Who Wants to Own a Dental Practice with Dr. David Rice and Irene Iancu (DHP272)
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 12/27/2019
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Zach and Kevin welcome Dr. Emily Wojtowicz and Dr. Shane Wingler to the podcast for an honest conversation about career evolution, ownership, and practice growth. After recapping summer highlights—from National Parks and World Cup matches to East Coast camping—Emily and Shane share how getting involved with 3D Dentists and the Mastermind community helped transform their offices from early ownership chaos into focused, high-production practices. They break down the transition from bread-and-butter dentistry to primarily performing surgery, full-arch rehabs, and sedation, while empowering...
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Broadcasting from a shady Michigan porch alongside an overly affectionate cat, Alan details his first clinical experiences integrating biofilm guided hygiene protocols into practice. From navigating setup quirks to pairing Ivoclar's OptraGate with Zirc's disposable Mr. Thirsty bite block, he shares how combining disclosing agents with air polishing completely shifts the prophylaxis experience. The real turning point? Receiving completely unprompted, glowing reactions from patients—including his son Sean—raving that their teeth had never felt so smooth. Alan also explores his microscope...
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Alan welcomes Dr. Katie To to discuss her transformative journey in restorative and biological dentistry. From purchasing an established prosthodontic practice in Katy, Texas, and scaling it using Digital Smile Design (DSD) to facing a career-threatening health crisis caused by heavy metal toxicity, Dr. To shares how personal adversity completely reshaped her clinical philosophy. She breaks down the power of visual communication, the integration of comprehensive biological diagnostics, cross-disciplinary collaboration with medical physicians, and how creating an 80/20 patient-provider...
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In this Very Dental (Dental Hacks) Classic throwback from the 2018 Voices of Dentistry meeting, Alan captures an impromptu, high-energy conversation right from the after-party. Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak (hosts of the Bulletproof Dental Practice Podcast) sit down with DSO attorney Brian Colao of Dykema for a candid debate on the shifting landscape of dentistry. Brian lays out a blunt reality check on consolidation, private equity, and the mechanics of DSOs, explaining why traditional practice transitions are facing unprecedented disruption. Together, they break down...
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Recording from the office on a Sunday while assembling new equipment, Alan unpacks the unspoken and infuriating little annoyances that every clinical dentist experiences but rarely posts on social media. From syringes that may or may not have enough composite left to the mysterious physics of rubber dams rejecting wedges, Alan breaks down his top "clinical rage bait" moments and invites listeners to commiserate and share their own operatory pet peeves. The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a...
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Alan is joined by longtime friend and dental podcasting veteran Dr. Richard Low. Moving past the initial hype and overwhelm of modern artificial intelligence, Richard breaks down how dentists and small business owners can actually put AI to work as a tangible personal assistant—giving it "arms and legs." The conversation covers the highs and lows of dental practice ownership, recovery, avoiding the trap of social media doomscrolling, and why downloading local AI desktop apps (ChatGPT and Claude) beats using browser tabs every time. Key Topics Discussed Podcast Origins & Practice...
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This throwback episode of the Group Function Podcast captures a candid roundtable originally recorded in August 2021 during a Spear Education virtual summit. Host Dr. Alan Mead is joined by an all-star lineup of Spear resident faculty to explore the origins of their careers, their transition into prosthodontics, the philosophy behind master-level dental education, and the evolution of modern clinical practice. Featured Guests Dr. Gregg Kinzer – Resident Faculty at Spear Education Dr. Bob Winter – Resident Faculty at Spear Education, master ceramist, and prosthodontist Dr. Jeff Rouse...
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In this throwback episode of The Alan Mead Experience, Alan dives into the universal struggle every clinician faces: the days (or weeks) when it feels like everything you touch falls apart and imposter syndrome sets in. Drawing from an insightful thread in the Very Dental Facebook community, Alan discusses navigating clinical failure, managing patient expectations, and the vital role of peer support. He also shares a candid story about an emergency root canal case that spiraled into clinical self-doubt—until an unexpected twist revealed the real issue at hand. Episode Highlights &...
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Dr. Tiffany Paiva joins Alan for a deeply candid conversation about addiction, professional burnout, and the emotional toll of practice ownership. From overcoming a prescription opioid dependency sparked during dental school to navigating staff crises, embezzlement, and a practice closure, Dr. Paiva shares the raw reality behind the facade of clinical success. Now championing connection over comparison, she discusses how letting go of dentistry as an exclusive identity allowed her to heal—and how her new platform, DentorMatch, is helping dental professionals fight loneliness and burnout...
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In today's throwback Very Clinical episode Kevin and Zach welcome Dr. Ash Mark of YouTube's "All Things Dentistry" to discuss practical clinical strategies for navigating calcified root canals. The conversation dives into essential tips for identifying and treating calcified cases, including the importance of proper diagnostic imaging (like vertical bitewings and CBCT) and utilizing tools like long-shank burs and EndoTracers for enhanced visibility. Dr. Mark highlights the benefits of flexible, heat-treated rotary files, shares insights on avoiding file separation, and explains how practicing...
info_outlineJason and Alan are joined by two dental social media rock stars, Dr. David Rice of IgniteDDS and Irene Iancu (aka: toothlife.irene) of the Tooth or Dare podcast!
David knows young dentists. He's an educator and coach and spends a lot of his time helping new dentists find their way after dental school. His message is a lot more hopeful than what you hear from some people and his reach is really huge! David also spent some time talking about 3M's new Xerostomia Relief Spray. Dentistry hasn't done a great job for our patients with dry mouth and 3M has made a product that can really make a difference for them!
Irene Iancu is a hygienist, educator, social media maven and entrepreneur! She's got a great podcast called "Tooth or Dare" and she'll be podcasting live at the Voices of Dentistry with her new co-host. She's fascinating on a lot of levels, but we spent a lot of time explaining how she, as a hygienist, is opening a dental practice! If you've ever wondered how a dental practice owned by a "nondentist" can work, this is really interesting stuff! Apparently delays in dental office building affect everyone!
Some links from the show:
It's time to sign up for VoD (January 24-25th at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas
The Voices of Dentistry is just over two months away! We have an amazing speaker line up, some very exciting exhibitors and the best party in all of dentistry! Go check it out and register at www.voicesofdentistry.com!
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YAPI can help make all of your holiday dreams come true! Jason was dreaming of smooth and effortless front desk efficiency and a giant YAPI puppy explained how his dreams could be reality! Go get your own YAPI puppy by getting a demo at dentalhacks.com/YAPI. It’s a funny name but serious software!
Go Hack Yourself
Alan: Steelmade USA flat top grill
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