Very Dental: It's OK to be a Regular Dentist with Dr. Shawn Van de Vyver
The Very Dental Podcast Network
Release Date: 10/08/2021
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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_outlineAlan welcomes Dr. Shawn Van de Vyver to the Very Dental podcast! Shawn is a self described "regular dentist." What is a regular dentist? Why are we having this conversation? Well, blame it on social media. Some of the things they discussed:
- Shawn gets up early in self defense
- Social media has ruined the "regular dentist" gig for many people.
- Who are the patients that do all these FMR's that we ce in continuing education?
- Shawn's time is worth nothing (he does his own lab work)
- The narrative of "opportunity cost"
- Al on podcasting/Shawn on video
- Buying a practice during COVID (and hiring)
- Narratives vs. reality in dental hygiene models
- Health care choices and how money affects them
Some links from the show:
- The Voices of Dentistry (use code VeryDental)
- The Very Dental Facebook group
- XOcademy (Shawn's Exocad learning academy)
If you would you like support the Very Dental Podcast Network you should support our sponsors! They help us create content that is, for lack of a better word...Very Dental!
The Very Dental podcast is brought to you by our friends at Microcopy Dental. Neodiamonds from Microcopy Dental are very fine. I mean, all of them are awesome, but some of them are actually “very fine.” Specifically I mean the yellow striped ones they call “finishing” diamonds. I use Microcopy finishing diamonds on just about any patient that I might be spinning a bur on. Very fine finishers do the heavy lifting on composites so polishing is simple and easy. I use them to finish crown preps. I’ve been known to adjust Emax and Zirconia with them. Once you try them you’re going to find a ton of places to use them! And just like all of Microcopy’s burs, they’re sterile out of the package and single use means they’re sharp and efficient and can be disposed of at the end of the appointment! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/veryfine (all one word)!
The Very Dental podcast is also supported by our friends at Cosmedent! Cosmedent has just released a new composite that you’re going to want to try! It’s called “Renamel Bulkfill” and it’s here to simplify your posterior composite placement. It rivals the speed and efficiency of amalgam but it’s still packable, sculptable and polishes like a dream! You can cure up to 4mm increments, so it’s sure to increase the efficiency of working in the posterior. It’s radiopaque for easy identification on recalls, too! I’ll get a chance to try it clinically next week and I’ll give you my review with photos in the Very Dental Facebook group! Cosmedent is offering a killer 20% off deal for Very Dental Podcast Network listeners by using the coupon code “VDP21” at checkout on their website! So go check out Renamel Bulkfill at verydentalpodcast.com/bulkfill
The dental industry is facing a challenging time in hiring team members. If you’ve been trying to hire, you probably feel this deeply It’s important for teams to look for ways to do more with less…to increase efficiency. Mr. Thirsty One Step allows a dentist or hygienist to work independently. MTOS has NO MAINTENANCE, comes pre-assembled and is 100% disposable! Zirc wants to show you how helpful Mr. Thirsty One Step can be in your practice. Go to verydentalpodcast.com/thirstytrial (all one word) and you can get a free sample of Mr. Thirsty One Step! Each sample comes with a small, medium and large!
Our friends at Enova Illumination have your magnification and lighting needs all figured out. Whether you’re looking at new loupes, a surgical headlight like no other or the amazing line of Zumax microscopes, Enova Illumination has you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/Enova and take advantage of the discounts they have for Very Dental Podcast Network listeners!
Do you need help with a logo or website design? Our friends at Wonderist can definitely help! Keep your eyes open for updated logos of all your favorite Very Dental Podcast Network shows this month...they’ve been designed by the pros at the Wonderist Agency! Want more information? Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist!
Do you want an easy way to support the Very Dental Podcast network? Go check out the monthly deals from our friends at Crazy Dental! Each month Crazy Dental will be offering all kinds of different coupons on the product you’re using most! Head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy to see the monthly deals they have in store for you!