Very Dental: Two Gen X Dental Practice Owners Shake Fists at Clouds with Dr. Craig Harder
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 11/17/2023
Very Clinical: Very Rock and Roll, part 3
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Welcome back to Very Clinical for "Rock and Roll, Part 3"—the latest installment of our ongoing, completely dentistry-free detour into the music that shaped our lives. In this episode, Zach, Kevin (aka: K-Rock), and Alan shift the spotlight away from the frontmen and look at the "corporate" machinery and unsung geniuses behind the greatest eras of pop and rock. We dive deep into the legendary collective of freelance studio masters in LA known as and Detroit’s incredibly prolific hit-makers, , revealing how some of the most definitive tracks of the 60s and 70s were actually built by daily...
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AME: Zen and the Art of Dental Hygiene
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan discusses the unexpected clinical and relational insights discovered after a part-time hygienist's departure forced him to step back into the hygiene column. Challenging traditional dental consultant dogma that screams "dentists shouldn't do hygiene," Alan shares his four-month journey of slowing down to find the hidden, high-value ROI of performing his own preventive recalls. From capturing an unfiltered look at a patient’s raw baseline before a single tooth is polished, to uncovering the ultimate comprehensive exam under the lens of a dental microscope, he reveals how a low-anxiety,...
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Very Dental: The Rise of the Dental Marketplace with Susan Cahill
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan welcomes Susan Cahill, the Chief Operating Officer of Net32, to break down how the online marketplace model is fundamentally reshaping how dental practices buy supplies. Moving away from the traditional, often opaque sales rep model, Susan explains how Net32 acts as a transparent intermediary where over a hundred vendors actively compete for your practice's business. They dive into the crucial differences between a niche professional marketplace and giant consumer platforms like Amazon, how macro shifts like inflation and post-COVID operational changes have accelerated digital adoption in...
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Very Clinical: Bevels, Bonds, and Sleep Apnea Red Flags
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode, the guys dive deep into the multifactorial nature of noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs). Moving past outdated single-cause theories like pure toothbrush abrasion or simple nighttime grinding, the discussion shifts toward a comprehensive look at systemic triggers, specifically the massive role of airway issues and sleep apnea. The hosts debate the intersecting impact of clenching, acid erosion, and periodontal biotypes, sharing their practical clinical approaches to desensitizing protocols, the realities of enamel-bevel bonding, and knowing exactly when it's time to skip the...
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AME: The Shame Drawer
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode of the Alan Mead Experience, Alan faces down a long-hidden clinical shortcoming: his "shame drawer" of inadequate patient charting. Transitioning from a clunky paper-digital hybrid system, Alan discusses how AI-driven dictation and medical scribes are revolutionizing clinical documentation by delivering flawless, detailed notes in a fraction of the time. From discussing the legal and ethical obligations of patient privacy and Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) to confronting the psychological hurdles of the "avoidance loop" in dentistry, this episode is a candid look at...
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Group Function: Negative Pressure, Positive Results: Engineering the Perfect HVE Isolation
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode of Group Function, Alan connects with fellow Michiganders Austin and Lindsay Ritter, the husband-and-wife team behind Ascentcare Dental Products. Austin shares his unique journey from an HR background to dental product innovation, inspired by casual, after-hours brainstorming sessions with a dentist neighbor. They dive deep into the engineering behind their flagship Vacu-Lux Isolation System, explaining how they designed it as a true high-volume evacuation (HVE) system to turn the oral cavity into a negative pressure environment. The discussion covers the critical role of user...
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Very Clinical: Very Rock and Roll, part 2
The Very Dental Podcast Network
The crew is back for Part 2 of their deep dive into classic rock and roll, shifting the conversation from the physical exhibits of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to the fascinating evolution of how we consume and distribute music. Zach, Kevin, and Alan discuss why we love music award shows, the historic regional importance of radio towns like Cleveland and Detroit, and how the transition from crate-digging at local record stores to the infinite buffet of Spotify has completely changed our relationship with music. Join the using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul, Bioclear, Hornbrook,...
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AME: Better Chart Notes with AI
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan explores his recent deep dive into hardware-based AI recorders like the Plaud AI and HiDock P1. He details how he successfully utilized the HiDock to transcribe and organize a school chaperone meeting, before tackling the elephant in the room for medical professionals: the high cost of compliant AI scribing software. Alan breaks down why medical AI solutions carry a premium price tag, pointing directly to the legal and liability protections of Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) and the necessity of immediate data deletion for HIPAA compliance. He wraps up by encouraging listeners to...
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Group Function: Reclaiming the "C" Word: Fixing the Reputation of Dental Consulting
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode of the Group Function podcast, Alan sits down with Joe Chickerillo and Lana Rivera to recap an incredible Chicago Midwinter meeting and dive deep into why the word "consultant" feels broken in modern dentistry. Joe shares his "first and only" philosophy for evaluating tech startups and disruptive ideas, while Lana leverages her 20+ years of industry experience to unpack the critical anatomy of team buy-in and breaking through professional glass ceilings. Together, they pull back the curtain on the Academy of Dental Management Consultants (ADMC). Far from a rigid,...
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Very Clinical: Very Rock and Roll, part 1
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this special, off-topic feature of the Very Clinical Podcast, hosts Zach and Kevin trade dental bonding agent chat for guitars and grit. They welcome Alan to kick off a multi-part series on the cultural endurance of rock and roll music. Inspired by Alan’s recent trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the trio dives deep into Kevin's theory of the "grocery store enigma"—the bizarre phenomenon of why 50-year-old classic rock from the 60s, 70s, and 80s still completely dominates grocery stores, dental offices, and sports stadiums today. The guys debate the historical shifts in music...
info_outlineGen X has seen a lot. We've been around for the introduction of cable tv through the smartphone and social media. Gen X dentists started practicing in the "golden age of cosmetic dentistry" of the 90's and we've seen a lot of change. Some of it for the better and quite a bit of it for the worse.
Al is joined by Dr. Craig Harder to talk about some of these changes. Both Craig and Al were practice owners early in their careers and owned practices at the turn of the century. Their wide ranging discussion covered all kinds of topics:
- Drake the black lab/bird dog
- Yellow page ads
- David Hornbrook's mullet
- "Instant orthodontics"
- Profitable after 3 months!
- Dental benefits and bang for the buck
- "The amount of money you made was directly proportional to the number of hours that you worked."
- Texting is the new junk mail
- Al's first cell phone (1991 Infiniti Q45)
- "Patients are able to blow off dental appointments with new and impressive technologies!"
- Medical insurance has wrecked patient understanding of money in health care
- An older dentist selling their practice to a younger dentist was very typical...probably the most common way for dentists to become practice owners. DSOs weren't a thing.
- Al's old office building
- Debt as a way of life
- Dental school costs vs. clinical experience
- DSOs and how practice exit strategies have changed
- Longing for the good old days
- TV clicker remotes, VHS, DVDs and minidiscs
- How much impact will Gen X have made in dentistry?
Some links from the show:
Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"
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