Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube! Lisa Greer is the California Dental Association’s dental benefit expert (and repeat guest!). We talked about quite a few topics including Change Healthcare and advice that can get you audited. We both firmly believe that the insurance coordinator is a key player in protecting the doctor’s lice…

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube! Join us for a candid conversation about financial management and team development. I’m thrilled to welcome back my close friend, Dayna Johnson, a dental consultant who's made a name for herself in the world of digital workflows and accounts receivable wizardry. We tackled these topics: Why col…

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube! Understanding the impact of Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) is critical for every office manager and dentist. My friend Dr. Tony Stefanou - the founder of Connect the Dents - is a solid resource in this area. Even if you’re not planning to join one soon you should know how they operate and…

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube! Great employees are worth their weight in gold. Managing them is usually the most taxing part of the job. Different personalities, different ages - all of it comes with pros and cons. My guests - Michelle Coker and Matt Nelson from the California Dental Association - help offices with these ch…

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube! It’s always fun to have Rachel Wall back for hygiene updates. She’s the founder and president of Inspired Hygiene and is my go-to for shedding light on the latest trends and products in dental hygiene. We tackled these topics: The challenges of the various hygiene compensation models How a kno…

SHOW NOTES: Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube! Returning guest India Chance joined me for another infection control, bug-filled episode! She's the founder of Learn to Prevent and always teaches me something new. Sometimes I wish I didn't know it but it's important for our patients and practices. Some highlights from our talk: I…

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube! In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Bryan Laskin – a dental tech entrepreneur, an author and a good friend. He's been on before (Ep 76) and just like last time, the conversation flowed. Dentistry is changing behind the scenes. We think of progress as materials updates and faster scans. But wh…

In this episode, I was joined by Andrew Johnston, co-founder of “A Tale of Two Hygienists,” and the man responsible for The Dental Podcast Network at Dental Economics. He's also a restorative hygienist. Also making an appearance was Editor-In-Chief at Dr. Bicuspid and my Chew On This Podcast co-host, Kevin Henry. We discussed some of the noticeable…

In this episode, we dive deep into the concerning issue of workplace violence in dental offices. I was joined by my friend Duane Tinker, a compliance consultant and former investigator for the Texas Dental Board. This episode is a bit more serious than usual but oh so important. Dental Office Safety: We discuss the duty of business owners to provid…

In this episode, I was joined by Gary Bird, founder and managing partner of SMC National, to discuss changes in dental marketing strategies. We talked about many topics but really became animated when these came up: Video Marketing: Gary emphasized the importance of video in marketing, especially for promoting larger dental treatments. He discusses…

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. In this episode, I took a deep dive into the world of cyber attacks and cybersecurity in the dental industry. My guests Teresa Pichay of the California Dental Association and Colette Johnson of The Dentists Insurance Company shared how phishing, vishing (it’s a thing!), and other forms of cyber attacks take…

It's a beautiful situation when a manager and dentist truly co-pilot the practice! It takes work to reach that balance though. For this deep dive into the manager-dentist dynamic, I gathered three dentists in different stages of their careers. They shared what worked and - more importantly - what didn't work. They also shared how they show apprecia…

It's not often I can fangirl over one of my guests! Dr. Addison Killeen joined me to discuss the importance of systemization in dental practices and how it can transform the way we run our businesses. I've listened to him speak on these topics and am thrilled to share this knowledge with you. He believes that high levels of systemization and consis…

This one is for you, my fellow insurance nerds! Outsourcing and insurance are two hot topics in most dental groups. Many offices choose to outsource to lessen strain on and burnout of their valued team members. This strong demand has resulted in many brave entrepreneurs offering this service. I asked three successful remote billing company owners t…

My guests are Matt Nelson and Lisa Greer from the California Dental Association. They handle practice management and benefits issues from their member dentists. Between the two of them they've heard some stories! They share so many tips on this episode. Just a few critical topics facing owners and practice leaders: Non-covered services Leased netwo…

Another fun panel discussion! My two guests have helped offices grow by advising or facilitating the changes. Malika Azargoon and Jennifer Steadman shared their thoughts on these topics: the importance of signage due diligence and how non-contractual items can kill a deal who you want on your transition team Lots of laughs, stories and advice. I ho…

What I love about my conversations with Dr. Gerilyn Alfe is how candid she is. She talks about her unexpected experience switch from dentistry to coaching. We then dish a bit about working with different dental team types. A conversation about muddy dental vision (not the eyes) and how to prioritize our many office systems rounds out the episode. L…

Expansion, sales, associates - all this growth can be hard on a practice. We tend to think of growth as a positive experience and usually, it is. However the financial health of the practice can be threatened by over-leveraging, participation decisions and team changes. Perrin DesPortes shed a lot of light on these topics and shared strategies to s…

Hiring associates can be such a pain BUT it's beautiful when it works. I gathered a smart group of managers who have spent years hiring and training associates in their practices. I hope their knowledge can help you anticipate any upcoming transitions for your office. Some highlights: Which traits are a hard pass when interviewing associates? Are n…

What an enlightening episode! Elvis Dahl and Barb Warner from Voices from the Bench Podcast spoke openly about the business of dental labs. I definitely learned a good amount. Imagine your lab comes in and shows you how to up your scan game. What about if they helped you to be more confident with larger restorations? This means more revenue. We cov…

It’s wild that Amanda and I actually worked together years ago! We take a quick trip down memory lane but then we dive into some really gross but fascinating topics. Infection control is no laughing matter but we couldn’t help it. Biofilm, cultures, water testing, fake nails - we went through it all. Enjoy! Article Amanda referenced: Waterline warn…

Dental billing is evolving but it seems like our systems are always slow to change. Listen in as I talk with a group of dental nerds (like us!) about what they see out there. Some highlights: Faster billing cycles are the way to go. Passing credit card fees to the patient. You may change your mind with this one. Is it easier to ask for money nowada…

Full show notes/links on the podcast home page! https://nobodytoldmethat.libsyn.com Rachel Wall is back on the podcast to share more periodontal wisdom! For 2023 she turned parts of Inspired Hygiene’s coaching into a Perio Protocol Online Bootcamp. I love a good deep dive! Periodontal programs will need real attention in the coming year. You won’t …

CORRECTION: Thanks to Dr. W for letting me know that local factors are plaque and calculus. I had localized in my head. Sorry for the confusion! On Election Day, Question #2 in Massachusetts easily passed. Medical loss ratio (MLR) is a hot topic right now but what is it and will the bill have the desired effect on the market? Time will tell. Debrid…

My long-time friend Ann Marie DePalma joins me to shed more light on the provider-side usage of AI. She's a Customer Success Manager with Pearl. Case presentation tips flowed! We discussed a variety of related topics including: How you can use AI to train your team and calibrate clinician diagnostic instincts. Yes, carriers utilize it but we are th…

Fellow insurance enthusiast Colleen Huff joins me to dish on trends we’re seeing. We sprinkled in some compliance and Medicare Advantage discussion. Enjoy! Full show notes on the podcast home page! https://nobodytoldmethat.libsyn.com/ Don’t forget to check out my other podcast Chew on This - A Dental Podcast! Connect with Colleen: Colleen’s Website…

Ryan is one of those guys that loves to build and turn around businesses. It’s fascinating to talk about strategies and industry trends with him. The generations and their particular consumer behaviors are important to him and so he keeps up with all the studies. Lucky us because he shares them with us! We also talk about his recent acquisition of …

Oops - I nerded out again. Brian Phillips was my partner in insurance geekdom this time. He knows so much about leased networks and provider credentialing. Sometimes it’s the people behind the scenes that can give you the most information - Brian fits that category to a tee. Listen in to a deep dive into the behind the scenes of contract management…

Another Hinman Lounge podcast! This time I sat with Drs. Kaplan and Gans to discuss implant care and sensitivity. That sounds very formal but they’re very fun and smart ladies, promise! I needed to ask about sensitivity because I’m now a pitiful baby during my cleanings. Shout out to my hygienists Camilla and Katie for putting up with my sensitive …

Earlier this year I spoke at the Hinman Dental meeting and was able to be a part of their Podcast Lounge. Very cool - hope more shows do this! I asked a few guests to stop by and Brad James was kind enough to make a 2nd podcast appearance. We talked about consumer behavior and what to expect with an uncertain economy. A few highlights: Employer cho…

Kim McGuire of Fortune Management is one of my favorite people to talk business with. Not just ‘what’s up with you?’ business but the business of dentistry, numbers and strategy. It felt good to deep dive into current conditions and how we can flex to succeed. We talked about these topics and more: Where did the critical thinking go? Her practical …

What if you could put new or unsure employees through a bootcamp? The culture shock in dentistry is real - the hard truth is that our new stars need more direction than a manual and some webinars. Our busy offices sometimes don’t allow us that luxury but what if that’s a cycle to be broken? Michelle Affanato has worked with hundreds of offices lear…

Have you heard of Log4Shell? Well, that’s why you need to stay up to speed on security issues. Most offices have ‘the IT company’ or as I called him ‘the IT guy.’ Nowadays you need help managing the CBCT, patient communication, phone system and practice management system. My guest is Dan De Steno from NOVA Computer Solutions - a managed services pr…

Infection control may seem boring but I’m telling you, my guest makes it interesting! For example - what do coffee and fake nails have in common? They don’t belong in your clinical area! Infection control expert and auditor India Chance joins me to discuss this and so much more. My main takeaway from this: someone actually thought to use their beef…

This episode is actually a follow up webinar for an AADOM panel discussion that I hosted. Boy that’s a mouthful! Curve Dental sponsored a fantastic panel discussion at AADOM’s annual conference. We wanted to continue the conversation with a follow up webinar that expanded on some of the most popular topics. Staffing, COVID situations, doctors runni…

Another insurance nerd joins me on the podcast! Rick Garofolo of Practice Mechanics teaches me about the Cures Act - part of me wishes I didn’t know anything about it. BUT it’s important and we need to be compliant when it goes into effect. We also discussed some hot topics from his classes at the recent American Association of Dental Office Manage…

This episode focuses on spending habits and lessons learned from past recessions. Sameer Bhasin is CareCredit’s VP of Alliances and has worked with dental offices for over 20 years. He shared that cosmetic surgery was the first division of CareCredit to rebound after the lockdown. So is it easier to discuss financing liposuction than crowns? Maybe.…

The 3rd Annual Insurance Extravaganza happens in November in Orlando. Founder Christine Taxin and accountability coach Lynne Leggett join me to talk about the benefits side of dentistry. The changes are coming at us fast and furious - it takes a community to truly stay on top of it all. We discuss Medicare, Medicaid, credentialing and all sorts of …

Popular speaker and workshop host Judy Kay has been helping teams collaborate and succeed for as long as I’ve known her. I asked her a million questions about practice culture and how to not only change it but to protect it as well. We went through quite a few scenarios and then topped it off by reminiscing about our own times as manager and Chief …

Brad James and I dished about the landscape of dentistry and then considered it from the patient and employer points of view. He’s the Director of Partner Development for Kleer, a membership plan software solution. We go into a few statistics (of course) about patient behavior with and without insurance as well as how offices could change strategy …

Where did all these Medicare Advantage plans come from? They’re great for seniors to be able to afford more dental care but they’re taking a lot of offices by surprise. I asked my friend Dilaine to break it down for you (and for me!) We throw around a lot of words like opt-in, enrolled and prescribing physician. They each have significant meaning a…

Returning guest Dayna Johnson talks to us about what she’s seeing in patient accounts. Some of the most common mistakes can cause big headaches when it’s time to bring on a new dentist or time to make a sale. Find out which reports she runs daily, weekly and monthly - and why. If you love numbers and attention to detail then this episode is for you…

“Disruption offers opportunity” - wise words from my guest Lisa Copeland. We talk about being brave, encouraging and firm in our team interactions. Each position and age group in our office has its own communication styles. The last year brought to light issues that should be addressed before they can cause lasting damage to your team. Topics like …

Dr. Gina Dorfman joins me to discuss her perspectives on patient behavior, group interviews and not managing like a witch. Could you be a micromanager and not even know it? I was one - I’ll admit it. We then talk about how patients are usually ready to commit when they contact you. I think you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to turn a patient awa…

Rita returns to the podcast with a bold question: are we letting our own preconceived notions of social media affect how we reach out to patients? I can say that it does for me and I have to remind myself of what my audience wants from me, not the other way around. She shares a recent experience that caused her to rethink strategy as well. Find out…

Dive into Episode 77 for the first part of this series. In this session, I share how I managed my time and duties. Tracking all the deadlines, review dates, renewal dates and the other stuff that pops up can be exhausting. Feel free to use my downloadable calendar as a guide and make it your own! Being a manager is hard - learn from the misses and …

This feeling just doesn’t affect new managers. Even experienced team leaders feel that they “should have known more” about a rule or a system. The job is hard and requires not only multi-tasking but still keeping track of many other items. In this two-part topic I’ll go over how a new manager could keep this guilt at bay by focusing on immediate co…

One of my favorite people to keep an eye on is Dr. Bryan Laskin. He’s the founder of OperaDDS, Toothapps, Upgrade Your Practice and more apps and services designed to make our lives easier. In dentistry we see a lot of change with materials and equipment but not nearly the same in the administrative field. I’m talking about reimagining the way you …

I asked Dr. Suzanne Ebert to share the horror stories and what she’s seen go wrong when dentists buy and sell practices. My listeners need to know the dark side, not just the rah rah moments. Dr. Ebert is with ADA Practice Transitions™ and has facilitated agreements with strange requirements (take my wife, please!) but also many that have been a po…

The post-COVID state of collections may surprise you - it’s better than I thought. Andy Cleveland is my guest and is known as the Dental Practice Ninja (hi-ya!). We chatted about collections protocols, small claims court and when to write off balances. Have you ever wondered if you should forgive a balance when a patient dies? What about if you run…