Academy of General Dentistry

The October podcast features Ben Miraglia, DDS. He and AGD Podcast series host Wes Blakeslee, DMD, FAGD, discuss sleep disorders and breathing and how general dentist ca n address these issues. In the podcast they discuss why so many children present with malocclusion and adults suffering from sleep apnea. Miraglia provides tips to help general dentists support their patients with these issues.

This month's podcast features John Molinari, PhD., professor emeritus at the University of Detroit Mercy and an expert on infection control in dentistry. Molinari and AGD Podcast Series host Wes Blakeslee, DDS, FAGD, discuss vaccine properties, required standards for testing and follow-up, COVID-19 vaccinations, booster shots and more. John A. Molinari, Ph.D. earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh and subsequently worked as a faculty member in the School of Dental Medicine. He is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he served for 32 years in the School of Dentistry as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Director of Infection Control. Later, he was Infection Control Director for DENTAL ADVISOR. He has published over 500 scientific articles, text chapters, and abstracts in the areas of microbiology and immunology, and lectures nationally and internationally on topics dealing with infectious diseases and infection control. He has also been a consultant for the CDC, ADA, and regional hospitals. Listen to the interview now.

AGD Podcast host Dr. Blakeslee interviews Charles Whitney, MD, a national leader in the concierge/DPC movement since 2007 and founder of Revolutionary Health services. Dr. Whitney talks about transformation patients experience when a medical team integrates improve oral care as part of their overall care. Dr. Whitney is double board certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He served 7 years as an Air Force physician and 6 years in the University of Pennsylvania Health System before establishing RHS in 2004. He has enjoyed volunteering his time as team physician of New Hope/Solebury High School, coaching youth sports, and as a volunteer physician at the Bucks County Health Improvement Project (BCHIP). Listen to the podcast now.

AGD Podcast Series host Wes Blakelee, DMD, MAGD, talks with Setareh Lavasani, DDS, MS, FGDIA, a Board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist. During the podcast, they discuss 3-D imaging and what general dentists need to know. Dr. Lavasani is a Board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist. She is a full time associate professor and director of Oral Radiology and Advanced Imaging at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine in Pomona, California. She received her specialty certificate and master’s degree in Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Lavasani is a 2019 honoree of the of Americas’ best dental specialists under 40 called “40 under 40” and the international elite group of "Leading Ladies in Dentistry". She has presented lectures and hands on courses in more than 100 national and International scientific meetings and is a frequent presenter at the California Dental Association (CDA), and UCLA School of Dentistry AEGD residency program. Dr. Lavasani has been invited to contribute to present lectures, mini residencies, and hands on CBCT courses at the American Dental Association annual meetings, Harvard, UPenn, UOP, UCSF, Loma Linda, UT San Antonio, and Loyola University schools of Dentistry. Dr. Lavasani is the co-author of multiple textbook chapters including the first interactive digital Oral Radiology textbook; “Fundamentals of Oral Radiology” which is available in iBooks. She is a member of board of directors at the Global Dental Implant Academy (GDIA) an Associate editor for the Journal of The Lebanese Dental Association (JLDA) and a distinguished reviewer for the OOOO (Quad O) journal. She is an active member of multiple standing committees at the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Organizing committee at AAOMR, America’s Dental Educator’s Association (ADEA) and the incoming 2022 member of Board of Directors at the Tri-County dental society in Los Angeles, CA. www.slavasanidds.com, @slavasanidds.

In the May podcast, AGD Podcast host Wes Blakelee, DDS, FAGD, talks with Sarah Humphrey, DDS, about her decision to start a limited practice in dental sleep medicine and TMJ. They discuss the model Dr. Humphrey uses for the practice, how she is helps her balance work and family, and the skills critical to building her business now and in the future. Dr. Humphreys is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and is currently practicing as a Dental Sleep Medicine and TMJ provider outside of Nashville, TN. She recently started her practice and is limiting her services to treating only these procedures. She is passionate about allowing patients to feel heard and respected, while having the opportunity to make informed decisions about their health. Outside of the office, she is a wife to Dustin and a mom to Hannah Cate and Hudson. She loves the work life balance that she is able to create through the practice of dentistry and loves the business management and marketing aspect of her practice. She is also an avid college football fan (Go Georgia Bulldogs!) and enjoys cycling on her Peloton. Her favorite part of dentistry is building relationships with patients, team members, and other providers.

This month AGD Podcaster Wes Blakeslee, DDS, FAGD, talks with one of his patients, Tom Zarra, an oral cancer patient. They discuss how a lesion identified during a routine dental appointment was later confirm to be oral cancer, and other details about this diagnosis and treatment. Tom talks about what keeps him going through challenging medical treatments as well as the importance of his family and faith through the journey. This story highlights the importance the interaction between dentist and their patient has on a patient during oral cancer treatments. Tom Zarra lost his battle with cancer on May 21, 2022. We are grateful to him for sharing his story. Our sympathies to his family and friends.

The February AGD Podcast Series features Timothy Donley DDS MSD, a specialist in private practice in periodontics and implantology from Bowling Green, KY. He joined AGD Podcast Host Dr. Blakeslee to discuss the oral-overall health connection, and emerging evidence about this link. During this podcast, the discussion revolves around the evidence linking oral inflammation and cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Dr. Donley describes the public health toll that these diseases takes on the population suggests that incorporating cardiovascular and diabetic screening in the dental office is not only prudent, it’s our duty as healers. Dr. Donley is the founder of Beyondthemouth.com, uses his knowledge to convey the latest research and packaging it in a way that makes sense to patients and their families. His current emphasis is on developing effective protocols to educate medical and dental providers to co-manage the patients they have in common.

AGD Podcast host Wes Blakeslee, DDS, MAGD, talks with Christopher Phelps, DMD, CMCT, a general dentist, entrepreneur and best-selling author about applying principles of influence and persuasion to use to grow practice review. He talks about the importance of relationships and trust and how he works with dental practices to help them overcome obstacles that are keeping them from building strong dental practices that improve patient outcomes and overall revenue goals.

AGD Podcast host Dr. Wes Blakeslee talks with Jackie Ulasewich Cullen, co-founder of My Dental Agency, a marketing company specializing in dental practice. They discuss the importance of understanding the processes dental practices use for managing online systems to ensure patient referrals don't fall through the cracks. Cullen provides statistics on the need for quick responses and consistent and easy tools that should be used to stay connected.

AGD Podcast host Dr. West Blakeslee talks with Dr. Robert M. Maquire about the DISC personality assessment tool. “DISC” stands for the four main personality types: Dominant, Influencing, Steady, and Compliant. Dr. Maquire explain the different types and how you can adjust maximize the staff personality trains to improve overall effectiveness. Dr. Maguire is a dentist, proven leader, coach, consultant, and communication expert who offers consulting services to dentists and their teams around the country. With over 30 years of experience in his very successful solo fee-for-service private practice, in combination with his communication training, Dr. Maguire understands that practice success involves a mix of technical, managerial, and communication excellence. He calls it “The Hands, The Head, and The Heart Philosophy.”