Very Clinical: The Ortho Champion with Maryann McFarland
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Kevin and Zach are joined by star hygienist Maryann McFarland. They kick things off with a competitive discussion about their favorite games, from Maryann's professional-level Scrabble skills to Zach's past as a ranked online poker player. The conversation then shifts to the clinical topic of the day: how Maryann champions the Invisalign workflow in the practice. She provides a masterclass on her process, detailing every step from initial patient contact and leveraging in-office marketing to using photos on a big-screen monitor, discussing financials, and performing the digital scan—all...
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AME: Unconscious
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan uses his familiar daily commute as an analogy for the routine procedures in dentistry that become second nature. He reflects on how tasks that are "unconscious" and automatic for a seasoned dentist, such as a tooth extraction, are a highly conscious and often frightening experience for a patient. Drawing on a recent interaction with an anxious patient, Al emphasizes the importance of stepping out of this professional autopilot to consciously provide more empathy and care. Join the using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook," "Gary," "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very...
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Very Dental: Frankly, Dental School Sucked
The Very Dental Podcast Network
This throwback episode features Alan and his longtime friend and fellow Dentaltown veteran, Dr. Frank Clayton, for a hilarious and nostalgic conversation. They reminisce about the early days of online forums, the inception of the podcast idea, and Frank’s surprising pre-dental career selling Velveeta cheese. The discussion quickly turns to the shared trauma of hating dental school and the daily, relatable frustrations of clinical practice—from the high-stakes timing of cement cleanup and the dread of a phone call from the lab to the eternal struggle for the perfect contact. It's a candid,...
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Very Clinical: More Than a Cleaning with Maryann McFarland
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this episode, Kevin and Zach return from a hiatus and catch up on their summer adventures before introducing a special guest: Kevin's hygienist, Maryann McFarland. Maryann shares her journey through a 32-year career in hygiene, from a frustrating first job in a "prophy mill" to finding her work home in Kevin's practice. She discusses how embracing new challenges like sleep apnea treatment, clear aligner therapy, and administering local anesthesia has reinvigorated her passion for dentistry and transformed her job satisfaction. Key Takeaways Find Your "Work Home": A positive and supportive...
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AME: The Internet Before the Internet with Richard Heend
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this nostalgic throwback episode, Alan reconnects with his childhood friend, Richard Heend, to reminisce about the internet before the internet. They journey back to the early 1980s, discussing their first encounters with computers like the Atari 400, the magic of bulletin board systems (BBS), and the thrill of playing games like Jumpman Jr. From the screech of a 300-baud modem and the limitations of a single phone line to the novelty of a dot-matrix printer, Alan and Rich explore how these early, text-based online communities were the evolutionary precursors to today's social media. They...
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Very Dental: Al and the Amazing Pants with Angus Pryor
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan is joined by Australian marketing expert and fellow podcaster, Angus Pryor! The episode was recorded live from the Chicago Midwinter Meeting. Their chat begins with the surprising discovery that they both live on large rural farms, complete with forests, horses, and messy ducks. This shared experience launches them into a wide-ranging conversation about the art and business of podcasting, the strange nature of social media, the complexities of modern marketing, and the fine line between ethical patient education and "salesiness" in healthcare. Angus concludes by sharing the unique value...
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Very Clinical: Is Posterior Composite Anatomy Important or Pretentious? with Dr. Dan Smith
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this throwback episode recorded at VoD 2023, hosts Kevin and Zach are joined by Dr. Dan Smith from Tennessee to tackle dental myths and share clinical tips. Dan debunks the idea that the highly aesthetic and intricately detailed posterior composite restorations often seen on social media are inherently superior in longevity or patient benefit to a well-executed, standard composite. While acknowledging the beauty and skill involved in creating "tertiary anatomy," the group discusses where to draw the line between practical, quality dentistry and "dental Facebook porn." They agree that while...
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AME: The Cancellation Menagerie
The Very Dental Podcast Network
What do you get when Al is listening to Harry Potter books, has a 7am cancellation and is in a really weird head space? You get the Cancellation Menagerie! Recorded in the style of Harry Potter, you'll hear about all kinds of odd creatures in the dental world. The ones that wreck your schedule and some that you're glad don't come! Join the using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook," "Gary," "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the...
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Very Dental: Wrapping Up Patient Anxiety with Steph Tang of Wallaby
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Alan sits down with Steph Tang, the co-founder of , a company that has developed a therapeutic weighted blanket specifically for dental and healthcare settings. Steph shares her personal experience as a dental patient which sparked the idea for the Wallaby. She explains the science behind deep pressure stimulation and how the Wallaby helps to calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and create a more relaxing experience for patients. Steph and Alan also discuss the practical applications of the Wallaby in a dental practice, including its durable, medical-grade, and easy-to-disinfect material,...
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Very Clinical: Are You There, AI? It's me...JLips
The Very Dental Podcast Network
In this throwback episode Dr. Jason Lipscomb joins the Very Clinical guys live from VOD 23 to challenge the dental industry's conventional wisdom! He debunks the myth that you can be taught to "love" dentistry, especially by those out of touch with the modern-day pressures of practice ownership, staffing shortages, and waning employee loyalty. The hosts and Dr. Lipscomb discuss whether loving your job is even the right goal, weighing passion against the often-harsh realities of the profession. The conversation then shifts to the future, exploring how artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT...
info_outlineAlan is joined by friends and colleagues Dr. Dawn Kulongowski, Dr. Melissa Zettler and Dr. Frank Clayton to talk about COVID. Specifically how we’re feeling 18 months into the COVID pandemic. What’s different? What’s changed for the worse? Did anything good come from it?
Stuff that’s changed:
- Costs of everything have gone up
- Hiring/finding employees is REALLY difficult
- Delivery everything
- New business models requiring less people/more efficiency (Dawn’s vet story)
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- No dining rooms for fast food
- Tolerance of crazy patients
- Single use/waste
- Everyone using straws
- Wiping the pen
- Asking about vaccination/health information
- Health screening
- Staffing changes
- Hygiene recall is messed up!
What we’d keep:
Al: Exercise
Dawn: Less travel “I’ve put a new dollar amount on my time…”
Melissa: More time with family “We were the house that was willing to have everyone over…”
Frank: Pay attention to your time/free time. Also have patients prepay.
Some Links from the Show:
Land of the Giants podcast (season 4 focuses on the delivery economy)
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