To tell us the importance of having preventative protocol in a dental practice and all the nuances around building the optimal caries prevention toolbox are our guests today, Danielle Avila and Laura Bettencourt. They are both RDHs with over 15 years of hygiene experience. They are co-founders of L’Diamante Dental Coaching, helping hygienists gain confidence and shine in their careers.

Have you ever thought about practicing dentistry in a rural area? In this episode, we'll take a closer look at what it means to practice dentistry in rural America. Our guest is Dr. Scott Benjamin, who is in private practice in rural upstate NY for over 40 years. Dr. Benjamin has faculty appointments at several universities, is the Chairman of the ADA Standards Committee Working Group on Dental Lasers and is a Past-President of the Academy of Laser Dentistry. He currently serves on the editorial review board for several prestigious dental journals. Thanks to our episode sponsors: NSK America - https://www.nskdental.com/ GC America - https://www.gc.dental/

As individuals, each of us have a unique set of oral health needs. These needs are influenced by a myriad of factors including our age, medical history, dental history, lifestyle, and genetics. And because of this, oral health assessments are pivotal in both diagnosing existing issues and in crafting preventative strategies to maintain long-term oral health. To talk about the oral health assessment in more depth and give us some super practical recommendations is our guest Kerry Lepicek. Kerry over 20 years of clinical experience as a registered dental hygienist and continues to work part-time in a clinical setting. She is an international speaker, a published author. and serves on the Advisory Board of the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health.

Did you ever get a bad online review? How did you respond? In this episode, we'll address some land mines to avoid when responding to a bad online review. Our guest is Dr. Karson Carpenter, dentist and CEO of Compliance Training Partners. Thanks to our sponsors: BISCO - https://www.bisco.com/ Cranberry - https://www.cranberryusa.com/

This episode is Part 1 of a 3 part series titled: Attract, Convert and Deliver. Part 1 deals specifically with Marketing Your Practice. Our guest is Dr. Todd Snyder, a regular contributor to Viva Learning.com, a cosmetic dentist, international author, lecturer and consultant to a variety of dental companies. He hosts a weekly podcast, Delusional: Winning the Weekly War of Dentistry. You can reach Dr. Snyder at: www.Legion.Dentist. Thanks to our sponsors: Cranberry - https://www.cranberryusa.com/ BISCO - https://www.bisco.com/

As dental healthcare providers, our primary goal is to diagnose and treat oral health conditions. But a dental practice is also a business. And like every successful business, it needs a clear and strong value proposition. It should define how you deliver your "brand promise" and how your offering will deliver value to your patients and staff. Your value proposition differentiates you, positions your offering as “unique,” and makes it clear why patients should choose you as their dentist. To tell us more about how we can define our value and communicate it to our patients and our team, is our guest Dr. Lori Trost. Dr. Trost is a recognized dental educator, author, and clinical consultant who maintains a comprehensive restorative practice in the Greater St. Louis, Missouri area.

Regardless of where we practice, it is highly likely that we have patients that suffer from substance-use disorders. Many of us are faced with cases where severe decay, hyposalivation, and poor plaque control may be the result of depressant, stimulant or opioid misuse. Today we'll be discussing how to recognize the clues of a substance-use disorder from a routine oral exam and talk about how we can deliver safe and effective dental care for these patients. Our guest is Dr. Ronni Brown, a leading expert on substance-use disorders and its oral effects. Her research on the impacts of drug-use patterns on caries severity has garnered international interest. She is a best-selling author, published researcher, and clinician. Dr. Brown practices at the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility.

Too often, clinical dental hygienists have a limited view of their role as, what our guest calls, inflammatory disease prevention specialists. While this is the crux of what hygienists do, patient care goes well beyond. Today we'll be talking about the oral-systemic link and how hygienists can leverage this to add life-saving value to each patient they see and improve the profitability of their practice. Our guest is Alicia Murria, a quality care enthusiast, technology integration specialist, and productivity coach. She has devoted her career to empowering professionals to provide high quality services utilizing the dental hygiene scope of practice as standard for care.

Today we'll be discussing some important improvements and modifications in both electric and air-driven handpieces. Additionally, we'll address some really important tips on how to extend the life of handpieces and answer the question, "With the latest electric handpiece advancements, is there still a place for air-driven handpieces in our practice?" Our guest is Dr. Marc Geissberger, who practices in Greenbrae, California and was a full professor, department chair and educator at the University of the Pacific for 30 years. He has published on restorative dentistry for the past two decades and teaches many and hands-on programs and lectures all over the world.

Today we'll be discussing the pros and cons of both conscious and IV sedation. Our guest is Dr. Michael Morehead, Clinical Director of Sedation for Heartland Dental Care. He is a US Army Reserve Colonel and Dental Director for the Atlantic Region.

So the question is, when a patient presents with a blown out tooth and can't afford to spend a ton of money, can we restore the tooth with a composite filling and will it last? Our guest today, Dr John Gammachia, says yes we can! In fact, a great deal of his practice is based on doing this as he pushes the envelope with today's advanced composite materials utilizing the latest bonding technology, and of course, meticulous clinical technique. Today we'll talk to Dr. Gammichia about how he does this with such a high rate of clinical success and at the same time maintains a very profitable practice. Dr. Gammichia owns a private practice in Orlando, FL, lectures throughout the country and has published articles on how to use composite for severely broken down teeth. He is a courtesy faculty member at the University of Florida in the Department of Operative Dentistry.

Are you frustrated with dealing with dental insurance companies and is accepting their fees even worth your chairside time? Perhaps you should be handling insurance companies differently? To tell us more about this essential part of running a practice is our guest, Dr. Dominique Fufidio. Dr Fufidio is the CEO, Founder and main coach at Fufidio Consulting Group (fufidioconsultinggroup.com) where she has pioneered a unique coaching offering: one focused on understanding the clinical aspects of the dental insurance claims review process. She is on a mission to bring clinical alignment to dental providers and dental market insurance payers, to help you get paid for what you do!

We all use WiFi everyday. In addition to cell phones and TVs, many of our devices and appliances, often referred to as IoT, Internet of Things, rely on WiFi to operate properly. When it comes to our dental practice, there are huge advantages to having WiFi capabilities integrated into our sterilization equipment. To tell us more about it is Our guest Michelle Strange. Michelle is a registered dental hygienist with over 20 years of dental experience.

When it comes to buying your dental supplies, everyone is looking to save money. But when you're shopping for PPE, like a dental glove or mask, you have to be extremely cautious about whom you're actually buying from. After all, gloves and masks are considered medical devices. So the question is, do you completely trust your vendor and are you sure you're actually getting PPE that has gone through the rigorous quality control that's part and parcel with an FDA-approved and medical grade device? To help us better understand how to manage the cost and quality of our PPE, are two incredibly knowledgeable people, Linda Harvey and Mary Govoni. They are arguably among the best educators, authors and speakers on the topic of Infection Prevention and Control.

The geriatric adult population is expanding rapidly in the United States. How will this effect your dental practice and what do you need to do to prepare for the influx of aging patients. To tell us more about this is a remarkable man and dentist, Dr. Terry Grant. He is changing the lives of many older patients who would otherwise not get the special care he and is staff are providing. Dr. Grant has over 30 years experience as a Cosmetic, General, and Geriatric Dentist. He was awarded “Diplomat in Geriatric Dentistry” by the American Board of Special Care Dentistry and The American Society for Geriatric Dentistry. He was honored by the U.S. Congress for his service as a Geriatric Dentistry Expert.

Have you ever wondered what the life of a dental insurance claim reviewer is like? My guess is, probably not. If you know the answer to this question you're at a great advantage when dealing with insurance companies and getting paid for what you do. To tell us more about this, is our guest Dr. Dominique Fufidio. Dr Fufidio is the CEO, Founder and main coach at Fufidio Consulting Group (fufidioconsultinggroup.com) where she has pioneered a unique coaching offering: one focused on understanding the clinical aspects of the dental insurance claims review process.

Even though millions of patients have successfully been treated with dental implants some of us are still not sure if it's okay to probe an implant and what the proper protocol is for implant maintenance. To help us answer some of these questions is our guest Jessica Woods. Jessica is a RDH with a masters in public health. She has spent the last decade as a clinician, speaker, author, mentor, and public health advocate. She is also a past President of the Nevada Dental Hygienists’ Association (NDHA), recognized as an Oral Health Champion, and the recipient of the Nevada Dental Hygienist of the Year Award for advocacy efforts in expanding opportunities for dental hygienists.

Dental practices rely on the results from CDC recommended spore tests to assess whether their sterilizers are functioning properly. Today we'll talk about the other critical components of quality assurance, which are sterilization indicators and integrators. Our guest is Mary Govoni, a speaker, author and consultant on Infection Prevention Control and regulatory compliance. She assists dental teams in achieving compliance with OSHA standards and CDC guidelines, as well as following appropriate infection control protocols.

OSA is more common than you think. And as dentists, it's so important to identify this insidious condition as early as possible. Not only can it wreak havoc on your patient's teeth and gums, it can also cause serious systemic health issues for the adult, child and even newborn. Today we'll discuss integrative oral medicine and how it relates to conditions like OSA. We'll also discuss the importance of using biologically kind restorative materials that promote systemic health and predictable long-term clinical success. Our guest is Dr. Mark Cannon, a Professor of Otolaryngology, Division of Dentistry at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, and a member of the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry. In addition to maintaining a large private practice in the suburbs of Chicago, he is the Research Coordinator of the residency program at Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Cannon is on the Executive Board, current President (2023) and a Master Fellow of the American Academy for Oral and Systemic Health.

In this episode we will discuss photobiomodulation (PBM) and how it plays a role in reducing inflammation and healing in dentistry. Joining us today is an expert in the field of dental lasers, Dr. Scott Benjamin. He is currently in private practice in upstate NY and has faculty appointments at several universities. He is the Chairman of the ADA Standards Committee Working Group on Dental Lasers and a Past-President of the Academy of Laser Dentistry.

Staying compliant with Infection Control protocol is of utmost importance to the health and safety of our patients. And we all know that every office should have stringent IC protocol in place per CDC guidelines. But in addition to the risk to the patient, the practice itself is also at risk by not being fully compliant. Our guest is Dr. Karson Carpenter, dentist and CEO of Compliance Training Partners. He will tell us about a situation where a disgruntled employee reported an office to the state board and how best to avoid and handle this situation.

Lots of compelling research is supporting the concept of doing things a little differently when it comes to placing our composite restorative materials. And yes, you've guessed it, this has to do with the temperature of the material when applying it to the tooth preparation. Our guest, Dr. John Comisi, will tell us more about this and why we should consider warming things up in our direct restorative procedures. Dr. Comisi practiced general dentistry and dental sleep medicine in Ithaca, NY for 35 years before relocating to South Carolina in August 2017 to join the faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine where he is an Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry.

With all the emphasis in the news about climate change and environmental challenges, are there things we can do in our practice to minimize negative impacts on the environment? But we also have to keep in mind that protocols for becoming a "green" practice should not come at the expense of proper infection prevention control. To tell us more about balancing safety and environmental responsibility is our guest Mary Govoni. Mary is a speaker, author and consultant on Infection Prevention Control and regulatory compliance. With a long-term interest in environmental quality, Mary lectures and consults on how dental practices can be safe in terms of infection control and use of chemicals, but at the same time, reduce their impact on the environment.

In today’s podcast we’ll be addressing and debunking some of these myths and misconceptions about the intraoral scanner and revealing how it can actually be incredibly positive for the dental practice. Helping us put all this in perspective is our guest, Dr. Franklin Shull. Dr Shull maintains a private practice focused on comprehensive care and has extensive expertise in digital workflow. He shares his experiences through lectures and workshops throughout the US and is visiting faculty at the Pankey Institute. He is also part time faculty at Spear Education teaching Digital Adoption.

How do we avoid the side effects and potential emergency situations that can be associated with both local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors? What can we do to minimize the risk and manage the emergency situation? Our guest is Dr. David Isen, who runs a dental clinic in Toronto, Canada, Sleep For Dentistry. He has given over 400 presentations around the world on topics related to the management of medical emergencies in healthcare settings, local anesthesia for dentistry and the use of sedation in dentistry.

This episode discusses setting the stage and mastering verbal skills during the dental hygiene visit. There is a ton of great information in this one! Our guest is Kim Miller, a registered dental hygienist, international speaker, writer, trainer and coach. She is passionate about incorporating the oral systemic link and treating periodontal disease with the 'whole' body in mind.

Today we'll be discussing some of the challenges that we face as dental professionals that often leads to professional burnout. So the question is, if we are in a rut with our career, how do we reignite our passion for dentistry, feel healthy and maintain our enthusiasm and enjoyment as we continue our important work as a healthcare provider. To help us sort this all out we're happy to have Dr. Eric Block on our podcast today. Dr Block is a full-time practicing dentist in Acton, Massachusetts, certified by the American Association of Dental Boards for continuing education and lectures nationwide, helping dentists become more efficient, productive, and less stressed with their day to day routines. He can be reached at info@thestressfreedentist.com.

Dental podcast: We can all agree that the dental handpiece is the workhorse of our practice. We need it to perform reliably, day after day. So today we're going to get deeper into why having the right kind of handpiece is so critical to a smooth running practice and to achieve predictable clinical results. Our guest is Dr. Chad Duplantis, who maintains a small group private practice in Fort Worth, TX, focusing on aesthetic and restorative dentistry. Dr. Duplantis is an author, a lecturer, and a key opinion leader in dentistry. His interests are mainly in digital, implant, and restorative dentistry. In 2020, Dr. Duplantis co-founded the Facebook Group Dentists IN the Know, which is designed to keep the dental industry well-informed.

Thanks for joining us. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Today we'll be discussing the myths and realities of using zirconia materials. Our guest is Dr. Edward McLaren, a Prosthodontist and Master Dental Ceramist. Currently, he is the CEO of ArtOral America, a private teaching institute based in Park City Utah, and maintains a private practice limited to prosthodontics and esthetic dentistry. He has presented numerous courses on ceramics and esthetics globally, authored or co-authored over 90 articles, and published a book titled “The Art of Passion: Ceramics, Teeth, Faces, and Places.”

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Today we'll be discussing the tools needed to provide excellent aesthetics in your dental practice, as well as how these tools will allow your practice to grow. Our guest is Dr. Sarah Winter, who practices in La Jolla California. Dr. Winter has taught aesthetic dentistry and has published articles for several dental periodicals.

Dental podcast: Thanks for joining us. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Today we'll be discussing the hygiene department, which plays a major role in the health of a practice. Some may even say it is the heart of a dental practice. Knowing and improving your hygiene department vital signs can be critical to overall practice success. Our guest is Camille Luke, a Registered Dental Hygienist with a Master's of Science in Dental Hygiene. She has been practicing dental hygiene for over 30 years, working in private practice as well as in education.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Zirconia categories are specific to patient needs and it's important to know what to use for a given patient and clinical application. Today we'll be discussing both zirconia and dental cements and how they contribute to durable and predictable results. Our guest is Dr. Daniel Poticny, who maintains a full time practice in Grand Prairie, TX and is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He is a published author on digital dentistry, materials, cements and adhesive dentistry having presented internationally since 2005. He is a consultant and advisor to manufacturers and serves as an editorial board reviewer for numerous dental journals.

Thanks for joining us. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. In the US, in 2022, there were about 11,000 dental school applicants and of those, 6,300 enrolled as a freshman dental student. So essentially, last year, 57% of applicants ended up going to a US dental school. For most of them, their path was pretty predictable... finish college and go straight to dental school. But for some, their decision to apply to dental school happened years later... and only after realizing that their current career, completely different from dentistry, was not what they wanted to do for the rest of their working life. Today we'll be talking to one such dental school applicant hoping to start in 2024. Her name is Adrienne Frachtman, a young lady who already has a career in the health science field and is determined to pursue her dream of becoming a dentist. And I might add that of the more than 450 episodes that we've produced on this show since 2018,, this will be the first time we've talked with a dental school applicant.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Today we'll be discussing how to prepare your dental office and staff to recognize medical emergency situations, and learn to efficiently and effectively manage them. Our guest is Dr. Stanley Malamed, a dentist anesthesiologist and emeritus professor of dentistry at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of U.S.C., formerly the University of Southern California School of Dentistry.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. When it comes to your root canal cases, increasing speed doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing safety or a favorable outcome. Today we'll be discussing research-based facts and the tools to use to make our root canal procedures faster and easier with predictable clinical outcomes. Our guest is Dr. Aaron Nicholas, who has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years and was picked as one of Washington’s Top Dentists by Washingtonian Magazine and has been chosen every year as a “Top Doctor” by the Consumer Council of America since 2004.

Women have historically been central to the field of dentistry, constituting over 95% of dental assistants, hygienists, and office managers. However, when it comes to women in leadership roles within practices, organized dentistry, and the industry, the percentages don't reflect this same level of representation. In this episode we'll delve into the relevance of this disparity with our guest Dr. Lauren Rainey. Dr. Rainey owns and operates her own clinical practice and currently teaches direct restorative techniques to dentists in the US & Canada. Thanks to our episode sponsors: COLTENE - https://www.coltene.dental/viva-hyflex/ GC America - https://www.gc.dental/

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Whether removing decay, reducing tooth structure, accessing the pulp or adjusting a pristine ceramic surface - it's important to know your burs and how they can improve clinical outcome. Today we'll be discussing how to put the right spin on your preps and restorations. Our guest is Dr. Lori Trost. She is a recognized dental educator, author, and clinical consultant who maintains a comprehensive restorative practice in the Greater St. Louis, Missouri area.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Today we'll be discussing the latest evidence-based practical guidelines for caries management along with strategies to incorporate new treatment methods into daily practice. Our guest is Joy Void-Holmes, otherwise known as Dr. Joy. She is a registered dental hygienist with over 25 years of clinical experience. She is founder of Dr. Joy, RDH™ and co-founder of JELL-ED. Dr. Joy has presented continuing education courses nationally and internationally.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. It's no secret to any of us listening to this podcast that costs are up and reimbursements haven't kept up and in some cases theyre going down. Inflation, supply chain issues, and short staffing have made it harder than ever to be profitable. So in light of all this, it's important that we work efficiently. Today we'll be discussing strategies to increase our efficiency and keep costs down without sacrificing quality. Our guest is Dr. Joshua Austin, who maintains a full time restorative dentistry practice in San Antonio, Texas. He is an editorial director and monthly columnist for Dental Economics magazine focusing on dental products and technology.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Today we'll be discussing tooth replacement using minimally invasive adhesive bridges. Our guest is Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz, who has been named as one of the “Top Clinicians in CE” between 2006-2011 by Dentistry Today. He is the director of the Los Angeles Institute of Esthetic Dentistry and past course director of the “University of Southern California’s Esthetic Dentistry Continuum” from 2004-2009. He has been in full time private practice in the Studio District of Los Angeles for 20 years.

Dental podcast: I'm Dr. Phil Klein. In this podcast, we'll answer some common questions about the role of the GP in detecting oral cancer and how general dentists can become proficient in oral cancer screening and biopsy techniques. We'll also talk about how to bill for these life-saving services. Our guest is Dr. Robert Convissar, a general practitioner with over 40 years of clinical experience. In addition to maintaining a private practice in New York City, he also lectures worldwide on laser surgery, biopsy techniques and infant tongue tie release. Dr. Convissar is the author of over half a dozen textbooks and well over a dozen peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Today we'll be discussing the use of digital and traditional impression taking techniques and how to make things easier for the dental lab, which ultimately results in less stress and a better restoration for the patient. Our guest is Dr. Richard Lipscomb Jr., a General Dentist and International Speaker, who lectures on Restorative and Dental Implant procedures. He is on the editorial advisory board for Dental Products Report and a Catapult member, who speaks and evaluates new products.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Lithium Disilicate restorations are the most popular aesthetic ceramic restorations being placed today. Today we'll be discussing the materials and time proven techniques used to deliver restorations made from Lithium Disilicate and how they can decrease problems and increase longevity of your restorations. Our guest is Dr. Gary Radz, who maintains a cosmetic focused general practice in downtown Denver, Colorado for 25 years. He has extensively lectured and published on restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Over the course of his career he has worked with manufacturers and laboratories to evaluate and improve dental products.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Vital tooth whitening has been a component of many dental offices for decades, and yet many clinicians are uncertain how to answer many of FAQs their patients pose. Today we'll be discussing topics such as safety, tooth sensitivity, and how long should you bleach. Our guest is Dr. Miles Cone, a Key Opinion Leader, international speaker, author, and co-owner of Nuance Dental Specialists in Portland, Maine. In addition to achieving board certification and diplomate status within his Prosthodontic specialty, Dr. Cone has earned his designation as a Certified Dental Technician.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Biocompatible materials are formulated to eliminate adverse effects on a patient's biology when used in the mouth. Today we'll be discussing how to choose the correct biocompatible materials for your patients and elevate your patients with wellness dentistry. Our guest is Dr. Katie To, a cosmetic and wellness dentist and founder of Center for Integrative Wellness and Cosmetic Dentistry in Katy, Texas.

Dental podcast: Tooth whitening has a mass appeal for many patients, but how do you effectively convey this information and your services to your patient base? Today we'll be discussing marketing and how to add value to your clinical practice with tooth whitening. Our guest is Dr. Miles Cone, a Key Opinion Leader, international speaker, author, and co-owner of Nuance Dental Specialists in Portland, Maine. In addition to achieving board certification and diplomate status within his Prosthodontic specialty, Dr. Cone has earned his designation as a Certified Dental Technician.

Chairside denture relines are one of those few dental procedures that have not really changed very much. Technique is important but as important is using the right materials. So today we'll be talking to Dr. Ian Shuman, a dentist who has been making dentures and doing chairside relines for over 35 years. He will share with us some key tips and tricks and his favorite materials that never let him down. Dr. Shuman has been named one of the Top Clinicians in Continuing Education since 2005 by Dentistry Today. An educator and author, Dr. Shuman is a pioneer in developing advanced, minimally invasive techniques including the development and production of the V-DOC, a device used to measure and determine a patient’s vertical dimension of occlusion.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. Today we'll be discussing some significant issues that we face as GPs in treating periodontitis in our GP operatory. Our guest is Hillary Spencer, a full time clinical hygienist living in Kona Hawaii. Hillary was one of the first hygienists trained in the use of the BenTips Periodontal Treatment System and has become an expert in its use.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. With the popularity and demand for tooth whitening services and the abundance of materials to choose from, today we'll be outlining the products that are available to best serve the needs of you and your patients. Our guest is Dr. Miles Cone, a Key Opinion Leader, international speaker, author, and co-owner of Nuance Dental Specialists in Portland, Maine. In addition to achieving board certification and diplomate status within his Prosthodontic specialty, Dr. Cone has earned his designation as a Certified Dental Technician.

Dental podcast: Welcome to DentalTalk. I'm Dr. Phil Klein. In today's podcast we'll be discussing not only the techniques associated with the post and core procedure, but equally important, why each step is essential to long term success. Our guest is Dr. Lou Graham, who graduated from Emory Dental School and is an internationally recognized lecturer extensively involved in continuing education for dental professionals.