The Very Dental Podcast Network
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...
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Alan dives into the frustrating challenge of open and light interproximal contacts in restorative dentistry. Drawing from recent personal dental experiences and clinical observations, Alan delivers five actionable tips to consistently achieve tight, reliable Class II contacts: Prewedging Staged Wedging Separating Rings Grooming Contacts Push-Pull/Flowable Bracing Whether placing direct composites or working with indirect restorations, these practical workflows will help you eliminate food traps and deliver long-lasting restorative outcomes. Some links from the show: The Very Dental...
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Alan Mead welcomes Southern California cosmetic and biomimetic dentist Dr. Matt Nejad. Matt shares his career journey—from buying a modest two-chair practice straight out of dental school to run his own self-directed "residency" in meticulous care, to becoming part of an aspirational practice in Beverly Hills. The two dive into the core philosophy of biomimetic restorative dentistry, the power of intentionality and rubber dam isolation, and why saving natural teeth with selective caries removal and vital pulp therapy should be prioritized over rushing to implants or root canals. Plus, they...
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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...
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How often do you experience your own office like a patient? As luck would have it, Alan lost a filling and had the chance to see what it's like to be a patient in his own office and he learned a lot! Alan discusses the unexpected anxiety of losing a restoration, attempting to place a temporary matrix band on himself, and the crucial insights gained from experiencing his own clinical workflow from the patient's perspective. From ceiling-mounted TVs and specialized eye protection to chair pads and operatory lighting, Alan reflects on what works well for patient comfort and where there's room for...
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This throwback episode features a great conversation with Dr. Dave Whitlock! They discuss the unique opportunities, lifestyle perks, and financial benefits of practicing dentistry in rural communities. Having transitioned from high-competition, high-cost metro markets like Phoenix and Dallas to rural Eastern Kentucky, Dr. Whitlock shares how moving away from urban saturation allowed him to lower his living costs, reduce practice overhead, and secure an overwhelming demand for dental care. Together, they break down common misconceptions surrounding rural dentistry, discuss the overwhelming...
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In this throwback episode of the Very Clinical Podcast, Zach and Kevin welcome back Dr. Sully Sullivan from Nashville, Tennessee. Sully shares the unique origin story of the 3D Dentists Mastermind, which began when he and Hootan stepped in to help run a course in Texas after Dr. T-Bone had a family emergency. He breaks down the Mastermind's core philosophy: dentists must learn to "replace themselves" to overcome bandwidth limitations and allow their practices to grow. A major focus of the group is shifting away from single-tooth fixes to comprehensive dentistry in order to execute fewer,...
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In this engaging throwback episode Alan Mead is joined by frequent guest Dr. Dawn Grimes. They have a thoughtful conversation on mental health, specifically how consuming the news and the media's "outrage machine" can negatively impact daily life. Dr. Mead shares his new strategy of driving his morning commute in complete silence to protect his peace, while Dr. Grimes emphasizes the importance of staying in the present moment rather than dreading future inevitabilities like paying tax quarterlies. The episode wraps up with amusing anecdotes about recognizing distinct voices in public,...
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In this throwback episode of the Group Function Podcast, Alan Mead sits down with two titans of dental podcasting: Dr. Mark Costes and Dr. Paul Etchison! Together they decode the rapidly evolving world of Dental Service Organizations (DSOs). They break down complex industry jargon like EBITDA, recapitalization, and same-store growth, making it easily digestible for independent practice owners. The trio explores the transition from the initial wave of practice consolidation to the modern, highly discerning private equity landscape. Between dropping heavy business knowledge, they also take...
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Brian Colao knows DSOs. He's an attorney that helps people create and administer DSOs. He's been a frequent guest on the Dental Hacks and he gave Jason and Alan some of his time at the recent Voices of Dentistry meeting. We went deep on the topic of DSOs and covered a lot of information:
- What is a DSO? (spoiler: "A DSO is an entity that provides nonclinical administrative support services to a dental practice that is owned by a licensed dentist.")
- From one practice to thousands
- When did we start to really see DSOs take hold
- The episode where we met Brian, "DSOs and Digital Smile Design (DHP186)"
- Was there a DSO bubble?
- Denovo vs. Acquisitions
- What to do if a DSO approaches you?
- How do you research a DSO that might want to acquire your office?
- Brian thinks that there is probably a DSO that could fit most any office...go to a conference
- What are DSO deals looking like for selling dentists?
- The facts from Brian's mouth to your ears: DSOs are at 23% market penetration in the U.S. dental market right now. He predicts that there will be 80% market penetration in 7-10 years. He feels that you should plan accordingly.
- EBITA: "Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Amortization"
- What does a DSO look like?
Some links from the show:
Dykema DSO conference (use coupon code: VOD2020 for a discount), July 15-17th at the Omni Hotel in Dallas.
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!
Our friends at Cosmedent are offering a course by Dr. Rhodri Thomas called “The Art of Resin.” It’s this coming May 14th and 15th at the Cosmedent Center for Esthetic Excellence in Chicago overlooking Michigan avenue! Rhodri is a dentist and artist who has an interesting take on resin and cosmetic dentistry. Rhodri will demonstrate step-by-step simple and complex Class IVs, a direct resin veneer, how to mask a discolored tooth and the steps for mastering finishing and polishing. You will be able to practice all the exercises live with Dr. Thomas and gain invaluable feedback as you work. There will also be pre-recorded instructional videos of each stage to ensure everyone is supported regardless of clinical speed. Go check it out at dentalhacks.com/Rhodri!
Are you in one of those offices where the system for team communication consists of “yelling down the hallway?” Come on guys, that’s so late 90’s. It’s time for you to get up to speed and get your team on the same page! Our friends at YAPI have figured intra office communications out! YAPI understands that a team that communicates is a team that’s happy and productive! Check out YAPI’s intra office messaging and all of the other great features YAPI has to offer at dentalhacks.com/YAPI. YAPI. It’s a funny name, but it’s serious software!
OK CAD/CAMmers...I want you to imagine a workspace so clean and organized that you won’t even recognize your operatory. Our friends at Zirc are really good at organization. And they really GET you CAD/CAMmers. They have a new product out called the Block Organizer. It’s like the adorable little brother of their amazing block lockers and it’s meant to help organize your CAD/CAM blocks in a drawer or on a desktop. It keeps your blocks right at your fingertips and Zirc offers you a bunch of different labelling options at zirc.com/labels.The coolest thing about the Block Organizer is how it was created to fit within existing cabinets! You won’t need to change anything in your workflow except the extra time that you’ll save! Check them out at dentalhacks.com/blockorganizer and be sure to use coupon code: DHBlock on their website for a special buy 3, get one free deal!
Go Hack Yourself
Jason: The Toys That Made Us
Alan: NSK Forza M5
If you have any questions or comments for us please drop us an email at info@dentalhacks.com or find us (and like us!) at www.facebook.com/dentalhacks. Or, if you prefer…give us a call at (866) 223-5257 and leave us a message. You might be played in the show! If you like us, why not leave us a review on iTunes? It helps us get found by like minded people and might even help us get into “What’s Hot” in the iTunes store! Go to this link and let the world know about the Dental Hacks! Finally, if you aren’t an Apple person, consider reviewing us on Stitcher at: stitcher.com/podcast/the-dentalhacks-podcast!
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