
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

May 23, 2022 • 40min
123. Dr. Brian Mealey - How Well Do You Understand Periodontal Disease?
Dental Marketing with Legwork Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook Dr. Brian Mealey is a Clinical Professor of the Specialist Division in the Department of Periodontics at UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. He received his D.D.S. in 1983 from UT Health San Antonio, his M.S. degree from UT Health San Antonio in 1990, and his certificate in Periodontics in 1990 from Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Mealey served more than 21 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, including positions as the chairman of the Department of Periodontics at Wilford Hall Medical Center, the program director of the U.S. Air Force Periodontics Residency, and the Chief Military Consultant in Periodontics to the Air Force Surgeon General. Dr. Mealey has published extensively in the scientific literature, with an emphasis on interrelationships between oral and systemic health. He is co-editor and author of the textbooks Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery, and Implants (2004, Elsevier Publishing), and Periodontal Medicine (2000, B.C. Decker Publishing). Dr. Mealey is a Diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology and is a consultant to the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. He currently serves as a Director of the American Board of Periodontology. More Information on Periodontitis: New classification: The official proceedings from the 2017 Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions, co-presented by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), are now available online as a supplement to the June 2018 issue of the Journal of Periodontology. The print version will be mailed in late July, along with the regular June issue. The result of this landmark gathering is a redesigned disease classification framework that guides comprehensive treatment planning and allows for a personalized approach to patient care. Highlights from the updated classification include a multi-dimensional staging and grading system for periodontitis classification, a recategorization of various forms of periodontitis, and the inaugural classification for peri-implant diseases and conditions. Consequences of Periodontitis: Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums and stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body essentially turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets between the teeth and gums that can become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may fall out or need to be removed. Periodontitis diagnosis is typically classified by stage and grade. After your periodontist conducts a thorough assessment of your unique case, he or she may assign a stage ranging from initial to severe that describes the acuteness of disease. Additionally, your periodontist may assign a grade which communicates the rate of disease progression and anticipated response to treatment.

May 16, 2022 • 32min
122. Dr. Dave Alleman - Biomimetic Dentistry and Decoupling with Time
Dental Marketing with Legwork Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook Dr. David Alleman’s biomimetic journey began when he was so frustrated with dentistry that he wanted to quit. Traditional practices resulted in failed restorations and tooth sensitivity; he sought a better way. Dr. Alleman’s Six Lessons Approach compiles scientific research from the past 40 years — including his own — into a set of protocols that create consistent outcomes for doctors and their patients. Read more about how, like many dentists, the failures of traditional dentistry led to Dr. Alleman’s burnout but, ultimately, finding a better way forward in our blog post, Founding the Alleman Center. Biomimetic means to mimic nature. A term initially popularized by Pascal Magne in his 2002 book Bonded Porcelain Restorations in the Anterior Dentition, the goal of biomimetic dentistry, also known as biomimetic restorative dentistry, is to restore teeth with decay or cracks to their natural strength and structure. The Biomimetic Mastership teaches Dr. David Alleman’s Six Lessons Approach in a year-long mentorship course. Entirely online, the course is designed to accommodate the busy schedules of doctors around the world and will equip you with everything you need to implement biomimetic dentistry into your practice, giving you the tools to treat your patients with the highest standard of care available. With Dr. David and Davey Alleman, Dr. Patrick Calalang, Dr. Ashley Chung, Dr. Dafina Doberdoli and Dr. David Wold to guide you through the biomimetic literature, techniques and protocols of the Six Lessons Approach, you will be able to confidently practice biomimetic dentistry on a daily basis. Learn more about the Biomimetic Mastership. The Alleman Center was founded with the goal of training doctors around the world in biomimetic restorative protocols that create long-lasting restorations with minimally invasive techniques. In 2019, Hillary Alleman, with her father Dr. David Alleman, created the first ever online biomimetic training mentorship program, the Biomimetic Mastership, to teach his Six Lessons Approach, an innovative protocol to biomimetic dentistry. As more doctors, and patients, have started their search for alternatives to traditional dentistry, we are growing to meet the increased demand for biomimetic restorative dentistry around the world. Read more About the Alleman Center. The Alleman Center team is dedicated to expanding access to biomimetic restorative techniques. The doctors on our team of mentors and practitioners are leaders in the field of biomimetic dentistry. They teach our Biomimetic Mastership and assist the doctors we train. To learn more about their work, publications and offices, visit Meet the Team.

May 9, 2022 • 34min
121. Dr. Marcos Vargas - Dental Composite Mastery
Dental Marketing with Legwork Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook Dr. Vargas received his D.D.S. from the Peruvian University School of Dentistry in 1985 and completed a two year advanced education residency in general dentistry at The Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York in 1992. He received his Master of Science degree and certificate in Operative Dentistry from the University of Iowa in 1994. Dr. Vargas is an associate professor in the department of Family Dentistry at the University of Iowa. He has contributed to several texts, is on the Editorial Boards of several journals, publishes extensively and is the Operative Dentistry section editor for Practical Procedures and Aesthetic Dentistry. Dr. Vargas lectures nationally and internationally on cosmetic dentistry and is an active member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Academy of Operative Dentistry, the American Dental Association and the International Association for Dental Research. In addition, he maintains a part-time private practice at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry in Iowa City, IA.

May 2, 2022 • 43min
120. Dr. Marcos Vargas - Composite Fundamentals
Dental Marketing with Legwork Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook Dr. Vargas received his D.D.S. from the Peruvian University School of Dentistry in 1985 and completed a two year advanced education residency in general dentistry at The Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York in 1992. He received his Master of Science degree and certificate in Operative Dentistry from the University of Iowa in 1994. Dr. Vargas is an associate professor in the department of Family Dentistry at the University of Iowa. He has contributed to several texts, is on the Editorial Boards of several journals, publishes extensively and is the Operative Dentistry section editor for Practical Procedures and Aesthetic Dentistry. Dr. Vargas lectures nationally and internationally on cosmetic dentistry and is an active member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Academy of Operative Dentistry, the American Dental Association and the International Association for Dental Research. In addition, he maintains a part-time private practice at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry in Iowa City, IA.

Apr 25, 2022 • 50min
119. Dr. Tracey Nguyen - Sleep Medicine and the Airway
Dental Marketing with Legwork Meetdandy.com/Melissa Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Follow Dr. Tracey Nguyen @drtraceynguyen on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook About Dr. Nguyen: Graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Tracey Nguyen maintains a private private 30 minutes outside of Washington, DC, in Northern Virginia. She is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. On top of being trained by some of the best leaders in dentistry, she continued her training at at the Kois Center in Seattle, Washington. In 2016, she was honored with Top 25 Women in Dentistry. As a member of the Wellness Dentistry Network, her practice is heavily based on integrating overall health, bridging the gap with medicine and dentistry. Recently she created the Northern Virginia Interdisciplinary Airway Group, focusing on screening, diagnosing and treating children and adults with Sleep Disorder Breathing. I think dentists have a bigger calling today. The dental care model is very different from the medical model. We are heavily focused on prevention of disease and overall health. I understand that your mouth can reflect your oveall health. We have a serious epidemic with our children. Children are heavily medicated at younger ages at alarming rates. Medical appointments start with a prescription pad and there is little face to face with your physician. I focus on search for the root causes of your disease. I developed this group last year. The purpose of the group is to establish a multidisciplinary approach to airway/sleep breathing problems. Improper breathing leads to poor oxygen exchange and poor oxygen exchange is a leading factor in limiting our body's ability to deter disease. To properly address all the factors involved in this problem necessitates that dentists, physicians and allied health providers work together. The website is meant to be informational and educational to the public and other healthcare providers. We want the public to know that there are solutions to these complex problems and we want healthcare providers to work together for the best outcome for our patients. Professional Associations American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (accredited member) American Academy of General Dentistry (fellow) American Academy of Laser Dentistry American Academy of Sleep Dentistry International Congress of Implantologist Kois Center: Advanced education Spear Education Center: Advanced education

Apr 18, 2022 • 45min
118. Dr. Rob Ritter - Should You Charge a No-Show Fee?
Dental Marketing with Legwork Meetdandy.com/Melissa Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Follow Dr. Rob Ritter @drrobritter on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook Dr. Ritter bio: "I have had the opportunity to research, write, and publish several articles on adhesive and cosmetic dentistry in several professional publications, including Practical Periodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry (PPAD), Signature, Spectrum, Dentistry Today, DPR, Contemporary Esthetics, and I am on the editorial board of PPAD, as well as Spectrum, The Journal of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and The Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. In addition, I am an editorial board member of REALITY, a publication to keep dentists up-to-date with advances in the products, techniques and research of esthetic dentistry. I am a product consultant to numerous dental manufacturers, and I have lectured nationally as well as internationally on cosmetic dentistry, adhesive dentistry, porcelain veneers, and restorative implant dentistry. Before becoming a dentist, I spent my childhood growing up in Palm Beach County. I attended the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine, where I received my dental degree in 1994. I served as the program leader of PowerPAC for the Pacific Aesthetic Continuum (PAC-Live) a live patient program for Porcelain Veneers. I have been speaking nationally and internationally for over 18 years all over the United States on Technology-Social Media for the modern dental office. To contact me about speaking engagements visit DrRobRitter.com Continuing education is an important part of my job as your dentist. I participate in continuing education every year, logging over 200 hours, in order to stay current with the latest advancements in dentistry. I am a member of several prestigious dental organizations, including the: American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry American Academy of Restorative Dentistry American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry American Dental Association Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (past president) Seaside Study Club Seattle Study Club National Speaker Kois Center Graduate"

Apr 11, 2022 • 40min
117. Rob Ritter - Secrets of a High End Practice
Dental Marketing with Legwork Meetdandy.com/Melissa Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Follow Dr. Rob Ritter @drrobritter on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook Dr. Ritter bio: "I have had the opportunity to research, write, and publish several articles on adhesive and cosmetic dentistry in several professional publications, including Practical Periodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry (PPAD), Signature, Spectrum, Dentistry Today, DPR, Contemporary Esthetics, and I am on the editorial board of PPAD, as well as Spectrum, The Journal of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and The Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. In addition, I am an editorial board member of REALITY, a publication to keep dentists up-to-date with advances in the products, techniques and research of esthetic dentistry. I am a product consultant to numerous dental manufacturers, and I have lectured nationally as well as internationally on cosmetic dentistry, adhesive dentistry, porcelain veneers, and restorative implant dentistry."

Apr 4, 2022 • 1h
116. Dr. Ricardo Mitrani - Do Implants Last Forever?
Dental Marketing with Legwork Meetdandy.com/Melissa Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Follow Dr. Ricardo Mitrai @ricardomitrani on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook In this ep Dr. Mitrani will discuss a number of topics related to implants, implant prosthodontics and treatment planning. Dr. Mitrani has authored many scientific articles and chapters in textbooks on implant prosthodontics and esthetic dentistry. He has given more than 500 lectures in 30 countries, maintains a private practice in Mexico City limited to prosthodontics and implants, serves as an instructor in Spear Seminars, frequently contributes to Spear Digest, and develops numerous lessons for Spear Online. A member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and the International College of Dentistry, Dr. Mitrani also serves on the editorial boards of numerous peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry and the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry. He holds academic affiliation at the National University of Mexico and serves as affiliate associate professor at the University of Washington. Dr. Mitrani received his D.D.S. degree from the UNITEC University of Mexico City. He then obtained a certificate in prosthodontics and M.S.D. in dentistry from the University of Washington, where he served as the graduate prosthodontics program’s assistant director in 2001.

Apr 1, 2022 • 26min
115. Cory Roletto - Bring New Patients In!
Cory Roletto has been an immense help in enabling dentists to rank high on Google and get a competitive edge to bring more patients into the practice. Cory has helped me a lot and if you'd like to work with him, email him at cory@weomedia.com As dentists we don't get formal training in learning how to bring new patients into our practice. I've asked Cory from Weo Media to talk about what we can do to get a competitive edge in the digital era. Cory also talks about what it takes to have a successful practice website. Website: https://weomedia.com/ Cory leads the operations team at WEO Media. He brings over 20 years combined experience in technology, business consulting, marketing, and operations. Cory began his career at Intel Corp where he served as a key member of the competitive marketing team. Cory received 12 awards of the divisional level or higher while at Intel and many of Cory's engineering and marketing innovations are still used at Intel today. After 10 years at Intel Cory left the company to co-found (with Ian) a very successful regional business and marketing consulting firm. After dozens of successful consulting engagements Cory left the consulting world to co-found WEO Media. Cory has a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Washington. Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram

Mar 28, 2022 • 33min
114. Dr. Neil Griseto - Implant Prosthodontics
In this episode we'll cover several topics such as implant supported overdentures, implants, implant restorations, patient management and more Dental Marketing with Legwork Meetdandy.com/Melissa Podcast Website Follow @dental_digest_podcast Instagram Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram Follow Dr. Neil Griseto @ngriseto on Instagram Connect with Melissa on Linkedin Dental Digest Podcast Facebook Dr. Neil Griseto graduated from the Dublin Dental University Hospital at University of Dublin, Trinity College in 2006. Following graduation, he worked in Ireland and Australia as a general practitioner until 2016 when he commenced his postgraduate training in prosthodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. He graduated in 2019 and commenced as an instructor at HSDM. Dr. Griseto is currently the Interim Director of the Advanced Graduate Education Program in Implantology and lectures locally, nationally, and internationally on the topics of prosthodontics, implantology and digital dentistry. Dr. Griseto is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists. Dr. Griseto is primarily working towards defining and managing the transitional and terminal dentition, exploring mandibular kinematics, and the completely digital workflow for complex rehabilitative and restorative needs. His interests also include esthetics research, implant crestal module design, implant biomechanics, fit analysis, and occlusion research.