Very Dental: Removing Barriers for Dental Implants
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 05/21/2021
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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Very Dental Classics: Live from VoD...The Dental Hacks Reunion!
The Very Dental Podcast Network
This throwback episode was originally recorded live from the main stage at Voices of Dentistry 2022 where the original Dental Hacks—Dr. Alan Mead and Dr. Jason Lipscomb—reunite for a hilarious and nostalgic session. The duo kicks things off by catching up on life since their "breakup" and going head-to-head in a competition to determine who has endured the worst patient horror story of the pandemic era. Later in the show, the classic Brain Trust format returns as Dr. Mark Costes and Dr. Justin Moody join the stage for a round of "Ask Us Anything." The panel covers a wide range of topics,...
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Very Dental Classics: Is Zirconia Too Strong? Protocols for Posterior Restorations with Dr. Mike DiTolla
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this classic episode Dr. Mike DiTolla returns to the show to break down the clinical realities of working with zirconia. After sharing a humorous and humbling story about his recent shoulder surgery and the universality of missed nerve blocks, Mike shifts focus to the material science of modern dentistry. He details the specific use cases for full-strength versus translucent zirconia, explains why he treats cement margins like narrow Class V restorations, and offers precise protocols for adjusting and polishing without damaging the ceramic. From the "Lipscomb Scale" of removal difficulty to...
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Very Dental Classics: Sugar, Science and Dr. Rella Christensen
The Very Dental Podcast Network
This classic Dental Hacks episode features a long-form interview with Dr. Rella Christensen of TRAC Research (formerly CRA). The discussion covers the history of independent product evaluation, the challenges of maintaining objectivity in dental research, and significant findings regarding restorative materials and caries management. The original interview had really poor sound quality but a little help from an Adobe AI filter really cleared it up. This interview was worth another listen, I think! Key Interview Highlights 1. The Origins and Ethics of TRAC Research History: The organization...
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Dr. Mark Whitefield joins Alan for a rousing discussion of how implants can change everything for the general dentist. Mark is a fourth generation dentist from Nashville who admits to being obsessed with dental implants!
- Mark talks about being accredited in both the AACD and AAID and how that's made him a better dentist.
- Mark graduated in the mid 90's during the big cosmetic boom but switched his focus to dental implants in the early 2000's.
- What I noticed about Mark is that his mindset is that dental implants can be for anyone. Not just high end/wealthy patients.
- Mark hates removable! He tries to get edentulous patients back to TRUE FIXED! (particularly in the mandible)
- Cost effective fixed implant restorations are within reach!
- What keeps dentists from getting into implants?
- Keeping implants in house
- Can a person who fears surgery become a surgeon?
- Young dentists aren't afraid of anything and they have a ton of debt!
- Removing barriers to implant treatment
- Mark explains that dental benefits actually cover a lot of implant services
- The solution for implant education is mentorship!
Some links from the show:
Mark's implant marketing service, Implant Evolution