EP 155 Beyond Micromanagement: What Makes Today’s Office Managers Great
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
Release Date: 08/06/2025
EP 171 The Truth About Running a Dental Practice in 2026
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Dentistry is changing fast and most practices are either adapting or falling behind. From rising costs and staffing challenges to new technology and shifting patient expectations, what used to work no longer guarantees success. In this episode, I brought back my friend Ted Osterer from Synergy for an honest conversation about what’s really happening inside dental practices today. What’s the impact of digital tools like scanners and AI? Is there a method to hiring and keeping quality staff? Why are some offices...
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EP 170 How to Dominate AI Search Results in 2026 (Dental Marketing Tips)
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: If your dental marketing still focuses only on getting found by Google, you’re already behind because today your real audience is not just patients. It’s AI deciding whether your dental practice deserves to be recommended at all. The dental marketing strategy shift right now is that visibility is no longer just about your website or traditional SEO but about how clearly your entire online presence tells a consistent story that AI can understand and trust. Search behavior is evolving fast, and while patients still use...
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EP 169 I Taught Dentists Leadership (And I Learned This!)
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Sometimes the most powerful management lessons come from honest conversations with dental professionals who are navigating the same challenges every day. I'm sharing two recent post-lecture conversations that revealed common leadership struggles. One attendee shared how exhausted she felt in her role but also felt guilty about even thinking of leaving because of perceived obligations to the dentist. That moment highlighted the difference between working from obligation and working from a true sense of calling. Obligation...
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EP 168 What Makes a Great Dental Office Manager (It’s Not What You Think)
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: This episode with my friend Michelle Affanato breaks down what truly makes a great dental office manager, especially for those promoted from within or stepping into the role for the first time. We get honest about the realities of new manager energy ranging from being handed a title without training to suddenly managing former coworkers who now see you differently. Is this why so many managers feel overwhelmed early on? Maybe it's not because they are incapable but because expectations were never clearly defined. Michelle...
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EP 167 Can Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDA) SOLVE The Dental Shortage?
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Dental practices are being stretched thinner than ever, but the solution isn’t just hiring more people. It’s learning how to better use, train, and trust the team you already have. In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Singleton - assistant extraordinaire - to discuss how dental practices can adapt to staffing shortages by rethinking team roles and expanding responsibilities within proper scope of practice. We talked about expanded function dental assistants, smarter scheduling, access to care challenges, and...
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EP 166 The Real Reason Dental Billing Is So Frustrating
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Does dental billing feel harder than it used to? You’re doing the same work, but claims stall, rules change, and nothing seems consistent anymore. My friend and Dental Revenue Network member Brooke Bird joins me to break down why that’s happening. The rules keep changing, knowledge is scattered, and practice management systems haven’t kept up all that well. Why does working on claims now feel like detective work? Different payer quirks and clearinghouse changes have quietly slowed cash flow. What are your options?...
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Special Episode: Chew On This Trends for 2026
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: What will dentistry really look like in 2026? Teresa Duncan and Kevin Henry cut through the noise to unpack the economic, workforce, insurance, and technology trends that will shape dental practices sooner than many expect. They take a data-driven look at trends such as persistent staffing shortages and rising labor costs to the growing role of AI. Compliance risk is increasing and practices face mounting profitability pressure. How can we refocus on business fundamentals while adapting to shifting patient...
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EP 165 The Side of Dental Practice Management No One Talks About!
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Most dental practices don’t struggle because of dentistry but because of what happens behind the scenes. Practice management is rarely taught even though it controls profitability, team morale, and long-term growth. My friend Olivia Smith shares insight and stories of her clients’ misses and wins. The realities of running a successful dental practice include understanding KPIs (without drowning in numbers) to leading teams with clarity and accountability (without losing your mind!). We touched on so many...
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EP 164 How To Protect Your Dental License
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Did you know that throwing away a simple "education letter" from an insurance company could be the first step toward an audit seven years later? Or that hiring a team member without checking the exclusion list could label your practice "radioactive" and cut you off from federal funding? Many dental practice owners don't realize that common habits, like billing under a selling doctor's name during a transition are actually considered False Claims fraud. In this episode, I sit down with dental-specific attorney Justin Withrow to reveal...
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EP 163 Leadership Advice For New Managers
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Leading employees can feel like walking through a minefield. One wrong step and morale, productivity, or trust can explode. But great leaders are not born with the ability to navigate tough personalities. They learn the strategies, communication skills, and mindset shifts that turn conflict into constructive growth. My friends Ashley Bond and Lorie Streeter joined me to talk about leadership challenges new managers face every day. We tackled it all: resistant employees, navigating office politics, and owners who may not always...
info_outlineMore management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter
Modern office managers lead through clarity, culture, and connection not control. My longtime friend and colleague Lorie Streeter joins me for a frank conversation about the lessons we've learned over the years.
Micromanagement is everywhere, and dental teams are evolving whether leaders are ready or not. The shift from task-checking to true team empowerment is reshaping how successful practices run. We share stories of real managers navigating burnout, toxic dynamics, and panic hiring with surprising clarity.
There’s a raw conversation about what happens when doctors undermine authority, how culture breaks down quietly, and why emotional intelligence is now a non-negotiable skill. We tackle some unexpected truths about staffing “shortages,” leadership blind spots, and what it actually means to build a team that runs on trust not fear. If you've ever carried more weight than your title suggests, this episode unpacks why... and what to do next.
Connect with Lorie
Website: MAXASSIST
Facebook Lorie Genelin Streeter
Instagram Lorie Streeter - Maxed Out
LinkedIn Lorie Streeter
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I created Dental Revenue Network to foster collaboration and networking amongst RCM professionals. Billing company owners and billing professionals will have access to skill building sessions, current carrier news and insurance discussions beyond “what's the code?" Check it out - I hope you'll join! https://dentalrevenuenetwork.mn.co/
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Medical Billing Made Easy! Dental Classroom Online: https://www.dentalclassroomonline.com/
Use ODYSSEY for a 10% courtesy
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Synergy Dental Partners offers lower prices for your dental supplies and services
https://www.odysseymgmt.com/synergy
NTMT listeners receive a 2 Month Free Trial + a 3rd Month if you buy anything from any vendor during the trial period. Also, new Darby customers receive a $200 Darby statement credit with a purchase.
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My insurance course Dental Insurance Design and Management is geared toward those who want to understand the how and why of insurance. As a loyal podcast listener, please use "NTMT" for a $75 courtesy toward your investment.
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Visit odysseymgmt.com to check out my book, webinars and courses.
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Don’t forget to check out my other podcast Chew on This - A Dental Podcast!
**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@odysseymgmt