Brews and Tiny Teeth, The Unfiltered Pediatric Dentistry Podcast

Dr. Kevin Kennedy is a pediatric dentist and practice owner from Clarksville, Tennessee. He fostered and adopted three kids during his pediatric residency before having biological children of his own. This experience really opened his eyes to the complexities and challenges of kids who have experienced loss, or as Kevin defines it "kids from hard places." Dr. Kennedy shares his story and gives listeners some advice on how to care for these kids and communicate better with their parents.

This episode is all about pediatric dentistry in Canada! I'm joined by four awesome docs: Drs. Sara Werb, Shuran Liang, Nikhil Sharma, and Priya Kothari are all amazing pediatric dentists and each have their own unique experiences that they share with us. Some of the topics we discuss: - What does Canada's administration of dental care look like? Is it similar to Medicaid? - Certain materials that are and aren't allowed in Canada (Bioflx!?) - What does it take to get a dental license in Canada? Are there any residency programs? - What are the challenges to practice ownership, and how are employee rights/benefits different than in the US?

Dr. Donny Qafleshi is a pediatric dentist in Indiana. He comes on to share some of his personal and professional experiences as an immigrant, a dad, and a pediatric dentist. Some of the things we discuss: -Dr. Donny's journey to the United States as a child to escape war - How to know when a practice partnership is the right choice - How many kids a day is a sustainable amount to see without burning out? - Internalizing emotions as a pediatric dentist and a new parent - Working on mindfulness and techniques to prevent work anxiety

Dr. Nick Luke is a pediatric dentist, originally from Iowa but now practicing at a busy office in Wisconsin. Dr. Nick is a big fan of finding creative ways to follow the guidelines and literature while also creating a fun experience for his patients. In this episode, we discuss: - Why Wisconsin is awesome - Hall crown philosophy and techniques - MTA usage in pulpotomies - Caries removal and biofilm control - How being a dad and work-life balance go together

Dr. Jay Leung, a pediatric dentist and owner of The Little Tooth Company Pediatric Dentistry, shares his gripping experience with a Medicaid audit. He discusses the anxiety of receiving an audit letter and the hefty penalties that followed. Dr. Jay highlights the importance of legal assistance and meticulous documentation in defending oneself. He offers valuable tips for his peers on navigating audits, emphasizes the psychological toll of the process, and advocates for community support among dental professionals facing similar challenges.

Dr. Art Nowak has been practicing pediatric dentistry since the mid 1960's, back when there were only seven residency programs. He taught pediatric dentistry at the University of Iowa for almost 50 years, during which he published "Infancy Through Adolescence." This textbook is a staple in our profession, and Dr. Nowak literally "wrote the book" on comprehensive pediatric dentistry. We have a great discussion on how pediatric dentistry has changed through the years. Dr. Nowak expresses his concerns that we have commercialized pediatric dentistry and moved away from focusing on prevention and treating the whole patient. Dr. Nowak continues to stay busy and he is excited to release his newest edition of the textbook sometime next year.

Dr. Kristine Grazioso, a Massachusetts-based pediatric dentist, shares her inspiring journey of transitioning her practice to a fee-for-service model after years of working with major insurance providers. She discusses the challenges faced and the importance of prioritizing quality care over insurance restrictions. Dr. Grazioso provides practical advice for dentists considering this shift, emphasizing customer service and building strong patient relationships. She also touches on the debate between independent practice and corporate dentistry, advocating for the long-term benefits of remaining independent.

You see it all the time on iPedo... "I'm tired of my associate job and I want to start my own practice, but I'm not sure where to start." It's no surprise that a large void exists for knowledge and content relevant specifically for pediatric dentists who want to start their own practice. Well we have some huge news to share on the podcast today. For the last 6 months, Dr. Corey Hastings and I have been working tirelessly on building a comprehensive course specifically for pediatric dentists who want to start their own practice. We are super excited to roll out Little Smiles Practice Mastery, an online video lecture series that walks you step-by-step through the startup journey. This "power pediatric dental MBA" has almost 15 hours of lecture material, along with all needed spreadsheets, forms, attachments, and paperwork you need to jump-start a practice. All of this in a low-cost subscription platform that is available on-demand whenever you need it. On today's episode, Corey and discuss the benefits of practice ownership over a cold beer. We review why we made this course, what all is included, and why we believe most pediatric dentists can build an awesome practice without spending a fortune on a consulting company. Make sure to stop by our booth at AAPD to get on our mailing list, or visit www.pediatricdentalmba.com. We anticipate the course to go live early this summer and we are so excited to give other dentists the tools they need to achieve their practice goals.

Thad Harker is a project advisor at Primus Dental, a design and build full-service construction company that has built close to a 1000 dental offices across the Midwest. Thad and I have a great conversation about dental office design and construction. He emphasizes that the construction process is all about managing people. We talk about how things have changed with higher interest rates and construction costs, but that it still makes financial sense to not lose opportunity cost and get yourself a "golden hammer." Some topics we discuss in this episode: - Why are construction costs high, and will they come back down? - Why does location matter? - Does it make sense to price shop a build-out? - How have pediatric office designs changed post-COVID? - Is it still worth it to do a start-up and be a practice owner?

Where would we be if we didn’t have the support of our non-dentist spouse/significant other/partner? This episode is specifically for them! Today my wife, Jenna Goetz, reflects on her impact on my journey to become a pediatric dentist. We talk about when does it make sense for the spouse to work in the office, pursue his or her own career, or to stay home with kids. Jenna gives some advice to young power couples and how to get the most out of this journey. We also joke about how annoying dentists can be when you get them all around each other at conventions and meetings. This is a great episode to listen to with your significant other who is not a dentist!