Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Zirconia (DHP283)
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 03/13/2020
Group Function: Bread and Butter Reality with Dr. Mitch Hopkins, Dr. Russell Schafer and Dr. Matt Standridge
The Very Dental Podcast Network
"Instagram is dentistry and Facebook is where friends and family are... Instagram is like meth, I can’t get off it." — Alan Mead Alan sits down with a powerhouse trio—Dr. Russell Schafer, Dr. Mitch Hopkins, and Dr. Matt Standridge—live from Voices of Dentistry 2026. They bridge the gap between "Instagram Dentistry" and the daily grind of running a productive practice, covering everything from why 2D photography still beats 3D face scanning to the hard truths about dental school debt and clinical mastery. The Guest List: Dr. Russell Schafer: The man who helped name the "Group...
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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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Zirconia is widely used. Many love it, some hate it. But there aren't many people that know more about it than the one and only Dr. Mike DiTolla! Mike joins Jason and Alan to answer questions from the Dental Hacks Nation about all things zirconia! Some topics we cover:
- Mike's shoulder surgery experience and why you shouldn't feel too bad about missing a block again.
- How Mike invented zirconia (Al's word, not his)
- Is zirconia too strong?
- Can you bond zirconia? And how does that work?
- How does the lab approach zirconia (e.g.--die space, etc.)
- 30 micron margins! Crown margins = really narrow class V restoration
- Best ways to adjust zirconia (water on, very fine diamond)
- Mike and Josh Austin's AMAZING performances at VoD 2020!
- What is zirconia's Kryptonite and why do we have to clean zirconia before cementing/bonding?
- Best way to open an access/drill a hold into a zirconia crown and how to repair
- Blended zirconia materials
- Will zirconia eventually take over?
- Cementing vs. bonding
- The Lipscomb Scale of how much it sucks to remove zirconia crowns
- How to get some free polishing and cementing tools from Ivoclar-Vivadent
Some links from the show:
Glidewell Laboratory
Optragloss Universal polishers
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!
Organization is so important in all facets of your dental office. You have systems for your front desk. But what about systems for how you handle your clinical set ups? There are a ton of systems for organizing instruments, but our friends at Zirc make it easy for you to pick what’s exactly right for you! Zirc has a process that they call ZOBE. That stands for Zirc’s Organizational Box of Efficiency. They send a big box full of their different instrument organization options to YOUR OFFICE. You get to try it all out. Snap the tops on the tubs. Put cassettes in your own sterilizer. Try out YOUR instruments in whatever cassette you like! Plus, Zirc sets you up with your own organizational expert to help you determine what’s right for you. Also, if you do a ZOBE consultation by April 17, 2020...you’ll be in the running for a $300 Amazon gift card! Find out more at dentalhacks.com/ZOBE!
Happy St. Hacky's Day! YAPI is celebrating this grand holiday with an iPad giveaway! All you have to do is head over to the Dental Hacks Nation and "like" or comment on the thread featuring the adorable YAPI puppy in his St. Patrick's Day finest! Everyone knows that YAPI are the paperless people and they want to help you get paperless with this amazing iPad giveaway! Go check it out on the Dental Hacks Nation!
Go Hack Yourself
Jason: Mevo Start streaming camera
Alan: Woebot.io
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