The Very Dental Podcast Network

Recorded live from the CDS Midwinter Meeting Podcast Lounge, Alan had a great conversation with veteran implant dentist and educator, Dr. Tim Kosinski! With nearly four decades and over 20,000 implants placed, Dr. Kosinski shares his "recipe for success," emphasizing critical thinking, foundational knowledge, and the importance of mentorship in the evolving world of implant dentistry. Key Takeaways: Master the Recipe: Success in implants requires a step-by-step foundational approach. Don't skip steps in planning and execution. Think Critically: Placing the implant isn't the hardest part; treatment planning, patient communication, understanding anatomy, and managing potential complications are key. Visualize the end result before you start. Show Up: In-person learning, networking, and mentorship are irreplaceable for developing complex skills. You can't master implants solely via YouTube or Zoom. Tech is a Tool, Not the Master: Embrace CBCT, digital scanning, and other tech for diagnostics and planning, but remember your role as the clinician treating a person. Bone is Gold: Prioritize atraumatic extractions (e.g., using Physics Forceps) and routine socket preservation (grafting) to maintain options for patients, whether for implants or conventional restorations. Dr. Kozinski recommends the OsteoGen Plug for predictable socket grafting without a membrane in many cases. Ethics First: Provide options, communicate clearly, save teeth when viable, and avoid overtreating or cookie-cutter approaches (especially regarding full-arch cases). Know Your Limits: Start with straightforward cases (like single posterior implants), build confidence and skill, and don't hesitate to refer complex cases – even high-volume clinicians collaborate with specialists. Keep Learning: Dentistry constantly evolves. Commit to lifelong continuing education! Some links from the show: Goldendent Live Patient CE Physics Forceps 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!  

In this throwback episode of Very Clinical Kevin and Zach are joined by Dr. Adam Frounfelter! Adam and Kevin teach hands on implants together at 3D Dentists! Key takeaways: Overview of the 3D Dentist Implant Continuum Key Aspects of Implant Planning and Placement (Crown-Down Approach) Extraction and Grafting Considerations Utilizing PRF and Sticky Bone in Grafting Guided Implant Surgery Benefits Same-Day Scanning for Implant Restorations Post-Implant Placement and Uncovering Surgical Skillset for Implant Training Some links from the show: Adam's practice website 3D Dentists Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" Very Clinical is brought to you by Zirc Dental Products, Inc., your trusted partner in dental efficiency and organization. The Very Clinical Corner segment features Kate Reinert, LDA, an experienced dental professional passionate about helping practices achieve clinical excellence.  Connect with Kate Reinert on LinkedIn: Kate Reinert, LDA  Book a call with Kate: Reserve a Call  Ready to upscale your team? Explore Zirc’s solutions today: zirc.com  

Fresh off a spring break road trip Alan has some dental and non-dental recommendations! Some links from the show: Loop Curing Light from Garrison Dental Solutions If you're buying Garrison stuff use code SO1124MEAD for 10% off any non-curing light product and $100 credit off a future purchase if you buy a curing light! "The Era of Smart Curing Lights is Here with Kevin Walburg" Lethal Prey by John Sandford The Electric State on Netflix Mr. Thirsty One Step by Zirc

Alan was joined by the incomparable Melissa Obrotka, also known as "The Badass Hygienist!" They recorded this conversation live at the Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting. The episode dives deep into Melissa's journey in dental hygiene, her passion for progressive care, and her insights on the current state and future of the profession. Melissa shares the story behind her "Badass Hygienist" nickname, stemming from her proactive approach to improving patient care and her willingness to advocate for better technology and techniques. She recounts her experience transitioning to a periodontal prosthetics practice and the steep learning curve involved in maintaining complex implant cases as well as how she discovered "Guided Biofilm Therapy" (or GBT) a techniqu that she now teaches and uses clinically. Dr. Mead and Melissa also tackle some of the challenging issues facing dentistry today, including the hygiene shortage and potential solutions, the complexities of insurance-driven care, and the need for better communication and understanding between dentists and hygienists. Melissa offers her perspective on how hygienists can move beyond "polishing a paycheck" and embrace a more therapeutic and patient-centered approach. Some links from the show: itsthebadasshygienist (Melissa's Instagram) Guided Biofilm Therapy from EMS 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!  

Kevin and Zach are once again joined by Very Dental Student Mo and Very Dental's Al to answer student questions! Topics: Managing Difficult Crown Preparations  Managing Team Conflicts Referring vs. Attempting Extractions Recommended CE Courses for New Dentists Tricks for Achieving Perfect Posterior Composite Contacts Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" Very Clinical is brought to you by Zirc Dental Products, Inc., your trusted partner in dental efficiency and organization. The Very Clinical Corner segment features Kate Reinert, LDA, an experienced dental professional passionate about helping practices achieve clinical excellence.  Connect with Kate Reinert on LinkedIn: Kate Reinert, LDA  Book a call with Kate: Reserve a Call  Ready to upscale your team? Explore Zirc’s solutions today: zirc.com  

Mohamed is back with Kevin, Zach and Al to pose dental student questions to these grizzled veterans.  The guys start out with a raucous discussion of NCAA brackets and what's wrong with basketball but then move to answering questions from curious dental students! Some key topics of discussion: Post-Op Sensitivity: What are your protocols for managing post-op sensitivity for fillings or crowns? Challenging Patients: How do you handle patients who challenge your clinical recommendations or demand unnecessary treatment? Soft Tissue Management: What are your best practices for managing soft tissue during restorative or surgical procedures? Referral Management: How do you manage patient referrals to a specialist while maintaining continuity of care? 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 recently sat down with Teresa Duncan at the Chicago Midwinter Dental meeting! Teresa is an expert in dental insurance and dental office management. The conversation dives into the often-overlooked but critical aspects of dental practice, including insurance compliance, the evolving role of AI in administrative tasks, financial discussions with patients, hygiene practice management, and the potential future of dental practices within the broader healthcare landscape. The episode offers practical advice and insights for dentists and their teams on navigating the complexities of modern dental administration and compliance. Key Discussion Points: The Challenge of "Unsexy" Topics: Dentists often prioritize clinical topics (like implants) over administrative and compliance issues. Theresa's ability to make complex, less appealing topics engaging. Compliance Concerns: Importance of compliance in areas like insurance contracts. The burden of compliance and its lack of intuitiveness. Medicare Advantage Plans: Requirement for fraud, waste, and abuse training for anyone submitting claims, even out-of-network providers. Importance of compliance to avoid audits or being dropped from networks. CMS's role and the responsibility of insurance companies to ensure network compliance. Improving Claims: The importance of good radiographs and documentation. Documenting patient statements and details in clinical notes. Insurance companies' preference for screenshots of clinical notes over narratives. AI in Dentistry: Potential benefits of AI for note-taking and reducing administrative burden. Ambient listening technology for recording patient encounters. Concerns about privacy and the need for patient permission. AI's ability to assist with tasks like writing appeals and generating documents. Phone Answering AI: AI's potential for handling phone calls and answering patient questions. Questions about patient acceptance and ethical considerations regarding disclosure. Financial Discussions in Dentistry vs. Medicine: The difference in how financial matters are discussed with patients in dentistry and medicine. Challenges related to insurance reimbursements and patient responsibility. Hygiene Practices: The impact of hygiene shortages on dental practices. Debate around pre-appointing hygiene and the value of hygiene services. Financial considerations for hygiene services and the need to ensure profitability. Out-of-Network Considerations: Challenges and benefits of going out of network. The importance of excellent patient service and communication for out-of-network practices. Revenue Cycle Management: The increasing specialization of roles in revenue cycle management. The trend toward outsourcing revenue cycle functions. The importance of understanding all aspects of the revenue cycle. The Future of Dental Practices: Concerns about the influence of DSOs and potential consolidation with healthcare systems. The role of the ADA and the potential impact of Medicare expansion on dentistry. Challenges facing dentists, including student debt and employment trends. Resources and Links (To be added to show notes): Links to Medicare and Medicaid training resources (as mentioned in the podcast). Information about Theresa Duncan's online courses and Dental Revenue Network. Information about the American Association of Dental Office Management (A-ADOM). Some links from the show: Odyssey Management (Teresa's company) AADOM Dental Revenue Network 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!  

Could this be the most relatable episode we've ever recorded?  Zach, Kevin, and Alan unleash their pent-up frustrations with common patient behaviors that drive them absolutely bonkers. From anatomical annoyances to baffling patient logic, no pet peeve is spared. Get ready to laugh and nod in agreement as they share their most outrageous clinical experiences. Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" Very Clinical is brought to you by Zirc Dental Products, Inc., your trusted partner in dental efficiency and organization. The Very Clinical Corner segment features Kate Reinert, LDA, an experienced dental professional passionate about helping practices achieve clinical excellence.  Connect with Kate Reinert on LinkedIn: Kate Reinert, LDA  Book a call with Kate: Reserve a Call  Ready to upscale your team? Explore Zirc’s solutions today: zirc.com  

Alan shares a personal and frustrating experience involving his son, Jacob, and an unexpected medical finding. He reflects on the complexities of the medical system, the challenges of incidental findings, and his concerns about the current state of healthcare. 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 is joined at the Chicago Midwinter meeting by Steven Haaksma of BQE or "Back Quality Ergonomics." Alan has used a bunch of their stools over the years and is a big fan of the ergonomic products that Steven's company has created.  Key Takeaways: BQE = Back Quality Ergonomics: The meaning behind the company name. Dutch Roots, American Story: Steven's background and how BQE started in the US. PT-Founded: BQE's origins with Steven's father, a physical therapist focused on back pain. Dental Professionals' Back Pain: The high prevalence of back issues in dentistry inspired BQE's focus. Challenging Traditional Stools: The problems with round and flat dental chairs. Ergonomic Design Principles: Getting closer to the patient and preventing slouching. The Original ErgoDynamic: The unique chair where the backrest automatically adjusts to the user. Convex Backrest: BQE's signature design for optimal lumbar support, available in different sizes. Beyond Dentistry: BQE also serves veterinary and optometry markets. Alan's Back Story: Dr. Mead's personal experience with a back injury and the importance of prevention. The "Chair Museum": Alan's journey to finding the right ergonomic seating. Armrest Benefits: Supporting arm weight reduces strain (arms are ~5% of body weight each). Saddle & Alternative Seats: Options for different preferences while maintaining good ergonomics. European vs. US Saddle Popularity: Interesting differences in adoption. Educating Dentists: Raising awareness about the long-term benefits of ergonomic seating. The Science of Slouching: How the ErgoDynamic chair actively combats poor posture. Proper Positioning: The importance of both dentist and patient positioning. Investment, Not Expense: BQE chairs are durable and competitively priced. 30-Day Trial: Confidence in their product with a low return rate. Some links from the show: BQE (Back Quality Ergonomics) 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!