Academy of General Dentistry

The AGD Podcast Series features an interview with John Molinari, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Detroit Mercy and an expert on infection control in dentistry. He discusses the epidemiology of the coronavirus, transmission and infection, surface disinfection, and recommendations for handling emergency patients during this time.

On Leading AGD, featuring AGD President Connie L. White, DDS, FAGD by Academy of General Dentistry

Dr. Wes Blakeslee talks with Lynne Leggett, dental coach and consultant, on how to build a winning team in your office.

Join Dr. Blakeslee as he talks with dental marketing expert Scott Spencer about opportunities to boost your online presence and be more responsive to current and potential patients. They will discuss ways to improve rankings on Google using more video and better photography. He also gives examples of using chatbots to be responsive 24/7. Here is some background on Scott Spencer: From the early stages of his life, Spencer always expressed a passion for the field of dentistry. In 1997, Mr. Spencer graduated Cum Laude from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX with a BS in Biology. He then proceeded to obtain his Masters in Business Administration at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, CA and graduated in 2000. With his education in place and a desire to make a difference in the dental industry, Spencer landed a position as a sales rep at J. Morita USA, Inc. As a manufacturer of dental equipment and products, J. Morita provided a strong foundation for Spencer and allowed him to receive valuable experience with dental products and services. This position also provided Spencer with valuable insight into how dental practices function on a day to day basis. In 2005, Spencer accepted a position as a website marketing consultant with ProSites. Over the next decade, Spencer helped ProSites grow from a small local website agency to the industry leader in dental websites and Mr. Spencer was consistently recognized as a top rep at the company. In 2009 and 2010, ProSites became the first company in the industry to be endorsed by the 3 largest dental associations in the country – California, New York and Texas. Most importantly, the experience at ProSites provided Spencer with valuable knowledge on website marketing, SEO, social media, reputation management, and many other important resources needed to help dental professionals grow their practices. In 2015, Spencer decided to transition away from ProSites and established his own boutique dental marketing agency called Dental Growth Solutions. With more than a decade of experience in the dental industry and an abundance of knowledge regarding online marketing resources for dentists, Mr. Spencer has assisted all types of dental professionals with growing their dental practices using customized marketing strategies. Spencer looks forward to continuing to work with dental practices in a consultative manner and ensuring they have all the tools necessary increase their custo

Minal Sampat, author, entrepreneur, speaker, marketing strategist, social media coach, dental hygienist, and an enthusiastic shoe lover, will provide direction on ways general dentists can improve their marketing efforts on social media. She provides very tangible recommendations that can help improve online performance metrics.

Lee Culp, CDT is the CEO of Sculpture Studios, Sculpture Academy, and is a recognized pioneer in digital dentistry and advanced functional aesthetic dentistry. He holds true to a belief that the attainment of perfection in restorative dentistry can only be harnessed through a unique combination of skillful application coupled with superior knowledge. He shares key insights on the industry and opportunities for the future. As a world-renowned innovator and educator, he maintains an unparalleled focus and commitment to understanding the revolutionary, often complex, changes that continue to influence modern aesthetic dentistry. Thus, he lends his vision and talent to developing, throughout dentistry and within his laboratory, the related materials and communications standards necessary to ensure the most realistic opportunities for success and gratification for those discriminating dental professionals who maintain a higher profile, cutting-edge practice philosophy. He is a leading resource/inventor for many of the materials, products, and techniques used in dentistry today, and holds numerous patents for his ideas and products. Lee writes many articles per year, and his writing, photography, and teaching style have brought him international recognition, as one of today’s most exciting lecturers and innovative artisans in the specialty of digital dentistry, dental ceramics and functional esthetics. Lee’s life is all about two things, his wife, Dr Lida Swann( prosthodontist, implant surgeon, and recently named head of Digital Dentistry at University of North Carolina) and dentistry, well, kind of the same thing. He has three children, one of which is also a dentist.

Can my practice thrive without accepting dental insurance? This is the question AGD Podcaster Wes Blakeslee, DMD, FAGD tries to answer with Susan Leckowicz, a business development coach for dentists and the CEO of Dental Coaches. Her career in dentistry began as a dental assistant in her father’s dental practice. During the podcast, Leckowicz discusses the steps a practice should take along with the challenges if they decide to no longer want to participate in dental plans. Susan Leckowicz spent over 20 years as a dental hygienist before becoming a coach for dentists and their teams. In addition to her Dental Hygiene Associates Degree, Susan holds a BS in Business Administration from Boston University with a concentration in Finance. She has enjoyed working with dentists and their teams in creating practices that are both rewarding and profitable. Susan believes that not one coach can know all facets of a practice. She creates customized coaching programs around case agreement vs. case acceptance and coordinates marketing strategies to attract the type of patients dentists want to treat. Susan is most passionate about working with doctors and their teams in creating connection, clarity, and trust with patients in their care. For the past 11 years she has been working in the field of coaching. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, travelling, golf and fishing.

Many general dentists are considering whether they should establish dental membership programs in their practice. AGD's podcast host Dr. Wes Blakeslee interview Jordan Comstock from BoomCloud who explains the ins and outs, benefits and opportunities of these programs that can help patients access care when they don't have insurance.

March Podcast Dr. Batoon Sleep Apnea by Academy of General Dentistry