The Very Dental Podcast Network

*not Dr. Lance Timmerman joins Kevin and Zach again, this time to talk about what he's changed his mind about business. It turns out that Lance isn't fond of a giant, hygiene-centric practice. After COVID he found that dental hygiene barely covered its own overhead and he definitely didn't enjoy it. Some links from the show: EMS Airflow Become a member of the Very Clinical Facebook group!  Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook," McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb." The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “verydental10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!      

Al riff's on a listener's suggestion. The listener suggested that specialists seem to get very gentle treatment and reviews on social media platforms, but somehow whenever general dentists or pediatric dentists come up, people seem to lose their minds. Why is the image of generalists so much worse than specialists? Some links from the show: Dentists Are Bad by Matt Yglesias The comments section of the above article (enter at your own risk!) "Dentists are bad" podcast with Dr. Paul Springs Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!  

What does it mean when a patient tells you that "I found you from the internet?" Well, practically nothing. Did they see your website? Did they read a review? Did they see a social media post? Unless your front desk is REALLY good at figuring this stuff out, you may not be able to tell where your marketing is really working and where it might be missing. Michael Anderson and Laura Maly of the Wonderist Agency join Alan to talk about this problem and a solution that they will be rolling out. What if you could automatically connect your marketing result and your practice management software to show exactly where your marketing is working and the dollars and cents it is creating in your practice!  Some links from the show: The Wonderist Agency Your Virtual Consult Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!

Dr. Lance Timmerman joins Kevin and Zach to talk about things we've changed our minds about. Today's episode continues the series for Zach and Kevin where they talk to some experienced dentists about what things they've changed their mind about over the years. Today's episode features a discussion with Lance about heroic dentistry. Lance does significantly LESS heroic dentistry. Today's episode includes a great description of the "tipping point" about terminal dentition that includes newer technlogies like All on 4 as well as age and health considerations. Become a member of the Very Clinical Facebook group!  Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook," McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb." The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “verydental10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!    

Social media tells the story of influencers that are killing it while living their best lives. But here in the real world, some people are living in crises. There are people suffering with mental health issues all around us and it's not always obvious who is.  Al received a couple of pretty scary anonymous letters that tell a story of mental illness and anger at the dental industry that's worth thinking about.    Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!  

Alan welcomes back Dr. Mike Melkers for a wide ranging conversation. Mike and Al go WAY back (DentalTown in the "oughts" anyone?) and we catch up a little bit. Al was affected by a video Mike recorded earlier this year contrasting "comprehensive" care vs. "appropriate" care.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Michael Melkers (@drmichaelmelkers) What is comprehensive care? What is appropriate care? Mike is the guy to help us understand appropriate care for the dentist and the patient. Meet the patient where they are, for what their goals are The shame of not doing all FMR's Do patients have "goals?" Values vs. ethics Think about the "why?"  Considerations not consequences "What are your expectations for your teeth at x" (insert an age) "Are you aware that you're missing a tooth here..." Purpose, Process and Presentation Some links from the show: Mike's Instagram "Dig-A-Palooza" in the Chicago Suburbs, October 25-26th featuring Mike Melkers, Artie Volker and Linc Harris!  Vedder Society meeting invitation (September 20-22, 2024) (use discount code AM1) "Crafting Connections: The Art of Effective Communication" (September 28, Alsip, IL) RIPE Global DentalHacks episode 24: Dr. Mike Melkers can quit learning any time he wants DentalHacks episode 25: Dr. Mike Melkers on patient communication and continuing education speed dating Dr. Mike Melkers on How We Get Better (DHP105) Spouses, Tractors and Disc Golf with Dr. Mike Melkers (DHP106) Mike is speaking at the Greater New York meeting AND the Chicago Midwinter meeting with Dr. Gary DeWood! Mike's course with Dr. Lane Ochi at Pankey Mike's social media research in AGD journal Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!

Today is a throwback episode featuring Kevin, Zach and Al talking about how they've evolved on caries removal. It's a classic and I hope you enjoy it! Original show notes:  Dr. Alan Mead of the DentalHacks podcast was gracious enough to join us again this week. And we start off with old school internet videos: Bonus:   He got a web redemption!       Then we got into some hot caries removal talk. What burs do you use? To dye, or not to dye? Do you "leave" any caries? Why or why not? Caries removal is a divisive topic. Did we get it right? Wrong? Let us know in the Very Clinical Facebook group! Please join the Very Clinical Facebook group to discuss this episode and much much more! Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!      

"Horse people are nuts. They're all crazy." --Al Al spins a tale of an industry that is self immolating right in front of him.  Nope. It's not dentistry. Not yet. It's horse boarding. Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!  

Today's throwback episode features the one and only Dr. Rob Ritter. Al talked to Rob back in late 2021 after having a couple of bad clinical beats and Rob has some pretty good advice. Original show notes: Alan is joined by Dr. Rob Ritter to talk about a couple of bad beats he had. Perfing an endo and punting a tough extraction had Al wondering if he should be doing these procedures in his office. Rob is a proud “restorative dentist” by choice and has described his approach as “from the gums up.” How did he decide what he wanted to include in his practice? Why did he decide to leave a lot of “specialty” procedures out? Some topics we covered: Rob’s course, “The Protocol”, the dates for 2022 are available and registration opens on September 14th. If you’re interested, you better sign up fast because they’ll sell out immediately! (limited to 14 people!) No compromise treatment “Just because you don’t want to do the right thing doesn’t mean I’m going to do the wrong thing.” “When you start feeling bad for patients, you start making bad decisions” Late 90’s “needs based” dentistry to “wants based” dentistry Doing dentistry because you NEED to (financial constraints) is more common Al’s bad beats and walking away from endo and surgery (and why it didn’t last) Case selection...don’t let your guard down! You don’t HAVE to do anything you don’t want to No shame in referring anything that you don’t want to do Find a referral network that is an extension of your practice Rob ALMOST took a tooth out earlier this year...and then decided against it. It was a wise choice. Vedder Society name drop (come in a couple weeks!) Learning from Pat Allen...can I be Pat Allen? How long had Rob been practicing before he had decided what he WANTED to do. Remember that adding new stuff is hard to learn and REALLY hard to implement. Developing a referral network and how to work in a rural environment  Rob on legacy  Your family >>> teaching dentists/doing dentistry The most valuable thing is time! Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even  their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!

Today's throwback episode features a discussion on when to throw in the towel. Keep restoring or moving to a different kind of plan is a big deal these days. The guys have thoughts. Also...the baseball talk is 3 years out of date. FYI. Previous show notes: We open with a full 11 minutes on baseball so if you just want the dental chat, start the podcast a few minutes in.   This week we have a short chat on terminal dentition. What is terminal dentition?  How hard is it to make that call? Is it harder to make that call when you’ve seen the patient for 10+ years then a new patient? When do you quit restoring? What clinical criteria vs. patients health vs. financial considerations go into the decision? How is your comfort level with dentures, extractions, pre-prosthetic surgery, etc?  Does that factor into your personal choice of whether to recommend dentures vs restorations. Please join the Very Clinical Facebook group to discuss this episode and much much more!