One-on-Ones: Keeping Your Dental Team Aligned & Engaged
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Release Date: 03/31/2025
Hiring Series: Don’t Skip This Step—Reference Checks That Matter
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury continue their step-by-step Hiring Series with a focus on reference checks. Too many dental practices skip this step because it feels awkward or unnecessary, but failing to do so can cost you money, morale, and even legal trouble. Sandy and Dana share true stories from the field (including embezzlement cases that could have been avoided), compliance tips that keep you safe, and the exact questions that reveal whether your next hire is reliable or risky. From separating personal vs. professional references to knowing...
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From Sucktember to Success: How to Save Your September
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury tackle one of the most dreaded times in the dental calendar: “Sucktember.” As kids go back to school and cancellations rise, many practices see their production slump, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Sandy shares why mindset matters more than market trends, how to uncover hundreds of patients hiding in your own software, and why reactivation projects can both fill your schedule and boost team morale. From calling patients who haven’t been in for years to creating fun staff incentives, you’ll discover proven...
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Hiring Detour: How Culture Shapes Every Hire
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana Salisbury and Sandy Pardue discuss the challenges of hiring and retaining new employees in dental practices. They explore the reasons behind high turnover rates, the importance of effective onboarding, and creating a welcoming workplace culture. The conversation emphasizes the need for structured training plans and the impact of workplace bullying on employee retention. The hosts also highlight the financial costs associated with poor hiring practices and the significance of enhancing the candidate experience. Key Takeaways Stop blaming the applicant...
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Hiring Series: Interview Techniques that Work
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, hosts Dana Salisbury and Sandy Pardue go beyond the surface of the interview process to reveal the deeper intentions that should guide your hiring conversations. Whether you are fresh out of dental school or a seasoned practice owner, this conversation will help you build a more intentional, compliant, and effective approach to interviewing. Sandy and Dana share real world examples, cautionary tales, and the subtle cues they watch for that a resume will never reveal. They cover how to avoid common pitfalls like skipping the interview entirely, how to keep...
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Hiring Series: Hiring Efficiently with a Group Interview
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Description: In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana Salisbury and Sandy Pardue continue the Hiring Series with a proven time-saving strategy: the group interview. Sandy shares her step-by-step process for getting every qualified applicant in front of you at once, identifying the best candidates quickly, and avoiding the weeks-long cycle of one-on-one interviews. From creating the right environment, using a “plant” in the room, and testing retention skills, to gracefully dismissing non-hires, this episode is packed with actionable tips to streamline your hiring process and...
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Plan Forward: A Smarter Alternative to Insurance
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Exploring Dental Membership Plans: A Smarter Alternative to Insurance In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana Salisbury and Sandy Pardue are joined by Meg Lohman from Plan Forward to unpack why in-house membership plans are becoming a go-to solution for dental practices looking to grow and better serve their patients. They discuss how these plans help identify patients who are overpaying for insurance, simplify preventive care, and strengthen patient loyalty. The trio also explores the power of proactive marketing and the importance of educating patients ahead of open enrollment...
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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 Salisbury 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 the importance of...
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Job Descriptions Might Be Costing You Great Hires (Part 3: Creating Job Descriptions)
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...
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Why Working Interviews Don't Work
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this episode, Sandy Pardue kicks off a powerful conversation about the most overlooked step in fixing front desk chaos: assessing your team’s current morale, mindset, and motivation. Before you implement new systems or pile on training, you’ve got to address the emotional temperature of your practice. Is your team ready for change? Or are they quietly resisting it? Sandy lays out practical ways to reframe, re-energize, and reset expectations—ensuring your next move is a lasting one. If you want real ROI from your front desk, start here. What You'll Learn: Why morale must be...
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RERUN: The Real Reason Your AR Is Out of Control (And It's Not Insurance)
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this eye-opening episode, Sandy digs into one of the most overlooked contributors to rising accounts receivable (AR) in dental practices—abandoning mailed statements too soon. You may be emailing and texting patients about balances, but do you actually know how many patients you're reaching? Sandy breaks down the data and shares real stats from dental dashboards, showing that many practices have incomplete contact info for 20–40% of their patients—and it’s costing them tens of thousands. Whether your AR is creeping past $100,000 or you’re trying to build a smarter collection...
info_outlineWant to retain great employees and build a team that runs like a dream? It all starts with one-on-one conversations that count. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury share how regular one-on-one meetings can transform your culture, boost accountability, and keep your team growing in the right direction.
They break down the timing, tools, and tone of a successful one-on-one—plus how to turn them into growth opportunities, not gripe sessions. If you want more engagement and less drama in your dental office, start here.
What You’ll Learn:
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How to set up meaningful one-on-ones with your team
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Why these meetings are more powerful than traditional reviews
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How to use self-evaluation tools to start real conversations
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What to document and track before each meeting
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How one-on-ones can reduce turnover and improve morale
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The role of emotional deposits and team development in retention
Real Results in Action:
Sandy and Dana discuss what happens when one-on-ones are done right—from better communication to uncovering training gaps before they become performance issues. Learn why most team breakdowns stem from a lack of connection, not capability.
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📢 Sponsored by:
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💡 Take Action Today:
📌 Sandy’s Challenge: Build stronger teams—one conversation at a time!
➡️ Schedule regular one-on-ones with each team member
➡️ Use self-evaluation forms to spark honest feedback
➡️ Track progress, goals, and follow-ups after every meeting
➡️ Train your managers on how to lead growth-focused one-on-ones
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