Group Function: Ritter and Ramsey on Partnerships and The Protocol
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 08/02/2021
Very Dental: Mastering the Microscope with Dr. Michael Wenzel
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan sits down with Dr. Michael Wenzel (known to his YouTube fans as "") to discuss the transformative power of the dental microscope. From his early days of "magnification envy" at dental conferences to becoming a leading voice in dental videography, Michael shares how switching from loops to a scope changed his clinical flow and patient communication. The two dive deep into the gear—comparing internal cameras, mirrorless setups, and the surprising power of the iPhone—while discussing why the microscope makes dentistry feel less like work and more like an immersive video game. They...
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Kevin and Zach on Dental School Reunions
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode of the Very Clinical podcast, Zach and Kevin take a nostalgic trip through the evolution of technology and the social dynamics of the dental profession. The duo starts with a look at their "tech origins," comparing stories of 3.5-inch floppy disk backups, FORTRAN punch cards, and the struggle of logging into office computers via dial-up modems. The conversation then shifts to the personal side of the profession as Zach prepares for his 25th dental school reunion. They explore the "awkward factor" of professional gatherings, the reality of "dental bragging," and Kevin’s...
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AME: The Nostalgia Playlist
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan explores why musical tastes often freeze in middle school and why a 54-year-old dentist still feels like he’s in his twenties—until he sees the Ticketmaster bill for Rush’s 50th-anniversary tour. Alan dives into the friction of analog nostalgia, from landlines to worn-out cassettes, and contrasts it with the instant-access world of his 18-year-old son, Sean. It’s a reflection on whether the "effort" of the 1980s created a deeper brand of nostalgia than the frictionless, Spotify-driven experience of today’s youth, questioning if we value things less when there’s no barrier...
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Very Dental: The Explicit Truth with Teresa Duncan
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan catches up with dental administration expert Teresa Duncan at the "posh" Chicago Midwinter Meeting press center to discuss the shifting landscape of dental documentation and technology. The conversation dives deep into the ADA’s refreshed radiographic guidelines, emphasizing the shift from "implicit" to "explicit" clinical notes and how AI and ambient listening are revolutionizing chart accuracy. From debating the ethics of insurance claims to reminiscing about the "sterile pockets" and dip-tanks of the past, Alan and Teresa explore how innovation—and maybe a future sterilization...
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Very Dental: Dentistry in 2050 with Dr. Alex Kantor and Dr. Eric Applesies
The Very Dental Podcast Network
This special episode of the Very Dental Podcast flips the script, featuring Dr. Alan Mead as a guest on the podcast with hosts Dr. Alex Kantor and Dr. Eric Applesies. In a wide-ranging and speculative conversation, the trio peers into the future to imagine the landscape of Dentistry in 2050. From the role of AI and robotic assistants in practice management to the potential "pendulum swing" away from DSO consolidation and back toward private practice, no stone is left unturned. The discussion also tackles the mounting burden of student debt, the evolving role of dental hygiene, and whether...
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AME: Outrunning the Discounts with Dr. Bart Schultz
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan catches up with his longtime friend and dental school classmate, Dr. Bart Schultz. The duo takes a nostalgic and candid look back at Al's "super senior" days at the University of Minnesota, critiquing the traditional dental school model as a "scam" that often fails to provide students with enough clinical repetitions. They dive deep into the frustrations of the Minnesota Care Tax, the ethical grey areas of "outrunning the discount" when dealing with certain insurance benefits, and the unique guilt dentists feel when restorations inevitably fail. It’s a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the...
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Very Dental: Why Dentistry is Still a "Safe Bet" for Lenders with Kirk Dewart
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan sits down with Kirk Dewart of US Bank to pull back the curtain on the world of dental practice finance. With 15 years of experience in the healthcare banking niche, Kirk debunks the myth that individual ownership is dead and discusses why dentistry remains one of the safest bets for lenders. The conversation covers the critical importance of early preparation for buyers, how banks evaluate student debt, and the value of building a local advisory team—including a CPA, attorney, and a banker who understands the dental landscape. Whether you are an associate looking to acquire your first...
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Very Clinical: The Skeptical Patient
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Zach and Kevin are joined by Alan to navigate the murky waters of patient skepticism. The trio explores the frustration of the "impasse"—when clinical evidence points to a cracked lower molar, but the patient is convinced the pain is coming from a perfectly healthy upper tooth. They discuss the strategic use of referrals to specialists for "validation," the evolution of clinical confidence that comes with gray hair, and how technology like CBCT and high-res photography allows dentists to stop "convincing" and start "showing." Join the using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul,...
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AME: It's Only Rock and Roll
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan returns from a 1,000-mile Spring Break 2026 road trip to share reflections on family, travel, and a "brain-breaking" visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While trekking through the New River Gorge and hunting for kinetic ball machines in Akron and Charleston, Alan finds himself pondering the evolution of media distribution. He explores how the shift from the gatekept era of radio and MTV to the digital frontier of the internet, Spotify and other music services has transformed not only how we consume culture but how expertise and education are distributed in the modern world. Could a...
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Very Dental: Sound Check with Papa Randy (aka: Dr. Randy Houska)
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this "impromptu soundcheck" turned full-length conversation, Alan sits down with the legendary Dr. Randy Houska (affectionately known as Papa Randy) at the Implant Pathway during Voices of Dentistry 2026. The duo dives deep into the gratifications of long-term patient relationships—discussing the evolution of dental benefits in Saginaw and the unique bond formed with patients over decades of care. The conversation takes a scenic detour through Randy’s life in South Dakota, touching on his wife’s expanding retail empire, the charm of seasonal businesses, and why Randy’s dog has a...
info_outline- When do you renovate your office and what kind of dental office decor stays "timeless."
- "The Protocol" is a course that Ritter and Ramsey designed to show people HOW they execute the broader concepts that you might learn from Spear, Kois or Pankey.
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- A complete workflow from consult to finished case
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- The benefits of small group learning in combination with hands on.
- Dental partnerships are notoriously bad!
- How Ritter found Ramsey
- The mechanics of a long term dental partnership
- "You can't have two kings in the castle" is the WRONG way to look at things.
- You work for the partnership and the partnership is bigger than any one person.
- The solution: lose the ego
- The upside of a functional partnership
- Choose business partners wisely!
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- understand personalities
- understand philosophies
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- Treat the associate LIKE A PARTNER!
- Learn to compromise! Learn to understand when you're wrong.
- If you don't know, just say that you don't know.
- Would you rather be right of happy?
- The months for "The Protocol" 2022: February, May, August and November.
- The Very Dental Podcast network is brought to you by our friends at Microcopy Dental. Single patient use carbide burs, diamond burs, polishers and a variety of single use products that make your office more efficient, make your infection control simpler and your dentistry better! Find more information at verydentalpodcast.com/microcopy!
- Dentures get a bad reputation in dentistry. Quite a few dentists even brag about how long it has been since they have done a denture. Dr. Russell Schafer wants to reverse this trend. So if you want to learn to hate dentures less, you need to take Russell's course on November 12-13th 2021 in New Orleans! Learn techniques to streamline your denture workflow and help you deliver a more predictable product for your patients! You'll even learn how you can incorporate digital dentures in your practice! Find out more information on this thorough and cost effective class at verydentalpodcast.com/denturece!
- The Very Dental Podcast network is brought to you by Cosmedent! Cosmedent is the premiere source for education and materials for cosmetic dentistry! Find out more at verydentalpodcast.com/cosmedent.
- The Very Dental Podcast network is also brought to you by our friends at Zirc! Zirc has clincial and organizational products to make your office and clinical systems more efficient and make infection control a breeze. Zirc would love to work with you to optimize the efficiency of your practice! Find out more at verydentalpodcast.com/Zirc
- The Very Dental Podcast network is also supported by Crazy Dental! Go check out some of the best selection of dental supplies powered by an amazing website! Crazy has become my office's "go to" for dental supplies because of its ease of use and the lowest prices anywhere. Even better...you'll save 10% by using the coupon code "VDP10" on their website and it helps support the podcast! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/Crazy!
- The Very Dental Podcast network is also supported by Enova Illumination! Enova makes custom made loupes and the very best headlamps in all of dentistry. They also sell the amazing Zumax line of dental microscopes (I've got one in my office...it's amazing!) Go take advantage of the discount that they offer Very Dental people at verydentalpodcast/Enova.
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