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The best practices aren't built on systems and numbers — they're built on something that's easy to forget.In this episode, Bree Groff breaks down why people are the backbone of a practice and how leaders can bring out their team's best. Working with teams at Google, Microsoft, and Pfizer, she's developed simple exercises and team practices that drive performance and bring fun to any size practice.Topics discussed:The "performative exhaustion" trapWhat people need more than a paycheckThe most underrated leadership roleHow to make work fun and show that you careTwo simple tools that help teams connectShould you be friends with the people you lead?This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.comCheck out the Growth Program Here Join our Newest and Best Coaching Program, Click Here for More InformationTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams.Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gene Sambataro, a biological dentist with over 40 years of experience, to explore how oral health is deeply connected to whole-body health. He explains how issues in the mouth—such as microbiome imbalance, mercury fillings, fluoride exposure, and toxic root canals—can contribute to systemic disease and chronic inflammation. The conversation dives into airway-focused dentistry, including narrow jaws, TMJ dysfunction, teeth grinding, Malampati scores, and how these factors relate to sleep-disordered breathing and conditions like sleep apnea. Dr. Sambataro also breaks down modern diagnostic tools like 3D cone beam imaging and sleep studies, along with practical approaches such as oral appliances, breathing techniques, and addressing hypoxia. He closes by emphasizing critical thinking in health care, the importance of restoring proper breathing during sleep, and integrating advanced regenerative and biohacking tools into dentistry for long-term wellness.Dr. Gene Sambataro has been practicing dentistry for over 40 years with a focus on orthodontics, dental orthopedics, TMJ disorders, sleep-disordered breathing, cosmetic/facial aesthetics, toxic-free dentistry, and ceramic implantology. He graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 1980, completed a hospital residency in Baltimore, and transitioned into private practice where he quickly adopted a more holistic, integrative approach to dentistry. He is a leading advocate of biological dentistry, emphasizing the connection between oral health and systemic disease and promoting toxin-free approaches such as avoiding mercury amalgams, fluoride, and toxic root canals. He trained with Dr. Hal Huggins early in his career and continues to follow the Huggins Protocol in his clinical practice. His professional affiliations include multiple dental and integrative medicine organizations, along with training in sleep medicine and TMJ therapies, and he is also an author and ongoing student of advanced scientific and regenerative fields. Outside of dentistry, he incorporates biohacking and healing technologies into his practice, has been married for 45 years to his wife Cindy, while also holding advanced martial arts black belts in Taijitsu and Ninjitsu.SHOW NOTES:0:38 Welcome to the show!3:13 About Dr. Sambataro4:02 Welcome him to the podcast!5:28 Does high blood pressure start in the mouth?7:13 Issues with mouthwash9:31 Root causes of a poor microbiome13:47 Specialized medicine & Oral Physicians18:08 How the mouth is a window into the body20:02 Narrow jaw & crowded teeth21:23 Teeth grinding & appliances23:59 Malampati scores24:30 3D Cone Beam 26:30 Solutions for airway issues30:35 Cone Beam 101 & Why you would get one35:47 Sleep studies43:40 Sleep-disordered breathing48:27 Health risks of hypoxia & sleep apnea49:45 What to do with “moderate” issues54:39 Breathing techniques for sleep apnea57:42 Garage analogy59:12 Vitamin O1:00:33 Critical thinking & AI1:05:55 His final piece of advice1:07:32 The Julian Center 1:08:20 Thanks for tuning in!RESOURCES:Website: The Julian CenterIG: @julian_dentistIG: @drgenesambataroFacebook: The Julian CenterBook: Stop the SnoreBook: Your Guide to Holistic Dental ImplantsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/biohacker-babes-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Send us Fan MailIncrease clarity, confidence, and connection before the patient leaves your office, and the need to crowdsource disappears.You won't completely eliminate this behavior, but you can dramatically reduce it by controlling when, how, and why patients feel the need to “shop” your treatment plan.Support the show
On this episode, Dr. Alex and Dr. Priya welcome renowned neuromuscular dentist Dr. Konstantin Ronkin to discuss his book, How to Find the Right Doctor, and the critical link between modern dentistry and full-body health. The experts reveal why hidden dental issues such as a bad bite, improper tongue posture, or mouth breathing, are often the true root causes behind sleep apnea, chronic headaches, and even a double chin. During this discussion, you will learn how comprehensive anti-aging dentistry goes beyond simple cosmetic veneers to correct airway constriction, treat TMJ dysfunction, and help you look and FEEL genuinely younger!*****Disclaimer*****The information in the "Unclenched" podcast is not diagnostic.The "Unclenched" Podcast and content posted by Dr. Alex and Dr. Priya is presented solely for general informational and educational for the TMJ suffers and health care professionals. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. The contents of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional dental/ medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical/dental advice for any medical/dental condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.© All materials and information included in this podcast are protected by U.S. and international copyright laws.The materials and information in this podcast are copyrighted by us and/or by other applicable rights holders. You may download a single copy of this podcast for your own personal, noncommercial use only, provided you include all applicable notices and disclaimers. Any other use of the materials and information is strictly prohibited without our prior written permission and the permission of the applicable rights holder(s).
After a multi-year podcast disappearance, Bobby and Steph are back, married, riding motorcycles, working full-time, going to law school part-time, and somehow pretending this was all a reasonable life plan.This short roast episode is a sarcastic victory lap through the Between Two Teeth relaunch. We make fun of the hiatus, the “worst kept secret in dentistry” wedding reveal, the motorcycle chaos, the overcommitted schedule, and the fact that Bobby and Steph apparently believe rest is something that happens to other people.This episode includes an AI-assisted roast segment generated with NotebookLM using our own Between Two Teeth source material. The sarcasm may be artificial, but the chaos is unfortunately real.Listen to Season 2, Episode 1 first. Then come back for the roast.
Dentistry is changing faster than ever in 2026. Are you prepared for what comes next? In this special episode of Dental Business RX, Jeff Blumberg breaks down the biggest trends impacting the industry today and how they compare to back then. State of the Industry 2026: https://www.mgeonline.com/state-of-the-industry-2026-download-form-page/ Independent Practice Roadmap: https://www.mgeonline.com/independent-practice-roadmap/
This episode features Dr. Nancy Burkhart, adjunct professor at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry and oral pathology expert, discussing how dental professionals can recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking. Dr. Burkhart shares practical insights on identifying red flags, understanding the realities of trafficking, and taking appropriate action to protect vulnerable patients while navigating ethical and legal responsibilities. Episode highlights: Key signs of human trafficking dental teams should recognize The difference between trafficking and smuggling Common red flags seen in dental and healthcare settings How to document concerns and connect patients with resources Why awareness, intuition, and team training matter 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!
We explore what may be the fastest-moving technological shift dentistry has faced in decades and why most practice owners are still underestimating how quickly the ground is moving beneath them. While many dentists are using ChatGPT to write emails, draft social posts, or answer quick questions, the conversation argues that's barely one percent of what's now possible. The discussion digs into the rise of agentic AI, autonomous systems that take action rather than simply generate responses. Blake and Shane break down how AI is moving past the chatbot stage and becoming a true operational partner, capable of running workflows, automations, data analysis, content creation, and the endless repetitive tasks that quietly eat hours inside a dental practice. They also tackle the practical side most people skip, like knowing which model to reach for, why connections and context matter more than clever prompting, and how to avoid drowning in half-baked projects. But they issue a clear warning. AI is not a shortcut around leadership, systems, or operational excellence. Dentists who lack clear workflows, documented SOPs, and defined outcomes will simply automate chaos. The practices that win won't be the most technically advanced. They'll be the ones with the cleanest systems, the strongest foundations, and the willingness to learn alongside a community of peers. Peter, Blake, and Shane also get honest about the loneliness many dentists carry as practice owners, the value of AI as a non-judgmental thinking partner, and why community matters more than ever during periods of rapid change. They share real examples of AI already saving hours every week, helping teams execute faster, and creating leverage that simply wasn't possible a few years ago. If you've been experimenting with AI but still feel like you're using a fraction of its potential, this one is for you. This episode leads into the first-of-its-kind AI workshop on Sunday, August 9th at The Phoenician, held on the heels of the Bulletproof Summit. DESCRIPTION The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode: 444 HOST: Dr. Peter Boulden GUESTS: Blake McClellan and Shane McElroy (All In Practice Growth) In this episode, Dr. Peter Boulden sits down with Blake and Shane to discuss the future of AI in dentistry and why the next wave of innovation is about far more than chatbots and content creation. They explore agentic AI, workflow automation, SOP development, practice efficiencies, and the role community plays in helping dentists stay ahead of rapid technological change. The conversation provides practical examples of how AI can create leverage inside a dental practice while highlighting the common mistakes many practice owners make when implementing new technology. Whether you're just getting started with AI or already experimenting with advanced tools, this episode offers a practical roadmap for understanding where the technology is headed and how to position your practice for the future. TAKEAWAYS AI is evolving far faster than most dentists realize Community accelerates learning and implementation Agentic AI goes beyond chatbots by taking action, not just generating responses SOPs and workflows are the foundation of successful AI adoption AI cannot replace clarity, leadership, or operational discipline The best use cases often involve saving time on repetitive tasks AI can help practices create leverage without sacrificing quality Dentists should focus on outcomes rather than chasing every new tool Workflow mapping makes automation significantly more effective AI can become a powerful thinking partner for practice owners The future belongs to practices that combine human connection with technological efficiency Small improvements compounded over time can create significant competitive advantages TIME STAMPS 00:00 Introduction & Why AI Matters Right Now 02:10 The Origin of the Dental AI Summit 03:31 Why Community Is the Key to AI Adoption 04:45 Partnering with Bulletproof to Bring AI to Dentistry 06:00 AI Is Evolving Hour by Hour 07:49 The Difference Between AI Curiosity and AI Implementation 08:45 From AI Novelties to Real Practice Applications 11:04 Creating Leverage Inside Your Practice 13:10 Why Most Dentists Don't Know Where to Start 14:13 Days in AI Equal Months Ahead 17:42 The Biggest Opportunity for Dental Practices 20:06 Real-World AI Use Cases in Dentistry 22:08 Chatbots vs. AI Agents 24:35 How to Choose the Right AI Tools 26:24 Common Mistakes Dentists Make With AI 30:15 Context, Data, and Better AI Results 34:52 Innovative AI Applications You Can Use Today 45:15 Why SOPs Matter More Than Prompts 47:18 Mapping Workflows Before Automation 50:27 Using AI as a Product Manager 51:26 The Lone Wolf Syndrome in Dentistry 53:25 AI as a Coach, Mentor, and Thinking Partner 56:44 Practical Steps for Embracing AI 01:00:42 The Future of AI in Dentistry 01:02:08 Preparing for the Dental AI Summit 01:05:00 Final Thoughts & Event Details REFERENCES Dental AI Summit Claude AI Grok AI OpenClaw AI Bulletproof Practice Growth Summit
Technology in dentistry is moving faster than ever, and it's easy to feel like you're falling behind. AI is writing chart notes, robots are helping place implants, and there's a new company pitching you every day.In this episode, Dr. Alan Mead and Paul discuss where dentistry is really headed, what's worth your attention, and what matters most even as the tools evolve.Topics discussed:Microscope dentistryHow tech in dentistry has changed over the past 30 yearsGetting patients to trust your treatment planThe dental task AI is about to automateCould robots actually replace dentists?Why you should beware of new AI toolsThis episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.comCheck out the Growth Program Here Join our Newest and Best Coaching Program, Click Here for More InformationTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams.Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.
Looking to strengthen your veterinary dentistry skills and improve patient outcomes? Access our FREE RACE-accredited online veterinary dentistry course and join thousands of veterinary professionals advancing their dental knowledge. https://ivdi.org/free --- Host: Dr. Brett Beckman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, DAAPM Guest: Annie Mills, LVT --- Building a successful veterinary dental service takes more than purchasing equipment—it requires education, team development, realistic scheduling, and a commitment to raising the standard of care. In this episode, Dr. Brett Beckman interviews Annie Mills, LVT, about the practical steps general practices can take to strengthen their dental programs before investing in advanced technology. Annie shares her recommendations for developing a focused dental team, identifying staff members who are passionate about dentistry, maximizing continuing education opportunities, and creating a foundation for long-term success. The discussion also explores the growing role of Veterinary Technician Specialists in Dentistry, the transformative impact of dental radiography, and why quality-focused dentistry ultimately leads to better outcomes for both patients and veterinary teams. Whether your practice is just beginning its dentistry journey or looking to elevate an existing service, this episode provides actionable guidance for building confidence, improving patient care, and creating sustainable growth within your dental department. What You'll Learn in This Episode
Send us an inquiry through a text message here!Buy VRT LIVE 2026 tickets here: https://www.axs.com/events/1451690/the-veterinary-roundtable-ticketsWelcome to another episode of The Veterinary Roundtable! In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Heberle, CVT, VTS-H Dentistry,Senior Manager of Clinical Services at Midmark Corporation, to talk about why so many veterinary teams feel overwhelmed even when they love the medicine, the workflow mistakes clinics don't even realize they're making, technician underutilization in anesthesia and dentistry, and so much more!Do you have a question, story, or inquiry for The Veterinary Roundtable? Send us a text or voicemail from the link above, ask us on any social media platform, or email theveterinaryroundtable@gmail.com!Episodes of The Veterinary Roundtable are on all podcast services along with video form on YouTube!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVeterinaryRoundtableInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theveterinaryroundtable/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theveterinaryroundtableTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:05 Introducing Danielle & Her Journey09:44 Industry Patterns and Burnout13:11 AAHA's Stay, Please Study16:57 Best Dentistry Workflow22:24 Overcoming Resistance to Standardized Care29:38 Client Compliance & Preventive Care34:15 Optimizing Clinic Physical Design41:02 Preventing Anesthesia Mistakes49:13 Midmark's Training Academy54:14 Real-Life Anesthesia Simulation01:01:55 The Future of Veterinary Dentistry01:11:33 Outro
Tongue ties happen everywhere in the world and India is no exception. In this episode, Katie Oshita and Dr. Ankita Shah discuss what tongue tie care looks like in India today, the awareness, the gaps, and how one specialist is working to change the conversation. Listen to hear more about the unique challenges of diagnosis and treatment in India.Podcast Guest: Dr. Ankita Shah is an internationally trained airway-focused dentist, TMJ expert, and tongue tie specialist with 16 years of experience integrating sleep health, jaw rehabilitation, orthodontics, and myofunctional therapy.She holds several rare distinctions: India's first and only OC-trained TMJ expert in Gnatho-Neuromuscular dentistry (fewer than 200 practitioners hold this credential globally), and the first Indian Ambassador of The Breathe Institute, where she trained under renowned ENT and sleep surgeon Dr. Soroush Zaghi in Los Angeles. She also serves as President of the India Airway Co-LAB Chapter under the American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry.Podcast Host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 25 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. While Katie sees clients locally in western WA, Katie is also a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com
In this episode of the AGD Podcast Series, host George Schmidt, DMD, FAGD, speaks with Charles D. Schlesinger, DDS, FICOI, VP of Clinical Development at Impladent LTD, about the critical role of bone grafting in successful dental implant therapy. Dr. Schlesinger explains why grafting is often necessary to create an ideal foundation for implant placement, reviews the advantages and limitations of various grafting materials, and shares practical insights on treatment planning, healing timelines, and radiographic evaluation. The conversation also explores the science behind alloplastic grafting materials, including OsteoGen® crystals, and discusses applications such as socket preservation, sinus augmentation, and immediate implant placement. Drawing on decades of clinical and educational experience, Dr. Schlesinger offers valuable guidance for clinicians seeking to improve implant outcomes while highlighting emerging innovations and future directions in regenerative dentistry. Dr. Schlesinger graduated with honors from The Ohio State College of Dentistry and completed a General Practice Residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Diego, later serving as Chief Resident at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Los Angeles, where he received extensive training in oral surgery, implantology, and advanced restorative care.
Elevated GP - Click here to join Elevated.GP Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Dr. Peter Milgrom is Professor of Oral Health Sciences and Pediatric Dentistry in the School of Dentistry and adjunct Professor of Health Services in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington. He directs the Northwest Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities. He holds academic appointments at Case Western University, University of Rochester, and University of California, San Francisco. He maintains a dental practice limited to the care of fearful patients and served as Director of the UW Dental Fears Research Clinic. Dr. Milgrom's work includes research on xylitol, the effectiveness of fluoride varnish and iodine in preschoolers, clinical efficacy and safety of diammine silver fluoride, motivational strategies to increase perinatal and well child dental visits in rural communities, and studies of cognitive interventions in pediatric and adult dental fear. The NIH, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation support his work. Dr. Milgrom is author of 5 books and over 300 scientific articles. His latest book, Treating Fearful Dental Patients, was published in 2009. Dr. Milgrom was Distinguished Dental Behavioral Scientist of the International Association for Dental Research for 1999. In 1999, and again in 2000, his work was recognized by the Giddon Award for research in the behavioral sciences in Dentistry. He received the Barrows Milk Award from IADR in 2000, recognizing his work for public health including the development of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program in Washington State. In 2003, Dr. Milgrom received a Special Commendation Award from the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association and the University of Washington Medical Center Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award. In 2010, he received the Aubrey Sheiham Research Award for his work on xylitol. He serves on scientific review committees for the NIDCR, NIMHHD, NINDS, Center for Scientific Review at NIH and as a consultant to the FDA. In 2005, Dr. Milgrom was appointed the SAAD Visiting Professor of Pain and Anxiety Control at the King's College Dental Institute, University of London, UK for a six-year term. In 2008 he was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Bergen, Norway in recognition of his work in social and behavioral dentistry. In 2012, he received the University of California, San Francisco Dental Alumni Gold Medal for his contributions to Dentistry. In 2012 he was also awarded the Norton Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research by the American Dental Association. In 2013, he was appointed to the Council of Scientific Affairs of the American Dental Association. In 2014, he received the Irwin M. Mandel Distinguished Mentor Award from the IADR. In 2015, he served as HMDP Expert in Dental Public Health for the Singapore Ministry of Health. Dr. Milgrom received his DDS from the University of California, San Francisco in 1972 and had a previous position at the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. In the last few years, Dr. Milgrom has spoken to dental associations in Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Philippines, and USA and at major universities in USA and abroad.
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes catches up with longtime friend and returning guest Joshua Scott, owner and CEO of Studio 8E8, for a wide-ranging conversation on growth, leadership, AI, and the realities of scaling a people-driven business. Joshua shares the vision behind Studio 8E8's new 11,000-square-foot headquarters, including the long road from finding land to building a dedicated production studio and collaborative team space. He and Dr. Costes also reflect on the annual Murph workout, the discipline of fitness, and the lessons that carry over into entrepreneurship. The conversation then turns to AI's growing impact on marketing, where Joshua explains why technology should make agencies more human, not less, by freeing teams to focus on strategy, measurement, client relationships, and better decision-making. They also unpack the challenges of hiring, leadership, client service, and protecting trust as a company scales. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES https://s8e8.com https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast
If you've ever looked around your dental office and thought, “Why am I the only one who cares?”, you're not alone and you're not crazy. We've felt that same disconnect between the emotional weight of practice ownership and a team that seems able to clock out and leave it all behind. That gap can turn into resentment fast, and it's one of the quiet drivers of dentist burnout, poor practice culture, and constant frustration with accountability.We dig into a hard truth in dental practice management: your team will never care the same way you do, because they don't carry the same risk, debt, payroll pressure, and reputation stakes. But “they don't care like an owner” doesn't mean they can't care deeply. The real issue is often the environment we create, especially when every decision funnels through us or through a single fixer on the team. That pattern trains dependence, kills autonomy, and leaves the owner carrying every problem, even on weekends.From there we get practical about dental leadership. We talk about building connection outside of corrective conversations, making small relational deposits that help people feel seen, and creating psychological safety so reasonable mistakes become learning instead of fear. We also share why teams support what they help build, plus a simple framework to invite staff into solutions so they truly own results without needing equity. If you want more engagement, better communication, and a lighter emotional load as an owner, this gives you a clear starting point.If you need help building an engaged team and a healthier dental office culture, reach out for a strategy call, and if this helps you, subscribe, share the episode with another practice owner, and leave a five-star review so more dentists can find it.Join our Newest and Best Coaching Program, Click Here for More InformationTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams.Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.
Dental school teaches you how to diagnose treatment, prep crowns, and restore teeth, but there are plenty of realities about practicing dentistry that nobody talks about until you're living it every day.In this solo episode, Dr. Haley shares some of the biggest surprises from her first few years in practice. From realizing that getting treatment on your schedule can be harder than actually doing the dentistry, to learning how much patient psychology, communication, leadership, and trust influence success, this episode dives into the lessons that only come with real-world experience.Dr. Haley also discusses the stress of post-op complications, why difficult patients don't bother her the way they once did, the importance of choosing the right office, and how dentistry has given her a level of confidence and security she never expected.Whether you're a dental student, new graduate, associate, or seasoned dentist, this honest conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it's really like to work in dentistry and the lessons that often aren't taught in school.FREE consult with Twinleaf Financial Advisors: https://www.twinleafadv.com/ or text 321-521-3133Engage with the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dentaldownloadpodcastPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dentaldownloadpodcastHaley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.haley.dds Haley's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.haley.dds?lang=en
Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Missy Acosta, Senior Vice President, Brand Experience with Delta Dental of Tennessee, who highlights Tennessee's largest dental benefits carrier and their differentiation as a not-for-profit 501(c)4 with a mission of "Ensuring Healthy Smiles" and a focus on philanthropy and community investment. Missy talks about Delta Dental of Tennessee's charitable arm, The Smile180 Foundation, which was founded in 2014 with three philanthropic pillars: to increase access to dental care for underserved communities, support children's hospitals, and fund oral health education across Tennessee and beyond. Missy shares a number of examples how their support of charitable dental clinics, including Church Health and Christ Community Health Services in Memphis and Neighborhood Health and Interfaith Dental in Nashville are increasing access to dental care for underserved communities. She discusses why oral health is a top priority for children's hospitals, including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, and explains why their support of oral health education covers everything from kids television programming to promote healthy habits to supporting colleges of dentistry in Tennessee to help equip the next generation of dentists and oral hygienists to be successful and to help address dental deserts across the state. Missy talks about how these efforts tie in with the Healthy Smiles Initiative, along with some of their other philanthropic efforts, including providing mouth guards to youth playing sports through various organizations and affiliations. Missy then highlights their fifth annual Kids Dental Day, scheduled for Friday, July 10 at First Horizon Park, home of the Nashville Sounds. More than 500 youth from various nonprofits in Middle Tennessee will be attending the fun, festival-like event where they will receive free dental screenings, cleanings, new socks and shoes through a partnership with Soles4Souls, new books through Book 'Em, snacks, and more. Over 100 volunteers will be coming out to support the kids and a number of organizations will be providing interactive games and experiences, like PBS Kids, American Red Cross, Adventure Science Center, American Heart Association, Schenk Photography, and the Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures Program. The dental organizations participating include Neighborhood Health, Meharry School of Dentistry, South College, LINKS INC., and Hope Smiles. Partners for the event include Nashville Sounds, cityCURRENT, Signature Transportation, United Way, Kroger, OneGen, Henry Schein, and Dunkin. Missy talks about why this annual event is so important in the community and how this can serve as inspiration for other companies to give back and get more involved in making a difference. Missy closes by inviting youth-serving organizations and volunteers who wish to serve to connect with KidsDentalDay.com to learn more and to plan ahead for next year. Visit www.KidsDentalDay.com to learn more about Kids Dental Day and visit https://deltadentaltn.com to learn more about Delta Dental of Tennessee.
DWD Team interviews Robert Hawkins with Aurum Ceramics Dental Lab on the Face 4D Dental Studio.
What do you do when a failure, setback, or “detour” hits your practice or life and you can't see the point of it yet? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt interviews Dr. Timothy Bizga, private practice dentist and educator, about the mindset shifts behind his book Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom and how to find perspective when dentistry feels heavy.You'll learn why “life happens for you,” how boundaries prevent burnout, and how community changes your trajectory. Listen to Episode 1056 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Dr. Bizga wrote his book to serve readers with practical wisdom drawn from patient stories and his own experiences.Writing a book requires commitment and support systems, not isolation or “doing it alone.”A misgraded writing exam in eighth grade became a long-term gift by sparking Dr. Bizga's love of writing.The chapter “The Gift Inside the Detour” centers on changing mindset from “this is happening to me” to “this is happening for me.”Perspective often comes later, and progress in hard seasons can mean simply continuing to move forward.“Even Enamel Has Limits” is a reminder that caregivers and clinicians need boundaries to avoid burnout and breakdown.Smile Source Exchange is positioned as a community-driven learning environment where relationships and mentorship accelerate growth.Snippets:00:00 Welcome01:22 Meet Dr Tim Bizga03:04 Why Dr. Bizga wrote Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom and how patient stories shaped it.04:50 “Writing a book is the hardest thing ever” and why Dr. Bizga disagrees.06:09 “My hope is not to impress you, but to serve you” and the goal of 31 short chapters.07:50 The story behind “The Gift Inside the Detour”14:09 Applying detours to dentistry: procedures, team issues, health crises, and mindset.17:42 “Even Enamel Has Limits” and why boundaries matter for dentists and caregivers.21:39 Where to Get the Book22:26 Why Attend The Exchange 202625:09 Final thoughts on dentistry as a profession Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Dr. Timothy Bizga is a 2006 DDS graduate of the School of Dentistry! Along with having a successful practice, Dr. Bizga is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Dentistry at the School of Dentistry and the Director of Education for Smile Source, a network of more than 1,000 independent dentists who benefit from group buying, collective education and peer-sharing programs. Dr. Bizga has lectured nationally for more than 16 years and recently authored Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom.Guest resources mentioned in the episode:Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom: https://a.co/d/0aFvJ3MsThe Exchange 2026: https://smilesource.com/exchangeMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
What if the biggest issues in dentistry are the ones you can't see? In this episode of the Raving Patients Podcast, Dr. Len Tau sits down with renowned prosthodontist and innovator Cherilyn Sheets to discuss how new diagnostic technology is changing the future of dentistry. Cherilyn shares the story behind Interview and Quantitative Percussion Diagnostics (QPD), a science-based system designed to detect cracks, loose restorations, implant instability, and structural weaknesses before they become catastrophic problems. Dr. Tau and Cherilyn explore how this technology helps dentists improve diagnostics, increase patient trust, and boost case acceptance by showing patients issues that traditional imaging often misses. They also dive into the intersection of dentistry, engineering, AI, and preventive care, along with the journey of bringing a groundbreaking dental innovation to market. From early diagnosis to patient communication, this conversation highlights how modern dentistry is moving beyond what can simply be seen on an X-ray. What You'll Learn How Quantitative Percussion Diagnostics (QPD) works Why traditional imaging can miss structural tooth problems How Interview technology helps improve case acceptance The role of AI and engineering in modern dental diagnostics How dentists can identify cracks, loose crowns, and implant instability earlier Why preventive intervention creates better patient outcomes How Cherilyn Sheets helped develop and commercialize this technology The importance of combining science, integrity, and innovation in dentistry — Key Takeaways 00:56 Introduction to Cherilyn Sheets and Interview Technology 03:30 What Interview Technology Actually Does 06:11 Who Benefits Most from QPD Diagnostics 08:42 How Technology Improves Case Acceptance 11:10 Understanding Quantitative Percussion Diagnostics (QPD) 14:52 Detecting Cracks, Stress, and Structural Problems Early 17:55 Comparing Interview to Other Diagnostic Technologies 18:35 Using QPD to Find Pain Sources Faster 19:16 Common Objections and Ease of Use in Practices 23:22 FDA Approval and Product Validation 25:29 The Story Behind the Technology's Creation 30:55 Why Interview Complements X-Rays Instead of Replacing Them 32:42 Cherilyn's Passion for Innovation and AI in Dentistry 33:45 Lightning Round Questions 40:30 Special Offer and How to Learn More About Interview 41:40 Final Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up — Connect with Cherilyn Website: Innerview AI - https://innerview.ai/ Email: cgsheets@ncofi.org Organization: Newport Coast Oral Facial Institute (NCOFI) — Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at DrLenTau.com. This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more here. This podcast is sponsored by CallRail, call tracking & lead conversion software for dentists. Find out more here. Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!
If you look up where medicine originated, or the earliest medical interventions, you'll probably find yourself reading about ancient Greece or Egypt or Mesopotamia. But what about before that? How did early humans treat illnesses or cope with injuries? What did a Neanderthal do if she broke a rib or had a toothache? Flora digs into these questions with archaeologist Penny Spikins and microbiologist Laura Weyrich. They chat about ancient treatments like antibiotics and root canals, why Neanderthals were always getting hurt, and how they took care of themselves—and each other. Guests: Dr. Penny Spikins is a professor of the archaeology of human origins at the University of York in England. Dr. Laura Weyrich is an associate professor of anthropology and bioethics at Pennsylvania State University. Other episodes you may enjoy: What Did It Feel Like To Be An Early Human? Your Pain Tolerance May Have Been Passed Down From Neanderthals Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky @scifri and sign up for our newsletters. Got a science question that's keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Do you market your practice for its dentistry? For its atmosphere? For the team? Something else? Tiff and Dana talk about why it's so critical to market the right aspect of your practice, and then following through on that aspect. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: The Dental A Team (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. We are back again. I've got Miss Dana here with me. We are busting out a few podcasts today and I love this so much. ⁓ I just love podcasting with you, Dana. It's easy, it's fun. We get on tangents sometimes and soap boxes and it's wonderful. And I hope everyone out there, all the listeners, love it as much as we do. Dana, how are you over there? I know we're hot and it's like... I know, we probably have like 3 % humidity, but we're feeling it. But anyways, how's it going? DAT-Dana (00:32) It's going good. It's going good. Today is a busy day, I feel like, you know, busy days help the day go by fast and helps me feel super productive. So I'm excited that podcasting with you gets to be a part of this busy day. The Dental A Team (00:44) thank you. Thank you. I love the word productive that you slid that in there. I have been very well, I think I could be more intentional about it. I say very, but I think I've been slightly intentional about it because I was talking with gosh, my sister or somebody I don't know, but they were like, how come? it was my sister talking about hairdressers, hairdressers. love you, Christie. I love you. But sometimes it's like, my gosh, I come out more exhausted than when I went in. And it's confusing. And I thought to myself, I think This is just me thinking out loud. told my sister, I think that when you're asked, how are you, our initial, nobody thinks what's the best thing that happened to me today that I can tell this person, right? Because we're like trying to hold back and we're like, I don't want to make you like, I'm having this amazing day. We're buying a house, like, but I don't want it like, I don't know where you're at in your life. So I don't want to overshare and be extra and make you feel bad about anything in your life. So when you ask me that question, I'm going to say, well, I'm busy, like, life is busy. How are you? Because I want to gauge how you are before I'm excited about my life, which is really sad if you think about it. But I thought to myself, everyone who sits in a hairdresser's chair gets this she's like, what's the news? What's what's new? What's what's going on? What's the drama? And you sit there and you spew all of this busy and anything that's like, exciting because drama is like exciting. It gets you pumped up, right? And they're DAT-Dana (02:00) Yeah. The Dental A Team (02:11) their five people they hang out with the most are drama. So then I come in and it's like, my gosh, I'm so exhausted. So my point in that is my intentionality has been to try to be like, I'm I've been super productive lately. Because I'm always going to be busy. It's just life like you've got you've got a whole farm over there of animals and humans. Dana, I don't know if I'm the first person to tell you this. But you're going to be busy for the next 10 years. You got 10 years left that you're going to be longer, but I'm going to give you 10. That's what I'm going to say today. You're going to be busy. So I've been trying to be like, I've been super productive. So when Erin's like, how was your day? I'm like, it was, it was good and it was productive. I don't know. It just feels better. Your words, words create your world. And I feel like it's so easy to just mute yourself and not celebrate. DAT-Dana (02:41) Yeah. The Dental A Team (03:08) in this kind of world where we're like, I want to engage where you're at first because I don't want to be too much. DAT-Dana (03:14) Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. And I think a part of it too is like I sit in the turn, I'm like, wow, like she talks to a lot of people, like, how can I wow her? Right? Like, or how can I be different? Right? I know she hears about a lot of people's kids and a lot of people's this and a lot of people's that. So like, where do I come in with like my uniqueness or like something that like, also will make her day a little bit like better because it was more interesting than all the like all the same conversation that she hears. Yeah. The Dental A Team (03:20) Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah, and I think it's every profession, you know, hairdressers are just like easy because you're stuck there. And I mean, you and I are stuck there for like three hours because I don't know why I'm a blonde highlight stick so long. And it's fine. Or like when you go get your nails done or coaching calls, you know, I'm like, Hey, how are you? And they're like, good, busy. I'm like, no, like, tell me about like, tell me about you. I want to hear about you. So like, we get the same kind of response even, and hopefully people aren't walking away saying they're exhausted. Sometimes I think they probably are because I can be a lot, but you just let us know. You let us know what you need. But anyways, I think you made me think of that, the intentionality behind making sure that our words create the world that we live in. And I've been trying, if you guys remember the try, if you didn't see Summit or you weren't at our mastermind, you might not know, which means I haven't been very great at replacing busy. with productive, but it's on my bucket list. That's my intentionality right now is to be productive. And I think that statement, just, you you say something and then my mind spins, but it really does relate to what we're talking about today because it's part of marketing. think I love marketing and people think it's wild. My fiance thinks I'm crazy. He's like, you're so weird that you love marketing. like, everything is marketing. How I present myself, how... I hold myself, how tall I sit up, the words that I'm using. I'm constantly marketing to the people around me. I'm marketing to my friends. Was I a waste of your time today? Did I create value? Did I hold space for you? Was I intentional? Did I inspire you in some way? I'm constantly thinking of, gosh, how can I positively impact this person in front of me? And that is marketing. That's who I am to my core. That's my culture. That's my, my mission. And to me, those are what create the marketing, right? We, we think Dana, marketing company and Google ads and Yelp, Brody has got his detailing business. He's like, is Yelp worth it? And I was like, well, you got to pay for it. Like we can go down to Yelp rabbit hole, but all you think of all these things and Facebook and meta ads and all these things are marketing a hundred percent. But in reality, we're constantly marketing to the people around us. Does you have Bri, like tell me poke holes in that, Dana. I don't know. That's my mindset and people think I'm crazy for it. DAT-Dana (05:58) No, I agree with you 100 % in that because I feel like at the end of the day, yes, you can do Google ads and you can do meta ads and you can have the best website and you can have SEO that is tractioning beyond belief, right? But then what are you marketing? And it is you, the experience, your team, yes, the dentistry, right? But they did a survey not that long ago. I wanna say like right post COVID and it was like, hey, What are you looking for when you choose a dentist when you go back? And I still think that like this 100 % stands today. And that was like honestly and truly the quality of the dentistry that they received was well below on the list than where I anticipated it to be. And it was truly that white glove experience. And so I think that you're 100 % correct that yes, those things are great, but you won't get traction on those things if the experience The Dental A Team (06:41) Yeah. DAT-Dana (06:52) the personality, sometimes even too, just like the appearance of the office. When I walk in, do I feel calm and serene versus it looks like it's chaos here and it kind of gives me more anxiety? All of those things are marketing. And two, all of those things will drastically impact anything that you spend money on for marketing too. The Dental A Team (07:16) I totally agree. Yes. And gosh, there's so many things. There's so many nuggets in there. I love it. I truly believe I tell, I tell doctors all the time and teams. I'm like, yeah, cool. You did an awesome filling. It was great by perfection. They didn't have to come back for an adjustment. Guess who doesn't know that some people have to come back for an adjustment. The patient that didn't have to come back for an adjustment. Guess who doesn't know that you picked the right shade of A2. to match the filling so it doesn't look like they have a filling on tooth number two. The patient who has a filling on tooth number two, they can't see it, they don't know. It's like you can't even see tooth number two while you're filling it. You're like cranking your neck and your arms are all wild. Patients don't know what a good filling is. They know what a bad filling is, right? They know when it hurts, they know when their floss gets stuck, they know. But patients who aren't experiencing those things, to them it's everyday. DAT-Dana (07:50) Now, you can rarely even see tooth number two. The Dental A Team (08:12) normal life. They're just like, cool, thanks. Awesome. I'm good to go. They don't. He has like, we know we're like, heck yeah. Like I remember, I remember early in my dental days, this is slightly, this is really embarrassing. Actually, my doctor used to laugh so hard. And finally, he was like, Tiff, let me tell you what's supposed to be here. Because we would have our template for our notes, you know, I've never told this story. So so embarrassing now at 42. But when I was, know, 21, I had no idea what DAT-Dana (08:16) You were a dentist today? Great! The Dental A Team (08:42) was doing is just like write my notes and I'm like okay so I'd fill it in and then we do a written on I you know do the gutta percha length and I do all the all the different pieces and at the end it said like result I think is what it said like outcome result something right and so I'm like beautiful root canal because it was that was a beautiful root canal I like got a percha hit exactly where it was supposed to there was not We didn't go past, we didn't perf, we didn't leave a gap. There was no, it was a beautiful root canal. And finally, he was like, while I appreciate the kudos, like, we just need to know like, it was a, like, it was done. Like, so he switched my words, right? But I was just like, ⁓ they don't know, I know, I can look at it and be like, dang, that was, that's a really good implant. That was perfect placement. That is an incredible implant. I can do that. You can do that. the patient who got the implant is like, cool, I'm done. So I love that you said that because we're we so often market like best crowns in town, same day crowns, they don't patients who have never had a crown don't know that it doesn't get done in a day you you come in and you tell them, all right, it's gonna take two sessions. They're like, well, do I have to do that? Do I so same day crowns like people don't know. So when you're marketing for the dentistry, it's like cool. DAT-Dana (09:35) Yeah. Yeah. The Dental A Team (10:01) you might get some patience for that. But when you're marketing for the feeling and the experience, and then you deliver on that. And when we remember Dana that we're constantly marketing, this is where that like busy versus productive, like if you're my friend, Dana, you know, on the street and you come up and you're like, hey, how was your day? And I'm like, oh, it was super productive. You're like, awesome, what'd you do? What'd you get done? Right? And I'm like, well, I worked. And I got a ton of coaching calls done and I felt really inspired at the end because I impacted so many people. Totally different than, ⁓ it was busy because it was, it was busy and it was exhausting and I'm tired at the end of my days. I am exhausted. I've given everything all day, but versus productive, because I was, I was productive. It's a totally different landscape. when we're like, When we preach that we're going to give an experience, we're going to deliver an experience, and then we forget to deliver that experience when patients come. Like you said, like how does it look? You know, my doctor used to make us walk around from the patient's perspective and see is there trash on the floor? We'd sit in the chair and we'd see are there water spots on the lamp above us? Like what does the window look like? So when we're not aware of those pieces, patients can come in. They're seeing that, especially post-COVID. Like they're looking for the dirt. They're looking for the trash. And if we're not If we're not delivering that, we're not, stopped marketing. We marketed to get the patient in the door and then we forgot that we're constantly marketing and the patients who are coming in are choosing us again. They can choose to go anywhere and they're choosing us again. DAT-Dana (11:42) Yeah, I love that you pointed out just like I just want to caveat I know this is kind of taking us back to where we were but I think that it's super important in that you saying hey we saw each other on the street and you were like how are you and you said I'm super busy versus like I'm productive and I had this I think on the other end, right? The feeling, which I think is what you're creating for patients, the feeling that I had for you is completely different. When you said, I'm super busy, I was like, I'm kind of bummed for her. Like, it doesn't feel like she's got any space for herself or like, that sounds like it was not a great day when she said busy. But when you said productive and impactful, and I got a lot of coaching calls done, that was like, my gosh, Tiff, I'm super happy for your day. Like, it sounds like a really great day, right? So I think that like that is... The Dental A Team (12:21) Yep. DAT-Dana (12:23) really and truly what we're trying to say in this podcast. is like the words, the things, images, everything that you create, right? That's what creates that experience or how the patient feels. And I just thought it was important to kind of highlight that, all of them, when we say like everything is marketing, right? Well, everything that you do creates a feeling inside a patient. And that feeling is either, this is a great place to be. I feel super safe. I feel super relaxed. I feel super confident. I feel like I've got a lot of trust with them. I feel like they care about me, right? Those are the things. And so what we're trying to say is like marketing is, is everything that you do creates a feeling within a patient. And that is when you get raving fans. That is when you get referrals and you don't even have to ask for them. Yes, asking for them is great, right? But when you look at marketing as the things that you do every day, how can you elevate them? How can you take them just one notch above where they are? How can you always look at it from a patient experience or a patient perspective? That is when you create the feelings that create raving fans. The Dental A Team (13:29) Totally agree. Thank you for pointing that out, Dana, because that is exactly what it is. It's a feeling. Brody, I say this all the time, but Brody gets frustrated with me. Not so much anymore. He's 17 and I've been doing it his whole life. So I think he's gotten over it. He's like, that's just my mom. But I always acknowledge the workers at any store, wherever we're at, if you've got a name tag on, I'm going to call you by your name. And when he was little, he'd be like, You remember like seven to 11, like they're super judgmental people. That human hated me. Everything I did was wrong. But it was like questioning. It wasn't necessarily wrong. Don't take that. It was just questioning. It was just like, gosh, why do have to be so extra? And I'm like, because it wakes them up. It makes them feel seen in a sea of people just checking out and paying. Like, did you find everything you needed today? Yep. Yeah, I did. Otherwise I wouldn't be at checkout. DAT-Dana (13:58) yeah. The Dental A Team (14:21) I hate that you asked me that question, right? No, I didn't, but you're not going to go find it now. There's people behind me and I'm not going to ask you for it, right? So I'm like, you know what? Today was great. Joanna, how's your day going over there on the other side of this machine? And she's like, what? It snaps them out and allows them to be seen and valued in a sea of nothingness. And we as humans are constantly walking around like that. We're driving, you know, we're not acknowledging each other. We barely even see each other when we're merging on the street. We're not paying attention to each other. We're lost in our own worlds. And when they can come to a place that sees them, that values them, that is intentional with their time with this patient, that's what they're gonna come back for. They could have to come back for adjustments on that filling or crown. Their implant could fail. I've had it. I have had implants fail and the guy... I had to send this patient, I was like, my gosh, this is so bad. He had three implants fail. I remember this was gosh, probably 16 years ago at this point. He had three implants fail and I had to send him to the oral surgeon. And I was like, I am so sorry. Like I am so and he was like, please don't be you guys are wonderful. My family and I have been coming here for years and we would never consider going anywhere else. That's why I tried the implant here first. The impact that the whole entire team, our practice had made on him and his family. I still have like, just, have his daughter on our, on my Instagram. Like she just had a baby and I was like, my gosh, like Bianca, this is amazing. She's the same age as my sister. Like this, this is what I'm talking about. And that's marketing. And I think Dana marketing is perceived as salesy. Like we were trying to sell somebody on something, but like I'm not, I'm just trying to impact your life. DAT-Dana (16:11) Mm-hmm. The Dental A Team (16:11) I want you to feel so good that you want to spend more time with me. And I want to invite you into my safety bubble where it's okay to be yourself, where it's okay to be excited about the accomplishments that you have because I had a productive day. I'm in a really good space and I loved it. So what's going well in your life? And you're so much quicker to be like, my gosh, that's awesome. Erin and I are buying a house. And you're like, ⁓ because I know you have. the space for it, you know, that's my tangent. That's my marketing tangent. This is why I love marketing because it's so easy to just make one little switch in a word and completely change the outcome. And to me, that's marketing. DAT-Dana (16:56) Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. I think that like, it's just choosing to do that on an everyday space. think even like listening, we listen in, or we join a lot of marketing calls, right? And they're like, well, what makes you stand out? Right? And then they'll be like, I'm high tech. Okay, well, that's great. Does your patient know what high tech means? Do they know that that means you don't have to gag anymore, that you're super comfortable, that it's pain free, that it's less painful, that like we can relax. The Dental A Team (17:10) Yes. DAT-Dana (17:25) you and we can sedate you and we can do all these things. is that because you said high tech and I think to pretty much anybody that walks into a dental office or any medical office it's like they already feel like it's high tech. They're not questioning your tech really when they walk into your office. Those are the things I think that just gives like another layer an example of like truly knowing what sets you apart but knowing how to communicate what sets you apart. knowing the things that the patient values when you say what sets you apart. Patients like they're just automatically going to assume their dentist has all the tech, right? Dentistry, healthcare, it's a tech place. So they're just going be like, yep, know my dentist has all that tech. But what they don't understand is the things that you have that makes the experience better for them, that makes the pain less for them, that makes recovery easier for them. all those things. And so that is the marketing piece, taking the time to say those things, taking the time to show them, taking the time to explain, using them and letting them know, because we're using this, you should recover much quicker, right? You shouldn't have to go home and have any bleeding like as soon as you leave here, right? Even fluoride, right? As soon as you leave here, you can now eat those types of things. That's the marketing piece. That's the words. Those are the things that impact the patient. The Dental A Team (18:39) Totally agree. And on that point, you mentioned the marketing companies and the marketing companies like what sets you apart vetting a great marketing company. And my opinion is like hiring someone on your team, right? Which it's easy for us to see that because we have marketing people. We don't, we have a marketing department. We didn't hire a marketing comp. We have hired marketing companies. Currently we don't have a marketing company working. behind the scenes, have marketing people on our team. And so it's easy for us to see that and we help plenty of practices that marketing companies, which is, hard marketing companies marketing. It's a hard space because just like we just said, it's really about changing a dial a little bit and seeing what the result is. And then changing the dial a little bit and seeing what the result is. There's no like, this always works because it's different for everyone. So marketing is difficult in that way, but when you've got your systems and processes in line at the office, you're inspired humans who are looking to impact more humans. It makes the marketing company's job so much easier because they're marketing you and the experience, not your tech, which nobody knows what a CBCC skit is. Like I barely know what it is, right? I can't read it. I've been in dentistry forever. I have no idea what I'm looking at. Patients don't either, they just don't. And so when you're looking for a marketing company, really looking at it the same as you would hire a team member onto your team, what would you expect of that team member? How do they show up? What's their integrity level? Do they match your core values? Can they show up to live your core values and your vision? And then once you get your marketing manager, does that marketing manager jive with you? Are they relatable? Are they somebody who's listening to you? Would you hire that person? to be on your team because I do think Dana, that is a huge piece of external marketing that we've never really considered before. DAT-Dana (20:34) Yeah, I agree with you. think like... test their response time with you, look at how they respond to you for things, look at how if you ask questions, do they truly answer them? Do they get to the bottom of it? Or do they even admit, hey, I don't know this, but let me figure it out. And then they do figure it out and they get back to you. Like all of those things that you would test in a working interview or you would ask on a phone interview, right? Oftentimes it's just like, hey, we get through your logistics. This is what we do. This is what we can offer you. Hey, say yes or no. And I think that it is okay. Marketing is a big investment. And you know, sometimes we pay marketing companies as much as we pay team members, right? And so I agree with you, Tiff, in that like they are now a part of your team, whether it's external or internal, they're a part of it. And so do they live and breathe those things? Does the things that you're wanting to accomplish with them inspire them? Are they responding? Are they actively engaged in your account and come up with really great ideas? The Dental A Team (21:32) I love that. Yeah, drop the mic. Those are what you need to write down if you're driving when you get to the office or when you get home or the hair salon, wherever you're headed to. ⁓ Rewind and write all those things down that Dana just said. That was incredible, Dana. Thank you. Yeah, I loved this. I think we went into this one like, okay, well, let's see where it takes us. And I think it went on a really fun journey. So Dana, thank you for always ⁓ tracking. you just, we are just like the same brain sometimes. Same brain, but different, you see different aspects. So thank you for today's conversation. think it was really fun. And everyone, go about your marketing company. I think your action items are to take inventory and maybe even have your team take inventory of the experience that your patients are perceiving. So what's the perception that you're putting out to your patients? Is it in line with your vision, mission, core values? Is it in line with what you want it to be? And then check your marketing, your true marketing. DAT-Dana (22:06) Yeah, thanks. The Dental A Team (22:30) Are you talking about same day crowns? Are you talking about we can save you time? Because saving me time is a bigger ask than a same day crown, especially if I don't need a crown, by the way. So go check your marketing. Does it make sense? Does it speak to the patient experience? And can you deliver the patient experience that you're speaking to? You guys, this was really fun. I hope you loved it. I know you did. I know you loved it, because these ones are really fun. When we get ramped up, these are the ones that impact the most. So leave us a five star review. Let us know your biggest takeaways. We'd love to hear it. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. you need help, if you want Dana's questions, rewind. We're not going to remember what she said unless we rewind. So go rewind, get all of the things and we will catch you next time. Thanks so much, guys.
"No offense, but I hate dentists." Most providers hear it, laugh it off, and lean the chair back. Craig and Peter make the case that it's actually a cry for help, and the doorway to a relationship the patient never leaves. This episode unpacks one of the biggest misconceptions in dentistry: that sales and patient care are in conflict. They argue the opposite. The best dentists are the best communicators. They understand what matters to patients, help them see what's possible, and guide them toward decisions that improve their lives. The conversation digs into the influence and persuasion principles behind their approach, why patients rarely buy treatment plans but will buy certainty and confidence, and how commoditization, negative reviews, and practice culture all trace back to one thing: whether patients feel understood. Because when they do, pricing matters less, trust gets stronger, and the hard conversations get easier. If you've ever felt uncomfortable talking about treatment or presenting fees, this one will change how you walk into the room. DESCRIPTION The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode: 442 HOST: Dr. Craig Spodak and Dr. Peter Boulden In this episode, Craig Spodak and Peter Boulden explores the art of authentic selling in dentistry and explains why influence, trust, and communication are essential skills for every practice owner. Drawing from the work of Robert Cialdini, lessons from business leaders across industries, and years of real-world experience, Peter shares practical frameworks for building stronger patient relationships, communicating value more effectively, and creating a practice that stands out in an increasingly competitive market. TAKEAWAYS Selling and patient care are not opposites Patients make decisions based on trust, not just information Understanding patient values creates better outcomes Influence is a critical skill for practice growth Authentic relationships reduce resistance and increase case acceptance Communication skills often matter more than technical expertise Commoditization occurs when practices fail to differentiate themselves Negative reviews are often symptoms of unmet emotional needs Business principles from other industries apply directly to dentistry Practice culture influences patient experience and retention Continuous business education creates competitive advantages Adding value first makes conversations about treatment easier CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Sales in Dentistry 03:12 The Taboo of Selling in Dentistry 06:00 Building Relationships with Patients 08:55 Understanding Patient Needs 11:59 The Spiritual Aspect of Business 14:49 Conclusion and Key Takeaways REFERENCES Influence by Robert Cialdini Bulletproof Summit Bulletproof Mastermind
Attending a continuing education event can leave you feeling inspired, energized, and ready to revolutionize your business. But what happens forty-eight hours later when you're back at the chair?In this episode of The Millionaire Dentist, Casey Hiers and Jarrod Bridgeman explore the emotional psychological loop that dental practice owners experience after attending a Four Quadrants Advisory CE event. They dive deep into why some dentists translate post-event motivation into life-changing action, while others retreat right back into old, stressful habits.Upcoming Tour Dates: Go to our EVENTS page for infoFacebook: Four Quadrants AdvisoryInstagram: @fourquadrantsadvisoryLinkedIn: Four Quadrants Advisory
Owners, this one's for you. Especially those who don't want to have to care about the business side of being a practice owner. Kiera's here to prove that staying clinical while still leading the practice is simpler than you think. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team Listeners. This is Kiera and I am excited to podcast with you guys. Today is such a great day and I hope you're having an amazing day. I love hanging out with you guys. The podcast is such a happy space for me when I get to podcast and have this day. You guys let me go into creative Kiera zone where I get to speak from my heart. I get to speak from honesty. I get to speak from experiences. I get to laugh with you cry from you meet so many of you in real life and I just feel so honored and excited that This is my real life. And so thank you for being a part of the podcast family. Thank you for Listening and sharing and leaving reviews. I read those reviews. I'm so grateful for you guys and Please share this podcast any episode that you've had you guys can always head on over to our website TheDentalATeam.com click on podcasts and I kid you not you should search any topic and it's all there so Just wanted you guys, any issue, anything, I try hard to be a great resource for doctors and for teams. And to just remind you that life is so good. I think that the glass is half full and that doesn't mean it's always easy, but I do believe that it's worth it. So today I wanted to kind of dig into like what happens when you buy a dental practice and you are an owner. but you really just love to do dentistry and not the business side of it. Like done, done, done, done, done. Anybody out there, anybody, please raise your hand in real life. If that's you, if you know somebody that this is the case, be sure to send this podcast to them because I think that this is so real and I think it happens. And I see people in like, Kiera, I wanted to be a dentist because I wanted to just be a dentist. I didn't want to do the business of it. And I'm like, amazing, let's chat about it. So I think that it's, you want to open your own practice because you want to decide how to treat patients and you could do it better than that. DSO or the other dentist that you were working for but then you get into and you're like, wow, this is a lot harder than I thought. And so what do we do when you don't want to run the business? Like, what do we do then? So because the answer is you don't get to abdicate and it doesn't mean that you get to say, I'm not doing this anymore and someone else can do this. Guess what? You're still an owner. Just like if you have a kid and you're like, I don't want to be a parent anymore. Well, guess what? That's part of it. But that doesn't mean you have to do it all. And So I just want to help you get some good clarity. We did this in our Dr. Mastermind that we call it Think Tank Tuesday. And people come together on the first Tuesday of the month and it's very fun. And I think that this is just a space for you of ⁓ how can we help you? Because I want you to be thriving and happy in your practice and not dreading. And there's ways that you can do it. Like you can have your cake and eat it too. So let's make a way for that to be real. So ⁓ I think that it's where there's great dentists who feel frustrated, they feel overwhelmed. They feel stuck because they don't want to deal with the business side and they don't want to take that on. And this is me. I created a consulting company, but I didn't want to know about the numbers. And I was like, numbers are not my jam. And now if you've heard me for any length of time, you know, numbers love me and I love numbers, right? We're going to be really good at making sure that you get obsessed with that. Just like I love being a business owner. And, ⁓ this is something that it's a, do I have to, or do I get to, ⁓ my gym trainer? I like a lot of her posts and she often posts about, it something where like I have to go to the gym or I get to go to the gym? And it's crazy how just sometimes even that little bit of a mindset shift can help us realize like I have to run a business or I get to run a business. ⁓ Both are real and both are available. But hey, let's break it down because I think that this is something of like, what happens if you only want to be in the operator and like, what are some solutions for that? And then what happens of your practice if you maybe are not right person, right seat for that. And then three things that help you to be able to stay clinical and also lead the practice because it might be simpler than you think it is. And your job description might actually be a lot easier than maybe what you're piling on yourself because I think sometimes people feel running a business means they have to do it all. I know I fell into that trap. I know I've been guilty of that before. Like, hey, I'm the business owner. I have to do this when guess what? That's not necessarily true. So what happens is We did this as an exercise for our dentist the other night and I had them write down everything on their to-do list. And then I had them go back through and I said, okay, what things really are things actually only you should do. And it was crazy because I had quite a few of them like talk. Like I tell them our think tank is like, pretend we're in the living room with me and we're just all hanging out. We're sharing our best ideas. Like there's no team members that are allowed to be there. Teams is not cause I don't want you there. I just want your doctors to be able to speak openly and honestly and to be able to get the support from other owners in the room and. It was crazy because the doctors were like really the only thing like even dentistry, you could have somebody else do. Right. Um, but in this scenario, you're like, but I love to do the dentistry. I don't want to have to do the rest. The only thing really you have to do as an owner, you got to set the vision, know the profitability and drive the culture. Like that really is your role. Now, as I said, those three things, you might be like, yeah, right. Do you see my whole to-do list over here? Like you want me to ship you? Yeah. Send me a picture of it. I'd actually love to see it. I'll help you out. So please, by all means, be a pen pal for me and I will happily look at your to-do list and help you see it differently. Sometimes you're just in the weeds, but other times what happens is a lot of things on there you don't have to do and maybe you're not the best person. But like I said, of the things I listed off, that's really what an owner needs to do. And if that didn't light you up, guess what? You can actually hire somebody who wants to do that. So, but if it did light you up, then great. You can be a doctor, a dentist, and then those are the three things really you need to do. Yes, you do need to know the numbers. You are a business owner. You don't just get a pick and choose. I'm like, I don't want to care about the numbers, Kiera. I don't want to look at it. Well, guess what? Tough luck. You did sign up for a business and your job is to make sure it's profitable. We don't want to have our teams go out of jobs. Like you have a responsibility to your patients and to your team. And that is part of it, but it doesn't mean you have to be the manager. You don't have to do the one-on-ones. You don't have to like order the supplies. None of that falls on your list. But I think sometimes we think it does, but you've got to make sure that you have to have like, very clear priorities, very clear direction, and you are leading and guiding. So what happens with that is as a leader, you've got to set the vision and the direction of where we're going. And if you don't have that, then you're going to have constant interruptions and confusion and like, what are we working on? And Dr. you're annoyed because it's just a firefighting rather than a proactive preventative. So if you can work through this and figure out where we headed, what's the direction? And then next step is accountability and org charts. Who does what? In our team, we just did this nice little shakeup of all of our team members. And it's wild. I thought it was right here. I was going to show you. So it's not, I usually have a carry. We have our accountability chart and I have like, open it up like a legend, like, okay, I have this task. Is this really a me task or who does it belong to in their job descriptions? And we talked about it because dentists are like, but I'm so afraid of like asking team members to do these things. That's why I don't delegate. And I'm so grateful for our doctors. having trust and vulnerability in our mastermind. ⁓ And we talked about it and it's like, but as team members, if that's part of my job, let's make sure it's realistic for me. Let's make sure I have a clear job description. And then let's make sure my KPIs report that. So when you get this clear, like, doctors, yes, this is the annoying part. And this is where I love consulting and helping offices. Like let's help you get the vision, like where we had in the next 10 years and get your whole team rowing towards that vision. Then we're gonna make sure we've got correct accountability charts. Like who does what? And sometimes having a consultant come in to say like, No, no, no. Like this is your job. This is what you get to do. I had some team members trying to push responsibility and I was like, no, no, no. This is what we get to do. and after that, from there, then from there, it becomes easy. Like doctors, this is your job. Now, sometimes I think doctors might have a little bit of an ego and not want to let go. And someone like, can do it better, faster, easier, true, but choose your hard. What is that? What is the piece that you need to do? And like, let's choose our hard. So as soon as owners set the direction, then what's gonna happen from there is teams are gonna feel so much more fulfilled. They're gonna feel like they gotta know where they're going. They know what their job is. They know how to win. And doctors, you don't have to feel guilty, because then what you do is you just pull open the legend, the accountability chart. Like, okay, I have an issue with all of my emails and like responding to the lab. Who can do that? And can we set it up for that? And then doctors, you can be CC'd on it. ⁓ but that doesn't mean you have to do it. So you can still be aware of it and know everything going on, but then you can go to dentistry and other people are helping you out. But doctors, got to make sure you don't undercut. that's number one. Number two is we want to make sure that like the team is leading, but make sure that they have the authority to do so. So doctors, if your job is to set the vision. ⁓ and I talk about leadership having two different sides, there's a visionary, then there's the execution piece. And if you want to have somebody who's the execution person for you. You've got to give them the authority to do so and you got to get out of their way. So if you're like, I really just want to do clinical dentistry. I get it. I got to do the vision and I need to watch my numbers. Then great. You've got to empower and let your office manager do their job. you've got to make sure that they're confident and competent. They've got the skills, the resources, the coach around them to be able to do it because you've got it. Like for you to step back into just clinical into your, to a CEO row, you got to empower your team correctly. So. When a manager is trying to lead, so many of them are like, but our doctor like is stopping us and they're not responding back to us. Doctors, that's your fastest, easiest way to undercut your office manager and to be stuck in doing everything and running this business. Do you know that your OM should be doing 99 % of everything that you're probably doing and they want to and they're great at it they're amazing at it and they're follow through and that's just what they're like bred to do. they're a great office manager, if they're not, then maybe it's not a right person, right seat. Managers, that's what you should be doing. So if we have that, then we're to want to make sure that great like So if that's what's happening, doctors, you gotta delegate with clarity and authority so that way there's not this hesitation and it's all coming back to you and it's all falling on you. So hey, get this accountability chart. This is the person who's doing it. Empower them, train them, teach them. It doesn't mean I just hand it over to them. You can like work with your OM every single week and like if there's decisions that they made that you didn't agree with, let's talk about that. If you want them to check things out, like I train a lot of people and before they send anything out, I'm like, send it to me. I wanna prove off on that. And we're good to go from there. Like that's what's needed, but you got to like get it to where things can start to move off your plate. And I think as owners, sometimes I myself hold onto it for ego. And if I let all these people do it, then what's my need? ⁓ one of the doctors, he was like, the literary realized like, I don't even need to be in the practice and they can do everything without me. No, that can feel scary for some people that can feel like, my gosh, am I still needed? Am I still wanted? And the answer is yes. But what we need is we need you to be the lighthouse. and then we need you to do great dentistry. But that's really it in ownership. But if you don't love that, then find somebody who can be the lighthouse and you'd be the doer. Some people actually are better COOs, if you will, rather than being clinical dentists. Like they love to do the business side. They love to run all the systems. They love to build it. Then get yourself out of clinical dentistry. But if you're the one who's like, obsess about being a dentist and I wanna just do the clinical, great, you need a strong operator next to you and that's usually your OM. And OMs you need to be able to be. follow through, say the fastest, easiest way to have a doctor not trust you is to break trust in the sense of I'm gonna get this to you and I don't get it to you. So own your word, own your results and execute consistently. And doctors like, thank you, Kiera, like clap it up, like, yes, yes, yes, like it's true because you wanna make sure that what you delegate and what you ask this team member to do, it reports back to you rather than you needing to chase it, hunt it. Be proactive OMS, be like perfect, here's my end of week, here's all the things that have been done, here's where we sit. Do know how much your doctor's gonna love you? Like that's what lets them be free to be these amazing clinicians and not have to own it. So you've got to be able to delegate and have the authority, give them the authority, trust them, empower them and have the meetings and whatever you need to where you can feel like you can trust them to do the job well. If they're not doing things right, give them the honest feedback. I've got a new personal assistant while Shelby's out on maternity leave. Shout out to the baby. We're so happy for her. I had to just tell her like, don't like this. I want you to do it this way. And team members, when your doctor's doing it that way, you've got to have this trust and vulnerability relationship where you can say these things without taking it. I am so grateful for Marisa because I get to tell her like, that's not how I want this. I want it like this. This is how I need it. She's my right hand on so many things. I can tell Britt the same thing. I can even say, Britt, I don't want to say this to you because I know that I'm people pleasing. Me even calling it out, Britt's like, no, I'm no BS Britt. Just tell me straight. Like, what do you need from me? What do you want? That's usually what people need. when you can have a relationship where you're that fluid with your OM and OMS with your doctors, this is how you're going to be able to grow. And this is how you're going to build the trust to be able to delegate, to abdicate, not abdicate, delegate and release these tasks to other team members. And then OMS, your job is to grow and make sure your team is doing what they're supposed to. They're hitting their KPIs consistently. We're having our meetings. People are falling through. Our patients are getting the great patient experience. OMS, that's your job. Your job is to make all this vision amazing. Check all the boxes, take care of your doctor. Does not necessarily mean a personal assistant, but it does mean we're checking all the boxes. We're running the team. So our doctor can be an amazing clinician. Give us the vision, go to great dentistry and we take care of the rest. That is how a doctor OM relationship should look. So from there, we want it to be where you guys really truly are able to do that. And if you guys are able to do those two things, so right, what were they? Number one, I want you to be able to have a clear direction and a clear vision. And then number two is we need to use that accountability chart, delegate and give authority so that way people can do it. And then after that, how do we fix this? what are some quick fixes that we can also do? Is number one in the accountability chart, define your role as the owner. What are the decisions only you can make? What are you gonna own versus what are you gonna delegate? And then set the expectations with the team. I'm obsessed with this because this is going to help and it's ownership as a role. not a title, okay? So doctors, I'm gonna own this, OM's gonna own this, treatment coordinator's gonna own this, biller's gonna own this, dental assistants are gonna own this. It means own. We hit the results. not like, we innovate, we figure it out. That's what ownership means. It does not just mean I have the title of this. Then after that, we build the leadership structure that's going to support us. So we've got doctor, we got OM, and we've got our leadership team. Depending upon the size of it, it might be two people on your leadership team, it might be three people, it might be four, it might be like 15, whatever it is. and have clear responsibilities and we have regular meetings. I recommend meetings once a week and then I recommend quarterlys. I'm obsessed with traction. You guys know that we run a Dental A Team's version of it that is very much ⁓ a mix of a few items that I'm obsessed with and I love it. Run our weekly meetings, run our quarterly meetings. Like this is what you need to do to be successful because when you have a strong leadership structure and doctors, this is where you got to do it. Like as an owner, you do the clinical dentistry, you set the vision. and you go to the leadership meeting, you are part of it, you gotta set the vision, but you typically don't walk out with many to-dos. You don't, that's what your team should be doing. And if you're taking on to-do after to-do after to-do, we're not following that accountability chart. So we've got to have strong leadership. And then what we're gonna do from there is we're gonna have a simple like CEO rhythm. So for me, that's check-ins weekly with my O-N, it's weekly or monthly reviewing the financials, and then like I said, quarterly planning. Like as a CEO, you've got to watch these things. You got to check the KPIs. You got to work with your OM. Like that's part of business ownership. It's like, you don't need more time. You just need consistency. And realistically, this is your two hours a week of CEO time. So if you get it done, you can do this. I usually recommend during clinical time. So two hours during my clinical time, I focus on the business. I work with my OM. I check the financials. And then we do have a longer quarterly meeting. Most of the time it's anywhere from four to eight hours for a quarterly meeting. This is how you're going to be able to build control. Consistency builds control. It's a great thing for it. So while you're doing this, do you see how we've just taken all the busy minutiae off of you? You can still be this great clinician. You can still be this amazing dentist. You can still love dentistry and you can still run a successful business, but you don't have to do all the pieces of it. You can really have your cake and eat it too, but you've got to be consistent. You got to be willing to let go. You got to be willing to put in the work to get the accountability and the vision and the meeting set up and Clear expectations with your OM. Those are the weekly meetings. Like if things aren't going the way you want it, have the conversations, fix the pieces. You and your OM need to be in lockstep, like tight, tight, tight with each other. And if you don't have that relationship, you gotta build it. And you can start having the honest conversations. Read Five Dysfunctions of a Team together, like by Patrick Lanziani. Read things together where you guys are building. Read traction, read rocket fuel, like. figure out what you two are both supposed to be doing, but you've got to have this lockstep where you trust them implicitly. And if you don't, you need a different OM. And OMs, that's no bash on you. It just means, or you guys have to figure out what broke the trust and how do we get that trust back? This means that you are not like stepping away. You're just stepping up into the role that you're meant to be. So you don't have to do every single thing in the practice, but you do have to lead. And if you don't want to do that, You can't abdicate this to your OEM. Like you can't, you're the boss. Like you are, whether you want it or not. Or you hire another CEO to run your business for you. But I want you to see that you can be truly the CEO of your practice. You can empower your team and you can be a great clinician. You don't have to do it all. So this is something where truly, this is what we help with. We build leadership teams. We help doctors get into the CEO seat. But I want to say, because there's a client who sent me an email today and they're like, I just feel stuck. Like we've been consulting and I appreciate these, I really do. I want you to know though, while that is true, you are stuck as a leader, you have to own that. So, and this is a mix, got a couple emails that came in. Doctors have to be willing to have the hard conversations. If you're not willing to tell your team what you need and you're willing to keep taking it on and on and on, that's a choice. But there's also a choice where you have the uncomfortable conversations with your team. You have the uncomfortable conversations with your coach and say, this is what I need from you. My gym trainer, I love her, but we're going on this two month journey together. And I said, what do I need from you? I need you to text me for accountability check-ins. I need us to have them preset. And I need it to be where you give me at least like one or two food examples per week. So that way I don't have to try and think of those. That's all I need from you to be successful. But me, I have to be willing to say that. I have to be willing to tell my team what I need. I have to be willing to build the org chart. I have to be willing to look at the numbers. I have to be willing to do the work to get from where I am today to where I ultimately want to be. but it's not that far away. It's actually quite easy. So if you want help with that, you want to chat about it, reach out. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. But I want to make sure that you're ready for it because as a coach, my job is to guide you, to lead you, to tell you what you need to do. But ultimately I'm not the one who does it. That's you. So if you're like, yeah, I'm ready for a change. I'm ready to do this. I'm ready to tell what I need. I want to be the CEO of my practice. I don't want to continue on this path, but you have to actually let go. You have to like have the vision. You've got to lead your team. and you got to execute on it and you got to trust your OEM to do it. And if you don't have an OEM that you can trust, you've got to hire another one. Like black and white, this is what's got to happen. You got to be willing to make those choices. We don't get six packs overnight. We get them from consistently, consistency. We get them from doing the work. We get them from making the hard decisions and being disciplined. That's how we get it. And that's the same thing for your practice. You can be the doctor who's just clinical, but you've got to make sure that you set your practice up for success. So reach out. I'd love to help you. Hello at thedentalanteam.com. And as always, thanks for listening. I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.
The most expensive report in your practice is the one you're not opening: the AR report.This episode unpacks why your old AR keeps piling up and how to clean it up without losing patients or overwhelming the front desk. You'll learn how to collect what you're owed (and when to let go), spot problems before they spiral, and build systems that keep it from happening again.Topics discussed:AR system failures and how to prevent themCollecting old AR without losing patientsPatient AR vs. insurance ARThe "zero statement" practice (and how to build one)Weekly metrics every owner should be trackingThis episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.comCheck out the Growth Program Here Join our Newest and Best Coaching Program, Click Here for More InformationTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams.Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.
This week Ryan talks about his visit to the dentist and how the Cleveland Browns ruin his life and finally talks about men's mental health. Subscribe! E-Mail:RyanWoodspod@gmail.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Nu1XWTHMOjA9--Eb3Ry-ATwitter: https://twitter.com/Ryan_WoodssInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanwoodss/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntoTheWoodspod/
Presented by: Optimize U(www.optimizeucenters.com) Broadcasting from the Nooga Dentistry Studiowww.noogadentistry.com Brought to you by:Chatt MortgageTexas RoadhouseNutrition WorldNooga Dentistry www.chattanoogafitnessdownload.com Production of: Whitfield Media Group Broadcasting from the Nooga Dentistry Studiowww.noogadentistry.com
Documentation, charting, and insurance narratives are taking time away from patient care, and many teams are already stretched thin. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with Rushi Ganmukhi, founder of Bola AI and former MIT AI/NLP researcher, and Cassie Tallon, a dental operations leader and author, to explain how voice-enabled AI can reduce clinical documentation burden, improve note quality, and help practices get paid faster. You'll learn where voice tech fits best (perio, restorative charting, and clinical notes), what it changes operationally, and how to identify the friction points in your own workflow. Listen to Episode 1055 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Voice technology can reduce the time and disruption of perio charting by allowing hands-free entry during hygiene visits.Faster perio charting supports more comprehensive perio exams, which can improve identification and treatment of periodontal disease.Delayed or incomplete notes can delay insurance submission and cash flow, creating a backlog of unsent claims.Templated, generic notes and late documentation can weaken clinical records for both insurance review and legal defensibility.Insurers are increasingly requiring more documentation, including perio charting for restorative claims, to support medical necessity.Effective adoption of AI tools depends on fast implementation, flexibility in workflows, and customization to an office's documentation preferences.Practices can start by tracking daily workflow “sticking points” for a week and mapping which issues could be reduced with voice-driven documentation.Snippets:00:00 Voice tech as the “hidden power” of AI for practice efficiency.01:00 The documentation burden: perio charts, restorative docs, and insurance narratives.02:10 Rushi's background in AI/NLP and MIT research, and why he entered dentistry.04:35 Why voice tech fits clinical environments better than consumer voice assistants.06:00 Bola AI's early focus on voice perio charting and expansion to notes and restorative charting.07:05 Why integrations with practice management systems matter (Dentrix, Open Dental, Curve, Patterson, Henry Schein).08:00 The time cost of manual charting and its impact on hygiene workflows.10:00 How delays and backdating notes can hold up insurance submission and revenue.11:20 The risks of cut-and-paste templates for insurance and legal documentation.13:00 Insurance requiring more documentation, including perio charting for restorative claims.14:00 Why “decay” alone is not a sufficient clinical reason in a narrative.15:00 How dental-specific logic and terminology improve accuracy over general dictation tools.16:35 What “plug-and-play” adoption should look like in the operatory.18:10 Handling variation across practices (sleep/airway, medical billing, pediatrics, customization).19:00 Current curiosity vs. adoption: workforce shortages and the cash-flow case for AI.22:00 Overview of Bola's three core products: Voice Perio, Voice Restorative, and AI Scribe.26:00 A practical challenge: measure how long perio charting takes and identify workflow friction points.29:00 Final guidance: start small, solve specific problems, and choose tools proven in clinics.30:10 Where to learn more and request a demo (bola.ai).Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Rushi Ganmukhi is the founder of Bola AI and has a professional background in artificial intelligence and natural language processing, including research experience at MIT focused on helping computers understand human speech and language. He leads Bola AI's work applying voice technology to dental workflows, including perio charting, restorative charting, and AI-assisted clinical documentation.Cassie Tallon is a dental operations leader with 20 years of experience spanning multi-doctor practices and DSOs, including supporting growth and operational efficiency across multiple locations. She is an author focused on dental operations and has dedicated her current work to helping dentists improve efficiency, navigate growth decisions, and strengthen systems without adding unnecessary overhead.Resources mentioned in the episode:Bola AI (demos and product information): www.bola.aihttps://smilesource.com/exchangeMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
Standing out as a dental practice is easier than you might think — and thank goodness for that! Kiera gives three steps to find what makes you and your practice unique even when you feel like you're as vanilla as can be. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera and I hope you're having an amazing day. I am so excited to podcast with you. I get so giddy when I know it's podcasting day and I literally can't sleep at night. I get so excited for the next day and I just really want to make sure that what I'm delivering for you and all the different podcasts are exactly what you need because I do believe that my job in this world is to positively impact the world of dentistry and give you quick tactical tips that are going to change your life, change your practice and make you Remember why you chose dentistry. Dentistry should be fun, you guys. Owning a practice should be fun. And I know that it's not always going to be fun. I've accepted as a business owner, there's highs and lows, and that's just the flavor of business ownership that we sign up for. And so today I wanted to just give some quick tactical tips because I feel like so many of us are trying to figure out how can we stand out as dental practices without it being just about cost. There's so much more because we talk about marketing and you guys know my Achilles heel is marketing. Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun. ⁓ But it's really truly how can you be your own brand, your own fragrance, your own style, and yet still attract the patients that you want. And I think it's actually easier than you might think because we help practices all the time stand out for who you want. And what I found is the number one most important thing when you're looking at your practice is be true to who you are. I remember I was reading the book Traction. by Gina Wickman, guys know, shout out. I'm a big proponent of that book. do a lot of Dental A Team's version of traction. We have traction within Dental A Team. And, I remember at end of the book, they were talking about how, like, know thyself and be free as a visionary. And, ⁓ if that's who you are or you're an integrator, like know thyself and be free. And I think when it comes to your own practice, know thyself and be free and make sure it's what people want. And then make sure you're talking to those people. I think about, have some friends that are. are very into nature and them getting on the podcast, I'm probably not going to attract the same type of people that I attract. I want people that are driven, growth minded, entrepreneurs, people that are seeking that next level, people that want to have fun in life. That's who Kirita is and that's my style. That's my brand. And I remember when I started Dental A Team, I had some people tell me that, Kirita, there's absolutely no way you're going to be able to impact everybody across the nation and that's not going to work for you as a consultant. And I am so grateful and thankful that I stuck true to my gut. I struck two to who Kiera Dent is. And while at the same time I can say true to Kiera, I need to also know what the market's asking for. If I'm just here to talk kumbaya with you, I'm probably going to attract a different crowd. But the people who want to be with Kiera, who want to be a part of Dental A Team, it's crazy. At the masterminds, I look at our doctors and our office managers and they are very similar to who I am and who I am on the podcast. So if that resonates with you, come be a part of our community. you can reach out, Hello@TheDentalATeam.com or go to our website, book a call. I'd love to chat with you. And I do still vet a lot of the people coming into our company. And, ⁓ I want to make sure that you're a good match for us. And so I think when I'm looking at what can you do to stand out within your own practice and how can you compete? It's who are you and what makes you different. And if you don't know, go read your reviews, go read the Google reviews, go read to see. And if you read dental, interviews, they always talk about that. They're fun, that they're positive, that they changed my life, that they make dentistry so simple. That is Kiera Dent to the core. wanted to be the Dr. Seuss of systems. I wanted to make doctors and teams have easy profitability without it being hard. And so when I look at the reviews, that is true core to Kiera. So I want you to say who's true core to you. ⁓ And a good way to do this is to go back to what your core actually is. So go back to what the core values are. Why did you even start the company? When I go back and I look at Kiera Dent, like what were my three core fundamentals? You can ask Tiff this was the beginning of day one. Like it was fun, do the right thing and ease. from the beginning of time, it's always been what I've said. I said, if we're not having fun, I don't wanna do this. Like truly, it's a hobby for me, it's a good time. And now we've created into an incredible business. Do the right thing always. Like do the right thing for the customer, do the right thing for our team, do the right thing for our clients. Like that is what I want you to do. And I'm not gonna sit here and give you a rules of do the right thing. Like as a core individual, you need to have that to your core. To me, it's a, we over deliver. We always come to the table. Like I want you just to do the right thing. And that needs to be a moral compass for you. And then ease, I don't need people who make it clunky hard, all the different pieces, I need you to make it easy. And that's been my model since the beginning of time, I wanted everything to be easy, do the right thing and fun. That's Kiera's core, that's who I am. And so for you to go back and it's core values versus aspirational values. And so I really want you to look at what are the core of your company? And is that fulfilling? I remember there's dental office I opened, me and the doctor, her core was very edgy. would say edgy is probably one of our core values of that company. We were listening to Drake at six in the morning. Like that was our core and we wanted it to be this edgy vibe. were in downtown Denver. That's what we did and it attracted the right type of people. Now my parents, if they walked into that dental practice, there is absolutely no way in their right mind that they would want to stay there. But a lot of people in downtown Denver, we knew our avatar, we knew who we wanted. So we were going to attract that. So I really want you just to think of like, How can you stand out? How can you make sure that this practice feels like home to you? So step one is go back to your core of why did you even start this business? And let's make sure that that's really incorporated in everything you do. Number two, I want you to really make sure that who you are fundamentally is what you're branding and what you're speaking to. ⁓ And then make sure the third thing is you look to see what do patients really want and what are they valuing? So. I think so many practices, the reason you get lost in the mix is because you've just got standard marketing across the board. says like, we care about our patients. We have the exact same services listed. We've got generic online presence. There's nothing that identifies or differentiates you. There's a practice in California that I really love. And she said like, we love ⁓ changing the way people feel about going to the dentist. And I have another dentist who their tagline is to be the community, the, like the dentist that the community chooses. ⁓ And I have another office that's like to change the way people feel about going to the dentist. And another one is to just be your foodie dentist. Those people, you guys, I didn't even pull up my notes. didn't look at it before I got on the podcast. Those are ones that I can just rift, repeat, remember because they stand out to me. They're not just generic marketing. And so for you, what is it that makes you stand out? I've got a doctor and he called it, ⁓ I think it's called Empower Dentistry. ⁓ and I love that because his whole model is like empowering patients to be confident about their health, to be confident about their decision-making and really spend a lot of time educating his patients. So for you, like, what is that one thing for Kiera? You guys, I'm the Dr. Seuss of dentistry. I have a good time. have a lot of fun. I am not your standard consulting company. We do things very different at Dental A Team. I want people, we get the same type of results, if not better. But we do it in Kiera Dent's way. We do it in a fun way. We do it in a way that makes team members happy. Our job is to light people up. Life's my passion, dentistry is my platform. That's Kiera Dent. And if that doesn't resonate you, then you're not gonna be listening to the podcast. But if it does resonate with you and you're like, yeah, I wanna have the best life and I wanna have team that's lit up and I wanna do it in an easy way, not a hard way. You guys, I'm not cookie cutter. If you want standard scripts on how we do X, Y, we have them, but that's not gonna be where I'm going to lead from. We're gonna lead from what's your vision and your practice to what did the numbers tell us? Then we're gonna implement systems based on that information. That's how we operate. Most people are like, Hey, you want systems? Fantastic. Here are your systems. And I'm like, no, why am I coming in and giving teams more work? Like nobody wants that. What we want is what's the vision of the practice? What are the numbers tell us? Let's put systems into place that way. Again, it's all boiling it down to that ease, that simplicity that's going to guarantee results. So what is your clear differentiator? What's your clear identifier? And so when we have it, like, I don't want to be Chick-fil-A McDonald's. like competing across the board. I want something that's going to make you resonate. I've got holistic dentists and it's like full comprehensive health for their patients is what they want them to have total wellness of health. And you might say like, but Kiera, I'm just like, like, I just do dentistry. I just want to do dentistry and I'm very vanilla. Like there is nothing that stands out about me. I do bread and butter dentistry. It's very simple. Well, I'll say vanilla is very great ice cream that a lot of people like. How can we make your vanilla ice cream better than the next person's vanilla ice cream? So I just wanna highlight that no matter what you do, there is something that's your special sauce. There is something special and unique about you and your practice that's going to drive and resonate with other people. There's billions of people on the planet. You don't need all of them. You just need your core crew of people that want to come to you as a practice. So I would say, what is it of, how are you going to make sure people stand out to you? and looking back at your core values, looking back to why, what makes you, you go look at the reviews and make sure does that speak? And if it does, amazing, keep doing more of that. And if it doesn't, let's change that and revamp it a little bit so that way you do feel like it's home. I have had so many offices try to be something they're not, they're like, well, Kiera, everyone says I need to be on social media and I don't like it. Then don't do it. Like you can be at home, you can be there, you can still like. I am the silent dentist. Like don't like social media. Great. You're going to probably find people that don't like social media. So let's do flyers and mailers and other things that could attract people in. ⁓ Or find a team member that really is great at it so you don't have to do it. For me, you've got to show up a couple of times. That's part of being a business owner and I don't love it, but I'm going to be true to Kiera. You're going to be true to you. Be true to you because the thing is I want you to just feel like you're at home. When I get on the podcast, I get to just be Kiera. This is Kiera unfiltered. It's funny when people get on our practice assessment calls or like wanting to work with us calls and we're assessing to see, are you a good fit for us and are we a good fit for you? I'm sitting in my studio. Like what you guys see is where I work every single day. The microphone, I don't usually talk to people on a microphone, but I will pull it on over so people can see it. Like I'm just Kiera. This is who you get. I'm real raw. Someone asked me a very personal question on a sales call the other day and I was like, you know what? I am so grateful that you feel so comfortable to be able to ask me those questions. I'm Kiera. This is who I am. I always want people to feel like I'm just Kiera Dent from the block. Like I'm your next door neighbor. I'm the person who's not here to judge you. I'm here to give you a hand up. I'm not here to slap your hand, tell you you should have known that because you're a dentist. That's what I want people to feel. So I think it's a what's your core. And then also the second piece is what do you want people to feel when they come to your practice? Because that's going to help them laser in with you way more than anything else. So looking at those core values, how do you want them to feel? For me, it is a no judgment zone in Dental A Team. Our whole team knows this. You like nobody should ever, like I will not hire people that are snooty tooty attitudey. Like I'm just not here for that. That's not our culture. That's not our brand. That's not who we are. Our brand and our style is very much a come as you are, we love you we're gonna take you to your goal, your vision. I'm not here for everybody to get to the DSO world. I want you to live your best life. Your practice should serve you your needs in your life, not the other way around. But I will tell you, I did not have that refined on day one of opening this company. That has come over time of what do I want dentists to feel? What are people saying? What is it that sets me apart from other people? And I do believe that your practice and how you stand out is not a one and done check it off the box. My core, one and done. And as long as I don't deviate from that, I'm probably gonna be pretty solid. The second thing is who we are and our fundamentals, those have not changed. But how I talk to people, what I want people to feel when they come to our company. That's morphed and evolved. It's always been a no judgment zone, but I think it's become more and more and I market that more and more and I want people to just feel safe. I want people to feel seen. I want people to feel heard. I realize as business owners, myself included, as I morphed and evolved, gosh, that's something I wanted. You could start to listen in to what your patients say. Why do they choose you? And you might even have people that you trust a lot. I have asked certain people like, why did you choose Dental A Team over somebody else? 95 % of the time it's because we don't judge. We aren't cookie cutter. and we actually have been there, done that and do it successfully and we bring the team along. Those are typically the reasons people choose our company over someone else. And I always get energy, always. So I care, we love your energy. And I'm like, great. So they like a good time. They want somebody who's fun. That's my core value. So yeah, like we're getting it. But listen to why people are choosing you. Maybe it's the Google reviews. Maybe it's because you are the holistic dentist in your area. Maybe it's because all their friends and family trust you. Listen to that and brand with that. People will tell you if you will listen why they choose you, why you're the best in their opinion. And if that's your favorite patient, do more of that. That's how you're going to stand out. Again, you're not going for the billing and you're going for your niche community of people that want to come to you. ⁓ I know I've got a pediatric dentist. He's so popular, like one of the top of the top of the top and he's just himself and he shares his real life. Some of you may be like, that's not me. Again. You've got to do your differentiator based on who you are. If you're not loud and outlandish, don't be that online because they're going to come in and be like, it was a bait and switch. Like, wow, this person's dead in the water when I show up. Or if you're like dead in the water, but you're super outlandish in the practice, they might feel like, wow, that's very different. You need to have it where you guys are synced in. People feel like they can understand. People feel like they're on the same page with you. It feels the same. Like that's what branding is. This is how you differentiate is what our presence is online is who we are in person. And so I would just say, take an exercise today. Go through and figure out what on earth do we need to do to stand out in our crowd? Number one, what's our core value? What do we stand for? Who's the core? What is the core of who we are? Number two, what do we people to feel? Read our reviews, how do we want them to feel? And then number three, how can I do more of that and has it evolved over time? Those would be like quick, simple three steps, but make sure online presence matches in-person presence. In-person presence matches online presence. Our online presence is fun. There's dots, there's confetti, there's smiling, laughing people. That's not just pictures. When you're in an office, you're laughing your freaking head off. It's hilarious. We're having a good time because teams don't want to do hard. Teams don't want to have a non-fun. Why do I make the podcast? Yes, for a lot of value for you, but also for you to have your teams experience this before they even work with us. How can you test drive the car without test driving the car? Well, here's a great way to do it. How can people test drive your practice without doing it? How can they say, my gosh, of all the dentists out there, I wanna work with you. And then I'm gonna say this, and I know this is annoying and I'm sorry, but this is another piece that you're gonna stand out and it's through your Google reviews. You've gotta be kicking it over there. If you need, talk to Swell. Swell.co, I think is their website. Tell them Dental A Team sent you, get the best deal. Zeke and I have known each other for eight years and he has never changed the pricing on the people I refer to him, which thank you, Zeke. Shout out to you. Swell is the best one I've ever met. I know there's a ton of them out there. I have like vetted all of them. Best of the best of the best. So if you want a great one, like you've got to also be the best. And so I just did this with a team the other day ⁓ and I had all of them go leave reviews. I had all of them practice asking for reviews. And I taught them like, you can be the best dentist, but if you're not the best marketed dentist online, no one's gonna find you. And imagine me with my picket fence out there, like picketing, like save the teeth. If you're the best dentist in the best dental office, you have a moral obligation to save those teeth. People only have 28. Some might have 32, but most of us only have 28. And we only have one shot at that. And I believe that people deserve the best of the best. So you also have an obligation to get those reviews up, to ask your patients to leave your reviews, but that's gonna tell you how you stand out. Please also make sure you have fun. Do things that light you up. Marketing is like, my gosh, it's my least favorite thing to do. But I realized, Kiera being Kiera and just showcasing that is marketing. And I can have a truckload of fun with you guys on here. I can have a great time on the podcast. I can share all my wildest things. I can talk to you about whatever I want to talk to you about. And you can get to know Kiera, real Kiera. You can get to know Kiera Dent from the block. And that's where I realized like, this is fun for me. Now me going and making dumb social reels. Sorry, all you that love it. I'm not trying to diss on you at all. That's not a diss. I just absolutely loathe it. Like I would rather sit here and talk to you and give you like tactical tips than I would like making up a funny meme. I'm a freaking hilarious human, but I don't like staged humor and I don't have a great marketer next to me and it just feels hard. That's not something that I'm like, yay, marketing day. Now if I had a marketer who lived next door to me and they're like, hey, I got seven ideas for you, let's roll. I would freaking love it. But make sure it's something that you jive and enjoy. And if you don't love it and then people are gonna feel it. Now, that doesn't mean it's uncomfortable. You gotta get out of your comfort zone. But if you absolutely loathe something, you guys like, I... You have a marketer who did this and I felt like an idiot. I'm not good at remembering how to say things and being on script. Like I feel so dumb and so uncomfortable that I'd rather sit there and have you rift with me, like ask me questions like top, top dental softwares, top AI softwares, top practices, how they perform. What are the top five things that the most elite leaders do? I would rather do that. It's the same thing. I can still create reels, but they're conversations and topics that I know you guys want to hear. And I know you're going to have a good time hearing. and I know I can give you amazing value without you ever working with me. That's Kiera Dent's MO. So what's your MO? What drives you? And if you need a minute, go take like two hours at a Starbucks, figure out what your core values are. What do you want people to feel when they come to your practice? And then look to see what is the core? What are the things that light you up? Again, maybe that you're not perfect at. I love to give tactical practical. And like I said, that morphed over time. What do I people to feel has morphed over time. So maybe do a revamp. See how can we stand out a little bit stronger? and then ride it guys. Trust it, own it, embrace it, because the more confident you are in it, people are buying your confidence, they're not buying you. The reason people come to Dental A Team is because when I got on the podcast, you guys, I've been there, I've done it, I've seen it all, like you probably can't tell me something. I would love somebody to challenge me, bring me something I haven't ever heard before. But I have so much confidence that no matter which practice you are, where you're at, I know ways to turn your life around and your practice around and do it very quickly and easily. I'm that confident. That's what you're buying. You're buying my 10 years of being on the freaking road going into 500 plus offices. That's why people sign up with Dental 18 plus they love our energy. Yeah, I'm a good time. So let's do it fun and let's share all that experience. Why are people signing up with you? What is the confidence you have? Are you the best at doing those fillings? Are you the best at doing those crowns? Highlight that, get excited about it. People are buying your confidence and the more confident you can be through your reviews, through your online presence, the more they're going to spy you. It's not their dentistry they're buying. It's the confidence in you and your team. And if you can remember that, you will stand out of a crowd all day long. So I feel like I usually can do a quick wrap for you and like, here's the five things for you to take. Today, it's not, it's a rift. It's a, here are the ways that I see people stand out. Here are the ways that I've been able to stand out. Here's the ways that we've been able to change things for you. But I really feel like standing out is not about doing more. It's about doing the right thing that lights you up consistently. Getting on the podcast, do you know how many episodes I've recorded? Do know how many times I pushed play over here and said, all right, let's go? Consistency can out deliver flash in the pan. I have been doing this for seven years now. Seven years we've been talking together. Seven years we've been hanging out. Almost 10 years I've been traveling to offices. That's consistency guys. And doing consistency, doing the right things consistently. It's not about doing more. I didn't ratchet up our podcast amount, doing the same amount since the beginning of time, and that's still a lot. ⁓ But I think for you to stay consistent, speak your truth, people will come to you, I promise you. Don't think it's about doing more. Don't think it's about that. Just being aligned so where people can feel your true authenticity and your genuine love, people will buy that all day long. We're in a world inundated with noise and starving for wisdom. Be that different voice, whatever yours is. And if we can help you in any way, if I can be your cheerleader, if our team can like help you see the goodness in you, because sometimes it's hard to see the goodness in you. We do this with offices, we help them out. I've got a doctor right now in California and we're helping her see like how she's fantastic to drive more patients to her practice. So reach out, Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. Be proud of yourself. There are people that need you specifically. Not everybody wants you, not everybody wants Dental A Team, but the people who really do that resonate. They're going to find me and my voice. why I ask you guys to share because you're listening. Please share with other people just like you because odds are if you like me, your friends are going to like me and we're going to be able to help them change the world of dentistry. Same thing. If your patients like you, odds are they've got friends and family that are going to love you as well. Ask them. Don't be afraid to get the reviews from them. And for all of you, I'm asking you today, if you love the podcast, leave us a Google review. Go leave me a review share because I need more people like you listening to this podcast. I am on a mission to impact every single dental practice out there and to positively impact them and to change the world of dentistry in the greatest way possible. And I can't do that alone. I need you to share. So share and ask your patients to do the same, but it's very hard for you to ask somebody when you haven't done it yourself. So if you've never left a Google review or it's been a while, go leave Dental A Team at Google review. We'll put it in the show notes. It's very easy for you. ⁓ and the second thing I would ask is share us with somebody, share the podcast with somebody today, share this episode with somebody shared in a Facebook group. because you're gonna get more confidence and have your team do the same thing. You can have them listen to this episode, share with people, leave a review. I had an office, 10 people left me a review that day because they were having a hard time and feeling disingenuous asking for reviews. Get people comfortable, get people confident and they'll do it more often, same thing with you. And I'm a very easy person. Leave me a great review. You love the podcast, you're clearly giving your time to me. So leave a review, say how much you love it and then feel confident asking somebody and ask somebody today because more people need your dentistry. More people need you to change their lives. It's your moral obligation to show up, do the right thing, have fun and do it with ease. Did you like those core values? That was a nice wrap for all of you. Thanks for listening. I adore you. I'm here to serve you on any level I can. Reach out, join us at an event, come to our mastermind, whatever it is, do something today. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com. And as always, thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time on The Dental A Team podcast.
Your best days are not random. They only feel that way.Day 2 of The Flow Protocol, our 30-day series inside The Irreplaceable Practice. Today: flow, the state behind your most productive days in the practice.In this episode:What flow actually is, and why dentists know the feeling better than almost anyone.Why your best days feel random instead of repeatable.How that randomness shows up in your production and your profit.Most owners treat their best work as luck. It doesn't have to be. Build it on purpose and your best days stop being the exception.Press play for Day 2 and learn how to turn your most productive days from luck into a system.
Incoming AAPD CEO Dr. Jessica Y. Lee joins host Dr. Joel Berg for an engaging discussion of her goals and vision for the Academy's future. She shares her journey through pediatric dentistry, delving into what excites her most as she shifts from academia to leader of the AAPD. In this heartfelt and genuine conversation, Dr. Lee compares taking on the CEO role to “coming home” and hopes to bring that sense of belonging to the newest generations of pediatric dentists as she takes the helm. Guest Bio: Dr. Jessica Y. Lee is Chief Executive Officer of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentist. Prior to taking on this role in June 2026, she was the Demeritt Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development at the University of North Carolina, as well as a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr Lee received her MPH and DDS degrees from Columbia University and her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and PhD in Health Policy and Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was also a NIDCR National Research Service Award recipient. She is a board-certified pediatric dentist and an active member of the medical staff at UNC Hospitals and practices in the Dental Faculty Practice in the School of Dentistry. She has authored over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is a renowned expert in health literacy and health disparities. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between medical knowledge and patient understanding and reducing health disparities. She has led projects funded by the NIH and HRSA. Dr Lee is involved in teaching, clinical practice, and research. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Lee is actively involved in leadership, community outreach and education initiatives. She collaborates with healthcare providers, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. She served as the President for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) from 2020-2021. She is the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards including the 2008 AAPD Jerome Miller “For the Kids” Award. In 2010, she received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers from President Barack Obama. In 2011, Dr Lee was named the ‘Pediatric Dentist of the Year” by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and in 2021 she received the AAPD Merle C Hunter Leadership Award. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Send us Fan MailI want you to ask: Who's making these decisions in my office to “hang up” on effective training opportunities? What power do they hold? And what opportunities are we missing? One of the most surprising things we encounter is when dental offices hang up on our team before hearing a single sentence about the training. Think about that for a moment. Here is a training program specifically designed to help dentists and their teams understand laws that directly impact their profitability, patient communications, and insurance interactions, and some offices choose to end the conversation before learning what is being offered. This was a free training opportunity sponsored by the UDA, and taught by those writing and passing dental insurance reform legislation, meaning Tracy and I at MPMB.Support the show
This week, we're joined by Dr. David Keith for an insightful conversation on chronic pain, TMD, and modern pain management in dentistry. Dr. Keith shares practical guidance on distinguishing acute vs. chronic pain, building multidisciplinary referral networks, improving patient communication, and prescribing pain medication responsibly in today's evolving healthcare landscape. Episode highlights: Why chronic pain requires a different approach than acute dental pain The connection between TMD, stress, sleep issues, and mental health How dentists can better communicate with chronic pain patients Evidence-based pain management and responsible opioid prescribing The importance of multidisciplinary care and trusted referral networks 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!
In this re-aired episode, HeHe sits down with Dr. Heather Florescue for an incredibly important and deeply educational conversation about stillbirth prevention, placental health, and the warning signs families deserve to know during pregnancy. Together, they unpack why conversations around stillbirth are so often avoided, how education can empower—not scare—parents, and what proactive care can look like when we truly prioritize maternal and fetal health. Dr. Florescue explains the role of placental function in pregnancy outcomes, why estimated placental volume matters, and how recognizing changes in fetal movement and maternal intuition can be life-saving. She also shares current research, discusses risk factors that are often overlooked, and highlights protocols used in places like the UK and Australia that have helped reduce stillbirth rates through earlier intervention and better patient education. This episode is not about fear. It's about informed awareness, advocacy, and helping families understand that paying attention to your body and your baby matters. If you've ever felt dismissed during pregnancy or wondered whether you were “overreacting” to a concern, this conversation is such an important reminder that your instincts deserve to be heard. Guest Bio: Dr. Florescue is an ob.gyn. in private practice at Women Gynecology and Childbirth Associates in Rochester, N.Y. She delivers babies at Highland Hospital in Rochester, NY. She received her medical degree at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, completed her internship and residency in obstetrics & gynecology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She is certified by the American Congress of Obstetrics & Gynecology. She and her husband are parents to a set of triplets. Dr. Florescue is passionate about the prevention of pregnancy and infant loss and the care for families who suffer these terrible tragedies. SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/ Connect with Dr. Florescue on IG: https://www.instagram.com/drflorescueobgyn/ BIRTH EDUCATION: Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what's really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy And if you haven't grabbed it yet… Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/ Want prep delivered straight to your phone? Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app LINKS MENTIONED: Star Legacy Foundation: https://starlegacyfoundation.org/ Count the Kicks: https://countthekicks.org/ PUSH Pregnancy: https://www.pushpregnancy.org/ Tommys.org: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information Saving Babies Lives Care Bundles: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Saving-Babies-Lives-Care-Bundle-Version-Two-Updated-Final-Version.pdf
Cash flow confusion can make a busy, high-producing practice feel like it has no money left at the end of the month. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt explains why production and a “profitable” P&L don't always translate into cash in the bank, and he brings in coach Robyn Theisen to break down the cash flow gap. You'll learn the difference between net profit and actual cash available, the three common places cash disappears, and which financial statements you need to see the full story and build a plan for taxes, debt, and owner compensation. Listen to Episode 1053 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Net profit on the P&L is not the same as cash in the bank.The cash flow gap is the difference between what your P&L shows and the cash actually available.Cash commonly disappears in three places that don't show clearly on the P&L: taxes, debt payments, and owner draws/distributions.Interest expense may appear on the P&L even when the actual loan payments and balances aren't being tracked.To understand where the money went, you need to review the P&L, cash flow statement, and balance sheet together.Predictable owner compensation, tax reserves, and a debt strategy reduce reactive decisions and stabilize cash flow.Ongoing monthly accountability and review are necessary to keep cash flow clean, especially in multi-owner practices.Snippets:00:00 Net profit versus cash in the bank.06:00 What the cash flow gap is and where it usually shows up.07:00 Why paying down debt doesn't appear on the P&L.10:00 The three strategies: tax reserves, debt strategy, and owner compensation.11:00 The three financial statements needed to understand cash movement and what's owed.15:00 Why multi-owner practices add complexity and require consistent monthly review.17:00 The cash flow statement tells the full story, not the P&L.18:00 BPA tools mentioned: reading the three statements, Financial Gaps at a Glance, and the calculator.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Robyn Theisen brings an entire life and legacy of dental experience to the team and every team with which she works as the daughter and sister of dentists. With almost 20 years of experience in dentistry, her roles ranged from practice management to operations at Patterson Dental to coaching teams. Robyn's passion is empowering teams to realize that they can dramatically impact the lives of the people they serve by implementing skills and systems to remove barriers to life-changing dental treatment. She has done it for decades and does it every day with dental teams.Outside of coaching, she enjoys time with her husband, Rob, and two daughters, Emerson and Ruby. She loves traveling, music, fitness, and cheering on the Michigan State Spartans.Resources Mentioned:Financial Gaps at a Glance: https://www.actdental.com/gaps-at-a-glanceFinancial Gaps Calculator: https://www.actdental.com/gaps-calculatorMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
In this episode we discuss - Tara goes to the dentist and Joe returns. Please don't forget to check out our Youtube Channel, where we post the first 20-30 mins of the show…for free. You can't beat free. We'd be forever in your debt if you could jump over to our Youtube channel and Subscribe - and tell a friend. If you haven't got a friend, we'll be happy to be your friend, After you subscribe. You can also follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter. That's all of them, correct? Does anyone read this far down? Email us: HashtagJustSayinPodcast@gmail.com
Most dentists haven't touched their fee schedule in years. In this episode, Craig and Peter break down why a simple 10% fee increase doesn't just add 10% to your bottom line, it can boost profit by 25-33%. They cover the real math behind fee increases, why the fear of losing patients is almost always worse than the reality, and the exact steps to implement a smart, consistent fee strategy in your practice. They break down why many dentists quietly sabotage their own profitability by keeping fees artificially low while inflation, payroll, supplies, and lease costs continue climbing in the background. The result? Practices work harder every year just to maintain the same margins. Peter and Craig also unpack the psychology behind pricing, scarcity, and patient perception, and why dentists massively overestimate the risk of losing patients after a fee increase. They explain why small pricing adjustments create exponential impact on profitability, how overhead changes the math entirely, and why many practice owners are unknowingly building businesses with shrinking margins despite growing production. Lastly, the conversation explores why successful businesses across every industry normalize annual price increases while dentists often treat pricing emotionally instead of strategically. They share practical ways to implement fee increases smoothly, communicate value more effectively, and build a healthier business without adding more stress, hours, or clinical workload. If you're producing more every year but keeping less of what you make, this episode is for you. DESCRIPTION The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode: 439 HOSTS: Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak In this episode, Peter Boulden and Craig Spodak discuss one of the most overlooked growth levers in dentistry: strategic fee increases. They break down why regular fee reviews are essential for long-term profitability, how inflation silently erodes margins, and why many dentists avoid raising fees out of fear rather than data. From pricing psychology and patient retention to overhead management and operational efficiency, this conversation offers a practical framework for increasing revenue and profitability without sacrificing patient trust or adding more production pressure. TAKEAWAYS Many dentists undercharge while operating costs continue rising Inflation quietly erodes practice profitability every year Small fee increases can create massive profit improvements Dentists often overestimate the risk of patient pushback Scarcity and pricing psychology influence patient perception Higher production does not automatically mean higher profitability Overhead determines how much production actually matters Strategic pricing is more powerful than simply working harder Successful industries normalize annual increases without emotional attachment Fee reviews should become a regular operational process Practices with healthier margins create more freedom and optionality Sustainable growth comes from smarter systems, not endless production CHAPTERS 00:00 The Importance of Fee Increases 02:48 Understanding Business Psychology in Dentistry 05:49 The Need for Scarcity and Pricing Strategy 08:49 Calculating Profit Increases from Fee Adjustments 11:36 The Impact of Overhead on Profitability 14:21 Action Steps for Implementing Fee Increases 17:20 The Psychology of Patient Retention 20:19 Learning from Other Industries 23:11 Preparing for the Future of Dentistry REFERENCES Bulletproof Summit The Patient Experience: The Ultimate Metric For Success
Your great employee just became a bad leader... what happened?This episode unpacks why even the best employees aren't fit for leadership and how to tell if you've promoted the wrong person. From the traits that make a good lead to awkward demotions, you'll learn how to avoid expensive mistakes (and what to do when you've already made one).Topics discussed:Why great employee struggle in leadership rolesHow to tell if someone's in the wrong seatThe yearly leadership "invite"How to demote without losing themThe accountability chart that takes you out of every decisionAn exercise that reveals how unclear your roles really areSkills that every lead needsThis episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.comJoin our Newest and Best Coaching Program, Click Here for More Information Use the same marketing company as Dr. Etch!Get your free demo with Relevance Marketing by Clicking HereTake Control of Your Practice and Your LifeWe help dentists take more time off while making more money through systematization, team empowerment, and creating leadership teams.Ready to build a practice that works for you? Visit www.DentalPracticeHeroes.com to learn more.
Dr. Sara Werb joins host Dr. Joel Berg for a deep dive into behavior management. The duo discusses the importance of maintaining an individualized approach to behavior management. A former teacher, Dr. Werb shares tools she's applied to create a “curriculum” for her patients, not only educating them on oral health but also to be more comfortable in the chair. Dr. Werb also shares what she's learned from her more recent move into lecturing, which she credits with building her community within organized dentistry. Guest Bio: Dr. Sara Werb was born and raised in Toronto. She completed an Honors bachelor's in science at the University of Toronto and received her master's in education from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. There, she conducted research in creating a high school program that allowed female students to excel in STEM. During her Master's, she won a bet and had her dental school application to the University of Toronto paid for. She completed a pediatric dental residency at Jacobi Medical Center where she received extensive training in various behavior management techniques along with training in the treatment of special needs patients, pediatric medicine rotation, pediatric emergency room, and anesthesia. Upon completing her residency Sara moved back to Toronto to work at various dental offices, while building her own practice WERBDentistry. In 2021 she sold her practice to Altima Dental/123 Dentist. Dr. Sara has served on staff at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, as a clinical instructor at the Faculty of Dentistry in Toronto and as assistant professor at the University of Western Ontario. She is also on staff at Mount Sinai Hospital, both teaching and supervising dental residents. She is a Key-Opinion Leader for NuSmile, travelling across North America teaching other dentists advanced techniques in Pediatric Dentistry She has lectured at various dental conferences, volunteered with the Ontario Dental Association, and frequently visits classrooms and daycares to teach oral health. Dr. Werb is the outgoing President of the Ontario Society of Pediatric Dentists and on the Finance Committee for the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Werb has published research on dental education, and on the link of Adverse Childhood Experiences with Enamel Anomalies. In her spare time, Dr. Werb takes ballet classes, travels, builds Lego and experiments with cooking new recipes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ash speaks with mental health counselor Priyanka Abul Khair about the realities of burnout in the dental profession, especially among practice owners. They discuss how burnout often goes beyond physical exhaustion and is usually rooted in unresolved relational stress and open loops—tasks or conversations that weigh on the mind. Priyanka explains how these open loops, avoidance of difficult conversations, and unaddressed team dynamics create persistent stress that vacations or surface-level strategies do not resolve.The discussion covers the subtle ways burnout shows up in high-achieving health professionals, the difference between high standards and overfunctioning, and the importance of recognizing the freeze response in the body. Priyanka shares practical steps for breaking the burnout cycle, including awareness, regulation, and the long-term work of repair. They also talk about the importance of seeking help and looking inward for lasting change. To find out more or connect, visit: https://www.priyankaabulkhair.com/Key Topics Discussed:Understanding burnout among dentistsThe concept of open loops and their mental impactAvoidance of difficult conversations and its consequencesRelational vs. financial sources of stressTeam turnover and the underlying causesAttachment styles and burnout in high performersThe freeze response and its effect on leadershipMisleading productivity and overfunctioningPractical steps: awareness, regulation, repairThe importance of seeking help and inner reflection
Accountability isn't something you demand. It's an output and the input has been hiding in plain sight.In this episode, Dr. Dave:Reveals the hidden question every team member is asking before they decide to step up or shrink backUnpacks why the reflex you're frustrated with was installed long before they ever worked for you and who actually put it thereShows you the one design shift that turns stepping up from a risk into the team's reflex — same people, same pay, same protocolsHit play now. Because you've been trying to manage your team into accountability when the real job is designing the room where stepping up becomes the obvious move.
Horses graze on grass and plants, not trees, because their digestive tracts—shared by equids, tapirs, and rhinoceroses—cannot digest wood. Unlike ruminants (cattle, deer, goats), they avoid lignin. When starving, however, horses may eat almost anything, which is why some plants and trees become toxic. The goal of this podcast is not to make you plant and tree experts, but to help you appreciate two key principles of horse care: always provide adequate protein and forage, and proactively remove any potentially harmful vegetation before curious horses can reach it. Your horse's health depends on your attention to these crucial details. ******************************* #horses #veterinary #horseteeth #horsecare #equinedentistry Join us at The Horses Advocate Community page: https://community.thehorsesadvocate.com/yt Dentistry: https://theequinepractice.com/ Horsemanship Dentistry School: https://www.horsemanshipdentistryschool.com/c/information/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHorsesAdvocate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/horsesadvocate/ Geoff Tucker is a veterinarian and horseman who has worked with horses since 1973. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 1984. Over the years, Geoff went from mucking stalls as a farmhand to starting his own equine practice. This journey helped him learn how to blend medical care with good horsemanship. Geoff believes in doing what is best for the horse and also in working with the horse. While at Cornell, he started the Cornell Student Horseman's Association, which organized talks with local experts, a knowledge competition called the Intercollegiate Horse Bowl, and Foal Watch at the Equine Research Park to help with live foal deliveries. Wanting to educate horse owners even more, Geoff also launched the first "I Love New York Horse Symposium," which drew 500 people from across the northeast. Geoff also spent time working at the Equine Isolation Lab with respected colleagues, including Dr. Coggins, whose name is on the well-known test. He worked both part-time and full-time at Cornell's Equine Research Park. On graduation day in 1984, while his classmates celebrated, Geoff drove his fully stocked vet truck to his first call—a sick foal. This marked the beginning of The Finger Lakes Equine Practice, which still operates today. Geoff sold the practice in 1996, worked for a short time at another clinic near Albany, NY, and then started The Equine Practice, focusing on equine dentistry. He continues this work from his base in South Florida. Geoff worked on his first horse's teeth in 1983, when his mentor showed him how to place his hand inside a horse's mouth without medication and rasp off the offending sharp points. He was hooked from the start and made dentistry a key part of his practice. Since then, he has examined the mouths of over 84,000 horses across the United States - yes, he's been counting.
Dentists often keep operating beliefs long after the market, technology, and patient expectations have changed. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with recurring guest Dr. Tom Hedge, practicing dentist and educator, to unpack myths dentists still believe — from selling to DSOs and misunderstanding recap/valuation, to overestimating the cost and complexity of modern technology, imaging, magnification, and hygiene staffing. You'll learn how to rethink “rules of thumb,” evaluate DSO offers more clearly, adopt practical tech that improves diagnosis and case acceptance, and use education and community to stay adaptable. Listen to Episode 1052 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Dentists often assume what worked ten years ago will keep working, even when costs, fees, and alternatives have changed.DSO deals can break down when recapitalization happens and cheap money is no longer cheap, shrinking what DSOs can “skim” between dentist pay and profitability.A “second bite of the apple” payout is not guaranteed, and dentists can lose value if the DSO is not financially strong when the holdback comes due.Technology prices and workflows have changed dramatically, and many tools (cameras, scanners, digital X-rays) now deliver faster diagnosis and better patient understanding.Patient imaging can be created quickly using AI tools, which can help patients visualize outcomes and move forward without high-pressure selling.Magnification and hands-free lighting can simplify clinical work, reduce operatory clutter, and improve the patient experience compared to traditional overhead lights.Investing in continuing education moves dentists from “not knowing what you don't know” to confident clinical decision-making, but learning never stops.Snippets:00:00 Welcome And Setup02:04 Why Myths Persist02:38 Rethinking Fees03:42 DSO Big Check Myth05:31 Recap And EBITDA08:19 Independent Dentistry Future09:39 Tech Costs Myth12:59 Hands Free Operatory Tech13:50 AI Smile Imaging Fast15:58 Magnification Lighting Simplified17:33 Hygiene Crisis Reframed19:27 Education And Community20:35 SmileSource Exchange Invite22:09 Final Takeaways GoodbyeGuest Bio/Guest Resources:Dr. Tom Hedge is widely known as one of the top-notch cosmetic dentists in the United States. He received his Bachelor's degree from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he majored in biology and chemistry. While studying at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, he conducted research resulting in the publication of seven abstracts and one paper, which received numerous awards at the state and national levels. After graduating from dental school, he completed a general practice residency at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. This advanced education included training in anesthesia, pediatrics, emergency medicine, geriatrics, TMJ treatment, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, prosthetics, and implantology.Dr. Hedge is nationally recognized not only for excellence in clinical programs, but for sound business practices that make full use of the newest technologies in dentistry. He is an alumnus of the renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, as well as the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Dr. Hedge is a frequent contributor to dental publications, as well as professional development magazines.Resources mentioned in the episode:Smile Source Exchange: https://smilesource.com/exchangeMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
What actually happens after you sign on with a financial advisory firm? For most dental practice owners, the reality is a fragmented mess of disconnected CPAs, brokers, and advisors who never speak to one another.In this episode of The Millionaire Dentist, Casey Hiers and Jarrod Bridgeman sit down with Stacy Phillips, CFP, and Director of Financial Planning at Four Quadrants Advisory, to pull back the curtain on a completely different model. We walk through the exact journey a practice owner takes from their very first day as a client, moving from initial apprehension to total financial clarity.In this episode, we pull back the curtain on:The Indianapolis Experience: A look inside our curated client experience, from chauffeur service to an intensive, 4-to-5-hour annual meeting designed to turn over every stone of your personal and business finances.Taking 90% Off Your Plate: Why we don't just hand you a template and leave you to execute it. From sourcing bank financing to applying the "$5,000 rule," we handle the heavy lifting.The $15M Retirement Shift: How shifting from a fragmented model to a coordinated, monthly strategy can elevate a standard $3M to $4M retirement trajectory into the $15M to $20M range.Real Numbers, Real Success: Dramatic case studies of clients doubling their income, quadrupling their annual savings, and the story of one practice owner who retired completely at age 49.The Mindset of Wealth: Navigating critical wealth-building shifts, like prioritizing systematic investing over rapid debt payoff, and why running a practice doesn't leave room for day trading.Discover what happens when your business advisory, accounting, and personal financial planning share a single, unified vision for your life.Upcoming Tour Dates: Go to our EVENTS page for infoFacebook: Four Quadrants AdvisoryInstagram: @fourquadrantsadvisoryLinkedIn: Four Quadrants Advisory
A follower left a comment asking if their 30 years of experience mean something. Sure, it means a lot...but it doesn't automatically mean you're current. I've been an RDH for 20 years. I know what it looks like when experience is the real thing, and I know what it looks like when someone has done the same thing on repeat for two decades and called it tenure. Both exist. Dentistry is full of both. In this episode, we dig into a real question from an experienced hygienist starting over at a new office, and we don't let either side off the hook. Because there are two very different versions of this story. Version one: you've kept up, you've grown, and you're walking into an office that's behind where you are. Version two: you've been doing the same thing for 30 years and calling it experience. In this episode: ▪️ How to tell the difference between expertise and habit ▪️ Why the interview isn't the time to pitch improvements, regardless of how right you are ▪️ How intentional questions help you vet a workplace before you're committed to it ▪️ What a team's response to new ideas tells you about the culture ▪️ Why trust has to come before change, even when the change is obvious ▪️ The question worth asking every time: "Is there anything here that would prevent me from growing?" The framework: Problem. Understand the consequences. Offer a solution. Experience is only an asset if it's actually current. If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________
Dentistry offers many directions to pursue, and your journey should be guided by what truly excites and motivates you. If a dental specialty program is your passion and your goal, investing time and energy into the process can help you stand out and set a clear path forward. In this episode, Christy and Charles offer tips for getting selected to a program, preparing for the interview, and making a lasting, positive impression.
Summit 2026 was all about scaling leadership and growing profit in your dental practice, and Kiera and Tiff are here to revisit the highlights. They discuss understanding where your time goes, what it looks like when you need a priority realignment, controlling reasons versus the results, implementing the yes model, and more. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera and today is a really exciting day. I got the one and only Spiffy Tiffy on the podcast with me and we're here to do a really exciting podcast. Tiff, how you doing over there today? Excited? Tiff (00:12) Hi, I'm so excited. We have not podcasted in far too long. Like our schedule's just, it's hard. It's weird because we never see each other. So it's super weird. I know. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (00:19) I know, but we did just see each other in person, was honestly the reason we're podcasting today. But did you miss a little bit? I mean, I had thought during that time where we were testing all the sound forever that we should just bust it out and podcast right then and there. Like, let's just do it. Tiff (00:38) my gosh. Well, last year at that same time, we busted it out and we did a podcast on the mountains. So it would have been effective, but instead we had a dance party and karaoke. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (00:43) I know. I know. We did. And what we're referring to is if you missed summit 2026 with the Dental A Team, you missed out. Tiff and I got together in person, which was a blast. Like I said, Tiff and I used to hang out all the time and Tiff, think like the future life of you and me, that sounds funny. I think that's almost a TV show. I think we need to just like schedule in where we hang out more, not for work. Like I'm coming to Arizona soon. You came out to Reno. We got to just hang out. So, but yeah, we just, were together in person for summit 2026 and This year's theme and topic was scaling leadership and growing profit in your dental practice. And I think, we just had a good time. what we were alluding to was, ⁓ luckily, I don't think people know, but the day before summit, Tiff and I sat there for what? Eight, nine hours trying to get the cameras and the audio. I have done this. That was summit number six. So Sexy Six is what we did. Tiff, we've done them six together. Like that's a pretty incredible, incredible run. Tiff (01:37) Yes. That's wild. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (01:48) but Tiff and I literally sat there. If you saw the reel on Insta, Tiff and I were sitting there doing karaoke. We were dancing. We were doing a talent show like cartwheels, backwards somersaults, handstands, headstands, things that I don't think either of us had done since we were probably like 15. But you know, Tiff, we didn't get to experience that part of life together. So we had to bust that out together. Right. Tiff (02:08) True. That's fair, that's fair. That was a good assessment, Kiera Good assessment. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (02:13) Well, it was a really fun time. And I think Tiff, it just reminded me of why I doing this with you. ⁓ I think when we get in person, there's just magic. And so when we put together the summit, I think something people don't really realize is Tiff and I, we don't practice. Like we've got our decks and we've reviewed it, but a lot of the magic just happens because we love helping people. love changing lives. I love watching Tiff in real time do half of my like crazy experiments. Like it's been since the beginning of time that I'm like, all right, Tiff. I'm not going to tell you in real time, you're going to do this. And I think that that's what makes Summit so special is it's, it's you and me, Tiff, doing it in real time. And the consultants are on the chat, like she definitely carried us quite a bit this year, but we kind of, for those of you who might've missed or those of you who did join, Tiffanie kind of wanted to just do a little highlight reel of some of the key takeaways from Summit that we were able to have. And Tiff, think like probably my favorite part is always the beginning part. ⁓ Tiff (02:54) I'm tired. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (03:09) I mean, it's probably because it's the beginning part. And we talked a lot about how like your business can't outgrow your leadership. And we talked so much about this leadership and Tiff, I know leadership is such a passion for you. within that leadership realm, we talked so much about how like you as a person are the most important piece. And I think a lot of people forget that. And I think that that sometimes like driving home piece of summit that I love to highlight. I know you love to highlight, let's kind of rift on that beginning part, the you part, the leadership part, all of that in that yes success formula that we've. We talked heavily about at summit this year. Tiff (03:40) Yeah, and I think, Carrie, you said something there. You said, I love leadership. And immediately, I thought, I do love leadership, but I love leadership because leadership focuses so heavily on the actual person, who they are, how they show up, and how they create the culture that everybody wants to be a part of. So when you say, I love leadership, and then you let it in too, and then them. That's why I love leadership, and that's why I love working with leaders and CEOs. So a CEO dentist and then. the leaders of the practice, but really those leaders come down to people who are inspired by growth, who are ready to take on the next level and who want to give something back to the world. And for me, inspiring those people, like double, triple, quadruple is the impact that we get to make. So that's why it's so cool to me. And so doing things like Summit where we do, like we do open up with who you are because you are the focus that is required in order for anything else to work. so, yeah, leadership is a passion because people are a passion and I think both of us feel that way. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (04:47) Absolutely. Like we've said so many times, like life and people are our passion. Dentistry just happens to be the platform where we get to connect with all of you. And Tiff, as you said, that it really made me start thinking about like, what do you spend your time on? And I loved the little, this year we did an hourglass and Tiff, was fun for you to build the hourglass, right? Like where do we actually spend our time? I think it's something where so often as we're running and we're living our lives, we don't take the pause moment to see like, I can say my family and my health and my business are the most important thing, but when I look at my calendar, when I look at these items, where is it really? And I actually loved the image of an hourglass because ⁓ maybe it was the birthday this year, Tiff, but like there was a moment this year where I was like, I could be halfway done with my life. And so in the hourglass, I feel like it's our time and it's, is it slipping away into the things that we value most? Is it slipping away into the things that we care about the most? Is it slipping away to where I am, my 90 year old granny with cotton candy pink hair, who's freaking ripped Tiff. There's like another version of her that's come to the forefront. Like I gotta be ripped and like able to move. I can't just be like dead. Like that's been a new element added into this vision at the Villa. ⁓ But like, what is she gonna remember about this time of her life? And what would she wish that she prioritized more? And I think so often we can get stuck in this like the day, the urgent, the chaos. And I love that and Tiff, This is a fun thing. had you go and build your little sand piece and build your hourglass. What were some of your thoughts like when you did that and doing it in real time and having offices do it in real time with us? Tiff (06:22) Yeah, I think ⁓ first an hourglass always makes me think of ⁓ Aladdin. I think of Jasmine, right? And so when I think of the hourglass, I think of, yes, like, where am I spending my time and how much time is slipping by? But then I also think of the other side of that, where we're oftentimes consumed by our time. And so I think of Jasmine, like, and I hope everyone here knows the reference that I'm going for here, because I don't have a picture of it. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (06:28) Mm. Mm. Yeah, she's like trying to crawl out of that stand. It's like suffocating her. Tiff (06:50) Yeah, she's like in the sand and it's suffocating her, right? So it's like falling on top of her. And that was what I went into that project with that day because I see an hourglass that's just my millennial mind thinks of Jasmine suffocating by the sand. And so for me, I went into it of like, what is suffocating me? Meaning what is taking my time that I'm not intentionally maybe devoting the time to? But I'm like, Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (07:02) . Tiff (07:17) just letting it, like you said, slip by. And so I went into it with that kind of mind frame and it was really cool. We did it last year too and last year's was a little bit different and last year I forgot to put work on there. This year I did not. It was a fun exercise. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (07:29) It's okay, Tim. It was, I think you had to block it out. Last year's work was crazy. I think it was like an immediate, like, I need to cut this out of my world, which is fair. And based on the year we lived, I don't blame you. So it felt good that it didn't monopolize. It wasn't home. Like, it's got to just go. We got to, and I don't blame you. It was year for us, for sure. Tiff (07:40) I agree. It was like an omen. Yeah, yeah. But it made it, honestly, it made it intentional. Because no matter what it looks like, no matter how you do this exercise, it brings something to the surface. So last year, it brought that to the surface for me, where I was like, wow, that's wild. Like, why did that happen? Because I didn't intentionally leave it off. I didn't intentionally put it on there. So I don't ever go into it to try to do it right. I go into it to just try to do it. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (08:15) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Tiff (08:15) And especially with your boss standing next to you, like, was like, well, shoot, cares like you got something to tell me, then tell me. But it was, it brought something to light. And this year felt much calmer doing it. It felt much more ⁓ intentional, I guess, is like the best word I can align. think aligned is my word this year. And so it did feel more aligned and like, there was more intentionality put behind things. And the point of that is wherever you are today is where you are. And being able to see. where you want to spend time and what your priorities are, is your time spent in alignment with what you say your priorities are? And I love that you always explain, it doesn't mean that it's gonna be equal parts, right? Work, like I work more hours during the day, four and a half days a week, than I do like awake with my family, right? But the... Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (09:11) Mm-hmm. Tiff (09:12) intentionality behind it of how it's not like to me when I go into that it's not the actual physical hours that I'm spending in those things it's the emotional time I guess the emotional you you know your your what is it that you call it then ROI on your time right are your emotions emotional easy there you go are we thank you I was like is it really that easy emotional ROI that's fine guys so I'm here for it thank you yeah Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (09:23) Mm-hmm. the emotional ROI, like the ROE, return on emotion. Yeah, I got you girl. Mm-hmm. No, it's ROE, return on emotion, right? You're welcome, I got you. Yeah, I... Tiff (09:41) Yeah, so anyways, that's what it's spun for me. it really highlights a lot, I think, for business owners and for leaders to really see if I'm showing up short, if I'm showing up, you know, chaotic, if I'm showing up calm and like, why, where are my priorities lining and how can I realign? Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (10:00) And Tiff, I love that you said that. And I love like we do, we do a different variation of it. This is something I really like because I feel we don't take that pause moment. Like to me, it's like the, the small space between like taking a breath and releasing a breath. Like there's that small pause. I feel like that small pause is where so much intentionality can happen. so Tiff, thanks for always being my guinea pig. Like it makes it feel like more fun for me because I, I know that Tiff, come into it so real and people that attend summit. So if you don't know about summit Tiff and I do it. completely virtual. And the reason we've done it virtual, people have asked for years, like, why don't you guys do it in person? And what we found is we want doctors and teams to come together in your office space. Like what is the easiest fastest way for us to rally to impact you? We don't care if your husband or your kids or your wife or your spouse or whomever it is, is with you in that space. Like how fun is it? Like we see families with their kiddos. We see people in their homes. We see We see you guys living your real lives. And so that's why we've done it virtual. We've done it virtual for six years and it's four hours. It's three and a half hours of CE and it's incredible. It's always the last Friday of April. So you guys can mark your calendars for 2027. I cannot believe that. It'll be the seventh year. I had to remember, I had to remember it's, sorry, it's the second to last Friday. It will be April 23rd next year. But... Tiff (11:09) I said that earlier. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (11:17) We always do it the same weekend and we purposely do it where it's not the very beginning of the year. It's not the end of the year. It's that like special pause and like, let's look to see. And the whole point this year that we really try to bring in with you, cause like we focus there because I think people want like, what are the systems? What are the tactics? What's the profit? How do I do all these pieces? And we're like, if you pause and look and make sure that where you're putting your ladder and wanting to hang your shingle, is that really where you want your life to be? Because we can be a few degrees off as we're flying our life plane and we can end up in. Bermuda or we can end up in Antarctica and I've been to both and they're very radically different locations and so it's are you actually headed where you want to go and this year I really brought up ⁓ a Topic that I'm obsessed with and it's like you are the billion dollar asset and if you don't see yourself as a billion dollar asset I think we're looking at our lives wrong and like you are the one who ultimately controls your success and happiness You are the one who has success and failure and you control that in your office You are the one who controls where you spend your time. No one's forcing you to do anything. Like we are so blessed to live in the country we live in, the places that we live that we get to make these choices. You control the reasons or the results. And I love that line. You control the reasons or the results. You can't have both. And to really just help people see like, I having reasons for my lack of success or my abundance of success? Or am I actually having the results of what I say I truly want? And if I'm saying I want that, but my actions aren't showing that either I need to change my plan and figure out what I actually want or I need to change my plan to get what I actually want. And so ⁓ one of my favorite lines from all of summit was you must prioritize you first or you will always fail. There is no other way to success. Stop all the excuses, start owning the outcomes. And I think for all of us today listening whether this is a summit recap for you or you're getting the highlight sizzle reel for you. I hope that today you recognize that you've got to prioritize you first. And it's so easy Tiff, because I feel like I had this epiphany probably before I even met you, I think. I was like, life is so fascinating to me because there's so many things that scream and grab my attention that I feel are so important. But when I take that pause, that breath, half of that doesn't actually matter. And I'm just in the momentum and the slurry and I need to be intentional with how I build my life. I don't know, maybe I'm going off on a tangent. I know this is something you and I love and I hope for doctors and teams listening today. I hope you can take that pause. I hope you can see that you are the billion dollar asset. I hope you can see like Tiff said, like, are we being suffocated by our time or are we watching our time slip into the areas that we hope it is? Where are we spending our time? We had a bunch of categories of time, but really like stop the excuses or owning the outcomes of what you want because you are ultimately the one who controls all of the success or failure in your life. Tiff (14:04) Yeah, I agree. And I think the reason that it's so imperatively important is because then we talk about earnings and then we talk about systems, right? We have our whole model and I can't, you can't talk about earnings, you can, but they're not gonna hit home as much if you don't have like you in alignment or at least reality. I think if you can spread at least reality and just be. clear on who you are, how you're showing up and how you want to show up, then the earnings come, then those pieces come. So the profitability and all of those pieces that we talk about in our next little highlight reel here, they fall after that because again, like you are the reason that any of this exists. And if you're not in alignment with that, none of the other things are going to happen. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (14:53) 100 % and tiff, it's wild. Do you remember how many times we tried like an alliteration, a little like, what is deadly teams methodology? Remember the SPF one? Like I think that was one of like the funniest ones that like we had some ones and it just landed and locked one day when it was the yes model. Like it's the yes success model and it's you earning systems. And when I first put it together, I thought it was cute and it's crazy because subconsciously we put it in the exact order it needs to go in. Tiff (15:02) You do? Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (15:20) for to truly be able to say yes to your dream life. Like you've got to focus on you. Then you focus on the earnings and then the systems will be what those two tell us. And it's like to me, the yes, excess are like your three numbers on a combination lock. And I feel like so many people try to be like earnings, Y like you. So it's E Y S like, okay, well that's well eyes like ish like that could be your combination, but you're never going to feel fulfilled. You're not going to be able to say yes. You're going to say eyes or I can be like, well let's do systems and then earnings and then yes. or like you, well that says say, so are you gonna say, say your life away? Or are gonna say yes to the life you actually want? And it's been fascinating, because I think the more we coach on it, the more we teach it, it was something that came out of, I just thought it was a cute acronym, but the undertone of the subconscious of knowing that you've gotta be prioritized first, then you've gotta do your earnings, and then you gotta do your systems. And so if you're like, let's build systems, and I'm like, well, if you're not profitable, the whole thing's gonna crash down and burn. If you don't take care of you, the whole thing's gonna crash down and burn. Like it literally is a sequence and an order. like the pinnacle peak of everything that we talk about, everything leads up to a saying like success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure. And I think to everything we talked about at the beginning of this podcast, coming into here, like I think that's my like hill to die on is if we are successful in our marriages, but we're not fulfilled. we're successful in our businesses, but we're not fulfilled. If we're successful like... That fulfillment piece is joy. That's the happiness. Like that is the juice. That's the squeeze of what we're all working for. But I think we prioritize the success, the money, the earnings, the status, the elite. Like you can have it all, but just make sure you're fulfilled and you're taking care of you. And it's really the life you want to live, not the one you think you should live or the one that you just happen to fall into or the one that the patterns got us into. But you actually own your life rather than just manage it. Tiff (17:10) I agree. I have been a firm believer that if I'm not taken care of or if I'm not happy, down to the choices that I make in my personal life when it comes to Brodie and his happiness, I have always said, if mom's happy, Brodie's happy. If I'm taken care of, and that's the CEO of our family, if I'm taken care of and I'm a priority, I'm then teaching everyone else to do the same and all those other pieces come into place and for the practice. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (17:30) Mm-hmm. Tiff (17:39) Every doctor comes in and says, need systems. And we do cover systems. We've a ton of systems in Summit. We cover all of them. But we also are a firm believer, a company that believes that those systems have to be in alignment with your culture, with who you are and what your goals are. So we have systems for everything. But we're going to tailor it and customize it to fit you and your circumstances. And if we're not super clear on who you are, what your goals are, your culture, We're gonna hit that home real hard first and then figure out your systems, because you have systems and they're working to an extent. We just gotta clean them up a little bit and they're probably a little misaligned with who you are, who you want to be. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (18:23) Exactly. And Tiff, I love that. Like the CEO of the family, the CEO of this, like, and really like, yes, take care of you. Have that. That way you've got a full bucket to come from. So yes, we did go through after that the earnings portions. We talked about overhead, profitability, cashflow, like what are those items? We have a cost spending spreadsheet and you better believe we had an entire stack that people at the end of some were able to access. And it had so many spreadsheets, our overhead calculator, like what is profitability? What is like true profit? What is cashflow? How do we find those small money links leaks in our practice? So like talking about different ways, like where are the small gaps in your bucket? Where if you just shore those up, there's so like, it is the lowest hanging fruit that are just the aha moments that people are not thinking about. And I love doing it because it's like, ⁓ like that's such a great idea. That was so easy that I didn't even think about. And of course I get like all jazzed on life doing the earnings section because like I love numbers and numbers of me. Like I live to teach people how to be profitable and how to understand numbers and learning that business acumen knowledge. I feel like it's been another language that if you've watched me even over the years, like both of us growing and evolving and I was the girl who sat in a class that truly was like everyone else has business figured out, but not me. And I think so many dentists and so many owners can relate to that phrase of like, why not a drill a tooth, like PNL, KPI, like what the heck are those? And to be able to break it down, think one of my favorite, favorite compliments of Dental A Team is like, we are the Dr. Seuss of systems. We make things so simple for people. And I've like hung onto that because if we can make numbers so simple for you, like think Dr. Seuss style, how much easier is it for you to go in and to be confident looking at your numbers, to be a competent CEO that uses those numbers rather than emotion. to really get to the life and the dream you want. So tip, those are like some of my highlights. Those are some of the fun things. And then of course, you're like rolled right into systems, but I didn't know if there was anything on the earnings section before I roll into like systems, because the sexy systems are always a good time, but anything on earnings you wanted to add to that. Tiff (20:25) Yeah. I just wanted to let everybody know like the after summit, the number of text messages and emails and just like messages I know that we all receive, but that I personally received from my own clients that I work one-on-one with it or their attending summit that were like, I know we've heard this before because you guys talk about it all the time, but something hit different today and I'm so excited. Like I had a call with ⁓ a client actually that morning and he was trying to go through it and he was just confused and he just doing, was like overworking it and overthinking it. And I was able to be like, cool. And then he, he watched it, you know, he, learned it and I made sure he had all the tools he needed in that moment. And he's like, my gosh, I was overcomplicating it. Like the way you do it is so much more simple than I was making it. And that's like, you said that Dr. Seuss, right? But even like that's a system. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (21:15) Nyeh. Tiff (21:24) So we talk about systems and we're gonna talk about systems, but that in itself is a system really learning how to read your numbers, figure it out and simplify what you're looking at because it doesn't take a doctorate to look at those things. And sometimes we think it does. So we apply our doctorate to it and we overcomplicate it. So I just wanted to make sure everyone knew like the amount of information or the amount of people that are like. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (21:25) Thank Tiff (21:51) Thank you so much because this was so helpful. And for whatever reason today, I heard it differently. That's why we repeat things too is like how many times have we gone to a convention or listen to the same podcast and we're like, gosh, today I heard it with different ears and I got something else out of it. And that's why we have repeatable systems and why we have those kinds of conversations. Cause something different will come out every time. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (21:53) Yeah. 100 % Tiff. And as you said that, think there's like, there's a quote, I might be tootin' my own horn. I think I actually made this one up. so if I did great, and if I took it from someone, I'm really sorry, and it's actually yours. But it was like, sometimes the greatest form of learning is remembering what we already know. And I think so many times we come to these conferences, we go to these things, it's like, I've already heard that. And it's like, but you haven't, because you are at a different location of where your business is, of where you are, to where it's gonna land differently. And so I agree with you, Tiff. Systems were fun and we went through like some of our favorites of like case exceptions and block scheduling. But I think what I really loved was we actually like then broke down into like, what is it like to be a CEO dentist and the delegation ladder and like helping people. And then like at the top of the delegation ladder, how we like split leadership into an executive side and an operational management side and helping Dr. C. And we actually did this in our like internal private mastermind group that we work with our clients and so many of the doctors, love that. Like kudos to Tiff. She was one who has the brains behind this topic. of let's talk about delegation. And when doctors look at their like list of things that they've got going on, when they listed everything off and then they went back and like looked to say, what really can only you do? It was two things. It was vision culture and you might throw profitability on there, like pending upon how your team is, but that's it. And like, tip, I freaking love that epiphany for doctors. I love that epiphany for OMS because when you got like the two halves of a whole like doctors, we need your vision. need that execution. need that culture. And OMS are like, and then give me the to-dos and like, let me GSD over here and to help like, both of you in the same room, see how this applies to both of you and where your sweet spots are. To me, that was one of my absolute highlights. And then like a leadership evolution where how you evolve through that were truly some of my faves. But Tiff, maybe you had something else, because I know you love that part too. Tiff (23:56) I agree. I do. I think it was interesting the way that we laid it all out because we did do systems. We did implementable systems. We always do that you can walk away with. We talked about our 12 systems. We will always deliver those. But the reality of, I think, the biggest part of the systems is what you just said, that delegation ladder, because we have all of these systems. But you're not the only one who can do them, by the way. And you're not the only one. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (24:24) you Tiff (24:26) You're not the one who has to do them. so learning systems is one thing, but then learning how to foster the systems and like delegate them out and hold someone accountable to doing the system is a fully different kind of system. Like that's why when people come to us and they're like, girl, I just need systems. I'm like, everything is a system. You're just not seeing it from that lens and you're trying to do too much. So what part of the system or what part of the experience for that patient, do you not have to do 100 % of? If they can do 80 % of it, you can do 20, if they can do 90, you can do 10. Like they make songs about this and we apply it to like romantic relationships, but every interaction we have, every relationship that we have, they work the same. It's a give and a take. And if you're taking more than you're giving and there's never like this back and forth or this equality in the middle, you're doing them a disservice because they can't grow and you're doing yourself a disservice because you're limiting your own growth. And so when you can see that within the system, see the part that each person plays for those systems and divvy out those responsibilities, that's where the growth is. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (25:41) Exactly. And I think it was just fun because like what Tiff and I do is we talk about like the yes model and then like, how do you actually implement it? And like getting into the nitty gritties of how do you do this? And like Tiff said, like splitting it and how do we actually elevate each other and help each other be our best? And then we talk about winning teams and we pulled in Patrick Lanziani's five dysfunctions of teams and then like the extraordinary success formula and then case studies of like the good leadership and the bad leadership and like things we've seen from consulting like literally hundreds and thousands of offices. And to me, it's really fun because we like put a pretty bow on it and we wrap it all up and we have this entire awesome stack of like all the spreadsheets and all the pieces. But I think for me, it's a like, all the content every single year is revamped. It's it's built upon it's different ways to present it to you. But what I always hope is like, realizing that the people around you are on the boat to success. And are you going to sit on your own isolated little island over there, like crying your eyes out because you're lonely. Or are you going to get on the boat to success with like-minded people like you that are going to grow you, that are going to push you, that are going to be a group? like, yeah, there was a surprise. We invited people to our in-person mastermind. And if you're interested in any of these things of like the tech stack or coming into those different pieces or joining us in our masterminds, like please reach out. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com and hey, maybe I'll get lucky. Maybe I'll share a spreadsheet or two. ⁓ Tiff (26:39) You Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (27:07) But more than that, I hope that you decide that you're the billion dollar asset. Let me be around people like this. If you didn't attend summit, put it on your calendar next year. Be sure that you're on that. And then if you're like, gosh, like everything you talked about you and like putting myself first and like helping a vision and relaying that to my team, because what Tiff and I are obsessed about and why we built this company was we got so tired of doctors trying to relate to teams and teams trying to relate to doctors. That's why it's literally called Dental A team. It's dentists and teams and both sides of that coin, bringing that together and helping all of you. Realize like how we succeed in our own individual roles, how we succeed together, helping doctors take your own incredible life and translate that into a vision your team can rally. What your numbers tell you, what your systems tell you, all of that. And that's something that I really freaking love. And Tiff, summer was just magical. It was a magical time this year. And that's kind of my rap, but I guarantee you got a rap then. I hope people just loved it. I hope they choose to be on the boat to success and not be left on their own Island. You don't have to be alone. You don't have to be alone in your problems, but it's time to like own it, stop the excuses and either have reasons or have results. You can't have both. That's my wrap Tiff. What's your wrap? Anything you want to add to that? Tiff (28:14) Yeah, the community piece, just wrapped it. That last piece that you just talked about is the piece that we get the biggest feedback on, if I'm honest with you. Yeah, we are incredible. I'm going to be honest with you. We are a really cool freaking company and we produce some amazing results. I have heard from so many people, from so many other companies that they say, you guys are different because you're actual Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (28:27) We are. Tiff (28:40) consultants and you're not just trainers, like individual trainers. So I know without a shadow of a doubt that we do it differently. So I can toot that horn all day long because I know that we are really good at what we do. What is incredible to add on top of that, like the sprinkles that are on top of that is that we allow our clients to be this tight knit community. So not only are we working with you one-on-one and producing results for your practice, we're individualizing Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (28:49) Yep. Tiff (29:09) all of the things that we do for you, but we're allowing you to share that then with other people. Like everyone loves it. Like I've never sat in a room where I felt so welcome and so heard and so seen and so normalized. Like it's not, hey doctor, hey doctor, hey doctor. It's like first name basis. It's you're just a human just like I am. And we can sit here together and we can collaborate. And I think that even on a virtual platform is incredible that we've been able to create that and foster that. but even more the in-person events and our in-person visits that we go to practices, all of those pieces. And that's my wrap. Like the community is massive. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (29:50) It is. What do we talk about? We talked about like you are the culmination of the top five people that you hang and spend time with. And I've thought like, is it time for me to elevate my friend group and my peer group? That's why I joined Tony Robbins Lions. Like I needed people that were smarter than me. I didn't want to be the smartest one in the room. I want people I could give back to. And I think Tiff, you and I have taken our passion, our love for people, our passion, our love for life. the things that we've learned throughout life and we're able to turn it into this really fun thing to help dentists freaking succeed and thrive and not just survive. And so this year I thought it was really fun to help doctors and team members elevate their leadership, elevate their profitability. So if you missed it, I'm not gonna lie to you, you freaking missed out. Tiff and I have a good time. We laugh hysterically. It's all live. It's real time. Some of the things we say shock both of us, but hey, it's here for it. It's engaging with people, even though it's virtual, like we see all your faces. We've done Tony Robbins, like I, we make this thing a whole production. It is lit. So come join us next year. And if you missed out this year and you want to get like, find out more, you want to come join us in September in our in-person mastermind or February, you want to elevate your peer group. You're sick of being stuck. You're sick of being where you've been. You're ready for the next level. Or if you're like, I just want to optimize or like, Hey, I'm drowning. It doesn't matter. That boat is going. Let's get you on it. Come join us. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com book a call. I will happily love to see you. team would love to see you. Tiff, I love you. I love working with you. I love creating magic with you. I love creating summit with you. And I'm just so thankful for your sparkle, for your love, because I feed off of that. And I think you and I together, like you said, we built a really freaking cool company and we're like kick a in the industry. We know what we're doing. We're experts at what we do. And we do it for dentists and we do it for teams and we make your life incredible. so Tiff, thanks for just like many, many years ago, believing in a vision and making it into what it is today. Tiff (31:40) Thank you. Thank you for believing in me that I could do this with you. I love you. I love this company. I love what we create and gosh, I love all of our listeners like our clients. I love you and our future clients and those of you who will always be a listener. We're here for you. We're here for all of you guys and we truly do love what we do and when you're ready for that next layer, we're here to freaking layer it on. Kiera Dent- Dental A Team (32:02) I love it. Well, for all of you listening, take action. Don't stay on your isolated island. You don't have to. It's a choice. Join the boat to success. Come join us. We'd love you. Take some action from today. You're the billion-dollar asset. Think about your cash flow, your overhead, your profitability, the systems, delegation ladder. ⁓ What's your winning team? Are you guys winning? Are you thriving? What's that extraordinary leadership formula? Take action. Do something. And just make sure you're living the life you want. We get one life to live. And think about that hourglass. Is your time slipping away from you? you actively building the life you want? I hope you're choosing the ladder. And with that, thanks for listening. I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.