Very Dental Shorts: Easy Peasy Digital Crown Workflow
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 08/18/2021
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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
Very Clinical: Experience Isn't Everything
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Kevin and Zach are joined by Alan once again, this time to dive into a candid discussion about the humbling realities of long-term dental practice. The core of the conversation explores the "amateur mistakes" and unexpected hurdles that still plague even veteran dentists with decades of experience, such as the "hot tooth" that refuses to numb, the extraction that goes sideways, and the technical difficulties of back-to-back composite restorations. Some links from the show: Join the using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul, Bioclear, Hornbrook, Gary, McWethy, Papa Randy, or...
info_outline
AME: Confessions of a Dentist Doing Hygiene
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan reflects on a recent shift in his clinical routine: stepping back into the role of a dental hygienist due to staffing transitions and vacations. While many dentists avoid the "prophy" side of the chair, he argues that performing hygiene—when supported by an assistant who understands the workflow—offers invaluable diagnostic insights that are often lost during a standard five-minute exam. By seeing patients before they are "cleaned up," utilizing dental microscopes for high-magnification discovery, and employing disclosing solutions to visualize biofilm, he makes a case for a more...
info_outline
Very Dental: Selling Your Dental Practice in 2026 with Jack Minahan
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan is joined by Jack Minahan from Henry Schein Practice Transitions for a deep dive into the modern landscape of dental practice sales, recorded live at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting. The conversation moves past the outdated stereotypes of the transition industry, with Jack providing a data-driven look at why private practice ownership remains the dominant model despite the high-profile growth of DSOs. They explore the critical "replaceability" factor for clinicians, the strategic timing of technology investments, and how "goodwill" functions as the lifeblood of a practice's value. From...
info_outline
Very Dental Classics: The Art of the Believable Tooth with Dr. Jason Smithson
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In honor of this weekend's Spear Summit, this episode of Very Dental Classics features a conversation with the legendary Dr. Jason Smithson on a Friday morning at the 2022 Spear Summit in Arizona. Amidst coffee and Waffle House nostalgia, they dive deep into the philosophy of "anti-smile design"—the art of making teeth look believable and individual rather than generic. Jason discusses his approach to high-end composite resin, the importance of shade mapping, and why he believes the "decathlon dentist" model is evolving toward more collaborative, interest-based group practices. From the...
info_outline
AME: Trusting Your Gut
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan reflects on the fine line between clinical intuition and cognitive bias. Sparked by a failed trivia question about SpongeBob SquarePants, Alan dives into the psychology of decision-making, exploring Daniel Kahneman’s "fast vs. slow" thinking and the pitfalls of confirmation bias. Drawing on 30 years of dental practice, he discusses how "gut feelings" are often just highly trained pattern recognition for common ailments like decay and pulpitis. However, he issues a cautionary tale for practitioners: while your gut is an excellent compass to get you into the ballpark of a diagnosis,...
info_outline
Very Dental: The 33% Solution with Dr. Deren Flesher
The Very Dental Podcast Network
You're missing 33% of incoming calls at your office. That's a huge deal. But what if there was a simple way to make sure you miss NONE of them? In this episode of the Very Dental Podcast, recorded live at Voices of Dentistry 2026, Alan sits down with dentist-turned-entrepreneur Dr. Deren Flesher. Deren shares his journey from clinical practice to the administrative side of the industry, detailing how his "entrepreneurial itch" led to the creation and sale of Modento and his latest venture, Aero Dental. The two dive deep into the "missed call" epidemic in dental practices and how AI-driven...
info_outlineCan you knock out a crown prep from start to finish in 40 minutes? Over the last couple of years I've put together a workflow that's leisurely yet thorough and gets great results for the classic single unit crown.
I'd be curious to hear if you have tweaks that can make this even better!
Some links from the show:
- Template/Temp Tray from Clinician's Choice
- Medit i500 intraoral scanner
- Premier Knit pack cord
- Premier Traxodent
- Ultradent Astringident X
- Vividprime desensitizer
- Cosmedent MirrorImage
- Itena Dentotemp
-
- 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
- The Very Dental Podcast network is brought to you by the Wonderist agency. The best marketing agency to build your website, logo, SEO, design, Google Ads, social media and on. And on. Marketing your dental office...the Wonderist Agency can help! Find out more at verydentalpodcast.com/Wonderist