Learn what millennial dentists are doing to exceed patient expectations, enjoy dentistry more, and take more vacations!
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170. When to Add or Remove Procedures in Your Dental Practice - The Millennial Dentist Podcast
Episode 170
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 • Duration 18:14
In this episode, I’m diving into a topic that every dentist faces—how to manage your menu of services to maximize productivity and efficiency. I’ll share insights on when to expand or cut back on procedures, strategies for avoiding burnout, and the importance of flexibility in your offerings for long-term success. Additionally, I’ll break down how transitioning patients to associates can help free up your schedule for larger cases and explain why setting limits on certain procedures can actually boost your practice.
@1:42 - Expanding & Refining Your Menu of Services
@4:18 - The Impact of Service Selection on Production
@11:05 - Transitioning Patients to Associates
@12:15 - Setting Limits on Procedures to Increase Efficiency
@15:17 - Adjusting in Tough Times
Who is Dr. Sully Sullivan?
Dr. Sully is a fourth-generation dentist from Nashville, Tn. After receiving his doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Tennessee, he moved back to Nashville to practice with his father. By continuing to invest in his education through adult orthodontics, soft tissue grafting, dental implants, third molar extractions, and obstructive sleep apnea, he helped double his practice in just 24 months.
As a millennial, he truly believes in working smarter not harder, which has led him to utilize technology to not only deliver better patient care but more efficient care. Dr. Sullivan regularly uses CEREC, 3D imaging with Galileos, 3D printing, and multiple lasers. In addition to his practice, he started the Millennial Dentist Podcast in February of 2017 to help push his fellow colleagues to take their dental careers to the next level. Dr. Sully lectures around the country on cone beam technology, cad/cam dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, and practice management. He is also an ambassador for the 3D-Dentist teaching facility in Raleigh, NC.
As always, thanks so much for listening! If you like the show, we would love for you to review the show on Apple Podcasts as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com
169. Juggling Overwhelm and Loneliness at the Top - The Millennial Dentist Podcast
Episode 169
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 • Duration 14:07
Today’s episode is about managing the weight of responsibility in running a practice. Feeling overwhelmed is normal, and I share my experiences handling stress. This past week has been exhausting, juggling work, coaching, and personal challenges. Leadership can feel isolating, and therapy has helped me separate accountability from guilt. Prioritizing tasks and embracing support systems are key to managing stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Thanks for tuning in! Next episode will be more upbeat. Until then, work smarter, not harder.
@01:42 - Feeling Left Behind
@04:12 - Struggling Through a Rough Day
@05:01 - Hitting My Bandwidth Limit
@07:12 - Personal Growth Through Therapy
@09:55 - Learning to Manage the Weight
Who is Dr. Sully Sullivan?
Dr. Sully is a fourth-generation dentist from Nashville, Tn. After receiving his doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Tennessee, he moved back to Nashville to practice with his father. By continuing to invest in his education through adult orthodontics, soft tissue grafting, dental implants, third molar extractions, and obstructive sleep apnea, he helped double his practice in just 24 months.
As a millennial, he truly believes in working smarter not harder, which has led him to utilize technology to not only deliver better patient care but more efficient care. Dr. Sullivan regularly uses CEREC, 3D imaging with Galileos, 3D printing, and multiple lasers. In addition to his practice, he started the Millennial Dentist Podcast in February of 2017 to help push his fellow colleagues to take their dental careers to the next level. Dr. Sully lectures around the country on cone beam technology, cad/cam dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, and practice management. He is also an ambassador for the 3D-Dentist teaching facility in Raleigh, NC.
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Allie Frounfelter and we talk about the importance of mastering the fundamentals of dental preparation, emphasizing that prepping multiple teeth can be as straightforward as prepping a single one with the right understanding. We explore how understanding tooth positioning and occlusion can simplify complex procedures, enabling dentists to treat patients more confidently. We discuss the value of empowering dental team members by providing opportunities for growth, allowing them to excel and become integral parts of high-end dental practices.
068 Millennial Mastermind with T-Bone Speaks Host Dr. Tarun Agarwal
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 • Duration 16:46
One of our favorite people Dr. Tarun Agarwal is herewith me today to talk about the Millennial Mastermind event we will be hosting together in January. Dr. Agarwal is known as T-Bone and the host of the T-Bone Speaks podcast. He also the founder of Raleigh Dental Arts. He is excited about sharing his experience and mistakes with younger dentists to help them move forward faster.
He has been a mentor of mine and had a huge impact on my life and practice. Having accountability and access to a group of like minded individuals makes progressing so much faster and easier. There will be weekends, monthly coaching calls, individual sessions, and the ability to have office meetings and watch clinical dentistry. All aspects of dentistry will be covered from clinical, business, and mindset including short-term, medium-term, and long-term thinking.
[01:40] Dr. Agarwal feels that a millennial mastermind will allow him to make the most impact while also having a positive impact on himself.
[01:56] He wants to disrupt and help people figure out how to get on the right track.
[02:48] Dr. Agarwal has had a ton of success and a millennial mastermind and giving back is really his sweet spot.
067 Live with Dr. Israel Puterman and Dr. Matthew Fien
Tuesday, September 11, 2018 • Duration 01:14:00
We are Live today with Dr. Israel Puterman and Dr. Matthew Fien. Dr. Israel is a periodontist in Washington D.C. and Dr. Matthew Fien is a periodontist in Florida. They are both really excited about modern advancements in perio treatment and teach the course Hands on Guided Bone Regeneration.
Both doctors take treatment and treatment planning very seriously and understand the importance of predictability, explaining all options to patients, and keeping teeth when possible. We talk about how they ended up being periodontists. What they think is important in patient care, treatment planning, continuing education, photography, and of course Instagram.
[02:24] Dr Israel decided to become a dentist after shadowing his wife's dentist. He almost fainted, but ended up doing periodontics.
[03:45] He went to Dental school in Boston. He didn't want to be a periodontist.
[05:34] He did an implant residency in Loma Linda and discovered he did want to be a periodontist.
[06:44] Dr. Fien was planning on become a physician, then he hung out with a periodontist and learned what dentists do.
[08:09] He went into periodontics right after graduating.
[10:35] There is a huge overlap between periodontists and oral surgeons.
[14:26] After dental school is when the education really starts. Real learning is done on the job.
[16:10] Periodontists are trained in school to treatment plan bigger cases.
...
066 Finding Your Passion and Give Back with Dr. Joe Mehranfar
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 • Duration 52:13
We are so excited to have Dr. Joe Mehranfar here today. Dr. Joe shares how he taught, obtained two master’s degrees, and didn’t always have the best grades before beginning dental school. He also shares how a mentor helped him become the implant expert that he is today. He tells the story of how he had 80 offices and almost lost everything before building his practice back up.
He also shares his experience when he first arrived from Iran, and how he eventually found his passion with teaching and giving back to the underserved and disenfranchised homeless community. He teaches at Brighter Way Live and is involved with the Dental Clinic at CASS. He shares his passion for dentistry and implants done the right way and giving back to those less fortunate.
[01:40] Dr. Joe shares the winding road that he traveled to actually make it through dental school. He even obtained two master's degrees and taught anatomy.
[08:57] He became an assistant and learned how to do implants.
[10:03] He moved to Phoenix and started doing implants.
[11:03] Dr. Joe offered affordable implants and got over 100 patients right out of school.
[12:24] The impact of ego, experience, and nerves.
[13:09] He then partnered with ClearChoice and started lecturing about the product.
065 The Millennial Dentist’s favorite Canadian, Dr. Paresh Shah
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 • Duration 01:11:02
Dr. Paresh Shah is here to talk about the importance of continuing education, treatment planning, and having a mentor. Dr. Shah was born in India, but has been in Winnipeg, Canada for 50 years where he has been a solo practitioner. He has recently added an associate to his practice. After being an associate, Dr. Shaw purchased a practice from a retiring dentist and built that practice up. He really became excited about dentistry when he found mentors and teachers and like minded people to grow with.
In this episode, Dr. Shaw shares a lot of great information for young dentists and dentists starting out. He talks about the importance of getting or buying a patient base when you first start out. He talks about how to use technology in a smart, efficient, and profitable way. We talk about how to find and communicate with labs and lot more great stuff on today’s show.
[01:51] Dr. Shaw was born in India, but he has been in Winnipeg Canada for over 50 years.
[02:26] His family and his practice are in Winnipeg and his daughter is a dentist in Chicago.
[02:59] Dr. Shaw has been a solo practitioner, but he just got an associate.
[03:06] He does restorative dentistry, implants, cosmetic dentistry, and interdisciplinary care.
[03:20] He has a busy practice with three full-time hygienists. They have five rooms and their operation is very efficient.
064 Making Decisions for What Is Next With 3 D4 Students
Tuesday, August 7, 2018 • Duration 32:40
This episode is live from Quito, Ecuador. Sully is joined by Morgan, Anna, and Tessa who are three UTHSC D4 students. We discuss what the future holds for these three D4 students and what their plans are. Getting through dental school can be hectic, but once the goal of graduating is over. It is time to begin a new career as a dentist.
We talk about associateships, opening a new practice, taking over a practice, working for the government, and finding mentors. Faced with all of these decisions, it is probably a good time to think about what these students actually want, where they want to live, and what type of practice they want. We talk about finding options and exploring what is and isn’t a good fit.
Show Notes:
[01:03] Morgan is a D4 student at UTHSC College of Dentistry. She is from Indiana.
[01:10] Anna is also a D4 at UTHSC. She is from Connecticut.
[01:26] Tessa is also a D4 from Knoxville, TN.
[01:58] Dental school was different than they thought it would be. The time commitment is much bigger.
[02:39] The computer system and the school system took awhile to get the hang of.
[02:55] After graduating, you realize how much you don't know.
[03:09] What is next and how to deal with that.
[03:30] For Anna associateship is an option. Where depends on the licensing. Finding a good mentor is also an option.
[04:33] Find where you want to go and then find a job. Or find a job and go there.
[05:28] It's okay to find an opportunity and learn and then move on.
[06:02] Find a dentist you know and get them to introduce you to their network.
[06:38] Dental reps can be great resources for finding dental jobs.
[08:17] Cessa is not sure where she wants to go and is thinking about some type of government job.
063 The Life and Dentistry Crew: Recap on first year of being a Dentist
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 • Duration 40:48
Big Joe, Cole, and John Wesley of the Life and Dentistry Podcast joined me live at the TDA! We had an awesome conversation on their first year out of school, residencies, buying a practice, and what CE they have taken. This episode is a must listen!
If you haven’t checked out their podcast make sure to check it out. In this episode find out the #1 thing Cole learned from residency, how John Wesley found his practice in Cookville, Tn, and how Big Joe got us roped into being the official photographers of the TDA Meeting!
I think one of the best parts of this episode is the importance of having a plan when you go in as an associate towards the future. What is the practice worth? How long will you be an associate? How long does senior dentist want to work?
As always thanks so much for listening! If you like the show we would love for you to review the show on iTunes as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com.
062 The Boys are Back in Town…Sully, PeyRay, and Jeff
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 • Duration 53:49
Taking a week off from the typical interview style podcast for some local discussion between Dr. Sully, Dr. PeyRay, and Dr. Jeff Trembley. These are some of my favorite episodes we just talk about real life problems we are dealing with and what we are doing to confront them!
In this episode, we talk about how Dr. PeyRay and Jeff have both signed up with consultants to help their practices. We are very interested to follow along with their experience and will be updating throughout the process. Dr. PeyRay has had some team turnover and his A/R has gotten a little out of hand so he is excited to have the consultant help him with his systems. Dr. Jeff is really trying to set the trajectory of his practice.
We also jumped into talking about dental insurance and what it looks like to move towards fee for service. This is something I have been wanting to do for awhile now and love hearing how it’s working with Dr. Jeff. As always this episode is just jammed packed with nuggets! Enjoy!!
As always thanks so much for listening! If you like the show we would love for you to review the show on iTunes as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at mailto:millennialdentist@gmail.com.
As always, thanks so much for listening! If you like the show, we would love for you to review the show on Apple Podcasts as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com
Dr. Sully is a fourth-generation dentist from Nashville, Tn. After receiving his doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Tennessee, he moved back to Nashville to practice with his father. By continuing to invest in his education through adult orthodontics, soft tissue grafting, dental implants, third molar extractions, and obstructive sleep apnea, he helped double his practice in just 24 months.
As a millennial, he truly believes in working smarter not harder, which has led him to utilize technology to not only deliver better patient care but more efficient care. Dr. Sullivan regularly uses CEREC, 3D imaging with Galileos, 3D printing, and multiple lasers. In addition to his practice, he started the Millennial Dentist Podcast in February of 2017 to help push his fellow colleagues to take their dental careers to the next level. Dr. Sully lectures around the country on cone beam technology, cad/cam dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, and practice management. He is also an ambassador for the 3D-Dentist teaching facility in Raleigh, NC.
As always, thanks so much for listening! If you like the show, we would love for you to review the show on Apple Podcasts as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com
Links and Resources
Email: MillennialDentist@gmail.com
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[03:22] Dr. Agarwal is only 42 years old. He has been in the business for almost 20 years.
[03:53] He started a practice from scratch and had to deal with insurance issues.
[04:29] Great things happen when you put together a small group of motivated individuals who want to achieve great things for themselves and others.
[04:48] Dr. Agarwal calls himself experienced not an expert. He pivoted from a fee-for-service practice to an insurance based practice to focusing on cosmetics and adding services.
[05:36] The mastermind is about helping people and assisting young dentists to getting where they want to be faster.
[06:05] The first two years of your practice are the most important of your profession.
[06:35] This is great for other people who want to be part of a group and associated with those who are trying to push the envelope.
[07:00] Dr. Agarwal feels that people spend too much time consuming information and not enough time doing and practicing.
[07:52] Another important thing is to actually define what you want and what your values are, so you know that the things you are trying are in alignment with what you want.
[08:20] Short-term thinking is about survival. Medium-term thinking is about creating the procedures and practices that you actually want to do. Long-term thinking is about generating personal balance.
[09:50] They'll also cover clinical aspects in the mastermind group. Dr. Agarwal wants people to gain from his experience and mistakes. His wife will also talk about the mental attitude.
[11:34] There will be weekends, monthly coaching calls, individual sessions, and the ability to have office meetings and watch clinical dentistry.
[12:16] Accountability is a huge part of the mastermind.
[13:53] Dr. Agarwal has been a great mentor for Sully.
[14:59] If you want to participate get in touch with Dr. Agarwal or Sully.
[15:43] The first weekend is in January.
[16:02] Dr. Agarwal promises that it will be worth it, or he will personally write you a check.
As always thanks so much for listening! If you like the show we would love for you to review the show on iTunes as well...
[16:44] Looking at the full scope of the patient instead of planning one tooth at a time.
[17:04] Dr. Fien helps patients by giving them road maps and giving alternatives to actually save teeth.
[18:23] Periodontist are trained to see the big picture.
[18:38] Now the pendulum is swinging back into saving teeth rather than taking the teeth out.
[18:53] Taking out a tooth is always a choice, but there are alternatives.
[22:15] Labeling patients and what they can afford is a big mistake. Give the patient the information they need to make a decision about their treatment plan.
[23:12] Demographics aside, all patients should be given all options.
[25:07] LANAP laser treatment for periodontists is very popular and there is some good data on it. The data is best for single teeth.
[32:30] Dr. Israel did his three years of implant residency in Loma Linda and then an extra two years of perio. He was planning on going to Manhattan, but then ended up in Washington DC.
[34:38] He now has his own practice in DC that he opened up 8 years ago.
[35:21] Dr. Israel has a lot of patients that are politicians. They have unique needs.
[36:32] Matt graduated in 2009 and now he is down in Florida.
[37:11] After a year or two of working for offices. He wanted to give his patients more attention. He focuses at three or four offices that he is most happy at.
[41:30] Taking great pictures and using Instagram makes you a better dentist.
[43:49] Israel has always been interested in photography. Last year two of his assistants went to the When Pictures Really Matter course. Then he went to the course and that is where he met Matt.
[46:42] Matt is excited about regeneration and bone and tissue grafting. For him it is about predictability and safety. He is excited about making things as safe as possible. He loves sharing cases on Instagram.
[50:13] It's a passion for him to get really good at regeneration and bone grafts.
[51:05] Everybody needs mentorship. That's how you grow.
[51:33] It's not about the materials it is knowing the thought process and why you are doing what you are doing.
[54:04] The Hands on Guided Bone Regeneration Course developed out of a need.
[14:10] After opening many practices, he ran out of money and went bankrupt.
[14:49] They had investors lined up, but it didn't pan out.
[15:25] Out of 80 offices, he was able to retain 8 of them.
[16:26] He was trying to build business and mailed booklets to people. He would bring offices patients and do the implant surgery.
[17:29] How dentistry is such a unique opportunity. Dentists can make money even after trying things that don't work.
[18:23] Dr. Joe moved here from Iran in 1984, and his first job was a headhunter. Where he learned people skills and building trust.
[20:51] Dr. Joe always enjoyed teaching and training.
[21:13] In 2015, Dr. Joe began giving back by volunteering for a homeless service called CASS. He now has a center inside the shelter.
[25:50] He often does 240 implants in three days with the help of other dentists. They have huge volume.
[27:06] How so many competitors work together for charity and the mission.
[28:53] The majority of the restorative is done by one of Joe's residents.
[30:45] Dr. Joe customizes the case with the amount of knowledge that the student has. It also helps the volunteering companies.
[31:35] Placing implants is super popular for dental graduates.
[31:58] Advice for young dentists to get involved with placing implants.
[32:27] The importance of teaching students how to treat people safely and not hurt anyone.
[34:01] Dr. Joe is also an expert witness for attorney's in town. His biggest thing is nerve injury.
[35:16] The best advice for young dentists is to take your time and build confidence and work on a couple of successful cases.
[35:49] Use the technology like cone beams and printers to make sure everything is safe, predictable and cost effective.
[37:14] The pros and cons of free hand and guided implant surgeries.
[38:43] Machines need to be calibrated so that everything is accurate.
[43:09] Dr. Joe loves surgery.
[43:42] Looking at the socket to see what size implant is needed. Dr. Joe gives his measurement technique.
[03:32] Dr. Shaw loves what he does. He used to be a super dentist and do everything, but now he focuses on what he does best.
[03:37] He has a great group of specialists that he works with.
[04:06] When Dr. Shaw first started in dentistry, he was an associate. Although, he almost became an oral surgeon.
[04:45] A distribution rep told him about a practice that was for sale, and he ended up buying his practice. He started with three chairs and no hygienist. He built the practice adding hygiene one day at a time.
[06:15] How corporate dentistry is entrenched in the US. If you work hard, and you are smart, you can buy a practice and pay the debt off.
[06:47] The importance of finding a practice that already has a patient base.
[07:20] Ask what the dollar value of those patients are?
[09:18] You can take the approach and build it and people will come, but to be successful you need a patient base.
[09:53] You could also transition the patient base of a retiring dentist.
[11:05] Find a mentor that will teach you how to diagnose and treatment plan and communicate with patients.
[11:54] Millennials want a practice that has a luxurious look.
[13:30] When you buy a new practice, there are aesthetic things you can do to make the practice look better.
[14:35] The point of buying an existing practice is cash flow.
[15:12] At first, Dr. Shah wasn't enjoying his work. Then he met a group of mentors and teachers and learned how to properly diagnose and treatment plan. He spent 5 or 6 years at the University of Minnesota.
[16:40] He saw the great lives and practices of these older dentists and their passion for dentistry.
[16:54] He is still friends with these guys. By surrounding himself with this group and taking several continuing education courses, he became enthusiastic about his practice.
[17:58] Like minded individuals can be inspiring.
[19:40] Hanging out with people ahead of you closes your information gap.
[21:07] Learning the foundation by going to the Kois Center and <...
[09:20] Start to write down what you think life will look like in a year and 5 years. Put together your vision and your goals. This can push you faster by setting yourself up to accomplish things.
[12:22] Traveling dentists in buses who go to schools. Morgan is applying for pediatric dentistry residencies.
[14:20] A lot of people are going to specialize or at least going through the application process.
[15:21] How sharing your goals can motivate you.
[16:59] Just because there are a lot of dentists, it does not necessarily mean that it is saturated. You can separate yourself from everyone else.
[18:45] Branding and social media and building your brand as a student. Start building a portfolio in dental school.
[22:36] Consider getting a nice DSLR camera.
[22:57] How to get to know a dentist you may want to work with. Go out to lunch with the team without the doctor. This can give you a real perspective. Also dig in to see what you have in common and what their long term goals are.
[25:15] Set up a contract with a trial period. You either know if it is worth working for or that it is not working.
[27:42] Have structure in place before starting an associateship or it could end badly. Also try looking at x-rays together to see if your treatment ideas are similar.
[29:12] Anna asks about programs looking for associateships like Practice on Fire and DDSMatch.
[30:05] The big thing to figure out is where you want to live.
[30:15] Sit down and decide what you want and what you want life to look like.
[31:34] You are never going to be ready for running your own practice. It is sink or swim. You can build good support with office managers etc.
As always thanks so much for listening! If you like the show we would love for you to review the show on iTunes as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com.
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