The Very Dental Podcast Network – Details, episodes & analysis

Alan is joined once again by the one and only Dr. Jason Smithson. We've often compared how dentistry is delivered differently between the United States and the UK, but today we compare how dental hygiene is delivered differently. 

Summary: Dr. Alan Mead and Dr. Jason Smithson discuss the stark differences in how dental hygiene is approached in the United States versus the UK. They explore the reasons behind these differences, including insurance models, historical practices, and the perceived value of hygiene appointments by patients. The conversation also touches upon the role of diagnosis, consent, and duty of care in dental treatment.

Key Discussion Points:

• Jason's Current Activities: Dr. Smithson discusses his teaching schedule at Spear Education, including new courses on aging teeth and other advanced restorative techniques. He also mentions his work in Australia and Europe.
• The Hygienist Shortage: Alan describes his difficulty in finding a hygienist due to increased pay demands and a shrinking pool of candidates. This leads into the core discussion of the episode.
• US vs. UK Hygiene Models:
  • US: Hygienists are often the primary point of contact for patients, with a focus on regular cleanings regardless of individual needs and disease. The system is largely insurance-driven. Patients often prioritize the cleaning over the dentist's exam.
  • UK: Dentists assess patients first, determining recall intervals based on risk factors (caries, periodontal disease, wear). Hygienist appointments are prescribed by the dentist and are therapy-focused (e.g., scaling and root planing for periodontal disease). Healthy patients may not see a hygienist at all.
• Value Perception: Jason argues that the US system can make hygiene seem like a cosmetic procedure, diminishing its perceived value, especially for healthy patients. The UK model ties hygiene to specific therapeutic needs, increasing its perceived value.
• Insurance and Payment Models: The discussion touches on the differences between NHS (government-funded) and private dental care in the UK, as well as the impact of insurance on treatment decisions in the US. The UK has a mixed system, while Dr. Smithson's practice is entirely fee-for-service.
• Direct Access Hygiene (UK): In the UK, patients can directly access hygienists without a dentist's referral. This is uncommon in the US.
• Diagnosis and Consent: Jason highlights the importance of explicit diagnosis before treatment, emphasizing that informed consent cannot be obtained without a diagnosis. He suggests that the US system sometimes relies on implicit diagnoses.
• Duty of Care: Jason explains the concept of duty of care in the UK, stating that dentists assume responsibility for a patient's care once treatment begins. This raises questions about the US system and potential legal implications.
• Efficiency and Multitasking: The conversation explores the inefficiency of jumping between patients and procedures, including hygiene checks during restorative work. Jason cites research on the negative impact of multitasking on quality and productivity.
• Patient Expectations: The discussion acknowledges that US patients have been conditioned to expect regular cleanings, even when not clinically necessary. This creates a challenge for dentists who might want to shift to a more therapy-focused model.

Some links from the show:

• Spear Education
• "Deep Work" by Cal Newport

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

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Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time!

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The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist!

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Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products!

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CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!

Where did the Kevin Fryer we know and love come from? In today's throwback episode Zach interviews Kevin about why he became a dentist and how his career evolved! Kevin shares his journey in dentistry, from a traumatic childhood injury that sparked his interest in the field to establishing his own practice. He discusses his educational background, initial years doing general dentistry, and the subsequent shifts that led him to embrace advanced procedures like ortho, implants, and sleep apnea treatments. Kevin highlights key influences like Dr. Rick DePaul and Dr. Tarun "T-Bone" Agarwal, and how advancements with CEREC technology and cone beam integration helped him revolutionize his practice.

He also covers the importance of continuing education, team involvement, and the financial and emotional rewards from adopting new dental technologies and techniques. The episode concludes with advice for younger dentists on taking similar career paths.

Very Clinical is brought to you by Zirc Dental Products, Inc., your trusted partner in dental efficiency and organization.

The Very Clinical Corner segment features Kate Reinert, LDA, an experienced dental professional passionate about helping practices achieve clinical excellence.

 Connect with Kate Reinert on LinkedIn: Kate Reinert, LDA
 Book a call with Kate: Reserve a Call
 Ready to upscale your team? Explore Zirc’s solutions today: zirc.com

Buckle up, buttercup, because this is NOT your average episode of Very Clinical! Back in March of 2020, when Dr. Mac Jones was still one of the hosts of the podcast, they guys did a crossover episode with the Working Interferences crew (Dr. Josh Austin and Dr. Lance Timmerman) It was a wild ride of dental advice, shenanigans, and more than a few "colorful" words.

Highlights:

• Special Crossover Episode: Very Clinical meets Working Interferences for the first time ever!
• The Great Pacifier Debate: A Reddit question about "adult pacifiers" sends the guys down a hilarious rabbit hole of questionable online communities and unexpected discoveries.
• Crown Prep Hacks: Even with the chaos, we manage to squeeze in some valuable clinical tips for faster and more efficient crown preps.
• Nostalgia Overload: Relive the glory days of 90s chat rooms (ICQ, anyone?), 80s TV crossovers, and the one true "One Shining Moment" by David Barrett.

Very Clinical is brought to you by Zirc Dental Products, Inc., your trusted partner in dental efficiency and organization.

The Very Clinical Corner segment features Kate Reinert, LDA, an experienced dental professional passionate about helping practices achieve clinical excellence.

 Connect with Kate Reinert on LinkedIn: Kate Reinert, LDA
 Book a call with Kate: Reserve a Call
 Ready to upscale your team? Explore Zirc’s solutions today: zirc.com

"Your office has systems whether you are intentional about them or not."

--Alan Mead DDS

Al talks about systems in your dental office and your life. What are they? Are they hard to create (no...in fact they kind of create themselves)? How can you improve them?

Al tells a couple stories about improving existing systems after finding some holes in them.

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

--

Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time!

--

The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist!

--

Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products!

--

CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!

Alan had a chance to speak with Dr. David Traynor at the Chicago Midwinter. Both of them are dentists in Michigan, but one of them has a much better accent! David grew up in the UK and shares some of his experiences about becoming a dentist in the U.S.! My favorite part of this interview is the 2 minute interlude where I get to explain what a podcast is to a dentist that saw our sign in front of the Premier booth!

Microcopy Dental lets you choose the right bur for you. And they offer all kinds of bur shapes and types in single patient use packaging! Al has been prepping crowns with a couple Microcopy diamonds, the KS 1 and KS 0. Find your favorite shapes by exploring all of your options at dentalhacks.com/Microcopy!

Jason speaks with Dr. Robin Bethell, the brain behind the "Aligner Nation" Facebook page and clear a huge aligner aficionado. The two of them dig into clear aligners, the lack of deeper continuing education in aligners, in office aligner treatment and everything else you might want to know about aligner therapy! This is one of the funnest, most laid back interviews we've ever done!

Links from the show:

Aligner Nation Facebook Group

The Dental Hacks Academy

Have you ever had a patient swallow a crown? Yesterday it almost happened to me. But Airway Armor saved my bacon! How about you put all of that crown dropping, tooth slipping anxiety behind you by trying Airway Armor from Zirc! If you order on their website at dentalhacks.com/airwayarmor and use the coupon code: HACKSAIR you can buy a trial pack (normally $45) for $10 off!

Dr. Buddy Mopper is one of the living legends of dentistry! He's giving his "Catch the Composite Wave: and Surf its Potential" course along with Dr. Dennis Hartlieb this May 2-3 at the amazing Center for Esthetic Excellence in downtown Chicago! Go check out the course at dentalhacks.com/Buddy!

The Dental Hacks Nation closed Facebook group has over 26,000 members! Head over there to interact with other Dental Hacks listeners, guests and Brain Trust members every day, all day! Remember…if you don’t have anything “dental” on your FB page, we might decline your membership request. So IM the group or email us at info@dentalhacks.com!

Go Hack Yourself

Jason: Bioclear HeatSync heater

Alan: Crescent Products Bodyrest System

If you have any questions or comments for us please drop us an email at info@dentalhacks.com or find us (and like us!) at www.facebook.com/dentalhacks. Or, if you prefer…give us a call at (866) 223-5257 and leave us a message. You might be played in the show! If you like us, why not leave us a review on iTunes? It helps us get found by like minded people and might even help us get into “What’s Hot” in the iTunes store! Go to this link and let the world know about the Dental Hacks! Finally, if you aren’t an Apple person, consider reviewing us on Stitcher at: stitcher.com/podcast/the-dentalhacks-podcast!

If you would like to support the podcast you can check out our Patreon page! Although the show will always remain free to download, our Patreon supporters get access to special bonus content including (at least) one extra podcast episode every months! Also be sure to check out the Dental Hacks swag store where you can find t-shirts, stickers coffee mugs and all sorts of other things that let the world know you’re a part of the Hacks Nation.

Alan was joined by Dr. Sarah Blair and Mark Ketterhagen of  to talk about how to create systems in your practice as well as how to become a better leader in your practice. We ask the question "who needs a coach?" (spoiler...it's everyone). We think you'll like what the Indie Practices folks have to say!

Microcopy isn't just single patient use burs. Not by a long shot. My new favorite polishers are their miniature single patient use polishers. They're called the Minnow polishers. The uniquely shaped cup has changed composite polishing forever! Go check them out at dentalhacks.com/minnow.

Laura Maly and Michael Anderson of the Wonderist Agency join Alan to talk about marketing. Laura and Michael have a lot to say about dentists being involved with their own marketing. Some of the topics we discuss are:

• What's the best marketing for me? (spoiler...that's impossible to know without trying some stuff)
• What are the best ways to measure whether your marketing is working?
• Is call tracking good information?
• How to understand KPIs

The Wonderist Agency was one if the sponsors of the Voices of Dentistry and we're really glad to have had their support!

Do you ever wonder how people on Instagram and Facebook get the super smooth and shiny look on their crown preps? It's actually pretty simple. They finish and polish them with a very fine diamond! Microcopy Dental has you covered with their 3316.8 diamond...aka: the "yellow chamfer" in my office. It's actually a round end taper in very fine diamond and will make every preparation look smooth and shiny! Go check it out at dentalhacks.com/diamondfinisher.  You're going to love this bur!

Jason and Alan are joined by two different innovators on episode 231. First we spoke with Dr. Cory Glenn on digital dentures and his 230 acre dental CE getaway in Tennessee. Then we talked with Dr. Brian McGue about effectively (and profitably) adding oral sedation to your practice. Both of these guys are creating innovative CE that we think the Dental Hacks Nation will really benefit from!

Links from the show:

The Dental Hacks Academy

Dr. Cory Glenn's CE schedule

Dr. Brian McGue's upcoming oral sedation course (held at T-Bone's amazing CE venue in Raleigh, NC!)

3Shape Trios 3 "sizzle reel"

The Clinical Hacks Facebook group

Have you ever had a patient swallow a crown? Feels pretty great, right? How about you put all of that behind you by trying Airway Armor from Zirc! If you order on their website at dentalhacks.com/airwayarmor and use the coupon code: HACKS50 you can buy one 25 pack and get the second 25 pack for 50% off!

Renamel Microfill isn't just that exotic stuff in the syringe any more! You can buy Renamel Microfill in compules and use it the same way you use any composite compules! For anterior cases nothing finishes and polishes like a microfill, nothing holds its polish like a microfill and nothing HANDLES like a microfill. You put it there and it STAYS there! Go check out Renamel Microfill in syringes and COMPULES at dentalhacks.com/microfill!

The Dental Hacks Nation closed Facebook group has over 26,000 members! Head over there to interact with other Dental Hacks listeners, guests and Brain Trust members every day, all day! Remember…if you don’t have anything “dental” on your FB page, we might decline your membership request. So IM the group or email us at info@dentalhacks.com!

Go Hack Yourself

Jason: Bioclear Black Triangle Kit

Alan: An Elegant Defense by Matt Richtel

If you have any questions or comments for us please drop us an email at info@dentalhacks.com or find us (and like us!) at www.facebook.com/dentalhacks. Or, if you prefer…give us a call at (866) 223-5257 and leave us a message. You might be played in the show! If you like us, why not leave us a review on iTunes? It helps us get found by like minded people and might even help us get into “What’s Hot” in the iTunes store! Go to this link and let the world know about the Dental Hacks! Finally, if you aren’t an Apple person, consider reviewing us on Stitcher at: stitcher.com/podcast/the-dentalhacks-podcast!

If you would like to support the podcast you can check out our Patreon page! Although the show will always remain free to download, our Patreon supporters get access to special bonus content including (at least) one extra podcast episode every months! Also be sure to check out the Dental Hacks swag store where you can find t-shirts, stickers coffee mugs and all sorts of other things that let the world know you’re a part of the Hacks Nation.

Jason and Alan are joined by Nicolle Campion (president) and Kay Hickey (sales specialist) of Zirc. You see, it just so happens that Jason is doing another startup and our friends at Zirc are here to explain that it's never too soon to be planning your clinical workflow and organization! They explain how Zirc makes this easy with their ZOBE (Zirc's Box of Organizational Efficiency) product! How great would it be to have a bunch of different organizational products shipped right to your office so you can hold them in your hands and see how they actually feel while getting coached by the organizational experts at Zirc? It's a great idea and you should try it out! You can find out more at dentalhacks.com/zobe!

Every dentist has their own bur block. You should fill yours with single patient use Microcopy diamonds and carbides! For instance, you'll find a ton of uses for the 3314.10 very fine pointed cone trimmer. I know I do. I use the "skinny" to break contacts without nicking up the adjacent tooth as well as for finishing flat-ish surfaces like the facials of upper and lower anteriors! Give it a look at dentalhacks.com/skinny.