
Dental Digest Podcast with Dr. Melissa Seibert
The Dental Digest podcast is a show dedicated to discussing the latest trends, topics, and innovations in the field of dentistry. The podcast was created and is hosted by Dr. Melissa Seibert, a practicing dentist, and features interviews with leading experts in the field of dentistry, including dentists, researchers, educators, and industry professionals.
Topics covered on the show range from clinical techniques and technology to practice management and marketing strategies, with a focus on providing actionable insights and practical advice for dental professionals at all stages of their careers.
The Dental Digest podcast is available on all major podcast platforms and is a valuable resource for dental professionals looking to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in the field of dentistry.
Latest episodes

Apr 28, 2025 • 34min
266. Proper Suturing Technique and Fundamentals with Dr. Diego Velasquez
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Diego Velásquez, DDS, MSD is a graduate of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana School of Dentistry, Colombia. He holds certificates in Prosthodontics and Dental Materials, a Master’s degree in Science of Dentistry (Indiana University) and a certificate in Periodontics and Dental Implants (The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio). Dr. Velasquez works in private practice in Fenton, Michigan and is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Dentistry of The University of Michigan. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and is a member of the peer review panel of the Journal of Periodontology, Clinical Advances in Periodontics, and former consultant of The International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. He is part of the Expert Council of The Osteology Foundation. He is past president of the Midwest Society of Periodontology, Michigan Periodontal Association and The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation.

Apr 20, 2025 • 32min
265. The Dental-Airway Connection: Insights from Dr. Stanley Liu
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Dr. Stanley Liu (“Leo”) received his undergraduate education from Stanford University. He completed DDS and MD degrees, with General Surgery internship and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery residency, from the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF). After Sleep Surgery Fellowship at Stanford Medical School in 2014, he was appointed faculty in the Department of Otolaryngology until 2023. He rose to the rank of Associate Professor, and Director of the Sleep Surgery Fellowship. Concurrently, he was a Preceptor of the Oculoplastic Surgery Fellowship and held a courtesy appointment to the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. In February 2024, he joined Nova Southeastern University as the Chair of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and Assistant Dean of Hospital Affairs. Dr. Liu is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and the American College of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. He has been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Scholar, and Stanford Biodesign Faculty Fellow. He serves on the board or executive positions of the California Sleep Society (CSS), American Academy of Physiologic Medicine & Dentistry (AAPMD), and the World Dentofacial Sleep Society (WDSS). He is a consultant member in the sleep section of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). Dr. Liu’s clinical and research focus are on surgical approaches to obstructive sleep apnea. With his surgical mentor and sleep surgery pioneer, Dr. Robert Riley, the Stanford Sleep Surgery approach was updated to integrate drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), nasal surgery including maxillary expansion (DOME), pharyngeal surgery (UPPP), hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS), and maxillomandibular advancement (MMA). His bibliography lists over 90 journal articles and 20 book chapters. He has been a Grand Rounds speaker at academic programs including UCSF, Northwestern, OHSU, LSU, and Stanford. He has been a Keynote Speaker for preeminent sleep and surgery meetings, including the 33rd SLEEP in 2019, and World Sleep in 2023.

Apr 11, 2025 • 30min
264. How to Choose the Right Suture Matierial with Dr. Diego Velásquez
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Diego Velásquez, DDS, MSD is a graduate of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana School of Dentistry, Colombia. He holds certificates in Prosthodontics and Dental Materials, a Master’s degree in Science of Dentistry (Indiana University) and a certificate in Periodontics and Dental Implants (The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio). Dr. Velasquez works in private practice in Fenton, Michigan and is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Dentistry of The University of Michigan. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and is a member of the peer review panel of the Journal of Periodontology, Clinical Advances in Periodontics, and former consultant of The International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. He is part of the Expert Council of The Osteology Foundation. He is past president of the Midwest Society of Periodontology, Michigan Periodontal Association and The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation.

Apr 4, 2025 • 35min
263. Airway-Centric Oral Surgery with Dr. Stanley Liu
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Dr. Stanley Liu (“Leo”) received his undergraduate education from Stanford University. He completed DDS and MD degrees, with General Surgery internship and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery residency, from the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF). After Sleep Surgery Fellowship at Stanford Medical School in 2014, he was appointed faculty in the Department of Otolaryngology until 2023. He rose to the rank of Associate Professor, and Director of the Sleep Surgery Fellowship. Concurrently, he was a Preceptor of the Oculoplastic Surgery Fellowship and held a courtesy appointment to the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. In February 2024, he joined Nova Southeastern University as the Chair of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and Assistant Dean of Hospital Affairs. Dr. Liu is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and the American College of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. He has been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Scholar, and Stanford Biodesign Faculty Fellow. He serves on the board or executive positions of the California Sleep Society (CSS), American Academy of Physiologic Medicine & Dentistry (AAPMD), and the World Dentofacial Sleep Society (WDSS). He is a consultant member in the sleep section of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). Dr. Liu’s clinical and research focus are on surgical approaches to obstructive sleep apnea. With his surgical mentor and sleep surgery pioneer, Dr. Robert Riley, the Stanford Sleep Surgery approach was updated to integrate drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), nasal surgery including maxillary expansion (DOME), pharyngeal surgery (UPPP), hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS), and maxillomandibular advancement (MMA). His bibliography lists over 90 journal articles and 20 book chapters. He has been a Grand Rounds speaker at academic programs including UCSF, Northwestern, OHSU, LSU, and Stanford. He has been a Keynote Speaker for preeminent sleep and surgery meetings, including the 33rd SLEEP in 2019, and World Sleep in 2023.

Mar 28, 2025 • 46min
262. Universal Adhesives, Etching with Dr. Mark Latta
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Mark A. Latta, D.M.D., M.S., professor of general dentistry,served as dean of the School of Dentistry from 2011 to 2021. Prior to the dean’s appointment, he served as the Associate Dean for Research at Creighton University School of Dentistry since 1995. He personally has been awarded more than 140 research grants on prosthetic dental restorative materials, adhesives and bonding and dental material clinical trials. A speaker and lecturer of international renown, he has published more than 85 manuscripts and more than 200 abstracts and presented at numerous state and national dental association meetings and throughout the world. Prior to joining Creighton, Latta served as director of Research and Development for the Trubyte Division of Dentsply International, York, PA. During his industrial career he contributed to or was responsible for more than 20 new dental product introductions and is an inventor or co-inventor of numerous patents. He earned his dental degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1983, and his master’s degree in oral biology from the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in 1995. He also spent one year in hospital general practice residency at York Hospital, York, PA. Dr. Latta, a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists is also a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society. He has also served as president of the Dental Materials Group and the International Association for Dental Research.

Mar 24, 2025 • 40min
261. Orthodontic Expansion in Adults? With Dr. Robert "Tito" Norris
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram SUMMARY: In this episode, Dr. Robert “Tito” Norris shares his clinical expertise on orthodontic expansion and the use of MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion). He explains how MARPE offers a non-surgical solution for transverse maxillary deficiencies in skeletally mature patients. Dr. Norris outlines case selection, biomechanics, and how to identify patients who will benefit most from expansion therapy. The episode also explores the impact of expansion on airway health, facial aesthetics, and long-term stability. Dr. Robert Norris is devoted to creating smiles for a lifetime. His unique background in mechanical engineering provides him with a distinct advantage in mastering the forces, vectors, and movements inherent in performing orthodontic treatment. Dr. Norris attended University of Texas at Austin where he received his bachelor’s degree with honors in Biology and a minor in Mechanical Engineering. He was salutatorian of this dental school class at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School. He completed a General Practice Residency at the V.A. Hospital in Washington, D.C. He completed his orthodontics specialty training at Howard University, and graduating as valedictorian with the highest GPA in the Orthodontic Department’s 25-year history. Professional Affiliations American Dental Association American Association of Orthodontists Board Certified by the American Board of Orthodontics Texas Dental Association

Mar 7, 2025 • 38min
259. Pascal Magne, DMD, PhD, MSc - Immediate Dentin Sealing
Pascal Magne Courses: Www.pascalmagne.com Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dr. Pascal Magne was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland) in 1966. He grew up and followed his primary education in Neuchâtel then moved to Geneva where he graduated in dentistry in 1989 and completed a Doctoral Thesis in 1992. He taught and continued his postgraduate education in Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry at the University of Geneva until 1997. Awarded with major grants by the Swiss Science Foundation, the Swiss Foundation for Medical-Biological Grants, and the International Association for Dental Research, he spent two years as a full-time research scholar in Biomaterials and Biomechanics at the University of Minnesota between 1997 and 1999. Back at the University of Geneva, he received his PhD degree in 2002 and served as Senior Lecturer from 1999 to 2004. Since February 2004, he became Associate Professor at the University of Southern California (USC, Los Angeles) where he also serves as Director of the Center for Esthetic Dentistry. He is the author of the textbook -- "Bonded Porcelain Restorations" (Quintessence Publishing, 2002), as well as clinical and research articles on esthetics and adhesive dentistry and is frequently invited to lecture on these topics.

Mar 1, 2025 • 40min
258. Leveraging Bleaching for Minimally Invasive Dentistry - Dr. Van Haywood
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Van B. Haywood, D.M.D., is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Restorative Sciences, Dental College of Georgia @ Augusta University. A 1974 alumni of the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, he was in private practice 7 years in Augusta, Georgia and taught at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, NC in Operative and Prosthodontics for 12 years before coming to Augusta University in 1993. In 1989, he co-authored the first publication in the world on Nightguard vital bleaching (at-home tray bleaching) with Dr. Harald Heymann, and in 1997 co-authored the first article on extended treatment (six-months) of tetracycline-stained teeth using this technique.While he is most known for his research and articles on tray bleaching, he taught in the Fixed Prosthodontics courses, the Occlusion courses,and the Esthetics course, as well as in sophomore and junior Operative and Fixed student clinics. After over 29 years at the Dental College of Georgia, he retired from full-time teaching in December 2022. The DCG Class of 1997 initiated a scholarship in his name for clinical excellence and compassionate care.

Feb 21, 2025 • 28min
257. Expert Secrets for Dental Bleaching - Dr. Van Haywood
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Free Class II Masterclass - Click Here to Join Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Van B. Haywood, D.M.D., is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Restorative Sciences, Dental College of Georgia @ Augusta University. A 1974 alumni of the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, he was in private practice 7 years in Augusta, Georgia and taught at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, NC in Operative and Prosthodontics for 12 years before coming to Augusta University in 1993. In 1989, he co-authored the first publication in the world on Nightguard vital bleaching (at-home tray bleaching) with Dr. Harald Heymann, and in 1997 co-authored the first article on extended treatment (six-months) of tetracycline-stained teeth using this technique.While he is most known for his research and articles on tray bleaching, he taught in the Fixed Prosthodontics courses, the Occlusion courses,and the Esthetics course, as well as in sophomore and junior Operative and Fixed student clinics. After over 29 years at the Dental College of Georgia, he retired from full-time teaching in December 2022. The DCG Class of 1997 initiated a scholarship in his name for clinical excellence and compassionate care.

Feb 16, 2025 • 43min
256. Ceramic Esthetics, Diastema Closure, Resin Composite - Dr. Jason Smithson
Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com DOT - Use the Code DENTALDIGEST for 10% off Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dr. Jason Smithson, DDS, is a distinguished dentist renowned for his innovative approach to patient care and commitment to advancing the field of modern dentistry. With over 20 years of clinical experience, he has established himself as an expert in restorative, cosmetic, and implant dentistry. Dr. Smithson earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from a prestigious institution, where he distinguished himself not only academically but also through his passion for integrating cutting-edge technology into dental practice. Following his graduation, he pursued advanced training in restorative techniques and digital dentistry, setting the stage for a career marked by precision, artistry, and patient-centered care. Throughout his career, Dr. Smithson has been at the forefront of adopting and refining state-of-the-art dental technologies. His practice is known for its innovative treatments and minimally invasive techniques that prioritize preserving natural tooth structure while delivering exceptional aesthetic and functional outcomes. His meticulous approach to treatment planning and execution has earned him a reputation for transforming smiles and enhancing the overall quality of life for his patients. Dr. Smithson’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his continuous pursuit of professional development and his active participation in national and international dental conferences, where he shares his insights and learns from peers around the globe. Beyond his clinical expertise, Dr. Smithson is a passionate educator and mentor. He regularly lectures at dental schools and professional workshops, inspiring a new generation of dental professionals to embrace evidence-based practices and innovative treatment modalities. His published research in peer-reviewed journals has contributed significantly to the fields of digital dentistry and minimally invasive restorative techniques, influencing contemporary dental practices. Colleagues and students alike commend him for his clarity, dedication, and willingness to share knowledge, which has made him a highly respected figure in the dental community. Dr. Smithson is also an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the International Association for Dental Research. His involvement in these organizations underscores his commitment to advancing dental standards and ensuring that his practice remains at the cutting edge of industry developments. Moreover, his leadership extends into community service, where he frequently volunteers at free dental clinics and participates in outreach programs aimed at improving oral health among underserved populations. In every aspect of his career, Dr. Jason Smithson exemplifies the qualities of a modern dental leader—innovative, compassionate, and deeply dedicated to the art and science of dentistry. His ongoing contributions to clinical practice, education, and community service continue to shape the future of dental care, making him a trusted and influential voice in the profession.
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