Negative Feedback Can't Hurt You with Dr. Ricardo Mitrani (DHP275)
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 01/17/2020
Very Clinical: The Skeptical Patient
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Zach and Kevin are joined by Alan to navigate the murky waters of patient skepticism. The trio explores the frustration of the "impasse"—when clinical evidence points to a cracked lower molar, but the patient is convinced the pain is coming from a perfectly healthy upper tooth. They discuss the strategic use of referrals to specialists for "validation," the evolution of clinical confidence that comes with gray hair, and how technology like CBCT and high-res photography allows dentists to stop "convincing" and start "showing." Join the using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul,...
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AME: It's Only Rock and Roll
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan returns from a 1,000-mile Spring Break 2026 road trip to share reflections on family, travel, and a "brain-breaking" visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While trekking through the New River Gorge and hunting for kinetic ball machines in Akron and Charleston, Alan finds himself pondering the evolution of media distribution. He explores how the shift from the gatekept era of radio and MTV to the digital frontier of the internet, Spotify and other music services has transformed not only how we consume culture but how expertise and education are distributed in the modern world. Could a...
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Very Dental: Sound Check with Papa Randy (aka: Dr. Randy Houska)
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this "impromptu soundcheck" turned full-length conversation, Alan sits down with the legendary Dr. Randy Houska (affectionately known as Papa Randy) at the Implant Pathway during Voices of Dentistry 2026. The duo dives deep into the gratifications of long-term patient relationships—discussing the evolution of dental benefits in Saginaw and the unique bond formed with patients over decades of care. The conversation takes a scenic detour through Randy’s life in South Dakota, touching on his wife’s expanding retail empire, the charm of seasonal businesses, and why Randy’s dog has a...
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Very Clinical: Experience Isn't Everything
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Kevin and Zach are joined by Alan once again, this time to dive into a candid discussion about the humbling realities of long-term dental practice. The core of the conversation explores the "amateur mistakes" and unexpected hurdles that still plague even veteran dentists with decades of experience, such as the "hot tooth" that refuses to numb, the extraction that goes sideways, and the technical difficulties of back-to-back composite restorations. Some links from the show: Join the using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul, Bioclear, Hornbrook, Gary, McWethy, Papa Randy, or...
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AME: Confessions of a Dentist Doing Hygiene
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan reflects on a recent shift in his clinical routine: stepping back into the role of a dental hygienist due to staffing transitions and vacations. While many dentists avoid the "prophy" side of the chair, he argues that performing hygiene—when supported by an assistant who understands the workflow—offers invaluable diagnostic insights that are often lost during a standard five-minute exam. By seeing patients before they are "cleaned up," utilizing dental microscopes for high-magnification discovery, and employing disclosing solutions to visualize biofilm, he makes a case for a more...
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Very Dental: Selling Your Dental Practice in 2026 with Jack Minahan
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan is joined by Jack Minahan from Henry Schein Practice Transitions for a deep dive into the modern landscape of dental practice sales, recorded live at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting. The conversation moves past the outdated stereotypes of the transition industry, with Jack providing a data-driven look at why private practice ownership remains the dominant model despite the high-profile growth of DSOs. They explore the critical "replaceability" factor for clinicians, the strategic timing of technology investments, and how "goodwill" functions as the lifeblood of a practice's value. From...
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Very Dental Classics: The Art of the Believable Tooth with Dr. Jason Smithson
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In honor of this weekend's Spear Summit, this episode of Very Dental Classics features a conversation with the legendary Dr. Jason Smithson on a Friday morning at the 2022 Spear Summit in Arizona. Amidst coffee and Waffle House nostalgia, they dive deep into the philosophy of "anti-smile design"—the art of making teeth look believable and individual rather than generic. Jason discusses his approach to high-end composite resin, the importance of shade mapping, and why he believes the "decathlon dentist" model is evolving toward more collaborative, interest-based group practices. From the...
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AME: Trusting Your Gut
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan reflects on the fine line between clinical intuition and cognitive bias. Sparked by a failed trivia question about SpongeBob SquarePants, Alan dives into the psychology of decision-making, exploring Daniel Kahneman’s "fast vs. slow" thinking and the pitfalls of confirmation bias. Drawing on 30 years of dental practice, he discusses how "gut feelings" are often just highly trained pattern recognition for common ailments like decay and pulpitis. However, he issues a cautionary tale for practitioners: while your gut is an excellent compass to get you into the ballpark of a diagnosis,...
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Very Dental: The 33% Solution with Dr. Deren Flesher
The Very Dental Podcast Network
You're missing 33% of incoming calls at your office. That's a huge deal. But what if there was a simple way to make sure you miss NONE of them? In this episode of the Very Dental Podcast, recorded live at Voices of Dentistry 2026, Alan sits down with dentist-turned-entrepreneur Dr. Deren Flesher. Deren shares his journey from clinical practice to the administrative side of the industry, detailing how his "entrepreneurial itch" led to the creation and sale of Modento and his latest venture, Aero Dental. The two dive deep into the "missed call" epidemic in dental practices and how AI-driven...
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Very Dental Classics: Check Your Ego at the Operatory Door with Dr. Gregg Kinzer
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this "Classics" episode, Alan sits down with Dr. Gregg Kinzer at the 2022 Spear Summit to discuss the long-awaited return of in-person dental education. Gregg shares his excitement about the palpable energy of live meetings and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how he curates the world-class speaker lineup for the Summit. The conversation dives deep into the philosophy of "Spear Interactive," a residency-style educational model designed to help clinicians master treatment planning through scientific skepticism and literature evaluation. From playful "text-thread-style" debates on stage...
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Jason and Alan are joined again by Dr. Ricardo Mitrani to talk about building a team! Some of the highlights:
- What is the Pride Institute and why are they now a part of Spear Education?
- What can you learn from an 83 year old dentist that's trying to put together a cohesive, caring and efficient team after losing most of this team to retirement?
- What was it like to live in the shadow of a family member in the profession?
- What kind of markers do we use to indicate expertise in our profession's leaders? How important are they?
- How to use your vulnerability to improve
- How can you use negative feedback to make you better?
- Who needs therapy? Maybe everyone?
- How do you justify feedback from a partner or team member who is younger or "less qualified?"
- Intention is everything when it comes to negative feedback
- How do you deliver negative feedback? How can you make it a positive experience?
- What does a speaker do with a "tough crowd?"
Some links from the show:
3D printing party in Richmond, VA on April 17-18th!
Behind the Smiles podcast with Dr. Gina Dorfman
It's time to sign up for VoD (January 24-25th at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas
The Voices of Dentistry is next freaking week! 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!
The Dental Hacks Nation closed Facebook group has 28,000 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!
HACKY NEW YEAR from the Dental Hacks and our friends at YAPI! YAPI is offering it's special Dental Hacks Nation deal of $200 off at dentalhacks.com/YAPI using coupon code "HACKS200." Plus, if you buy in January 2020, you'll get a $100 Amazon Gift Card! So HACKY NEW YEAR to you! YAPI...it’s a funny name but serious software!
Dr. Buddy Mopper is a giant in cosmetic dentistry. He basically created cosmetic bonded dentistry and he is still teaching! His legendary course "Catch the Composite Wave: and Surf its Potential" is coming up on May 7-8, 2020 at Cosmedent's Center for Esthetic Excellence in downtown Chicago! Not only will you get a bunch of face time with Dr. Mopper, you'll also get to work with the one and only Dr. Dennis Hartlieb! If you want to do esthetic composite, this is where you should start! Check it out at dentalhacks.com/Buddy!
Go Hack Yourself
Jason: Roland Go: Livecast
Alan: Vivobarefoot Ababa leather shoes
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