I think it just spoke to like, the flow that we were in and the mission that we're about. And we really brought in our Dental A Team Success model and we call it the Yes Model. So you can say yes to more things in your life, to whatever you want. And the Y stands for you as a person and the E stands for earnings and profitability. The S stands for systems and team development. And when you add those three components together, you get success with E's. And Tiff, I think the U part was probably my favorite and funniest part of the entire thing we went through. There are these little. human beings that we draw and we like break up all the parts of our life and Tiff did one of the funniest things she's ever done in front of me. And we were we were looking at her like current life and how her time was split up. And she'd never done this exercise. I was so excited to do it with her in real life. And then Tiff tell about your ideal life and what ⁓ what we uncovered. So like, okay, let me just give the vigil. Basically, what the idea was, and you can try this is you take like a little image of you as a human and you break it apart and you you look to see like in your day in and day out life, just like Tiff said, it's not, we're breaking apart, like you, your life and your work balance, but it was like, how are you spending your time, cut up on a human body? kind of like, like if you think about those cows and they have like the meat chunks, like drawn out of them, like here's the filet, here's the ribeye, like kind of like that, but on you of like, where's my work? Where's my family? Where's my friends? Where's my hobbies? Where's my working out? Like whatever's important to you and like how much of your physical body, like in a visual of your full life, How much of that are we spending in different areas and what does it look like? Like it's a really awesome, if you didn't get to participate in it, it was real fun. And then what we do, and we had like two little, little images next to each other. And then on the other side, we said, okay, this is what you're doing currently and this is what real life looks like. What would your ideal life look like? Like, what would you want to spend? Like, where would you put this? And it's so fascinating because where people put things, it actually says a lot about them. Like what you put on the legs and what you put on the feet and what you put on the arms and what you put across your heart, what you put on your head. Like it really helps to identify things. But tip. Go ahead, take this away as long as you're not embarrassed by it, because it was so freaking funny of how this shook out in real time. Tiffanie (14:30) I mean, I've got hundreds of people already, so why not just ramp it up? Now we've got thousands, I guess. That's fine. No, I never, nothing's, no, maybe some things are too far, I guess, but I'm an open book. So it was actually, it was really, really cool. And I had not done it yet. I've done other things similar to it. Even we have done similar things to it, but just really looking at Kiera Dent (14:37) Why not? Here we go. Tiffanie (14:56) I took it as like my vision of where I wanted my life to be. And then like, what is going to propel me there? Like what aspects of life and relationships, et cetera, will propel me to that vision? So kind of what we did in person in March. Yeah. Kiera Dent (15:08) And kudos to you, Tiff, because that's what it's supposed to be. Like it's literally helping you see like, okay, where am I spending it? And then where do I want to become? And the idea is to help you visualize your future, but also take it in as an identity of you to help you actually see how you yourself is that identity of the future vision. So huge kudos. Tiffanie got it. That was the idea behind it. That's why we put it in a human form for you. It kind of looks weird. Like they like these weird little doll. I don't know. Like they look weird. We still are trying to work on it. Tiffanie (15:34) She likes to call them voodoo dolls. They're funny. Kiera Dent (15:36) Shush, don't say that. That's really going dark, Tiff. Go on, go on. She's sharing all my secrets. Tiffanie (15:41) you call them them. So maybe don't tell me those things because I'm an open book apparently. So we did the first one and I was like, well, it was really good. It was enlightening. It was actually really cool. And afterwards, I keep thinking about like where things were in order with my chakras and all of that stuff that, you know, I'm obsessed with. So it really made a huge difference there. But I did my first one. And then what I did is I folded the paper. They're both on the same piece of paper. And I was like, I don't want my Kiera Dent (15:48) Bye! Mm-hmm. Tiffanie (16:11) current layout to impact what I want my what I'm desiring. Right. So I folded in half so I couldn't see my current layout. Well, what that did was took away from my brain the pieces that I had on there. And I had everything on my future one on my what I want my ideal. I had everything duplicated on there just like different spaces except I forgot to put work on there. So work got removed from my life. I don't know when this is happening, ⁓ but apparently, I don't know. I said, you know what, it's just because I don't have a work-life balance. I just have life and work is just integrated into every piece of my life because I enjoy it so much. So yeah, it was a really humorous event ⁓ during summit. know somebody said in one of the chats, what was it? Best resignation letter ever. Kiera Dent (16:44) you you Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Exactly. Tiffanie (17:07) I was like, my gosh, that's hilarious. That's amazing. So it was, it was funny. think that, I think that I have this innate ability to think of my life as what I want it to be and work supports it. And whatever it is that I'm doing, I make sure that I'm passionate about the avenues that I'm taking. I think that's why I do include so much life because life like coaching and those pieces have just helped me so much in my personal life. And so as I looked at it and as I thought back about it, I'm like, gosh, it's just that those are the pieces that are insanely important to me and work is insanely important to me. But work is what propels those pieces in a lot of ways for me. And so thinking about like the amount of time separated out, I think just didn't feel right. You know what I mean? On that one, but it was hilarious. It was a great moment. If you were there. Kiera Dent (17:58) Mm hmm. It was really funny. It was really entertaining. Tiffanie (18:03) Yeah, it was super interesting. Kiera Dent (18:03) It was super entertaining. And it was it. But I think as you just said it, Tiff, and I didn't think about this at the time, I actually think it's awesome that your identity is not work. And I think that you as a human, like work is a part of it, life is a part of it. But work is not an identity piece of who you are. And I think that's been the case for so long. And I think for me, like work was such a huge identity piece for me that like we shifted it to where it's not work and actually changed what I view about the company and now the company is my passion project. And so it gets lumped into my passions more so than it gets lumped into work. And it's even interesting the language. And so we really went through these pieces and it was awesome to go through and tip. Thanks for sharing that. And I just think like such a good visual. ⁓ it was funny because I was like, so tip, is this your resignation letter? Like on live screen and she's like, it's not, I promise. Like things are good. ⁓ But it was, it was quite interesting. And then we also went through like the life cycle of a business. And I think that actually was so telling. We pulled that from Tony Robbins and like, where are you on the life cycle of a business as you as a human? And it's been interesting is when we've talked to people post summit, they've said that that helps them just so much to see like, my gosh, like me as a human, I may be further along, but my business is at like this toddler stage. And so I need to hire people that are more in this younger energetic space because I'm over here on the other side, or I need to like, kick it up and have this, or maybe my team is on this further side where they're maybe closer to retirement, but me as a new owner, I'm actually not there. And I thought it was just such an interesting spot for them to see where they were. And then of course we dug into the earnings, the money. So we walked through them through like profitability and overhead calculator and your monthly cost expenses. And then how do you figure this out? And how do you become profitable? And ⁓ really helping them see how like your supplies and your costs and your overhead directly impact your profit. And then a couple quick ways for you to actually watch this, and that's through a KPI scorecard, and then also giving you then the systems, and we purposely hit two systems within, like we had you assess 12 systems on a 12 monthly basis, so that way you can keep them as a cadence, but then really diving into a couple that will boost your profitability and help your patients, and that was through block scheduling and case acceptance. So just a really fun way, and then after that, we hit. Some of my favorite parts and some parts that people really loved, like I thought it was interesting when we went through like enemies of efficiency and the delegation ladder and like, where are you at and how much are you delegating? So many people said like, my name was in all these tiers of the delegation ladder. And then we actually went through case studies, like what are, like looking at hundreds and thousands of practices, I loved this part so much Tiff and we brought to the table like, what are the characteristics of these extraordinary leaders? for teams and for owners. And then what are the ones of the not so good? Like it is not hard when we walk into a practice, when we look at these leaders, we can usually see, are they going to be successful or are they not within very short amount of time and even talking to them on the phone. ⁓ And so being able to go through that. I think just like the way it all stacked of like looking at you as a person, looking at your business, looking how they combine together and not be separated. And then like, shoot enemies of efficiency delegation, like just so many nuggets. And if you missed it, reach out. There might be some things that we could share with you guys, but I hope you put it your calendar because I think one people left there inspired and excited. I've had people like I saw an office right after and they said, Kiera, like what you guys put together was so helpful and so impactful. And like I was able to take things and have tactical and like people had their teams there and they're like you teaching my team to think about our practice as a business, but also as a patient centered focus and also as us as humans, like Where do you get that in CE anywhere else? And Tiff, really truly think that that's the secret sauce of what we've tried to create and what we have created for all these practices. So that's kind of like my nutshell of like, love the case studies. I love sharing what people do. Like I loved going through leadership and like the good and the not so good. And we actually had people like put in there, like, what do think good leaders are? And what do you think bad leaders are? And like the not so influential ones. And to see, because there are truly patterns and to like figure out the pattern and DNA of these great practices so you can go model and mirror it. I just think was like freaking magic to share with people because we see it. They don't necessarily get to see it day in and day out. Tiffanie (22:12) Yeah, I totally agree. ⁓ I always tell my practices, my and my doctors, that my biggest goal is that the business works for them, not them working for the business. And I think the tools that we shared with them and the things that they could take home, the communication tools, the efficiency tools, all of those like, yes, models, everything that we sent them away with are easily, easily implemented, and will propel towards that goal where the business literally is supporting your life and maybe, you know, right now today on your current little man, your little person, your, you know, work, your business might be a large portion of that human being. And it was for us for a long time because it had to be, it was a space that We had to create that and we had to show up every day for the business so that eventually the business could show up for us. And I think we've gotten to the point now, both of us where this company and this business and the people that we have here with us on our side are supporting that vision and really things have started to shift. So on the life cycle of a business, like you might be in that stage where you are hungry to get your business running off the ground and you might be putting more in there than your future self wants. But guess what? If you know that vision, it's super clear, you can make your business work for you so that you're not constantly working for your business and eventually it will turn Kiera Dent (23:34) And I think it's just a to me that's like what gets us excited like I love giving people their life back I love like tiff as much as I give you a hard time about having work off of there That was not the case a year ago Like you were stressed out of your mind about work And I think it would have taken a huge chunk and I was stressed a year ago about work too like I think it was a huge portion of our time our mental energy and I think like you and I have both helped each other get our lives back. I think that we are happier humans now And so we're living proof of it, but then also to give practices their lives back, to give teams their lives back to, like there's an office that I'm super excited we're working with. And they said like, I'm sober out. feel like, and like the whole leadership team, they're like, we're the ones who are here after hours. We're the ones that are here before. We're the ones who are like, just they're like exhausted. They're like ringing a rag out and then you squeeze it even more trying to get like the last two drops of life out of them. And I said, What would it be like if I told you that if you got out of here every day at five o'clock, you're not allowed to stay later, you're not allowed to come in earlier. And at the end of that week, you'd be able to go on a trip to Cabo or wherever you want to go, pick your dream location, Hawaii, the Caribbean. I don't care. You choose your place. Or if you want like, I don't know, say 50,000 bucks or whatever it is, could you get out on time? And they were all like, yes. And I said, so A, we know it's possible and B, that's getting your life back. So first homework assignment working with us is everyone's out the door by five, at least one day this week. And it's crazy because just small little changes that don't seem huge help people get their life back. And Tiff, it was just so magical to be with you and to be in person with you and to present and to give this. And I think that that's probably why we were both so excited from it. Like we, felt like we were in Taylor Swift. Let me just give a little Swiftie, like the lavender haze. I felt like we were in the Dental A Team haze after the summit of just the Tiffanie (25:19) Thank Kiera Dent (25:23) euphoria of knowing we were able to give people their life back, their teams getting energized, giving them hope and excitement. Again, not just about a practice, but about a life. So those are kind of my takeaways to have any last thoughts you have, because I loved it. I'm so grateful you were a part of it. ⁓ Ride or die, cotton candy pink and blue for life, like truly just being able to deliver our magic and to change lives and to bless them through dentistry, I think is something that we both... ⁓ I think I took for granted for a hot minute and realized like what a beautiful blessing it is in the way we're doing it now versus stringing ourselves up to dry, doing it so hard, now doing it through passion and ease and flow rather than through force and pull like we did in the past. Tiffanie (26:04) I agree. Yeah, I totally agree. I did all of that. And I think having the team that we have behind us, the consultants who are here and they are so excited to help so many new clients this week, we have just seen such an influx of people ready to change their lives, ready to change what their business model looks like. And like you said, get their lives back. It's been just really incredible and watching our consulting team just rise to the occasion rally. I mean, we've got clients that just signed up this week that I've got Trish and Kristy and Dana has already implemented tools. Dana has already within weeks found significant money issues and things going on that it's just really cool to be able to watch so many people outside of you and I be able to truly transform lives. And that's what that's what we're all about is really just creating the best for everyone that's involved. Kiera Dent (26:57) Yeah, Div, I love it and I agree. Our consultants are second to none. And so if you missed out, you did miss out. And put it on your calendar for next year. I do believe that Dental A Team Summit is next to none. We just have so much fun. We bring fun to CE and we make it enjoyable and easy. But I hope you choose to join us next year for sure. But if you're thinking like what we just talked about, you want to know more about, or you want some tips for it, or you want some of the resources that we share, reach out. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. We'll happily like assess it with you and your practice. Like we have given so many tools out and so much help to all these practices, but I think truly giving you your life back, helping you help more patients and having more fun is what we're about. So Tip, thanks for being on the podcast. Thanks for doing Summit with me. ⁓ I enjoyed it and I just appreciate and adore you so much as a human and as a colleague, as a coworker, as a mentor, and just being in my life. for who you are. So thanks for being here today. I super appreciate you. Tiffanie (27:48) Thank you. Thank you for having me and supporting me through my journey. Kiera Dent (27:52) And for all of you listening, thanks for listening and we'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Episode Description: In this solo episode, Dr. Melissa Seibert dives deep into the resin-bonded fixed dental prosthesis (FDP), also known as the Maryland bridge. This episode is a must-listen for any clinician seeking a minimally invasive, evidence-based approach to tooth replacement—especially in esthetic zones or for younger patients. You'll learn when to consider a resin-bonded FDP, how to select the right cases, prep design principles, lab communication tips, and adhesive protocols to ensure clinical longevity. Dr. Seibert also walks through her personal workflow, from diagnosis to final cementation, sharing pearls you can apply in your own practice immediately. About Dr. Seibert: Dr. Melissa Seibert is a board-certified general dentist, educator, and the creator of the Dental Digest Podcast—one of the leading dental podcasts worldwide. She lectures nationally and internationally on adhesive dentistry, minimally invasive techniques, and clinical excellence. Dr. Seibert is passionate about empowering general dentists with actionable, evidence-based knowledge they can trust.
What if your mouthwash were as harmful as a floor cleaner? Join Late Boomers Merry Elkins and Cathy Worthington as they dive into the surprising world of oral health with Heather Paul, a certified biological dental hygienist and founder of Simply Silver Mouthwash. Heather's eye-opening journey began with her daughter's health issues, leading her to question traditional dentistry's hidden dangers. She believes that root canals, and mercury fillings disrupt your body's balance and that commercial oral care products undermine your immune system. Heather shares natural alternatives like colloidal silver and coconut oil, and introduces myofunctional therapy to improve mouth function and prevent diseases shares natural alternatives like colloidal silver and coconut oil, and introduces myofunctional therapy to improve mouth function and prevent diseases. Plus, learn about the shocking links between oral health and systemic diseases like heart disease and Alzheimer's. Don't miss Heather's insights from her book, Dentistry Made Easy, and find out how to reclaim your oral health for overall wellness. Tune in now!Heather Paul's Bio:Heather the Hygienist is a certified biological dental hygienist, registered dental hygienist, and orofacial myofunctional therapist with 30 years of experience. Originally from farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin, she moved to Florida in the 1980s. Her parents, with their love for natural living, inspired her wellness journey, which deepened when one of her twin daughters faced serious health issues, including food allergies. In 2010, Heather began investigating the chemicals in commercial products, fueling her commitment to healthier alternatives.Driven to offer patients the cleanest, most effective oral care, Heather created Simply Silver Mouthwash, Toothpaste, and Breath Spray. She is also the author of Dentistry Made Easy: The Consumer's Guide to Oral Health and Smart Choices and a children's book, Dorothy and the Tale of the Lost Tooth. A public speaker, practicing clinician, and personal dental consultant, Heather balances her professional life with being a wife and mother to twin daughters. She lives in Tampa, FL, where she enjoys family time and the beach.Special Offer: LATEBLOOMERS20 for 20% off total order to my website www.simplysilvermouthwash.comConnect with Heather:Website: www.simplysilvermouthwash.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimplySilverMouthwashFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplysilvermouthwash1Instagram: @simplysilvermouthwashTikTok: @heatherthehygienist1X: @ourhygienistThank you for listening. Please check out @lateboomers on Instagram and our website lateboomers.us. If you enjoyed this podcast and would like to watch it or listen to more of our episodes, you will find Late Boomers on your favorite podcast platform and on our new YouTube Late Boomers Podcast Channel. We hope we have inspired you and we look forward to your becoming a member of our Late Boomers family of subscribers.
How can women in dentistry harness personal strengths and tenacity to help redefine success in their career? Let's jump into the world of dental industry leadership and consulting with this episode of "Just DeW It," where we're engaging in a riveting conversation with Lana Rivera. Known for her two-decade-long impact in transforming dental practices, Lana opens up about navigating career hurdles and the critical importance of recognizing and wielding personal strengths. Her journey is a testament to determination and strategic innovation—qualities that have not only led her practices towards growth but have also fueled her fight for continuous personal and professional development. During their discussion, Anne and Lana unfold strategic, yet empathetic approaches to business development while exploring the intricacies involved in international consulting. With stories showcasing the profound impact of communication and trust in personal bonds—highlighted beautifully through Lana's relationship with her daughter—this episode journeys beyond professional anecdotes to show the necessity of authentic connections. What You'll Learn in This Episode: How Lana Rivera leveraged personal strengths for career advancement. Strategies for overcoming challenges with tenacity and innovation. The art of creating individualized, strategic business solutions. Insights on the rewards and challenges of international consulting. The importance of trust and communication in maintaining strong relationships. How community support bolsters professional growth and success. Ready to redefine your success? Let's listen in to Lana Rivera! Learn More About Lana Rivera Here! Website: nmgpracticesolutions.com Email: lanar@nmgpracticesolutions.com Don't Forget to Sign Up for the Next DeW Retreat! 7th Annual DeW Life Retreat November 13-15, 2025 Charlotte, NC Want to get more involved? Join our membership and community below for exclusive perks! Join the DeW Life movement by becoming a member using this link.Join the Dental Entrepreneur movement by becoming a member using this link.Read the most recent edition of DeW Life Magazine here.Just DeW It Podcast is the official podcast of Dental Entrepreneur Women (DeW), founded by Anne Duffy, RDH. The mission of DeW is to inspire, highlight, empower, and connect all women in dentistry. To join the movement or to learn more, please visit dew.life. Together, we can DeW amazing things! References: Events/Communities: DeW Retreat 2025 CE on The Beach CDA AAPD Tools: ChatGPT
Episode 67: Neuromarketing for Dental Pros: Understanding the Science Behind Effective Marketing In this enlightening episode, we delve into the fascinating world of neuromarketing with Yoli Dick, a seasoned expert with over a decade of experience at the intersection of dentistry and marketing. Discover how understanding the brain's
In today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with returning guest Cory Pinegar, CEO of the fast-growing dental service company Reach. Cory shares his journey from purchasing the company for just $1 at age 22 to scaling it into a team of over 200 employees, with accolades from Inc. 500 and the Salt Lake Tribune. The conversation explores the essential balance between AI and human touch in service industries, the art of sustainable growth, and the alignment of incentives that empower team members and customers alike. Cory opens up about the painful, lesson-filled early years of entrepreneurship—what he calls his “expensive MBA”—and the vital importance of honest, sometimes uncomfortable, conversations in leadership. The episode wraps with an inspiring discussion on creating long-term value and a mission-driven culture in a rapidly evolving industry. EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.getreach.co https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast
In this episode of the Growth in Dentistry podcast, Dr. Danny Snyder shares his journey through mental health challenges in dentistry and his path to healing. He discusses his transition from practice ownership to becoming an associate dentist, and how EMDR therapy helped him overcome childhood dental trauma that was affecting his professional life.Listen in to hear about:Dr. Snyder's journey from dental school to practice ownershipMental health challenges in dentistry and the importance of seeking helpThe role of EMDR therapy in helping treat some forms of anxietyTransition from practice ownership to associate dentistry…and so much more!Want to check out the Slate Flosser for yourself? Head to slateflosser.com. Interested in learning more about DI? Get a $50 gift card by scheduling a demo of Dental Intelligence at get.dentalintel.net/podcast.
I was invited by the School of Medicine and Dentistry to participate in a panel discussion on Health and Wellness for Graduate Students. The panel was organized by Jeff Koslofsky, who has a large catalogue of excellent resources for graduate students in the sciences, engineering, and medicine.Original postings here so you can subscribe/follow: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7305217005781929984/comments/https://youtu.be/0CeioQJJ7fg?si=gY0LmhYd_TcMOQoshttps://www.linkedin.com/school/urochester-schoolofmedicine/
Membership Plans That Work: What Compliance Really Looks Like Dental membership plans aren't new—but compliance around them is becoming more critical than ever. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy and Dana are joined by Jane Levy, Co-founder and CEO of Plan Forward, to uncover how in-house dental plans can boost treatment acceptance, increase loyalty, and help practices navigate the complex world of legal compliance. They discuss real-world misconceptions, why membership plans aren't just for fee-for-service practices, and how the right tools (and the right vendor) make all the difference. Jane also shares exciting KPIs from real clients and explains how Plan Forward's intuitive software puts your membership program on autopilot. If you've been manually managing your plan—or wondering if one is worth the trouble—this conversation will change the way you look at in-house dental membership. In This Episode You'll Learn How To: Boost Production: Find out how these plans can increase practice revenue by getting patients to say “yes” to treatment and cancel less. Keep Patients Coming Back: Learn the secret to turning patients into loyal members & an integral part of your dental community. Kiss No-Shows Goodbye: Hear how membership cuts down on those missed appointments, making your day less stressful. Make Life Easier: Get the scoop on Plan Forward's easy-to-use software that handles payments, renewals, and is compliant with state regulations. Break Free from Insurance: Discover how to ditch PPOs and stand out when only 20–25% of practices are doing this. Grab a coffee and tune in—this episode's a must for taking your practice to the next level! Upcoming Event: Front Desk Pro – Chicago August 1, 2025 Use promo code SECRETSAUCE (capital S in Secret and Sauce) to save $100 per person Seats are limited and these events always sell out! Thank You to Our Sponsors: Plan Forward Plan Forward makes membership plans easy. Their revolutionary platform helps you grow your dental practice, improve patient loyalty, and create predictable recurring revenue. Learn more at planforward.io. Identity Dental Marketing Your marketing firm should tell you who's landing on your website and what they're doing there. Identity Dental Marketing does that—and more. From website strategy to SEO and patient attraction systems, they help you grow smart and stay visible. Explore at identitydental.com. Mango Voice Mango Voice is a cloud-based phone system built for dental offices. It's packed with smart features that help your front desk perform at its best—from call recording and routing to texting and integrations. See it in action at mangovoice.com. Subscribe & Share: Love what you're hearing? Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a dental friend who's ready to level up their patient loyalty and revenue with a smarter membership plan.
(1:00) uh, sunning buttholes (7:00) life coaching (12:00) vigina (17:00) who is Casey better than? (32:00) Matthew got into trouble on Easter (42:00) Casey's life update
This is NOT your normal dentist! Dr. Yasamin Roland has re-invented her practice! Sure, you can get cleanings and fillings and all the standard dentistry at the Center for Transformative Dentistry; but Dr. Roland has transformed her vision to focus on the whole body and how dental health relates to it. Oxygen is critical for health and sometimes teeth may impede the flow as jawbones have shrunk as we have evolved. A nice smile is a mental boost to a giver or a recipient. She offers a different approach to dentistry. She provides a broad scope of dental and orthodontic techniques that address underlying causes, not just the symptoms. It's a “whole body approach” that is non-invasive for children and adults alike. There were several "a-ha" moments in here for me, and I am sure there will be for you as well! Have a listen! LINKS: Center for Transformative Dentistry (Website) Center for Transformative Dentistry (Facebook) Center for Transformative Dentistry (Instagram) Center for Transformative Dentistry (YouTube)
This week's episode features Dr. Judee Tippett-Whyte, who shares her inspiring rise in organized dentistry, her passion for advocacy, and how she's faced life's challenges head-on—all while balancing leadership, family, and her practice. Episode highlights: Dr. Tippett-Whyte's path and what inspired her to take on leadership Her journey through organized dentistry and commitment to advocacy Recovering from surgery and the importance of disability/business overhead insurance Balancing leadership, family, and running a practice Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!
Dr. Danielle Mark is a rising star in the dental world who combines her love of food and art with her passion for dentistry. She talks about learning how to delegate from an early age, and how dentists can empower communication with their dental lab. Don't miss this episode!Ladies & Gentlemen, you're listening to "Confessions From A Dental Lab" and we're happy you're here. Subscribe today and tell a friend so we can all get 1% better :)Connect with Dr. Mark on instagram at @ddsfoodie and email her at dzm216@nyu.eduFollow KJ & NuArt on Instagram at @lifeatnuartdental, you can also reach us via email: kj@nuartdental.comLearn more about the lab and request information via our website: https://www.nuartdental.com/new-dentist-contact-form/
Working with kids — and their parents — can be a nightmare. But it doesn't have to be! In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, ACT shares their Master Class with Dr. Carla Cohn, founder of Lit Smile Academy. She shares her proven techniques and strategies so you can manage the most difficult cases and effectively perform treatment. Start early, and turn difficult patients into easier, lifelong patients! To stop dreading and start enjoying the kids who come to your practice, listen to Episode 885 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Cohn:Send Dr. Cohn an email: drcohn@shaw.ca Follow Dr. Cohn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsdentistcarlaFollow Lit Smile Academy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litsmileacademyRegister for Dr. Cohn's hands-on workshop (June 7, 2025): https://www.litsmileacademy.com/events/lit-smile-vancouverRegister for Lit Smile Cancun (November 15-22, 2025): https://www.litsmileacademy.com/events/litsmilecancunMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT's BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT's BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT's To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 885: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRead A Work on Operative Dentistry in Two Volumes by Greene Vardiman Black: https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Work_on_Operative_Dentistry_in_Two_Vol/qr9AAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1Read Wright's Behavior Management in Dentistry for Children, Third Edition:
The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode 394 HOSTS: Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak GUESTS: Dr. Kris Alpers and Dr. David Amador DESCRIPTION Peter and Craig host Chris Alpers and David Amador, two Bulletproof coaches who share their journeys from feeling stuck and unfulfilled in their dental practices to finding success and fulfillment through community support and coaching. They discuss the importance of aligning personal and professional goals, the impact of their experiences on personal relationships, and the key metrics for success in dentistry. The conversation emphasizes the value of the Summit experience and the transformative power of investing in education and support networks. TAKEAWAYS Chris felt stuck and unfulfilled before joining Mastermind. David experienced buyer's remorse after purchasing a practice. Both coaches emphasize the importance of personal fulfillment in business. Community support is crucial for overcoming challenges in dentistry. Alignment between personal and professional goals is essential. Inflection points often come from pivotal experiences or realizations. Key metrics for success include production, collections, and patient retention. The Summit provides actionable insights and community engagement. Investing in education and coaching can lead to significant growth. Building a supportive network is vital for long-term success. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Bulletproof Coaches 03:48 Chris Alpers' Journey to Fulfillment 09:14 David Amador's Entrepreneurial Struggles 13:48 Impact of Burnout on Personal Relationships 20:04 Finding Alignment in Business and Family 22:03 The Master KPI: Fulfillment Over Profit 26:42 Breaking Through Business Plateaus 31:01 The Importance of Community in Dentistry 36:12 Finding Clarity and Vision in Business 46:13 The Power of Tactical Implementation 53:15 Transformational Learning at the Summit REFERENCES Bulletproof Summit Bulletproof Mastermind
Have you ever wondered how many people actually take full advantage of their dental insurance? You might be surprised! In this episode, Gary and Naren dive into a shocking stat: only 2.8% of patients use their full yearly dental benefits. That means nearly everyone else is missing out on the coverage they've paid for. So why does this happen? Is it because people forget, or is dental insurance just too hard to navigate? Gary and Naren break it all down, exploring how dental insurance hasn't kept up with rising costs and why many patients don't value their benefits. They also offer practical tips for practice owners and staff to help patients make the most of their insurance, ensuring they get the care they need. Tune in to understand why only a small percentage use their full benefits and what you can do to change that. Book your free marketing strategy meeting with Ekwa at your convenience. Plus, at the end of the session, get a free analysis report to find out where your practice stands online. It's our gift to you! https://www.lessinsurancedependence.com/marketing-strategy-meeting/ If you're looking to boost your case acceptance rates and enhance patient communication, you can schedule a Coaching Strategy Meeting with Gary Takacs. With his experience in helping practices thrive, Gary will work with you on personalized coaching, ensuring you and your team are prepared to present treatment plans confidently, offer financing options, and communicate the value of essential dental services. https://www.lessinsurancedependence.com/csm/
On today's Extra, Restaurant names, the Green Room, & Dentistry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Angela Holland: Preferred Dental Solution Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Angela Holland is a seasoned dental insurance expert and the founder of Preferred Dental Solutions, a firm dedicated to helping dental practices nationwide maximize their insurance reimbursements. With over a decade of experience in the dental industry, Angela has become a trusted advisor for practices aiming to enhance their financial performance through strategic insurance management. Angela began her career in dental consulting in 2013, quickly recognizing the challenges practices faced with insurance billing and revenue cycle management. In 2018, she founded Preferred Dental Services, focusing exclusively on remote insurance revenue cycle management. Under her leadership, the company grew rapidly, culminating in its acquisition by a NASDAQ-traded corporation in 2023. Following this success, Angela launched Preferred Dental Solutions, offering specialized services in insurance credentialing and PPO fee negotiations. Her team provides live progress updates and guarantees increased insurance revenue, reflecting her commitment to transparency and results. Angela's expertise has led to significant financial improvements for her clients, with some practices reporting revenue increases of up to 46% with major insurers like Cigna and MetLife. Her dedication to empowering dentists and her deep understanding of the insurance landscape make her a valuable partner for practices seeking growth and efficiency. For more information or to connect with Angela, visit Preferred Dental Solutions.
The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode 393 - BONUS POD TITLE: Why 44% of Dentists Have Mental Health Issues HOSTS: Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak DESCRIPTION As a follow-up from Episode 392, Peter Boulden and Craig discuss the pressing mental health challenges faced by dental professionals, highlighting alarming statistics about anxiety, depression, and burnout in the industry. They explore the role of AI in alleviating some of these issues and emphasize the need for structural changes within dental practices. The importance of community support and open conversations about struggles in the profession is underscored, as well as the necessity for dentists to seek help and connect with others facing similar challenges. TAKEAWAYS 44% of current dentists experience mental health issues. The stress in dentistry often comes from staffing and business management, not clinical work. Many dentists lack business training, leading to operational challenges. Community support is crucial for mental wellness in dentistry. Dentists often feel isolated in their struggles, but they are not alone. AI can assist in research and operational efficiency in dental practices. There is a need for structural change to better support practitioners. Successful dentists are those who are comfortable being uncomfortable. Networking with peers can provide essential support and guidance. Acknowledging mental health issues is the first step towards improvement. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Heart of Dentistry: Mental Health Challenges 02:51 The Role of AI in Dentistry 06:05 The Need for Structural Change in Dentistry 08:55 The Importance of Community and Support 11:56 Facing the Reality of Dental Practice 15:02 Encouragement and Resources for Dentists REFERENCES Bulletproof Summit Bulletproof Mastermind
Today on the podcast, we are joined by Dr. Ben Miraglia. He joins us today to discuss childhood jaw growth, potential sleeping disorders, and other issues that could be caused by jaw development. He also gives insight into how to combat that early in childhood. Exclusive Offer for Chaos N Cookies Listeners! Use code "Chaos N Cookies" to receive a complimentary evaluation from a highly trained Airway Dentist and $250 off treatment when you book between 5/6/2025 - 5/13/2025. If you book outside of these dates, you'll still receive 50% off the consultation and $100 off treatment!Make sure to mention "Chaos N Cookies" in the referral section when booking.About the Guest:Dr. Ben Miraglia graduated from SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 1993. He has over 30 years of general practice experience in Mt. Kisco, NY, including over 20 years of orthodontic experience, where his focus has been on early childhood jaw growth and development. Dr. Miraglia lectures nationally on early childhood malocclusion, its connection to sleep-disordered breathing, and early treatment options. Dr. Miraglia could bring a different dimension to your discussions, exploring topics like the role of oral health in learning efficacy and its deep connection to overall well-being. His experience in early childhood jaw growth and combating sleep-disordered breathing might offer your listeners new insights to ponder. Dr. Miraglia is the VP of GP Clinical Education at CandidPro. He is the Chief Clinical Officer at Airway Health Solutions. He is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry. He is a founding member and Chief Clinical Officer at Toothpillow.https://www.toothpillow.com/https://www.instagram.com/toothpillow_official/https://www.facebook.com/toothpillowinchttps://www.tiktok.com/@toothpillow_officialhttps://www.instagram.com/drbenmiraglia/ About the Host: Following the crumbs in the chaos is a full-time job as a Productivity Coach. As a busy mom of three and the founder of Chaos N' Cookies, keeping moms from crumbling is my main objective. After gaining 10+ years of experience as a Director of Marketing helping build multiple 6 & 7-figure businesses for other women I've created the Chaos Control System to equip moms to overcome their own objections so they can live the life they want to live and start that business they have always wanted. The Family Playbook, or standard operating procedure, is the tool every mama needs to save time and stress-less when chaos ensues at home. For new biz owners, I also help simplify systems on social media and other business platforms to automate processes to get their business up and running quickly and efficiently with how-tos and hands-on coaching. I have helped hundreds of women to be more productive and self-sufficient in their homes and businesses allowing them to reclaim control of the chaos. www.chaosncookies.comhttps://www.instagram.com/chaosncookies/https://www.instagram.com/theheathergreco/https://www.facebook.com/Chaos-n-Cookies-111324364538688https://chaosncookies.com/shophttps://linktr.ee/hsteinker Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social...
How important is fluoride for preventing cavities? And is it safe for us and our kids? Dr. Frank Zelko joins the show to tackle these questions. Dr. Zelko is a professor at the University of Hawaii and has a PhD in environmental history. He is currently working on a book about the history of water fluoridation and the latest research regarding its efficacy and health effects. Expect to go on a fascinating historical journey, and learn about the latest science so you can make your own decision about your drinking water. You can learn more about Dr. Zelko at manoa.hawaii.eduAquaTru (Water Purifiers)Get $100 off any AquaTru systemPlantPaper (Non-Toxic Tree-Friendly Toilet Paper)Get 10% off PlantPaperNADS (Men's Organic Cotton Underwear)Use code STEVEN for 15% off NADSGround News (Transparent News)Get 40% off the Vantage SubscriptionSupport the Podcast Directlypatreon.com/somethingdiffpodWe are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:Michael Roy and Mark and Julie CalhounShow Notes: thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/frank-zelkoNuggets:(00:00:00) – Intro(00:01:33) – Environmental History(00:04:21) – Becoming interested in water fluoridation(00:08:25) – My introduction to Frank(00:11:17) – Colorado Brown Stain(00:18:26) – Alcoa & indentifying fluoride(00:21:41) – Naturally occurring fluoride(00:25:41) – Cavities in the 1930s(00:28:06) – The sweet spot(00:30:54) – Fluoride waste & preliminary research(00:35:28) – Fluoride toxicosis symptoms(00:44:11) – Dentistry & carries(00:52:55) – Early health studies(00:56:14) – Adding fluoride to the water(01:00:31) – The Florida phosphate industry(01:06:30) – The push for fluoridation(01:17:19) – Scientific pushback & conspiracy theories(01:25:52) – Suppression of anti-fluoride research(01:28:32) – Parallels & pendulums(01:31:01) – More recent studies on fluoride(01:35:37) – The efficacy of fluoridation on cavities(01:41:43) – The fluoridation for low-income argument(01:42:40) – Where we're at now(01:44:41) – Should we be filtering our water?(01:50:55) – Toothpaste(01:55:08) – Tea & other recommendations(01:58:42) – Politics & fluoride debates(02:06:27) – Vaccines & serious diseases(02:10:55) – PFAs, microplastics, & fire retardants(02:13:59) – Where to find Dr. Zelko
How can you keep your team, grow your practice, AND reclaim your time? Discover how Dr. Ryan Bradley did all three without burnout, spending big on marketing, or micromanaging his team. We talk about what worked to reduce turnover through a merger, create work-life balance, and scale while cutting back clinical days. Tune in to learn how working less can actually help you grow your practice faster!Topics discussed in this episode:How to successfully take over a practiceBuilding a culture that reduces turnoverChallenges expanding from 4 to 8 opsMaintaining low turnover through a mergerStrategies to achieve work-life balanceAvoid these common growth mistakesWhat it takes to be a good leader and practice owner Text us your feedback! (please note: we cannot respond through this channel))Check out www.relevanceonlinemarketing.com if you want to get the same great marketing results as Dr. Etch. Mention DPH and get your first month FREE!Take Control of Your Practice and Your Life I help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams. Join the DPH Hero Collective and get the tools, training, and support you need to transform your practice: Team and Doctor Training for every aspect of Practice Management Comprehensive Training: Boost profit, efficiency, and team engagement. Live Q&A Sessions: Get personalized help when you need it most. Supportive Community: Connect with practice owners on the same journey. Editable Systems & Protocols: Standardize your operations effortlessly. Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.
➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstoryDr. Jon Marashi is a world-renowned cosmetic dentist and entrepreneur, celebrated for crafting some of Hollywood's most iconic smiles. Known as the "Architect of the Smile," he has built a premier practice in Los Angeles, attracting A-list actors, musicians, athletes, and business executives. Beyond his clinical excellence, Dr. Marashi co-founded Byte, a disruptive oral healthcare brand specializing in direct-to-consumer clear aligners. In 2020, Byte was acquired by Dentsply Sirona in a landmark $1 billion all-cash deal. He also launched the M Sonic Luxury Tonic toothbrush, merging cutting-edge technology with sleek design. Dr. Marashi's unique blend of artistic precision and business acumen positions him as a visionary at the intersection of healthcare, innovation, and luxury consumer products.➡️ Show Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/drjonmarashi/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jon-marashi-14a0a0167/https://drmarashi.com/ ➡️ Podcast SponsorsHubspot - https://hubspot.com/ Vanta - https://www.vanta.com/scott Federated Computer - https://www.federated.computer Lingoda - https://try.lingoda.com/success_sprintCornbread Hemp - https://cornbreadhemp.com/success (Code: Success)FreshBooks - https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing-offer/ Quince - https://quince.com/success Northwest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/success Prolon - https://prolonlife.com/clary NetSuite — https://netsuite.com/scottclary/ Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary➡️ Talking Points00:00 - Intro03:20 - Dentistry as Art & Business07:26 - The Entrepreneur's Edge11:48 - Which Path Should You Take?14:04 - Overcoming Failure26:11 - Innovating in DTC31:06 - Proximity = Power39:49 - Born or Built Entrepreneur?42:01 - Sponsor Break45:58 - Why Cosmetic Dentistry?50:23 - The Networking Advantage58:35 - Secrets to a Perfect Smile1:07:49 - Saying No to Clients1:11:21 - Risky Dental Trends1:13:12 - What You Don't Know About Oral Health1:26:47 - Do Young People Value Health?1:27:41 - Sponsor Break1:31:20 - The Truth About Hygiene1:44:24 - Hard Lessons Learned2:02:58 - Redefining Success2:06:33 - The Real Cost of Ambition2:09:51 - Who Are You Doing It For?2:11:11 - Dr. Jon's Legacy VisionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode of the Very Dental Podcast Alan interviews Dr. Richard Golden of GoldenDent in Roseville, Michigan. Dr. Golden is known for developing the "Physics Forceps" and GoldenDent provides extensive hands-on training in extractions, grafting, and implant placement, utilizing local facilities like Wayne County Community College for live patient courses! Dr. Golden shares the fascinating history of his father's dental practice in Detroit during the 1940s, the impact of legislation on dental advertising, and the introduction of dental insurance in the 1970s. He explains how these changes influenced the industry and his decision to open multiple dental offices. Dr. Golden also delves into his efforts to create a training center for new dentists, emphasizing the importance of efficient practice and the challenges of managing numerous locations. This episode offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of dental practices and the business of dentistry. Some links from the show: GoldenDent Physics Forceps GoldenDent Live Patient CE! Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you'll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you'll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you'll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!