Too Sick to Work? Managing the Unexpected Absentee
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Release Date: 03/10/2025
Making Numbers Matter
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary Tracking statistics does not have to feel like micromanagement or extra work. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue Salisbury break down why teams push back on numbers and how leaders can shift compliance into cooperation. You will learn how the right statistics eliminate micromanaging, create clarity, and help teams feel confident in their roles. Sandy shares real world examples from decades in dentistry, practical ways to assign metrics by position, and where practices should start if statistics have never been consistently tracked. What...
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Patient Referrals Aren't Just Luck
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary Most dental practices don’t actually have a referral problem — they have a system problem. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury break down why referrals don’t happen by chance, how inconsistent service and communication quietly sabotage growth, and what simple systems practices can put in place to earn consistent, high-quality referrals. Through real-world service examples, team accountability strategies, and practical chairside scripts, this conversation shows why referrals are a byproduct of confidence, consistency, and gratitude — not...
info_outline![[REPLAY] Annual Planning Power Moves: How to Build a Stronger Practice in 2026 show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/197375065?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY] Annual Planning Power Moves: How to Build a Stronger Practice in 2026
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary In this strategic and energizing episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of practice stability and growth, your annual planning session. Together, they walk through the questions, metrics, team conversations, and leadership decisions that set the tone for a productive, organized, and profitable new year. Sandy shares her trusted framework for evaluating practice performance, identifying bottlenecks, and turning missed opportunities into measurable goals. Dana breaks down how to communicate the importance of an annual planning...
info_outline![[REPLAY] The Pulse of the Practice: Balancing Team Energy and Measurable Success show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/196912780?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY] The Pulse of the Practice: Balancing Team Energy and Measurable Success
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy discuss the importance of measuring team energy and performance metrics in dental practices. They emphasize that while patient care is paramount, tracking statistics can enhance care quality and team morale. The conversation explores the concept of buy-in from team members, the significance of accountability, and how metrics can serve as tools for improvement rather than judgment. The episode concludes with actionable steps for practices to foster a positive culture through measurement and celebration of achievements. takeaways Your team's...
info_outline![[REPLAY] Job Descriptions Might Be Costing You Great Hires show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/196768620?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY] Job Descriptions Might Be Costing You Great Hires
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary: In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury explore the often-overlooked power of a well-crafted job description. They explain why generic or outdated descriptions can set your practice up for failure—creating confusion, legal risk, and missed hiring opportunities. You’ll learn what must be included, how to stay compliant, and why being transparent about your expectations (including physical demands and performance metrics) is key to attracting the right candidates. If you're serious about improving your hiring process and retaining top...
info_outline![[REPLAY] Marketing Your Practice to Top Talent show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/196595510?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY] Marketing Your Practice to Top Talent
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary: In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue tackle one of the most underestimated tools in the hiring process—your job ad. They explain why hiring should be treated like a marketing campaign and how your job postings either attract or repel the very people you are trying to hire. From crafting compelling headlines and utilizing creative job titles to understanding hiring psychology, Sandy and Dana share strategies to elevate your job ads and recruit with intention. They also explore the power of nontraditional hiring sources and...
info_outline![[REPLAY] Marketing Can't Save You From a Bad Phone Call show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/196306350?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY] Marketing Can't Save You From a Bad Phone Call
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉 Mango Voice VoIP for dental practices that want fewer missed calls, better patient communication, and stronger scheduling. 👉 📲 Join the conversation! Drop your favorite phone call tip or share a “worst call ever” moment in the Dental Drill Bits Facebook Group—your post could inspire our next episode!
info_outline![[Replay] Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/39246585?height=50&width=50)
[Replay] Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Title: Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule Episode Description: Welcome to another exciting episode of Dental Drill Bits! This week, Sandy Pardue is joined by a very special guest—Dana Pardue, the original co-host and HR business professional. Together, they kick off the new season with a deep dive into one of the most critical topics for dental practices: managing open time in your schedule. Discover actionable tips to identify, track, and eliminate wasted time in your practice. Whether you're dealing with broken appointments, patient no-shows, or...
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Dental Christmas Parties of Christmas Past
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this festive episode, Dana and Sandy unwrap the unforgettable world of dental office Christmas parties — the good, the chaotic, and the “HR-will-hear-about-this” kind of moments. From table fires to haunted hotels, over-served team members, questionable Ubers, party buses, shopping sprees, and meaningful low-budget celebrations, they share what makes a holiday party truly memorable while keeping your practice safe, appreciated, and drama-free. Whether you’re planning a simple potluck or an all-out evening event, this episode gives you the ideas, warnings, and best practices to make...
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Annual Planning Power Moves: How to Build a Stronger Practice in 2026
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary In this strategic and energizing episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of practice stability and growth, your annual planning session. Together, they walk through the questions, metrics, team conversations, and leadership decisions that set the tone for a productive, organized, and profitable new year. Sandy shares her trusted framework for evaluating practice performance, identifying bottlenecks, and turning missed opportunities into measurable goals. Dana breaks down how to communicate the importance of an annual planning...
info_outlineEpisode Description
Unexpected call-outs can throw your dental practice into chaos—but they don’t have to! In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue Salisbury break down how to create an attendance culture that keeps your team accountable without being rigid. They’ll share real-world strategies for managing sick calls, setting clear attendance policies, and keeping your team engaged.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ How to prevent a culture of absenteeism from spreading in your practice 🚫
✅ The importance of direct communication about attendance expectations 🗣️
✅ Why texting in sick is a problem—and how to fix it 📵
✅ A reward system that actually works to improve attendance 🎯
✅ How to balance compassion with accountability when employees need time off ⚖️
✅ The must-have policies every practice needs for handling sick days ✍️
Real Results in Action:
Sandy shares how one dental office cut unexpected call-outs dramatically using a simple "Ping Pong Game" reward system—and how you can implement it in your own practice!
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💡 Take Action Today:
Don’t let last-minute sick calls disrupt your practice! Take Sandy’s Challenge:
➡️ Review your attendance policies—are they clear and effective?
➡️ Establish a protocol for how employees must call in sick 📞
➡️ Consider an attendance reward system to boost reliability 🎟️
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