The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

Being a dentist isn't easy, and neither is being an entrepreneur. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Jeff Henneberg, co-founder of Smile Source Spokane, to share his path from being an educator to entrepreneurship and offer his words of wisdom and encouragement for current and future practice owners. To learn the essential tools and skills of entrepreneurship, listen to Episode 924 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Henneberg:Join Dr. Henneberg on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smilesourcespokaneFollow Dr. Henneberg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smilespokanenorthLearn more about Smile Source Spokane: https://www.smilesourcespokane.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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 924: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosMain Takeaways:Entrepreneurship is a learnable skill, not something innate.Whether it’s Smile Source or not, find a community to be a part of.Balance your time and your life. It will make you a better human being.Keep on giving. It’s when you're giving that you’ll feel like you're truly living.Figure out who you are and what is important to you about the role of dentistry.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:40 Dr. Henneberg’s background and what pulled him into dentistry.11:12 Can entrepreneurship be taught?12:42 Bumps in the road and lessons learned.19:26 The community of Smile Source.22:08 The dark side of entrepreneurship.25:08 The importance of finding a community.27:50 Figure out who you are.30:11 More bumps in the road and lessons learned.34:03 The future for Dr. Henneberg.36:04 The importance of controlling your time.40:57 Final thoughts.Dr. Jeff Henneberg Bio:Dr. Jeff Henneberg is the co-founder of Smile Source Spokane. Smile Source Spokane helps people from all over the state and Inland Empire achieve oral health and feel confident about their smiles. For over 15 years, more than 3,000 people from over five states in the West and Canada have trusted their care to Smile Source Ellingsen-Henneberg Dental.Dr. Henneberg has been an educator for dental students through the University of Washington Dental School and has hosted educational events in various subjects regarding oral care. He is a charter member of the Inland Empire Perio Study Club, which is one of the longest running educational clubs in the country. He provides implant, surgical, and consultation care for the Benewah Medical Clinic and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. He is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the ADA®, WSDA, SDDS, and serves on the dental advisory board of Smile Source.In his spare time, Dr. Henneberg enjoys spending time outdoors golfing, skiing, and hiking with his family. He is married with two children.

About 50% of your new patients will not return. Why does that happen, and what can you do about it? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Brad James, director of SMB sales at Kleer and Membersy, to explain the true problem you have in your practice. You don't have a new patient problem — you have a patient loyalty problem! To learn what's keeping new patients away and how to create loyalty in your practice, listen to Episode 923 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Brad:Follow Kleer and Membersy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kleerandmembersyLearn more about Kleer and Membersy: https://www.kleer.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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 923: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosWatch Episode 904 with Jeff Janssen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyBwnKvavDcRead The Membership Economy by Robbie Kellman Baxter: https://robbiekellmanbaxter.com/the-membership-economyMain Takeaways:Membership patients, on average, spend 66% more.Cash-paying patients don't come in as often as you think.Study your practice data to avoid making knee-jerk decisions.Offering membership plans builds loyalty by providing affordability.Evaluate your team before trying to manage membership plans in-house.Focus on creating loyalty across your practice, not just marketing to new patients.Uninsured patients are least likely to return, spend money, and listen to suggestions.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:57 Brad’s background.4:28 Lacking visibility of practice data and why it’s a problem.8:50 Consequences of not knowing your numbers.11:43 New patients aren't always the answer.14:05 Incentivize patients to return.15:34 Membership patients have a higher APV.22:32 It’s not all about volume.26:54 Myths and data about cash-paying patients.31:29 Build your practice with loyalty, not price.33:05 Membership drives loyalty.35:48 Final thoughts.37:17 About Kleer-Membersy.Brad James Bio:Brad James is an accomplished leader in the dental industry, serving as the director of SMB markets at Kleer and Membersy. Committed to making access to dental care both easy and profitable, Brad plays a pivotal role in empowering dental teams to implement strategies that unlock growth. 

You can’t recapture 100% of your cancellations — but you can get 80% or more! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down recaptured percentage, how to track it, and ways to create a strong system to increase reappointment. To learn the secrets for actively rescheduling patients, listen to Episode 922 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Miranda:Send Miranda an email: miranda@actdental.com Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalSend Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: courtney@actdental.com 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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 922: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosJoin ACT’s BPA to get the Ideal Day Scheduling Guide: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fcolor-coding-block-scheduling-and-ideal-day-scheduling#emailMain Takeaways:Aim to recapture 80% or more of your cancellations.Create a script to help your team reappoint cancellations on the spot.Track cancellations in real time and follow up with patients on the same day.Strengthen your verbal skills. Don't just tell patients to, “Call us when you're ready.”Build an active follow-up system. Contact patients within a day or two of a cancellation.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:48 Recaptured percentage, explained.4:40 How this percentage impacts your practice.6:51 What it looks like when recaptured percentage is high.8:47 What it looks like when recaptured percentage is low.11:47 Countermeasures.14:13 Join ACT’s BPA.Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:Miranda Beeson 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. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

Hygiene is more than just preventative care. It’s a way to tether patients to your practice! In this episode, Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, brings in four amazing ACT team members to share some of their best practices and insights for building value through hygiene. Hygienists are more than just “mouth janitors”! To learn of all the ways they provide value for your practice, listen to Episode 921 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About the ACT Team:Send Ariel an email: ariel@actdental.com Send Angela an email: angela@actdental.com Send Miranda an email: miranda@actdental.com Send Courtney an email: courtney@actdental.com Send Christina an email: christina@actdental.com Follow the Team on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 921: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosMain Takeaways:Hygiene is how you keep patients tethered to your practice.Be aligned on what your optimal standard of care is for patients.Always schedule the patient’s next appointment before they leave.Don't underestimate the influence hygiene can have on practice growth.Put a consistent follow-up plan in place to reintroduce unscheduled patients.Use value building language to communicate why their next appointment matters.Have documented systems that support your philosophy, initiatives, and follow-ups.When doctors and hygienists work together, both the patients and the practice benefit.  Snippets:0:00 ACT’s BPA.2:18 Why this is an important topic.5:39 How this topic shows up in the practice.8:41 The importance of hygiene for patient retention.13:19 The importance of hygiene: Create urgency or build value for the next appointment.15:44 The importance of hygiene: “Due for what?”17:24 The importance of hygiene: “Your program of care”.18:11 The importance of hygiene: Don't use minimizing language.19:48 Best practices for consistently working a recare system.23:11 The importance of optimal standards of care.30:37 Upholding optimal standards of care: Align your team on what optimal means.33:04 Upholding optimal standards of care: Benefits of having a documented system.34:38 Upholding optimal standards of care: Let patients know you're providing optimal care.39:25 The importance of collaboration.47:03 The importance of collaboration: “Preheat” the patient.48:57 The importance of collaboration: Get doctors and hygienists aligned.50:26 The importance of collaboration: Have clear conversations from the beginning.51:25 The importance of collaboration: The exam on demand.53:20 The importance of the hand-off.55:29 Final takeaways.Ariel Juday Bio:Ariel has a master’s in healthcare administration and several years of dental experience in all aspects of the administrative roles within the dental office. Her passion is to work with dental teams to empower team members to realize their full potential in order to better serve patients, improve office systems to ensure a well-functioning team/office, and to help everyone have fun in the process!Angela Heathman, MS, RDH Bio:Angela Heathman, MS, RDH, has over 20 years of clinical dental hygiene, dental sales, and practice coaching experience. When she transitioned from her role as a clinician to her role as a sales account manager, she realized both her passion for education and practice development. Now, as a Lead Practice Coach with ACT Dental, she works with dentists and their teams to help them accomplish their goals. She believes the hard work you do on your practice is just as important as the work you do in your practice!Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:Miranda Beeson 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. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.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.Christina Byrne, BS, RDH Bio:Christina 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!

Traditional annual performance reviews don't work — and there's data to show it! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Alan Twigg, president of Bent Ericksen & Associates, to share what you should know about annual performance reviews, how to rethink them, and tips for making them more effective. To learn the best ways to give feedback to your team, listen to Episode 920 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Alan:Give Alan a call: (800) 679-2760Send Alan an email: alan@bentericksen.com Join Bent Ericksen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BentEricksenAssociatesLearn more about Bent Ericksen: https://bentericksen.comTry Bent Ericksen’s HR Director package: https://bentericksen.com/product/hr-directorLearn more on Bent Ericksen’s Resource Library: https://bentericksen.com/resource-libraryLearn More About ACT Dental:ACT’s Events: https://www.actdental.com/eventACT’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/actdental/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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 920: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosWatch Episode 908 with Alan Twigg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCg0_NPdbRIWatch Episode 890 with Alan Twigg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS2d39YPVEIRead Traction by Gino Wickman: https://benbellabooks.com/shop/tractionMain Takeaways:Your goal is for your team to know exactly where they stand.Communicate the good, the bad, and the ugly — especially early on.Studies show that traditional annual performance reviews are not effective.Regularly do check-ins and find out your teams’ wants, needs, and concerns.Be proactive with feedback. Don't wait for your team members to come to you.Don't give your team raises the same day you do check-ins or performance reviews.Traditional performance reviews, when not done properly, can come back to bite you.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.2:13 Why this is an important topic.3:24 Team members need to know where they stand.6:12 Gallup Q12, explained.7:51 Don't wait for team members to come to you.10:40 Tips on the first 90 days for new hires.11:30 Traditional annual performance reviews aren't effective.13:44 Tips on setting goals.16:32 Three questions to ask when doing check-ins.20:51 Do what works for your practice.22:49 Tips on giving raises.31:35 About Bent Ericksen.Alan Twigg Bio:Alan Twigg is the president of Bent Ericksen & Associates. For over 10 years, he has guided thousands of clients and consultants through the ever-changing world of HR and employment compliance. He is a speaker, consultant, and author who is passionate about bringing education and peace of mind to such a confusing topic.As a strong proponent of symbiotic employer-employee relations, Alan is passionate about teamwork and positive work cultures, with an emphasis on long-term personnel retention and employment compliance, where his solutions-oriented outlook excels.

Cancellations will always happen — but there's a way to reduce and prevent them from happening! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down cancellation and no-show percentage and what you can do if you have high levels of broken appointments. Stop making it too easy to cancel! To learn the secret to getting patients to show up, listen to Episode 919 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Miranda:Send Miranda an email: miranda@actdental.com Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalSend Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: courtney@actdental.com 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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 919: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRegister for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849Main Takeaways:Your ideal cancellation/no-show percentage is under 10%.Proactively reach out to patients with unconfirmed appointments.Put a system in place for releasing or keeping unconfirmed appointments.Have a reminder system that utilizes both automated and personal outreach.Be intentional with your language. Don't call to confirm appointments — remind them.Communicate the value of appointments to patients and policies around missed visits.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.3:15 Cancellation and no-show percentage, explained.5:16 How this percentage impacts the practice.7:59 What it looks like when it’s going well.9:47 What it looks like when it’s not going well.11:13 Learn how to track and cancel appointments in your software.13:00 Ways to impact this metric.19:58 Final thoughts.Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:Miranda Beeson 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. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

You might think you're great at multitasking — but you're really not! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Renae Graeff, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to share how to maximize your dental assistants’ skills so you can fully utilize them to better your practice. Don't try to do it all! To learn how to empower your assistants so they become more capable, more fulfilled, and a better partner for patient care, listen to Episode 918 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Renae:Send Renae an email: renae@actdental.com Follow Renae on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalSend Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: courtney@actdental.com 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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 918: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRegister for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849Register to ACT’s BPA for their 3-3-3 Onboarding Tool: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2F3-3-3-onboarding-model#emailRegister to ACT’s BPA for their Check-In Agenda: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fcheck-in-agenda-editable#emailRegister to ACT’s BPA for their Ideal Day Scheduling Guide: https://join.actdental.com/c/practice-coaching-tools/color-coding-block-scheduling-and-ideal-day-schedulingMain Takeaways:When you empower dental assistants, the entire practice benefits.Proper delegation will allow dentists to focus on high-value procedures.Eliminate the “I can do it faster myself” mentality to start freeing up your time.Find out the full scope of what your dental assistants can legally do in your state.Your dental assistants are more than just “support staff”. They are key contributors.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.2:11 Why this is an important topic.4:45 Why dentists don't fully utilize dental assistants.7:30 Find out what dental assistants can legally do in your state.9:19 The true value of a dental assistant.12:20 How to utilize your dental assistants.13:30 Dovetail scheduling, explained.14:19 Final takeaways.15:48 ACT’s BPA.Renae Graeff Bio:Renae Graeff is a lead practice coach who focuses on establishing trust and communication to help practice leaders and teams achieve their personal and professional goals. With over 18 years of combined clinical experience as an EFDA and office management, she understands the necessity for a healthy and aligned team firsthand. Over the years, she has worked with many doctors, specialists, hygienists, assistants, and admin teams with this in mind and has helped to improve communication and understanding in the office.Renae resides in a suburb of Philadelphia with her long-term boyfriend and blended family of four children, Vivian, Lucy, Alex, and Aubrey. They all love spending time with their beloved family dog, Axel. She enjoys watching the Eagles and Phillies games, reading, and traveling to her summer "home away from home" outside of Cape May, New Jersey.

How you communicate will make or break your practice. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down the DiSC framework to help you better understand yourself and your team so you can improve communication and harmony in your practice. To take the first step to optimize your leadership style, listen to Episode 917 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Miranda:Send Miranda an email: miranda@actdental.com Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalSend Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: courtney@actdental.com 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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 917: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRegister for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849Register for ACT’s Guide to Engaging Your Team with Data: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fguide-to-engaging-your-team-with-data#emailMain Takeaways:Understanding your team isn't optional! It’s the foundation of trust.Study the four DiSC styles to effectively communicate and reduce conflict.DiSC is not about labeling people. It’s about connection and understanding.Knowing everyone’s DiSC styles removes misunderstandings and bad narratives.By understanding yourself and others, you can adapt how you speak to be heard.No one style is better than another. A little bit of everything creates a good balance.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.2:59 Why this is an important topic.6:35 DiSC, explained.19:05 Statistics on style population size.22:29 What it means to “talk like a leader”.33:48 Considerations for talking to D-styles (Dominance).37:20 Considerations for talking to I-styles (Influence).39:51 Considerations for talking to S-styles (Steadiness).44:02 Considerations for talking to C-styles (Conscientiousness).47:13 Final thoughts.49:33 ACT’s BPA.Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:Miranda Beeson 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. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach. 

Cancellations and no-shows will always happen. But how well are you filling those gaps? In this episode of Metric Mondays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down capacity percentage. They share the keys to maintaining a productive and efficient schedule even when your patients fall out. Don't settle for 84%! To learn how to proactively fill your schedule, listen to Episode 916 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Miranda:Send Miranda an email: miranda@actdental.com Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalSend Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: courtney@actdental.com 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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 916: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRegister for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849Main Takeaways:Your capacity percentage benchmark is 94% or higher.Pre-schedule your patients’ next appointments before they leave.Utilize ideal day or block scheduling. Protect your high-value time blocks.Have someone own and review your schedule two days to two weeks in advance.When you have cancellations and no-shows, quickly fill those gaps using priority lists.Utilize customized bulk texting to reach out to patients. At least one patient will say yes.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:49 Why this is an important metric.3:33 Capacity percentage, explained.6:34 How capacity percentage impacts the practice.8:38 Indicators that this percentage is going well.10:23 Indicators that this percentage is not going well.12:24 Countermeasures.15:15 ACT’s BPA.Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:Miranda Beeson 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. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

You love your spouse or partner. But is working with them a good idea? In this episode of the Best Practices Show, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Charlie Ward, visiting faculty member at The Pankey Institute, along with his wife and fellow dentist, Dr. Melody Ward, to share the benefits and challenges of working together and their secrets for making it work. To learn how they’ve done it for over a decade, listen to Episode 915 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Charlie Ward & Dr. Melody Ward:Send Dr. Charlie Ward an email: charlie@bmoredentalarts.com Follow Dr. Charlie Ward on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcwardddsWatch Dr. Charlie Ward’s webinars: https://restorativenation.comFollow Dr. Melody Ward on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mwardperioLearn more about their practice: https://www.baltimoredentalarts.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/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttGet 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:Watch the video version of Episode 915: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosMain Takeaways:Have the conversation about why you want to work together and your goals in doing so.Learn about each other’s personalities to improve understanding and communication.Make the time to get away from your practice and your family with your spouse.Be intentional about your time off. Going to CE doesn't count as vacation!Set clear rules and boundaries so you limit bringing work back home.Check in regularly with your spouse. Things are always changing.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.2:13 Dr. Charlie Ward’s background.3:46 Dr. Melody Ward’s background.5:04 How they make it work.8:28 Rules for not bringing work home.11:11 How the idea of working together came about.15:12 Be intentional about time away.18:22 Their philosophy on CE.24:31 Handling team questions and conflict.28:09 Know yourself, your spouse, and your team.32:00 Adventuring through food.36:50 Final thoughts.Dr. Charlie Ward Bio:After graduating from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2004, Dr. Charlie Ward went straight into the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He earned his DDS degree in 2008, and since then he has completed the Essentials courses and many others at the esteemed Pankey Institute, where he now serves as visiting faculty. He is currently a member of the Maryland State Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.When Dr. Ward isn’t spending time with Dr. Melody Ward and their two young boys, Cyrus and Lucas, he can often be found golfing or fishing. He also enjoys playing the guitar. While in dental school, he was actually in an all-dentist band called Incisal Edge! He even has his own guitar collection and has turned his basement into a music room.Dr. Melody Ward Bio:Dr. Melody Ward’s college career started at the University of California San Diego, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree. She went on to earn her dental degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and continued at the same institution to obtain a Master of Science and Certificate in Periodontics.Since then, she has fervently pursued continuing education. She currently runs a Spear Study Club and is taking a continuum of courses at the Pankey Institute. She is also part of a dental implant study club and has received training focused on treating infants with lip and tongue-ties.Away from work, Dr. Ward enjoys primarily spending time with her family, Dr. Charlie Ward and their two young boys. They all try to spend plenty of time outdoors together, particularly bike riding. She has recently gotten into baking and has also planted a vegetable garden. She likes to incorporate the harvests into family meals whenever she can.