The Vedder Society Celebrates 60 Years of CE (DHP260)
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 10/04/2019
Very Clinical: The Olds
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Kevin and Zack welcome back Dr. Alan Mead for a discussion of modern geriatric dentistry. It's not as much a recipe book for treating older patients but how the guys have seen their geriatric patient population change over time. They discuss the massive divide between "spry" seniors and those struggling with late-life health declines, the ethics of aggressive treatment in nursing homes, and how clinical rules must change when the goal shifts from "permanent fix" to "comfort and function." Episode Highlights Genetics vs. Lifestyle: Why some 80-year-old patients have the periodontal health...
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AME: 8 Essential Truths About High-Magnification Dentistry
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan dives deep into his decades-long journey with high magnification dentistry. In this episode, Alan breaks down why high-powered magnification isn't just for practitioners with "bad eyes" and why it has become the most humbling yet rewarding tool in his operatory. From the technical evolution of the varioscope to the critical importance of specialized lighting, Alan shares why he believes every restorative dentist should consider making the leap to the microscope to rediscover the joy and precision of their craft. The Eyesight Myth: Why magnification isn't a crutch for poor vision, but a...
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Very Dental Extra: Chicago Midwinter Preview with Dr. Phil Schefke, President of the Chicago Dental Society
The Very Dental Podcast Network
This special Saturday episode of the Very Dental Podcast is all about the upcoming Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting! Alan Mead sits down with Dr. Phil Schefke, President of the Chicago Dental Society (CDS), to preview the 2026 Midwinter Meeting. Whether you’re a 30-year veteran of the meeting or a dental student looking for your first experience, this episode dives into why Chicago remains the premier destination for dental innovation, collegiality, and—believe it or not—puppies. The Guest: Dr. Phil Schefke Dr. Schefke serves as the President of the Chicago Dental Society, the...
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Very Dental: The $500,000 Question with Dr. Paul Etchison
The Very Dental Podcast Network
"I think we're reaching a breaking point where people are starting to reflect and say, 'Man, I don't know if the juice is worth the squeeze anymore.'" — Dr. Paul Etchison Recorded live at Voices of Dentistry 2026 in sunny Gilbert, Arizona, Alan sits down with a VOD favorite, Dr. Paul Etchison of the . They dive deep into the staggering reality of modern dental school debt, the "juice vs. the squeeze" of ownership, and why dentists should probably stay away from the restaurant business. The Debt Wall The financial landscape for new dentists has shifted dramatically. Alan and Paul compare...
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Very Clinical: The "Resurrected" Patient...Sometimes They Come Back
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Zach and Kevin welcome Alan back to the show by commiserating over those moments where you look at your schedule and wonder why you (or your past self) agreed to a specific procedure. Kevin’s #16 Crown Prep: Kevin recounts the dread of seeing a crown prep on a third molar (#16) at 8:00 AM. Despite the technical difficulty and the "Is this a joke?" feeling, it ended up being successful with a rubber dam. Zach's "Self-Extracting" Molars: Zach shares a cautionary tale from his early career working with his father. He attempted to crown a second molar that was tilted so far distally it was...
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AME: Injection Molding with TSS and Scanning with Elves
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan discusses his "whirlwind" travel plans for the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, reviews the new Bioclear TSS Matrix system, and shares his first impressions of the remarkably small Shining 3D Elf scanner. Key Highlights The Chicago Midwinter Strategy Alan is opting for a surgical strike on Chicago this year: The Schedule: Working Thursday, driving to Indiana, hitting the McCormick Center all day Friday for recording, and driving back Friday night. The Goal: Maximizing "content in the can" by recording with attendees and exhibitors without the expense of a multi-day hotel stay. ...
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Group Function: The "Regular Ass" Dentist's Guide to Selling Your Practice with Dr. Alex Kantor and Dr. Eric Applesies
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode of the Group Function podcast, host Alan Mead sits down with Dr. Alex Kantor and Dr. Eric Applesies from the Just a Couple of Dentists podcast to unpack the "regular ass dentist" experience of buying, starting, running and selling dental practices! Fresh off their presentation at the 2026 Voices of Dentistry conference, the Eric and Alex (a married couple of dentists) dive into the logistics of optimizing a practice for sale, emphasizing that maximum value is built in the 18 to 24 months before a transition by tightening systems and improving hygiene "show rates." The...
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Very Dental: Turf Battles and Surgery on Awake People with Dr. Abe Hoellrich
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode Alan sits down with Dr. Abe Hoellrich in Scottsdale, Arizona, during the Voices of Dentistry conference! Abe’s practice focuses on sedation dentistry in Columbus, Ohio. He offers an insider’s perspective on the "turf battles" surrounding anesthesia privileges, weighing the tensions between general dentists, oral surgeons, and medical doctors. The discussion highlights the nuances of patient safety versus access to care, with Abe arguing for the superior safety of reversible IV sedation compared to oral methods and emphasizing the need for stringent training to preserve the...
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Very Clinical: OG Dental Social Media
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode of the Very Clinical podcast, Zach and Kevin explore the evolution of social media within the dental profession, tracing the landscape from the early days of message boards like Dentaltown to the current era of Facebook groups, Reddit, and X. The hosts reflect on their personal experiences as digital observers and participants, discussing the culture of online communities—ranging from the valuable exchange of clinical tips to the unfortunate prevalence of "dunking" and trolling. They wrap up the conversation by sharing their favorite positive resources for dental content,...
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Very Dental: The Crazy Way to Lower Your Overhead with Jay Glazer
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Recorded live from VoD 2026 in Gilbert, Arizona Alan is joined by Jay Glazer from Crazy Dental to tackle the rising costs of running a dental practice. Together, they dismantle the outdated model of relying on sales reps and "special" pricing lists, advocating instead for the transparency and efficiency of online ordering. Jay shares his philosophy on overhead control using the "14-dollar milkshake" analogy, illustrating how small savings on supplies can compound into massive wealth over time. Tune in to learn how to ditch the donuts, stop overpaying for the same products, and utilize...
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Alan has talked about (bragged about?) The Francis B. Vedder Society on the show for years. He's been a member for 20 years or so and it's been very influential in his career. Some of the speakers Alan has seen in the last 20 years or so include Dr. Frank Spear, Dr. John Kois, Dr. Jeff Rouse, Dr. Jeff Okeson, Dr. Stephen Chu, Dr. Pat Allen, Dr. John Burgess, Dr. Bernard Touati and Dr. Bob Winter to name a few. It's been a literal "who's who" in dentistry lecturing to a small group of colleagues in a laid back setting.
Last weekend was the 2019 Fall meeting and the society celebrated 60 years of continuing education and fellowship. Alan recorded a "live podcast" at the event where many of the members of the Vedder society shared some funny and emotional stories of what the society has meant to them. We hope you enjoy this unconventional episode and maybe you'll consider a trip to northern Michigan next fall (September 24-27th, 2020)!
Some links from the show:
Voices of Dentistry #DancewithLance
The Dental Hacks Nation closed Facebook group has 27,000 members! Head over there to interact with other Dental Hacks listeners, guests and Brain Trust members every day, all day! Remember…if you don’t have anything “dental” on your FB page, we might decline your membership request. So IM the group or email us at info@dentalhacks.com!
Stuff YAPI can’t do:- YAPI can take in and organize a ton of patient information and make sure it shows up in the right place at the right time.
- YAPI helps you discreetly communicate throughout your office at any time!
- YAPI can help remind your patients of their appointments to avoid broken and failed appointments.
- YAPI helps reactivate the patients that have fallen through the recall cracks
- YAPI can help ask your loyal patients for reviews in the right places like Google, Facebook and Yelp!
To effectively do chairside CAD/CAM, you've got to be organized. You want to have the right inventory of blocks, but you don't want to overstock. Most importantly, you need to be able to find exactly what you're looking for when you're looking for it! Zirc understands the needs of the chairside CAD/CAM community! If you're doing CEREC or other chairside milling, you should control block chaos with their CAD/CAM Block Locker! They're offering a 20% discount for the Dental Hacks Nation using coupon code CADCAM20 at https://www.zirc.com/products/cad-cam-block-locker. It's the best way to organize your CAD/CAM blocks!
Dr. Arthur Volker is teaching anterior composites in Chicago at Cosmedent’s CEE! His course is called “POWERlooking: Anterior Direct Composite Course and it’s this coming November 14-15! Artie will be teaching anterior composite techniques from simple to complex and you don’t want to miss it! Learn color theory, smile design, texture, polishing, simple class IVs all the way to layered composite veneers from a master who’s also a great teacher and a great guy! Go check it out at dentalhacks.com/Artie!
Go Hack Yourself
Jason: Naked Training
Alan: Bloody Genius by John Sandford
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