The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

704: How I Discovered Happiness Through a Lot of Adversity – Dr. Kevin GrothWe all want to avoid hardship. But hard times can lead to a more fulfilling and joyful life. To share how adversity was important to his happiness, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Kevin Groth to highlight the important lessons and habits he learned that transformed his life. With the right mindset, adversity is the path to happiness! To hear how you can discover your happiest self, listen to Episode 704 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Groth:Give Dr. Groth a call: (248) 229-9380Send Dr. Groth an email: kevingroth@gmail.com Join Dr. Groth on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grothdentalFollow Dr. Groth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkevingrothMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:As a Man Thinketh by James Allen https://bookshop.org/p/books/as-a-man-thinketh-james-allen/6726929?ean=9781585426386Main Takeaways:Learn to say no.Set your vision and core values.Get in the habit of positive thinking.Take better care of your mind and body.Surround yourself with supportive people.Don't judge yourself at your lowest moments.Simplify the things that are bogging you down.No one should work more than 200 days a year.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.3:41 Dr. Groth’s journey to happiness.5:26 Have a strong support network.8:34 The happiest people live the simplest lives.10:15 Don't work more than 200 days a year.14:27 Simplify the things that are bogging you down.15:29 Change how you do payroll.16:57 Change your work hours.21:07 You don't need to be everyone’s dentist.21:46 Write down your problems to start finding solutions.24:02 Establish your vision and core values.29:48 Improve yourself to be happy.33:10 Take better care of your body.34:11 Don't strive for perfection.35:17 The value of saying no.37:10 Make amends to clear your mind.41:12 Keep your ego in check.43:24 Start journaling.44:40 Get in the habit of positive thinking.49:08 Last thoughts.Dr. Kevin Groth Bio:Dr. Kevin Groth’s primary goal is for every person to walk out of his office knowing that they received the highest-quality, most personalized care possible. Dentistry is more than just a profession for Dr. Groth. He sees every patient as an extension of his own family. When you are in his chair, you’ll always be treated well. Dr. Groth’s favorite part of being a dentist is that every day and every patient is different. He loves the variety of people he gets to meet and procedures he performs to help patients maintain their smiles. Since graduating from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Dr. Groth has been recognized locally by Hour Detroit Magazine as a Top Dentist, and nationally as a Top Doc. As a passionate dentist who wants to provide the best care for his patients, he pursues continuing education through The Dawson Academy, serves on the executive board of the Periodontal Bunting Society, and is the Assistant Clinical Director of the Society of Comprehensive Dentists. He has also served as an adjunct clinical faculty member at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. 

703: The Profitable Hygiene Equation: Optimizing Workflow Services for Success – Miranda Beeson & Courtney DaltonAre your hygienists always running out of time? If they are, it’s not them — it’s your systems that need improvement! To help you optimize the hygiene workflow so you can be more profitable, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson and Courtney Dalton, two of ACT’s amazing coaches (and excellent hygienists), with a framework for making those 60 minutes more efficient. To learn the strategies to make your day flow smoother, listen to Episode 703 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Miranda and Courtney:Send Miranda an email: miranda@actdental.com Send Courtney an email: courtney@actdental.com Follow Miranda and Courtney on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalSend Gina an email: gina@actdental.com More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Watch the entire webinar here: https://www.actdental.com/109Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Register for Katrina Sanders’s course (March 9, 2024): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/act-dental-hygienists-live-course-march-9-2024-tickets-732186328017?aff=erelexpmltMain Takeaways:Implement the 20-20-20 concept.Prepare ahead to make appointments efficient.Set clear “connection time” expectations with patients.Be aware of your patient’s personality and communication styles.Keep patients engaged through co-discovery to get them on board faster.Utilize technology, such as imaging and AI recording software, to your advantage.Perform a time analysis to determine which of your 20-20-20 needs improvement.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:53 ACT’s To The Top Study Club.4:50 ACT’s Best Practices Association.6:52 Katrina Sanders’s hygiene course.7:58 Why this is an important topic.11:46 The 20-20-20 concept: The diagnostic segment.18:01 Prepare in advance.22:21 Set clear “connection time” expectations with patients.25:23 Utilize technology to your advantage.28:53 Be intentional with how you communicate with patients.33:29 Communicate in the patient’s style.35:50 Ask open-ended questions.36:11 Too much information can annoy certain patients.38:55 Other co-discovery tools.39:47 The 75-25 rule, explained.41:09 The 20-20-20 concept: The therapeutic segment.46:02 The 80-20 rule of mechanical and hand instrumentation.49:38 Make sure your instruments are effective.50:47 Maybe it’s time to try something new.51:51 The 20-20-20 concept: The logistics segment.53:05 How to spend the last five to ten minutes.56:19 Tips for getting your notes done.58:14 Other systems to consider.1:01:31 Final takeaways.1:03:04 Q&A: How do you stay profitable while offering high pay?1:04:58 Q&A: How to manage patients who take the full 60 minutes without the exam.1:05:54 Q&A: Software recommendations to record probing.Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH, has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics.Courtney Dalton, BS, RDH Bio:Courtney Dalton is a Lead Practice Coach who focuses on establishing a solid foundation in order for a practice to thrive. With over 15 years of experience in the dental industry, she is as passionate about patient care as she is about those who are providing it.

702: The 4 Elements of a Great Partnership – Dr. Jen Derse & Dr. Brett LevinWithout a healthy partnership, your work life could be torture. If you want to increase your happiness at work, don't miss this episode! Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Jennifer Derse and Dr. Brett Levin, founders of Espire, to share their recipe for a healthy partnership that lasts. To learn how to stay aligned, navigate disagreements, and to disagree agreeably, listen to Episode 702 of The Best Practices Show! Learn More About Dr. Derse and Dr. Levin: Follow Dr. Derse on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espiredental Follow Dr. Levin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brettrlevindmd Learn more about Espire: https://espiredental.com More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life: Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218 Main Takeaways: Respect and support your partner. Be aligned with one another’s vision. Learn how to disagree and give feedback. Find a cadence for communication to stay aligned. Accept that you will have some hard days with your partner. Snippets: 0:00 Introduction. 3:22 Why a healthy partnership is so important. 4:26 Why being aligned on vision is important. 5:40 How to stay aligned and navigate disagreements. 9:15 Complexities in adding more people. 12:00 Schedule regular alignment time. 16:16 How Dr. Derse and Dr. Levin communicate. 22:11 How Dr. Derse and Dr. Levin define respect in a partnership. 28:31 How Dr. Derse and Dr. Levin cultivate teamwork. 32:02 Mistakes to avoid in a partnership. 34:51 Last thoughts. 38:08 More about Espire and how to get in touch. Dr. Jennifer Derse Bio: After dental school at Marquette University School of Dentistry, Dr. Derse focused her practice on cosmetic dentistry in Scottsdale, Arizona, and taught at the Arizona School of Dentistry. In 2010, she moved to Denver to join Espire Dental, formerly Levin Family Dental, where she has maintained a Top Dentist award by 5280 Magazine every year since. Dr. Derse completed the Kois Continuum and focuses her dental practice on esthetic and restorative dentistry. She is actively involved in the Denver community, serving on local non-profit boards and fundraising with Smiles for Life. She has also gone on numerous medical missions to the Dominican Republic and Guatemala to provide dental care in needy communities. To build upon her service in non-profits, she started the Derse Levin Foundation, Espire’s philanthropic arm that funds humanitarian work along with local charities. Dr. Brett Levin Bio:After obtaining his dental degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Levin returned home to Denver to practice with his father, Dr. Alan Levin. Having served the Glendale/Cherry Creek area for over 20 years, he values the “idyllic” relationships he has created with his patients. He is committed to upholding the traditions of Espire Dental while incorporating the best of modern dental practice technologies. Dr. Levin is one of a select few clinical instructors at the prestigious Kois Center, a clinical program designed to integrate the latest advances in esthetic, implant, and restorative dentistry. As a leading Denver cosmetic dentist specializing in dental veneers, same-day crowns, and clear aligners, he is uniquely qualified to give patients the smile of their dreams.

Do you have a hard time communicating with your team about insurance benefits? It's not easy. In this episode, Kirk and his guest, coach Robin Theisen, have some answers for you. Robin shares four tips for effectively talking about dental insurance benefits with patients. The conversation emphasizes the importance of educating the team about insurance, using the term 'benefits' instead of 'insurance', always saying 'yes' to patients, and making the patient the focus of the conversation. Listen to this episode to hear why implementing these great tips will help you build trust, maximize benefits, and create value for your patients.More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Subscribe to the Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin the Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt/See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event/Get the Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine/Please leave us a review on the podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Send Robyn an email: robyn@actdental.com Follow Robyn on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalMore help at ACT Dental: Gina@actdental.comMain Takeaways: Educate the team about dental insurance to ensure everyone is on the same page.Use the term 'benefits' instead of 'insurance' to clarify the purpose and limitations of coverage.Always say 'yes' to patients and focus on what can be done rather than what cannot be covered.Make the patient the focus of the conversation and build trust by emphasizing the value of the dental treatment.Snippets:00:00 Introduction01:24 Importance of Talking Insurance Benefits05:36 Tip 1: Educating the Team09:55 Tip 2: Using the Term 'Benefits' Instead of 'Insurance'13:41 Tip 3: Always Saying 'Yes' and Tip 4: Make your patient the focus26:05 Final thoughts and ConclusionRobyn Theisen Bio:Robyn Theisen brings an entire life and legacy of dental experience to the team and every team with which she works as the daughter and sister of dentists. With almost 20 years of experience in dentistry, her roles ranged from practice management to operations at Patterson Dental to coaching teams. Robyn’s passion is empowering teams to realize that they can dramatically impact the lives of the people they serve by implementing skills and systems to remove barriers to life-changing dental treatment. She has done it for decades and does it every day with dental teams.Outside of coaching, she enjoys time with her husband, Rob, and two daughters, Emerson and Ruby. She loves traveling, music, fitness, and cheering on the Michigan State Spartans.

In this episode, Kirk shares a recent webinar with ACT Director of Coaching, Christina Byrne, on case acceptance. They share a ton of secrets on how to improve case acceptance, like the importance of mindset, the role of the clinical team and the need for preclinical interviews to involve the patient, and the importance of customized care to differentiate a dental practice. They also discuss the need to address patient questions and concerns, handle objections effectively, and measure success using key performance indicators (KPIs). And as always on the Best Practices Show, Kirk and Christina provide a call action for dental professionals to implement the discussed strategies in their practice.More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Subscribe to the Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin the Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt/See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event/Get the Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine/Please leave us a review on the podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Main Takeaways: Believe in the value of dentistry as a valuable investment in oral healthUtilize resources like the To The Top Study Club and the Best Practice AcademyInvolve the entire clinical team in case acceptanceUse open-ended questions and change talk to understand the patient's desired outcomeSnippets:00:00 Introduction and Background03:24 The Importance of Mindset05:12 Introduction to To The Top Study Club08:28 Introduction to BPA (Best Practice Academy)09:53 The Cornerstone of a Thriving Dental Practice11:20 The Role of the Clinical Team in Case Acceptance15:30 Preclinical Interviews and Involving the Patient28:05 Understanding the Patient's Desired Outcome37:29 Differentiating with Customized Care43:14 Addressing Patient Questions and Concerns45:02 Handling Patient Objections51:07 Measuring Success with KPIs58:06 Follow-up and Unscheduled Treatment Plan01:03:06 Improving Verbal Skills01:08:04 Final Takeaways and Call to ActionChristina Byrne BioChristina Byrne has been involved in dentistry since 1985. Over the years she has held many positions on the dental team including dental assistant, business office, and dental hygienist. Christina’s extensive knowledge of the front office and clinical procedures is a great asset and she loves to impart her knowledge to guide dental teams do the best they can to achieve a Better Practice Better Life!

Do you dream of having a high-performing team? You can make it happen with a few changes in your thinking. Kirk Behrendt brings back Heather Crockett, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to share the three essentials for creating a great team and practice. A great team starts with great leadership! To learn the secrets of every high-performing team, listen to Episode 699 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Heather:Send Heather an email: heather@actdental.com Join Heather on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.r.crockettFollow Heather on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalSend Gina an email: gina@actdental.com Learn More About ACT Dental:Watch the entire webinar here: https://www.actdental.com/109ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.comACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalACT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/actdentalACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdentalACT’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3137520/admin/feed/posts/ACT’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/actdentalMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Main Takeaways:Get the right people in the right seats.Have well-documented systems in place.Set clear goals, roles, and responsibilities.Clearly define and document your core values.Communicate consistently and frequently to be aligned.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:49 Why this is an important topic.3:39 Secret #1) Get aligned.9:22 Secret #2) Be smart.15:09 Secret #3) Be healthy.16:16 The Function Accountability Chart, explained.25:54 Final takeaways.Heather Crockett Bio:Heather Crockett is a Lead Practice Coach who finds joy in not only improving practices but improving the lives of those she coaches as well. With over 20 years of combined experience in assisting, office management, and clinical dental hygiene, her awareness supports many aspects of the practice setting.Heather received her dental hygiene degree from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in 2008. Networking in the dental community comes easy to her, and she loves to connect with like-minded colleagues on social media. Heather enjoys both attending and presenting continuing education to expand her knowledge and learn from her friends and colleagues.She enjoys hanging out with her husband, three sons, and their dog, Moki, scrolling through social media, watching football, and traveling. 

Have you ever wondered about PPOs or struggled to understand them? Kirk welcomes Shelley DeGroff to shed some light on this complex relationship between dental practices and insurance. Shelley is the founder and CEO of PPO Advisors, a firm that helps dental practices turn their PPOs into profit. She talks about the trends of 2024, emphasizing the importance of understanding the percentage of write-offs and the need to evaluate fee schedules. The conversation concludes by encouraging dentists to play the insurance game with confidence and seek expert help when navigating the complexities of PPOs.Learn More About Shelley and PPO Advisors Follow PPO Advisors on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PPOAdvisorsLLC Learn more about PPO Advisors: https://ppoadvisors.comMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Subscribe to the Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin the Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt/See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event/Get the Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine/Please leave us a review on the podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Main Takeaways: Evaluate fee schedules and understand write-off percentages to ensure proper reimbursement.Regularly audit EOBs to identify discrepancies in fee schedules and reimbursement.Proper credentialing and negotiating contracts are crucial for setting favorable rates.Be aware of network shares and changes and regularly assess your PPO mix.Snippets:01:14 Introduction to Shelly DeGroff and PPO Advisors06:20 Write-off Percentages08:13 PPOs and Fiscal Years09:41 Fee Increases and Negotiations10:41 Evaluating Fee Increases11:39 Master Fee Schedule13:01 Credentialing and Setting Rates16:23 Understanding Umbrellas and TPAs20:43 The Importance of Credentialing22:01 Negotiating Contracts23:01 2024 Trends Continued25:21 Network Shares and Changes28:09 Switching PPO Mix30:32 Making Changes and Seeking Help32:58 Conclusion and Contact InformationShelley DeGroff Bio:Shelley DeGroff, founder and CEO of PPO Advisors, knows dentistry. After graduating from the University of Nebraska, she began working as a dental receptionist in a nearby dental office. After completing her certification as a dental assistant, Shelley transitioned to become a successful office manager. It was in that role that Shelley began noticing the need for PPO negotiations for her employing doctor. This experience began the business model for PPO Advisors, which has now become a nationwide industry leader. 

697: My Journey Into Wellness Dentistry - Dr. Katie To and Dr. Christian CoachmanHave you ever wondered how you can incorporate wellness into your practice? On today’s episode, Kirk and Dr. Christian Coachman welcome Dr. Katie To, a pioneer in wellness dentistry. Dr. To shares her personal journey and explains the concept of wellness dentistry, which goes beyond traditional dentistry to treat the whole body. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration with other healthcare professionals and the impact of wellness dentistry on patient outcomes. They discuss the benefits of implementing wellness dentistry in a dental practice, including attracting better patients and creating a happier and more fulfilled team. And Dr. To offers advice for young dentists interested in pursuing wellness dentistry, highlighting the importance of personalized treatment and patient education.Learn More About Dr. Katie To:Follow Dr. Katie To on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkatietoJoin Dr. Katie To on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieToCenterLearn more about Wellness Dentist Institute: https://www.wellnessdentistinstitute.comListen to Dr. Katie’s To's podcast The Wellness DentistLearn More About Dr. Christian Coachman:Follow Dr. Christian Coachman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christiancoachmanFollow Dr. Christian Coachman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscoachmanLearn more about Digital Smile Design: https://digitalsmiledesign.comRegister for DSD Residency 1: https://digitalsmiledesign.com/dsd-residency-1-on-demandMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Subscribe to the Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin the Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt/See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event/Get the Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine/Please leave us a review on the podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Main Takeaways: Wellness dentistry goes beyond traditional dentistry to treat the whole body and collaborate with other healthcare professionals.Implementing wellness dentistry in a dental practice can attract better patients and create a happier and more fulfilled team.Personalized treatment and patient education are key components of wellness dentistry.Young dentists can start their journey in wellness dentistry by learning and implementing small changes in their practice.Quotes: “For me, the wellness dentistry, my definition in my practice, we have it on the wall, we have it on a website. It is a confident smile for a healthy life. You cannot smile when you are sick. and don't want to get out of bed, or you have chronic fatigue and autoimmune issues and all these chronic inflammation conditions. But also if you're healthy, but you don't have a healthy smile or a confident smile, you're not hiding your smile and your selfie, not showing your smile or true self to the world. So for us in our practice as a dentist, what we find in wellness dentistry is a confident smile for a healthy life”. (03:47 - 04:00)“If [the patient] is a negative person or they have a lot of anxiety or anger issues, the body itself becomes acidic. You cannot give them enough things in the mouth, toothpaste, rinse or  M .I. paste, anything to reverse that when the saliva is acidic 24/7. So have that understanding, really put the ownership of their health on the patient and they are the hero of the journey.” (7:46 - 7:48)“When I learned going through that journey, I learned about meditation, about journaling, about getting better. It's not just all about physical. And when I came back to my practice, I transformed the practice into biological wellness, holistic dentistry. And since my team saw my suffering throughout that year, they got on board because they know if that's happened to Dr. Katie, it could happen to me. It could happen to the patient. So therefore we walk the talk.” (11:39 - 11:41)“When we started our journey, the patient that we had to talk to was our existing patient. Today in 2024, our patients are coming from medical referral and our medical professional doesn't look at us as if you're just a dentist. They actually ask that before we move on to gut health and hormone health, can you please make sure the patient or cavity are clear? We actually require medical clearance before a patient can move on with oncology treatment and even major surgery, because doctors understand the importance of oral health.” (17:26 - 17:53)“You can do it today because of the wellness dentistry exam, as I share with Dr. Coachman, is starting with you get to know the patient and not just go through the motion of checking their teeth, their bite, right, their gum, but really knowing if you see something, ask questions, ask question why this happened, get to know them, curious about them. You have to be an identifier, then evaluator, then stabilizer and healer. You don't have to be the healer today. You still have a lot to learn. You can learn to be an identifier and evaluator and just listen to the podcasts like this or join study clubs or get some coaching to get started. You can do it yourself or can you get some hand holding, but don't just sustain the wish - you have to put in the work. You’ve got to implement it.” (25:23 - 25:53)When I go to work, I ask who can I help today? What story would I discover today? Just right before Christmas, we have a patient call and say, I saw you two years ago. You told me about this infection and I didn't do anything. And my vision kept getting worse. And when she said, I would like to get this infection taken care of, we remove the tooth, do PRF, laser, ozone, and all the biomodulations and all that. She's coming back with her optometrist. The first week that we opened after New Year, she came in for her post -op visit with her optometrist. And I'm like, oh, oh, hi. I have not met the optometrist before. And she said, my optometrist has been taking care of me for three years. When I saw you two years ago, my vision did get worse, but the last two years got significantly worse. But after I'd got my infections out, I came back in because my vision cleared up. My optometrist wants to know who I am seeing as a dentist? I can tell you this story that we hear, I still get goosebumps. And for me, that's the biggest currency - more than money, more than fame, more than Google reviews, is about changing someone's life.” (32:22 - 33:45)“Dentistry is a very tough profession. We know that. And finding a deeper purpose is the best way to transform a stressful profession into the best profession ever.” (37:51 - 38:04)Snippets:03:05 What is Wellness Dentistry? 07:20 Collaboration with Healthcare Professionals11:11 Katie's Personal Journey14:07 Success and Growth of Wellness Dentistry25:23 Advice for Young Dentists28:19 Differentiating a Wellness Dentist35:30 Final Thoughts38:20 Katie's Courses and ResourcesDr. Katie To Bio:Dr. Katie To is a biological and cosmetic dentist and the owner of The Center for Integrated Wellness and Cosmetic Dentistry in Katy, Texas. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in biology. Her pursuit of dentistry began at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) where she received distinction in research and awards in cosmetic dentistry. She is an Academy of General Dentistry Fellow (FAGD), the youngest Master of Biological Dentistry within the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine (IABDM), and the first female to hold the professional title of Master of Smile Design in the DSD network. With a passion to share this expertise, her coaching sessions at KT Dental Seminars guides industry professionals through training, certifications, and online master classes.Dr. To is married to Dr. Bar Nguyen, a board-certified orthodontist who recently joined her practice team. After a difficult journey to parenthood, they now have a wonderful son, Bailey, and a lovely daughter, Apple. They both bring joy to their lives, and she is passionate about teaching them how to experience health and happiness through wellness. She also enjoys traveling, dental photography, Peloton rides, and spending time with family. Her most recent wellness aspiration includes training toward certification as a yoga instructor. 

696: Planning for the Unexpected – Dr. Wayne KerrYou plan for work, and you plan your vacations. But do you plan for the unexpected? Anything can happen at any time, and you need to be prepared! To help you think and plan for those unforeseen events, Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Wayne Kerr to share a framework that will protect you in future disruptions. Don't ever be caught off guard! To learn how to protect your practice, your loved ones, and your team, listen to Episode 696 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Kerr:Learn more on Dr. Kerr’s website: https://kerrspeak.comLearn More About ACT Dental:Watch the entire webinar here: https://www.actdental.com/109ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.comACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalACT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/actdentalACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdentalACT’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3137520/admin/feed/posts/ACT’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/actdentalMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Try LastPass: https://www.lastpass.comMain Takeaways:Practice fiscal sanity.Write a contingency plan.Identify your cash reserves.Build team loyalty year-round.Have your personal affairs in order.Understand your business and cash flow.Be insured — and make sure you have enough.Evaluate your work-life balance and overall wellness.Quotes:“It's been said that wisdom comes from experience, and we gained invaluable experience through a horrid situation that no one saw coming. I think as practices overcame challenges, they were innovative — dentists are. Entrepreneurs are. They develop solutions to overcome those problems. And I think that we think, ‘Okay. Well, that's done. That's gone. That's in the rearview mirror.’ But what about tomorrow? How can we do something today that better positions our practice in the event of some future disruption? How can we better weather the next storm, whether it be a weather catastrophe, a tornado, a flood, a fire, whatever? I think it's important to learn from the lessons of the past and put together a contingency plan to protect our practices from any future disruption.” (4:16—5:16) -Dr. Kerr“Any small business must practice fiscal sanity. If any business or dental practice is burdened by heavy debt or has marginal cash flow, or the cash flow is sporadic and uncertain and isn't tracked and planned for, that practice is in trouble and it's less likely to survive a future disruption than a practice would with a more sound financial platform.” (5:37—6:07) -Dr. Kerr“It's important that we live within our means. When we spend more than we make, we put the safety and security of our families at risk, and we don't want to do that.” (6:08—6:19) -Dr. Kerr“We have to stop chasing those shiny objects that we always want, never need, and most of the time we can't afford. Take a struggling practice, for example. If your practice is in a marginal cash flow, that's not the time that you invest in a 3D cone beam. You do that when you have the cash flow that enables you to do that. You have to exercise fiscal sanity.” (6:35—6:57) -Dr. Kerr“Tomorrow is not promised, right? So, we need to protect our loved ones by having our personal affairs in order, have our living will and power of attorney current and updated, and make sure that our family knows important things about the practice and our personal lives — the family finances, personal financial statement, where the bank is, where the safety deposit box is, who is able to get into it, where is the key — things like that. You want to protect your loved ones by always having your personal affairs in order.” (7:09—7:46) -Dr. Kerr“Very simply, a will tells basically who gets your stuff and who raises your children — if you have children under the age of maturity. You want to protect your loved ones by having those documents in place. The last thing any single parent wants is for the state to raise their children in foster care because they didn't name someone to do that in their absence.” (10:06—10:26) -Dr. Kerr“If you look at the classic stages of business, survival is all about cash flow. You hope to make enough money today to be open tomorrow. You hope to make enough money this week to be open next week. You hope to make enough money this month to be open next month. Trust me, I've been there. Every early starting business goes through survival, and that is when you really have to understand your cash flow. But when you get into growth — which is, to me, the most exciting stage of business — now, as your business is growing, you're having to add capacity to the point where you finally reach your vision. And when you add capacity to increase the volume of your business, you're taking some financial risks. Now, at this point in your business career, you've got a positive cash flow and you're banking some of it. So, now you've got the cash flow. That means you can take on a bank loan and add that $75,000 operatory, or whatever it might be. But again, fiscal sanity.” (10:36—11:39) -Dr. Kerr“The one metric that I think everyone has to know is your break-even point. You have to know at the end of every day when you look at your end of the day sheet, ‘Did I make enough money today and put it in the bank that I'll be open again tomorrow and I can feed my thing?’ At the end of every day, you have to know you met your financial goals. If you don't know that, you're working blind and you're open to absolute catastrophe.” (12:38—13:06) Dr. Kerr“One out of three practitioners are currently looking for a chairside assistant, a hygienist, or both because we lost a lot of wonderful teammates as a result of the pandemic. And I think my point about positioning your practice to better withstand a future disruption includes building team loyalty, establishing the kind of practice culture where your employees never want to leave you for some other opportunity. I think that's so important that you continue to invest in your employees year-round, that you provide them with continuing education for personal and professional growth — which obviously benefits the practice — and invest in their future by contributing to their retirement plan. Give them reasons to stay.” (16:18—17:07) -Dr. Kerr“Lead and work with integrity, for heaven's sakes. Treat your employees with courtesy and respect. Value their contributions. Recognize them for their contributions. It's been said that once you meet the financial and security needs of an employee, what they most crave is recognition. So, appreciate and recognize them for what they're doing. Embrace open communication and delegate appropriately. But the bottom line is, value your employees on a daily basis. Never take them for granted and build that kind of practice where in spite of what disruption might come, they're loyal to that practice and to you.” (17:15—17:55) -Dr. Kerr“[Writing a contingency plan] is a great team meeting event, and it's not something that you do in an hour. You do this over a period of time. But again, look at the issues that you faced, the challenges brought on by the uncertainty of the day-to-day business in the early pandemic. How did you overcome those problems? What did you put in place? What solutions worked for you? And then, build on that. How can you better prepare your practice to withstand a future disruption? And I think, number one, clearly, you have to recover your data. Fortunately, that's so easy to do today. It wasn't so much in my early days. I mean, I backed up my data on a floppy disk for a while. Some listeners don't even know what that is. Today, we've got the remote servers we call the cloud. But without being able to recover your data following a flood or a fire or some other disruption, your practice is gone. So, that's number one.” (19:41—20:37) -Dr. Kerr“Three of my very close friends died suddenly. Their spouses were professionals in their own right. None of them had any knowledge of their husbands’ practices, and they were left in a very, very bad place. As we mentioned earlier, it's hard enough to lose your loved one, your spouse. But while you're going through that horrible process of planning a funeral, you're suddenly faced with transitioning a dental practice you know nothing about. So, I think every spouse or significant other needs a working knowledge of the practice. They need to have software training, know how to download key reports, have user access and passwords. They need to know the names of the employees and the people that work there and what they do — things like that. The spouse has to have some basic knowledge. By the way, the spouse absolutely has to have access to the practice checkbook. That is so important that the account be joint.” (20:39—21:41) -Dr. Kerr“It's important that all of us, post pandemic, regardless of whether we're the head bottle washer or a brand-new employee, pause from time to time and evaluate the quality of our lives and our contentment with our work-life balance. I'm very concerned that some dentists who are short-staffed right now that are working too hard and longer hours might burn out, and I don't want that to happen to them. So, taking time to evaluate your quality of life and your overall wellness is so important.” (25:10—25:49) -Dr. Kerr“As our amazing inspirational speaker Zig Ziglar once said — and I believe in this wholeheartedly — it's important that we learn from the past without living there, that we live and grow in the present, and more than ever, we look to the future with hope and optimism.” (26:56—27:17) -Dr. KerrSnippets:0:00 Introduction.1:38 Dr. Kerr’s background.4:01 Why it’s important to plan for the unexpected.5:26 Practice fiscal sanity.6:59 Have your personal affairs in order.10:30 Understand your business and your cash flow.12:24 Know your break-even point.14:04 Be insured enough.16:11 Build team loyalty year-round.19:32 Write a contingency plan.24:54 Evaluate your work-life balance and wellness.27:45 More about Dr. Kerr and how to get in touch.Dr. Wayne Kerr Bio:Now retired from a highly successful thirty-five-year career, Dr. Wayne Kerr has been recognized by state and local organizations as Dentist, Citizen, Professional, and Small-Business Person of the Year. Additionally, he earned Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry and was honored in 2011 with its presentation of the Life-Long Learning and Service Recognition Award. He is a member of the Hinman Dental Society and an Honored Fellow of the Georgia Dental Association.A highly regarded speaker on the international stage, Dr. Kerr is also the author of Ten Tips to the Top: A Primer for the Successful Dental Practice, and multiple books of inspiration, including When Life Needs a Sticky Note! and Wear it on a Tuesday….

695: Treatment of the Edentulous Patient - Dr Marco BrindisKirk welcomes prosthodontist Dr. Marco Brindis to discuss the treatment of the edentulous patient. They talk about the need for individualized treatment plans and the balance between saving teeth and providing optimal health and function. Dr. Brindis also highlights the importance of collaboration with other dental professionals, the importance of patient communication, treatment options for the edentulous patient, and material selection for restorations. Tune in and learn about the specialty that is treating edentulous patients. Learn More About Dr. BrindisJoin Dr. Brindis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marco.brindis.3Follow Dr. Brindis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarcobrindisLearn more about Dr. Brindis on YouTubeContact Dr. Brindis: marco [at] smilesbymarco.comLearn More About ACT Dental:Watch the entire webinar here: https://www.actdental.com/109ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.com/ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental/ACT’s YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/actdentalACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdental/ACT’s Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3137520/admin/feed/posts/ACT’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/actdentalMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & A Better Life:Subscribe to the Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin the Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt/See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event/Get the Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine/Please leave us a review on the podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Main Takeaways: Consider the patient's health and function when treating the edentulous patientIndividualize treatment plans based on the patient's specific needsCollaborate with other dental professionals to provide comprehensive careBalance aesthetics and health in treatment planningQuotes: “There was one article from the Mayo Clinic in 2013 and they had the projection with the baby boomers to have 40 million edentulous people in the United States - 40 million. And actually we reached a little bit over 40 million by the year 2020. So there's a big need. And just to put into perspective, missing your teeth is just like missing any other limb in your body. It's like missing a leg.” (07:30 - 07:38)“My main goal as a prosthodontist is not actually to save teeth, is to give you health, is to provide you with a function that you need. And sometimes that is by saving teeth. Hopefully, I always hope that the solution will be by saving teeth. But that’s not always the case. And sometimes I have to make the radical decision.”(9:07 - 9:28)“Understand that as a dentist, as a good dentist, you cannot be a cookie cutter. You cannot just feed every patient that comes to your practice to that protocol. Every patient has completely different needs, completely different problems, and we have to adapt and follow whatever the patient needs.” (11:03 - 11:21)“I constantly say, you know, when you have a dentist, it's like having a contractor in your house - fix the room, fix the door, fix the windows, fix the roof. You know, when the patients come to me, they're looking for an architect. How can we build back the house and get it in function? Because it's already too much damage. And sometimes I have to demolish that house and build from the bottom up. And sometimes I have a chance to have good bones. The house had good bones. Now I can go ahead and renovate it and have a good quality for the long term and save that house. But sometimes I don't have that luxury and I have to start from scratch.” (15:58 - 16:35)“If we only do what the patient wants, what are we here for? What did we study for? Even if the patient is going to tell us what to do. No, no, no. It's to listen and then you have to propose the best course of action for the patient with the dentist's knowledge.” (25:44 - 25:58)“Treat the patients like your own family. Treat the patient like the way you want your, your most precious love in your life to be treated, you know? And when you keep that in mind, make the decisions that you have to make and you're going to be fine. And, and don't hesitate to make radical decisions when those radical decisions are going to change the patient's life, when those decisions can reach the patient's heart.”  (32:05 - 32:21)Snippets:02:10 Dr. Marco Brindis' Background07:37 The Importance of Treating the Edentulous Patient10:23 Controversy and Decision-Making in Treatment14:07 Different Scenarios and Treatment Options17:30 Collaboration with Other Dental Professionals22:47 Financial Considerations in Treatment Planning29:08 Balancing Aesthetics and Health32:12 Final Thoughts and Contact InformationDr. Marco Brindis Bio:Dr. Marco Brindis is the chairman of the Prosthodontics Department of Louisiana State University, where he also maintains an intramural restorative practice devoted to esthetics and implants with an interdisciplinary approach. He earned his DDS from the Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico City in 1998, completed a Preceptorship in Dental Implants at the Universidad Intercontinental in 1999, a Preceptorship in Dental Implants at the Dental School at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio in 2002, and a Surgical Implant Fellowship at the Biotechnology Institute in Vitoria, Spain, in 2003. He earned his Certificate in Prosthodontics at LSU School of Dentistry in the Department of Prosthodontics in 2007, then completed the Esthetic and Occlusion courses at the Pankey Institute in 2007.Dr. Brindis is very passionate in the field of interdisciplinary dentistry for full-mouth reconstruction, esthetics, and implant dentistry. He is involved in the development of new implant protocols to treat edentulous patients. He has lectured in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Spain. He is a member of several organizations, including the Academy of Osseointegration, American Dental Association, American College of Prosthodontists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He is a well-established national and international speaker, having spoken at symposiums such as the AAOMS Dental Implant Conference, International Symposium on Oral Implantology in Spain, Academy of Osseointegration, AAOMS Annual Meeting, and the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry.