Should My Hygienist Clock Out When They Have Free Time?
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Release Date: 11/29/2023
Lonely at the Top, Leading with Authority (Even When You’re Friends)
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
We’re diving into a topic many practice managers quietly struggle with—what happens when your team feels more like friends than employees? Dana and Sandy tackle a heartfelt listener question: “How do I manage a team I’ve been friends with for years?” Whether you were promoted from within, or made the mistake of hiring a friend, this episode will help you maintain professionalism without sacrificing connection. You’ll learn how to: Lead with warmth while keeping your edge Set clear boundaries and expectations Avoid favoritism and cliques Stay approachable without losing...
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Vacation-Proofing Your Team
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Vacation-Proofing Your Team Episode Description Taking time off as a dental professional shouldn't leave you stressed out or worried about what's happening back at the office. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy and Dana break down how to set your team up for success before you leave—so you can truly unplug. They cover real-world strategies to vacation-proof your practice, from setting department-specific goals to sending advance memos, and even encouraging team members to take ownership of their responsibilities. Plus, they tackle the big one: why showing trust in your team matters...
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Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter 0:00 Episode Description Gossip may seem like harmless chatter, but it has the power to erode trust, damage morale, and derail productivity in your dental practice. In this episode, Sandy and Dana tackle the tough topic of workplace gossip—what it sounds like, why it spreads, and how to stop it before it takes a toll on your culture and your team. From NLRB rules to real-life consulting stories, they share practical ways to address negativity, encourage...
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The Down Economy: Prepared Not Panicked
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
When the economy starts to shake, most dental practices start to shrink. But Sandy says now is the time to lean in and level up—and she’s sharing exactly how to do it. In this episode, Dana and Sandy break down what it takes to recession-proof your practice before anything happens. From tightening your finances to training your team, maximizing re-care systems to building patient loyalty, this episode is your no-fluff guide to keeping treatment plans up—even when wallets are down. Whether you’re nervous about the future or just want to boost production now, this conversation will help...
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One-on-Ones Part 2: Keeping Your Dental Team Aligned & Engaged
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary: This week, Sandy is fresh off an energizing Front Desk Pro seminar in Burbank, California—and she’s bringing the heat! Dana and Sandy dive deep into a topic that every dental practice owner and manager needs to master: employee one-on-ones. From handling raise requests to increasing team engagement and reducing turnover, this episode is packed with real-world strategies and scripted verbal skills you can use right away. Sandy shares how acknowledgment and structure transform the culture of a practice, while Dana brings in heartfelt reminders of how leadership impacts lives...
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One-on-Ones: Keeping Your Dental Team Aligned & Engaged
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Want to retain great employees and build a team that runs like a dream? It all starts with one-on-one conversations that count. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury share how regular one-on-one meetings can transform your culture, boost accountability, and keep your team growing in the right direction. They break down the timing, tools, and tone of a successful one-on-one—plus how to turn them into growth opportunities, not gripe sessions. If you want more engagement and less drama in your dental office, start here. What You’ll Learn: How to set up...
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The Hygiene Appointment Fix
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Is your hygiene schedule disappearing before your eyes? You’re not imagining it! No-shows, last-minute cancellations, and poor confirmation strategies can leave your hygiene team scrambling and your bottom line suffering. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue Salisbury break down why hygiene schedules fall apart—and how to fix it for good! From smarter pre-scheduling to foolproof confirmation techniques, they’re sharing real-world solutions to keep your chairs full and your patients accountable. What You’ll Learn: ✅ The #1 reason why hygiene...
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Ring, Ring! Mastering the First Impression – Live Call Analysis
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
📢 Episode Title: "Ring, Ring! Mastering the First Impression – Live Call Analysis" 🎙 Episode Description What happens when a potential patient calls your dental office? That first impression can make or break their decision to schedule an appointment. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue Salisbury analyze a real call from a dental practice, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and how small tweaks can dramatically improve conversion rates. Listen in as they share pro tips on phone etiquette, tone, and the must-have scripts that turn callers into...
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Too Sick to Work? Managing the Unexpected Absentee
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Description Unexpected call-outs can throw your dental practice into chaos—but they don’t have to! In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue Salisbury break down how to create an attendance culture that keeps your team accountable without being rigid. They’ll share real-world strategies for managing sick calls, setting clear attendance policies, and keeping your team engaged. What You’ll Learn: ✅ How to prevent a culture of absenteeism from spreading in your practice 🚫 ✅ The importance of direct communication about attendance expectations 🗣️...
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Interviewing for the Right Hire
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Hiring is one thing—but the interview process is where you make or break your chances of getting the right person. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury share expert strategies to help you conduct interviews with confidence, ask the right questions, and avoid costly hiring mistakes. What you’ll learn: ✅ The difference between situational vs. behavioral interview questions—and why both matter 🎯 ✅ Why working interviews are a legal and financial risk you shouldn’t take 🚫 ✅ The must-ask questions that reveal a candidate’s true communication...
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In this week's episode of Dental Drill Bits, we're diving deeply into a dilemma most dental practices grapple with - "Should my hygienist clock out when they have free time?" An empty dental chair is definitely the stuff of nightmares for a dental practice. With a keen focus on this issue, we aim to provide a fresh perspective on handling unpredictable schedule gaps due to cancellations and no-shows. We also delve into the potential pitfalls of moving patient appointments and the unseen consequences it can have on your practice's reputation.
If you're looking to find out how to most efficiently use hygiene time in your practice, let's jump into today's episode!
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Approaches to manage your hygienist's empty appointment slots caused by last-minute cancellations.
- The perilous after-effects of moving patients' appointments without their consent.
- Practical tips for filling cancelled appointments as swiftly as possible from your existing patient pool.
- The impact of scheduling chaos on the overall atmosphere and productivity of a dental practice.
- How proper scheduling can uplift the satisfaction rate among patients and staff alike.
Stay tuned for the next registration period for Front Desk Pro! https://classicpractice.com/front-desk-pro/