Everyday Oral Surgery

For all their good, surgical instruments can also be harmful when used incorrectly or irresponsibly. Once again, we welcome Dr. Ben Hechler to the show as he and Dr. Stucki walk us through the best practices for preventing injuries caused by dental instruments. We discover how oral surgeons view their instruments before learning of the dangers of surgical blades and dental elevators. Then, we explore the importance of jaw pressure, dental drills gone wrong, common dental instruments that also pose a threat, and the slippery tools that may cause harm if not carefully considered. We also discuss forceps and how to use them better to prevent injury, what you need to know about suture needles, the inadvertent trauma of anesthetic needles, and the value of unbridled truth. Key Points From This Episode:How we perceive and use instruments as oral surgeons. Examples of how surgeons can cause harm with surgical blades.The dangers of misusing the periosteal elevator or dental elevator. Why you always need to pay attention to the amount of pressure you put on a patient’s jaw. Highlighting potential injuries when using the dental handpiece. What to be weary of when using sweetheart retractors, throat packs, and sponges. Unpacking common forceps-induced injuries that Dr. Hechler encounters.The Minnesota cheek retractor, and other unexpected tools that may cause damage. Suture needles, and inadvertent trauma from dental anesthetic needles. Why surgeons shouldn’t be ashamed about their instrument injuries. The importance of always being honest and upfront with your patients.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Ben Hechler on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hechler/ Moana 2 — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13622970/  Wicked — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/ Hamilton — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8503618/ The Music Man — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293437/ Bonhoeffer — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26237514/  Supercommunicators — https://www.amazon.com/Supercommunicators-Unlock-Secret-Language-Connection/dp/0593243919  Jingle All The Way — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116705/  Good Burger — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119215/ Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

What does it take to launch a successful oral surgery practice straight out of residency? In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, we sit down with Dr. Craig Harrison, a recently graduated oral surgeon practicing in Fort Worth, Texas. In our conversation, Dr. Harrison discusses his journey of transitioning from residency to opening a solo practice and shares invaluable insights for surgeons considering the startup route. Hear about his experiences navigating real estate decisions, securing the best financing option, and hiring staff for his practice. Explore the importance of professional networks in building a practice, why finding the right people to work with is vital, and the challenges of starting a practice from scratch. Dr. Harrison also details the benefits of founding your own practice, his marketing strategies, balancing part-time work with building a practice, and more. Join us to learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and hear actionable tips for building your dream practice with Dr. Craig Harrison. Tune in now!Key Points From This Episode:Dr. Harrison shares his background, life growing up, and his training.Find out why he decided to start his own solo practice and how he got started. Leveraging his network for advice and other resources he found useful.Hear about his experience working with Bank of America to secure financing.Why Fort Worth was an ideal location and the process of finding the right contractor.The challenges of managing construction timelines and dealing with contractors.Staffing the practice: hiring through Indeed and leveraging family expertise for recruitment.Balancing part-time work while building the practice and lessons from his experience.His marketing strategy: build relationships with local dentists and enhance online visibility.Advice for residents considering the startup route and the importance of mentorship.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Craig Harrison on LinkedIn — https://linkedin.com/in/craig-e-harrison-ii-dds-md-2b849889/Dr. Craig Harrison on Instagram — https://instagram.com/chisholmtrailoralsurgery/Chisholm Trail Oral Surgery — https://chisholmtrailoralsurgery.com/Baylor University Medical Center — https://bswhealth.com/locations/dallas-hospitalThe Startup Dentist — https://amazon.com/Startup-Dentist-Definitive-Starting-Successful/dp/B0BLR5C3JVBank of America — https://www.bankofamerica.com/DHP Surgical — https://www.dhpsupply.com/surgicalIndeed — https://www.indeed.com/Unreasonable Hospitality — https://amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573Outlive — https://www.amazon.com/Outlive-Science-Art-Longevity/dp/1785044559/Icarus —https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6333060/Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook —

When running a business in the world of oral surgery, the ability to be a leader that inspires mission-based action is imperative! In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, Dr. Roger Levin of the Levin Group joins us again to discuss leadership, specifically with regard to vision, goals, and culture. Tuning in, you’ll hear about the changing landscape of leadership, what vision is, the importance of sharing it with your team and being transparent, writing a mission statement, naming and driving culture, and so much more! We delve into the beauty of servant leadership before discussing why being a good surgeon is not the only key to success. Dr. Levin even shares some advice for oral surgeons who have been in volatile environments on how to foster a more positive space in their practice. Finally, our guest touches on the steps you need to take as a leader to help your team thrive and urges you to be consistent in your work to make these positive changes happen. To hear all this and even be reminded of the power of small gestures, press play now! Key Points From This Episode:A brief overview of today’s guest, Dr. Roger Levin. How leadership has changed over the past few years. The topics for this discussion: vision, goals, and culture. What vision is and how it creates an ownership mentality. The importance of being transparent as a leader. All about writing a (living) mission statement. Naming culture and how it’s driven by the leaders. Dr. Levin explains what servant leadership is. Why being the best surgeon is not the only key to success. Some advice for oral surgeons on how to foster a positive environment. The steps you need to take to help your team succeed. The importance of consistency to make these positive changes. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Roger Levin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-levin-69ab744/ Dr. Roger Levin Email Address — rlevinconf@levingroup.com Levin Group — https://levingroup.com/ Ego is the Enemy — https://www.amazon.com/Ego-Enemy-Master-Greatest-Opponent/dp/1781257019 Mindset — https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322/ref Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Women are still not treated as equals in medicine, and the poor treatment of women by both patients and colleagues is particularly prevalent in oral and maxillofacial surgery. In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, we welcome Dr. Erin Sheffield and Dr. Jaclyn Tomsic to the show to discuss women in oral and maxillofacial surgery and their recent study and lecture on advocating for women in the industry. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Dr. Sheffield and Dr. Tomsic’s study on how women are viewed and treated in the world of oral surgery as opposed to men. We delve into some of the problems women face in the industry before hearing a bit about their findings. Our guests discuss things like the complexities of the gender pay gap in oral surgery and how to solve it, the importance of supporting your female colleagues, some ‘dos and don’ts’ for addressing women in medicine, why standing up for your female colleagues is imperative, and so much more! They even tell us about their upcoming retreat for female oral surgeons! Finally, we hear about the unifying factors between men and women in surgery. Be sure to listen to this informative episode now, and if you want access to our guest’s lecture on this topic, be sure to email Grant to get hold of it! Key Points From This Episode:Welcoming Dr. Erin Sheffield and Dr. Jaclyn Tomsic back to the show. Some issues women face in oral surgery when trying to progress. A brief overview of the findings from their study on how women are viewed in oral surgery. What we can do about the pay gap between men and women in medicine.Why women in medicine really need to have each other’s backs. Some ‘dos and don’ts’ when it comes to addressing female medical colleagues. The importance of standing up for female colleagues when they’re being treated badly. Their retreat for female oral surgeons and how to find out more about it. A comparison between sport and surgery and the unifying part of both. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Erin Sheffield on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/drerinsheffield/ Dr. Jaclyn Tomsic — https://www.jaclyntomsic.com/ Dr. Jaclyn Tomsic on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/doctorjacci/ Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Practicing medicine in the third world is wildly different from working as a practitioner in the USA. During this episode, Dr. Tony Urbanek returns to the podcast to share wild and wonderful stories from his years in Haiti and Jamaica, and the key learnings about the third world and the USA that he picked up along the way. Join us as we explore what surgeons stand to gain from leaving their comfort zones to work in underserved communities, why Dr. Urbanek believes that ultimately, he gained more than he gave from his experiences in other countries, and why he recommends that other surgeons explore work in the third world. You’ll also hear what it’s really like to work without proper tools such as lighting and anesthesia, how cultural norms affect our response to pain and panic, and why truly being of service is all about listening to what is needed rather than offering solutions. Tune in today to hear all this and more. Key Points From This Episode:Dr. Urbanek’s journey into third-world medicine through a Catholic mission in Beauchamp, Haiti. Observations of a happy, established culture with little to no technical or medical knowledge.Unexpected encounters with a Voodoo doctor. Being recruited to work as a doctor in Jamaica. One of the biggest learnings from his experiences: in the third world, people are very proud.How he operated without a suction or the appropriate lighting: local anesthesia. A story to illustrate the power of cultural perception. Discussions with a Health Minister in Jamaica.Why it is so critical to find out what is needed rather than offering what you think is needed.Dr. Stucki’s two-year religious mission in Bolivia at the age of 19. What it’s really like to work without proper tools. Adjusting your mindset in order to be effective in the third world.Why ultimately, Dr. Urbanek believes that he got more out of his experience in the third world than he put into it.What you really stand to gain as a surgeon by leaving your comfort zone. The two jobs that Dr. Urbanek has available currently. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Anthony Urbanek — https://www.urbanektmj.com/Dr. Anthony Urbanek on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtonyurbanek/Dr. Anthony Urbanek on X — https://x.com/anthonyurbanekDr. Anthony Urbanek on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/drtonyurbanek/Dr. Anthony Urbanek on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/drtonyurbanek/Urbanek TMJ Device & Protocol |Brentwood — https://www.tmjservicesofbrentwood.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Being an oral surgeon is difficult enough as it is, but when you try to juggle that with raising a family and maintaining a marriage, it can feel impossible. Today on Everyday Oral Surgery, Dr. Anthony Morlandt joins us to share how he found harmony with surgery and family life. In this episode, you’ll hear all about his career and family, why he believes having systems is imperative in oral surgery, and how you can set them up. We delve into how to balance family life, work, and hobbies before discussing some tips for getting through residency as a spouse and parent. We even discuss the resilience of oral surgeons’ children and why they should be put above everything else. Finally, our guest answers our usual rapid-fire questions. This episode is incredibly helpful for any oral surgeon who has or wants to have a family and a successful career, so be sure to press play now!Key Points From This Episode:A brief overview of today’s guest, Dr. Anthony Morlandt. Dr. Morlandt tells us about his children and incredible wife. The importance of having highly reproducible systems in oral surgery. Key pieces of advice for anyone wanting to set up systems. How to balance family life and work while trying to have hobbies. The importance of communicating with our spouses well. How Dr. Morlandt leverages calendars to balance his life. Some tips for getting through residency while having a family. Why children of oral surgeons are particularly resilient. Dr. Morlandt reminds oral surgeons that your children are most important. Our guest answers some of our rapid-fire questions. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Anthony Morlandt on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-morlandt-md-dds-facs-493a4090/ Dr. Anthony Morlandt Email Address — morlandt@uab.edu Dr. Anthony Morlandt on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/anthonymorlandt/ Illness as Metaphor — https://www.amazon.com/Illness-Metaphor-AIDS-Its-Metaphors/dp/0312420137 Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Dr. Artem Krutyansky, an oral maxillofacial surgeon and academic at Columbia University, shares his unique journey from dental school to a full-body cosmetic fellowship. He discusses the crucial role of mentorship and hands-on training in transitioning to cosmetic surgery. Dr. Krutyansky also emphasizes balancing family life with demanding residency obligations. He provides insights on becoming board-certified and offers tips for those considering a career in facial reconstructive surgery, while sharing his favorite tools and even a TV series recommendation!

Tennessee-based oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Anthony Urbanek pioneered a new style of TMJ device that resolves TMJ disorders effectively and comfortably by eliminating jaw joint inflammation while you sleep. Today, we learn about the Urbanek Device and how it works, and we begin with Dr. Urbanek’s professional history and how he developed his non-surgical TMD treatment protocol. We unpack the Urbanek Device in detail by exploring its origins, how it’s used, and how it has redefined how TMD is treated. Then, we look closer at the history of TMJ and TMD, TMD patient demographics, why the Urbanek Device and NTI are non-comparable, and why today’s guest felt drawn toward a non-surgical solution as a practicing surgeon. To end, Dr. Urbanek describes the conditions under which his device wouldn’t work, and he explains why having gardening experience will give you a leg-up in oral maxillofacial surgery. Key Points From This Episode:Dr. Anthony Urbanek’s professional history and current practice setup. How he discovered his non-surgical treatment protocol for TMD. The ins and outs of the Urbanek Device. Unpacking the history of TMJ and TMD treatments.Exploring the demographics of TMD patients. Why Dr. Urbanek, as a surgeon, felt compelled to find a non-surgical TMJ solution. Comparing the NTI device with the Urbanek Device. Understanding the causes of TMD. The shared characteristics of the patients on which the Urbanek Device didn't work.How to learn more about TMJ, Dr. Urbanek, and his TMD treatment protocol. Crossing the Chasm, gardening, removing tooth number 12, and Being There.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Anthony Urbanek — https://www.urbanektmj.com/Dr. Anthony Urbanek on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtonyurbanek/ Dr. Anthony Urbanek on X — https://x.com/anthonyurbanek Dr. Anthony Urbanek on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/drtonyurbanek/ Dr. Anthony Urbanek on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/drtonyurbanek/ Urbanek TMJ Device & Protocol |Brentwood — https://www.tmjservicesofbrentwood.com/  Urbanek Seminar | November 1st — https://www.urbanektmj.com/urbanek-seminar Crossing the Chasm — amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-3rd-Disruptive-Mainstream/dp/0062292986 Being There — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078841/ Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

What does it take to build a thriving cosmetic and orthognathic surgery practice? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Randy Sanovich to discuss the ins and outs of running a cosmetic and orthognathic surgery. Dr. Sanovich is a dual board-certified facial cosmetic and oral and maxillofacial surgeon based in Dallas, Texas. He practices out of Dallas Surgical Arts, a premier cosmetic and oral surgery center that offers a comprehensive range of facial, neck, and oral-maxillofacial procedures. In our conversation, Dr. Sanovich explains his journey from purchasing an existing practice to transforming it into a largely cosmetic and orthognathic surgery-focused clinic. He provides insight into building a niche market, navigating patient expectations, and maintaining a balanced work-life approach. Dr. Sanovich also shares valuable advice for budding surgeons looking to establish their own practice and outlines strategies for marketing, patient management, and leveraging relationships with orthodontists and dentists. He also unpacks the evolving role of digital marketing, using Google reviews, the power of referrals, how cosmetic and orthognathic cases can complement each other, and more. Join us to learn the nuances of running a cosmetic surgery and how to make your practice stand out in a competitive market with Dr. Randy Sanovich!Key Points From This Episode:Background about Dr. Sanovich’s training, expertise, and practice setup.How he grew his cosmetic and orthognathic practice with digital marketing.The range of patients he receives and the types of surgeries he focuses on.Explore how he establishes trust with his patients and competing surgeons. Learn about the typical hurdles and challenges of starting your own practice.He shares valuable tips for starting your own practice and the pitfalls to avoid.Hear how he maintains a balance between cosmetic and orthognathic surgeries.Uncover how Dr. Sanovich has grown his patient base through word-of-mouth. Recommendations for handling high-maintenance cosmetic patients. What Dr. Sanovich enjoys the most about the cosmetic side of dentistry. Discover the benefits of adding cosmetic services to a traditional oral surgery practice.Final takeaways for budding surgeons and how to contact Dr. Sanovich.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Randy Sanovich — https://www.dallassurgicalarts.com/about-us/our-team/dr-randy-r-sanovich-dds/Dr. Randy Sanovich on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/drrandysanovich/Dr. Randy Sanovich Email — randysanovich@dsa.liveDr. Randy Sanovich Phone — 352-278-1776Dallas Surgical Arts — https://www.dallassurgicalarts.com/Greenlights — https://www.amazon.com/Greenlights-Matthew-McConaughey/dp/0593139135The Perfect Couple — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11514868/Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Essentialism, at its core, is the belief that everything has its place but not every place is for everything; everything has its own characteristics that make it what it is. This philosophy urges us to accept and embrace everything that makes us unique, and in Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeown invites us to focus on what matters and cut out all the rest. We use Greg’s book as source material for this episode, and to begin, returning guest Dr. Ben Hechler shares his thoughts on the book’s overarching premise. We unpack the many things that unnecessarily take up our time, how setting goals allows you to refocus on what’s really important, tips for creating a more balanced life that prioritizes your interests, and go deep to explore the paradox of success or being liked. We end with a reminder that you can’t please everyone—you will always have both lovers and haters—and Dr. Hechler shares helpful advice for setting boundaries and taking ownership of the things that matter to you.   Key Points From This Episode:Why we’ve used Essentialism by Greg McKeown as the foundation of today’s episode.Dr. Ben Hechler’s thoughts on the book’s premise. Unpacking the many frivolous things that stick in our minds and take up our time. How ascertaining your goal will release you from many mental distractions. The balancing act, and whether a work-life balance is achievable or a myth.Love maps, and other tips for balancing all areas of your life.The paradox of success or in Dr. Hechler’s terms, the paradox of being liked.  Why you can’t please everyone, and how to set boundaries and take ownership. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dr. Ben Hechler on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hechler/ Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less — https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/ Safe People — amazon.com/Safe-People-Relationships-Avoid-Those/dp/0310345790 AAOMS — https://www.aaoms.org/ Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059