Why Get a Dental Microscope? With Dr. Graham Forbes and Dr. Brad Mattison
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 09/06/2021
Very Dental: Dr. Matt Burton on the Renewable (Profit) Resource of Dentistry
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan sat down with Dr. Matt Burton to talk shop in a "swanky" new Chicago Dental Society podcast lounge that's a far cry from the usual exhibit hall floor. Matt shares the latest evolution of the Quad Matrix System, detailing how a few "minor" tweaks to wedge angles and material firmness are making a massive difference in clinical predictability. Between the deep dives into dental engineering, the conversation takes several hilarious detours—ranging from the high-speed, contempt-filled experience of Chicago taxi rides to the traumatic sight of a mascot (Hadley the dog) with its...
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Very Dental Classics: A Conversation with Dr. Frank Spear
The Very Dental Podcast Network
"If people don't value dental health, I don't care if it's free. They're not doing it." — Dr. Frank Spear In this "Very Dental Classics" throwback episode Alan sits down with the legendary Dr. Frank Spear at the 2022 Spear Summit. Recorded in the quiet moments of the exhibit hall, the duo explores the evolution of the Summit from a small faculty gathering into a global "family reunion" for the dental community. Dr. Spear shares personal reflections on the state of dental education post-pandemic and his own journey as a "dental dad," but the heart of the discussion lies in...
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AME: Bad Influencer
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan reflects on the grogginess of "springing forward" and why he’s perfectly content being a "bad influencer" in an era of highly curated dental content. He dives into a major equipment refresh at his practice. New scope, new scanner cart and some new handpiece tubing should make for a cool week. The heart of the episode explores the contrast between his "authentic" feed of horses, cats, and mountain bikes and the professional "shoot days" of high-level influencers that take the job of "influencer" more seriously. Ultimately, Alan reminds listeners to stay mindful of the "sell" behind...
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Very Dental: Two Years to Life with Dr. Tiana Hall
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode of the Very Dental Podcast, Alan sits down with Dr. Tiana Hall at the 2026 Voices of Dentistry meeting in Gilbert, Arizona, to explore the unique world of correctional dentistry. Tiana shares her transition from private practice and volunteer work to her current role as a prison dentist in Utah, explaining how the move helped her navigate professional burnout by trading administrative stress for a predictable schedule and a collaborative medical environment. The conversation dives into the clinical and logistical realities of working behind bars, from managing patient security...
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Very Clinical: Ask Us Anything, Again!
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Today's Very Clinical Throwback episode brings us back to November 2023 with Kevin and Zach at their very best answering scenarios with a voluminous "Ask Us Anything" mailbag. The duo balances clinical expertise with their signature banter, covering everything from the Cleveland Browns' defense to the ethics of stealing hotel cookies for $20. On the clinical side, they tackle the philosophy of material selection—discussing when to switch bonding agents and the trap of "marketing innovation"—alongside a deep dive into implant systems and the diagnostic "game-changer" that is the cone beam....
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AME: The Withering Gaze and the Obituaries
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan balances the local charm of a family trip to the with the heavy, often unspoken emotional realities of a "mom-and-pop" dental practice. After braving the Michigan winter to celebrate his son's 16th birthday, Alan dives into the complex feelings that arise when a long-time, difficult patient appears in the obituaries. He explores the "bell curve" of patient relationships—from the favorites who brighten the schedule to the "10%" whose withering gazes cause genuine dread. The episode serves as a candid call to action for dental professionals to embrace brave, blunt conversations and...
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Very Dental: Relatability is the New Flossing with Whitney DiFoggio
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this high-energy episode recorded live at the 2026 Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting, Alan once again sits down with Whitney DiFoggio, better known as to discuss the evolving landscape of dental communication. Whitney shares her journey from YouTube pioneer to a leading voice in dental public health, emphasizing her "relatability equation": how building trust through shared interests leads to better patient compliance. The duo dives into the dangers of social media "DIY" dental trends, the psychology of combatting misinformation, and why Alan has officially become a convert to interproximal...
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Very Clinical: "Crushing It" with Zach and Al
The Very Dental Podcast Network
This throwback episode is actually an older episode of Very Dental featuring one of the amazing co-hosts of Very Clinical! In this wide-ranging "shop talk" session, Alan is joined by Zach to revisit the early days of dental social media and the evolution of their clinical workflows. From the "crushing it" culture of the old Dentaltown forums to the practicalities of the modern operatory, they dive into the tools that actually make a difference. Zach shares his love for the spade proximator and the Swiss-Army-knife utility of Teflon tape, while Alan makes a case for the PDL syringe. They also...
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AME: The Price of Dabbling
The Very Dental Podcast Network
"I’m excited for this disruption. I’m excited for the 'price of dabbling' to come down... I’m okay with high-quality products that are less expensive that are disrupting the status quo. I’m actually here for it." Alan recounts a whirlwind trip to the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, but not before detailing a "hellish" day in the clinic that nearly derailed his travel plans. From grueling extractions to elusive mesial canals, Alan shares the raw reality of a high-stress day in the operatory. Once in Chicago, the conversation shifts to the "price of dabbling" in dental...
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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...
info_outlineAlan is joined by two relatively new owners of microscopes. Specifically the Zumax OMS 2380. Dr. Graham Forbes and Dr. Brad Mattison both bring some pretty compelling arguments for microscope use in their offices in this episode.
Graham’s story: He loved what he saw from the Eastern European scope gurus (Dr. Maxim Belograd and Dr. Nazariy Mykhaylyuk) and found that a full day of restorative dentistry was getting hard on his neck!
Brad’s story: In dental school he watched a lot of dental Youtube and was inspired by Dr. Gerard Cuomo.
The rest of the interview is a deep dive about what you need to know about dental microscopes, what you could expect the shopping experience to be and why the three of us recommend the experience of working with Enova Illumination and Zumax.
Narzariy Mykhaylyuk’s Instagram
Al’s microscope chairs:
BQE Ergodynamic and BQE Backup
Dental EZ J-Chair (“Whale Tongue”)
The Scope Curious Facebook page
Wayne Remington’s microscope classes
The Very Dental Facebook group (password: Timmerman)
Zumax OMS 2380:
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The Very Dental Podcast Network is brought to you by our friends at Microcopy Dental. Here are 3 reasons that you should check out Microcopy Dental:
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The Very Dental Podcast network thanks our friends at Cosmedent for all of their support! Have you ever wished that one simple and painless change could make your dentistry better? Cosmedent is here for you! If you aren’t using a microfilled composite (and let’s be honest, you probably aren’t), I can guarantee that it makes anterior composite dentistry easier, better and more fun. The handling and polishability of Cosmedent’s Renamel Microfill must be experienced to understand the major difference it makes! Go check out Renamel Microfill at verydentalpodcast.com/microfill
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