Dental Drills Bits

Practice owner (and longterm user of Sandy's systems) Dawn Kulongowski is an open book today; sharing everything she's enjoyed about Sandy's systems after using them for nigh a decade. With her trademark infectious laugh, Dawn shares amazing and absurd stories with Sandy and Richard.

Accounts receivable looks awful. Insurance is just out of control. Does that describe your office? If so, don't be surprised. This is common! Sandy sees this on the regular. She and Richard teach us the proper workload split with front office staff, getting accurate insurance date before they deny something, so that--above of all--we can turn things around by asking patients and insurance for our money...healthily!   Sandy@ClassicPractice.com 1-800-928-9289 www.ClassicPractice.com

Whether you have to re-allocate existing staff, or hire new, Sandy shows us super specific ways to forge our own front office dream team. Today's subject: your receptionist. What kind of person do you need to work the phones? What does a new patient letter look like? When should they be written? 😯 Grab a notepad and listen in as Sandy shares all this and more. Sandy@ClassicPractice.com 1-800-928-9289 www.ClassicPractice.com

Sandy continues her from-the-ground-up scheduling philosophy. Richard asks about scheduling to a goal, keeping goals consistent, and the checklists and metrics your scheduler MUST know.   Sandy@ClassicPractice.com 1-800-928-9289

When Richard asks Sandy about her scheduling philosophy, she shares her from-the-ground-up dream schedule. Oftentimes, practice owners inherit scheduling systems from sellers. But startup or acquisition, you can start working these systems into your practice now.   www.ClassicPractice.com 

Who's picking up the phone when your practice is closed? Is your front desk demonstrably disappointed and surprised when patients call in to cancel? Sandy digs into these situations and more. Plus, she shares a super-simple secret to learn about broken appointments well before they happen.

Being bad on the phones is the best way to drive away good patients. Sandy and Richard jump right into the best practices in phone etiquette. Grab a pen and take notes as Sandy gives us actionable gems about how many times you should let it ring, empathetic tone of voice, and why being assigned to the phone is not a bad thing--at all!

Richard and Sandy discover where dentists fail to take charge; keeping a "scoreboard", developing a lifestyle of learning, and how not to be afraid of your team. Listen now.   Sandy@ClassicPractice.com

As Sandy continues showing the process of working with her and her team, she talks keeping a 'scoreboard', firing the wrong people the right way, and how she trains your team to build out (and sustain) new, effective systems!   Sandy@ClassicPractice.com

Some of us have reached the point where we don't want more money; we want less stress! Sandy teaches us when it's right to hire a consultant (and when it's wrong). Having helped countless practices uproot deep-set problems, she also shares what it took to help one practice shake free of the stress caused by hurtful employees unwilling to change. Plus, what it's like to work with Sandy and her Classic Practices team.

Last week Richard and Sandy discussed urgency with regard to team members. We now uncover the steps to take to maintain that same sense of urgency when communicating treatment plans to our patients. Sandy gives warnings about consistently mentioning a timeline, proper handoffs to team members, educating patients on the dangers of waiting, and more...

Richard and Sandy jump into a conversation about urgency. With only a little urgency, we can fill dropped appointments faster, collect more overdue accounts, and reduce the amount of diagnosed treatment that goes unscheduled--plus, the simplest thing in the world your team could be doing now to get started. ** Take an online sample Wonderlic test now.

Dr. Richard Low joins the legendary Sandy Pardue in a brand new season of Dental Drill Bits! Today, after asking Sandy to sound off on the subject of morning huddles, we get a constant stream of actionable info. Who should attend, team members' actual responsibilities, and the antidote to the perceived need to micromanage are all covered in detail.

Dr. Richard Low joins the legendary Sandy Pardue in a brand new season of Dental Drill Bits! Today, Richard strikes gold. When he mentions his friend's chaotic team meetings, Sandy opens up a treasure chest of information for the rest of us! When to schedule team meetings, how to make effective agenda outlines, KPI ownership (and a lot more)--all inside.

Episode Title: Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule Episode Description: Welcome to another exciting episode of Dental Drill Bits! This week, Sandy Pardue is joined by a very special guest—Dana Pardue, the original co-host and HR business professional. Together, they kick off the new season with a deep dive into one of the most critical topics for dental practices: managing open time in your schedule. Discover actionable tips to identify, track, and eliminate wasted time in your practice. Whether you're dealing with broken appointments, patient no-shows, or underutilized slots, this episode equips you with practical strategies to improve productivity, enhance patient care, and boost your bottom line. Plus, hear Dana's unique perspective on the patient experience and why over-communicating about appointment changes can backfire. Stay tuned until the end for a game-changing resource that could revolutionize how you handle in-house membership plans! What You'll Learn in This Episode: Dana Salisbury's journey back to Dental Drill Bits and her insights on training and development for dental practices. The real cost of open time and why tracking it is crucial. How to calculate daily, hourly, and per-unit production goals. Strategies to reduce cancellations, no-shows, and last-minute reschedules. The importance of maintaining a reliable call list and leveraging patient interactions. Patient perspective: Why excessive appointment changes can harm patient satisfaction. The role of team meetings in addressing missed opportunities. An introduction to Plan Forward—a custom dental membership platform offering tools for automated billing, patient communication, and more. Sponsors: Identity Dental Marketing Looking to stand out in a crowded market? Identity Dental Marketing builds brands that convert. 👉 www.IdentityDental.com Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉 www.PlanForward.io Mango Voice VoIP that works for dental practices. Elevate your phone systems and never miss a patient call again. 👉 www.MangoVoice.com  

In this festive episode, Dana and Sandy unwrap the unforgettable world of dental office Christmas parties — the good, the chaotic, and the "HR-will-hear-about-this" kind of moments. From table fires to haunted hotels, over-served team members, questionable Ubers, party buses, shopping sprees, and meaningful low-budget celebrations, they share what makes a holiday party truly memorable while keeping your practice safe, appreciated, and drama-free. Whether you're planning a simple potluck or an all-out evening event, this episode gives you the ideas, warnings, and best practices to make your celebration merry, bright, and not a future cautionary tale. What You'll Learn How to plan a Christmas celebration that boosts morale without breaking the budget Common holiday party pitfalls (alcohol, transportation, guest dynamics) and how to prevent them Gift and appreciation strategies that genuinely resonate with your team Why thoughtful holiday traditions strengthen culture and improve team retention Listen Now:  Dental Drill Bits on Apple Podcasts Episode Sponsors Identity Dental Marketing Looking to stand out in a crowded market? Identity Dental Marketing builds brands that convert. 👉 www.IdentityDental.com Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉 www.PlanForward.io Mango Voice VoIP that works for dental practices. Elevate your phone systems and never miss a patient call again. 👉 www.MangoVoice.com

Episode Summary In this strategic and energizing episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of practice stability and growth, your annual planning session. Together, they walk through the questions, metrics, team conversations, and leadership decisions that set the tone for a productive, organized, and profitable new year. Sandy shares her trusted framework for evaluating practice performance, identifying bottlenecks, and turning missed opportunities into measurable goals. Dana breaks down how to communicate the importance of an annual planning meeting to your team—even if you haven't done one in a few years. From KPI awareness and production forecasting to team agreements, CE planning, and SOP check-ins, this episode gives practices everything they need to create a clear, motivating roadmap for 2026. If you want to stop drifting into the new year and instead design it—this episode is your guide. Show Notes In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why most practices drift into the new year unprepared—and how to fix it The must-track KPIs for evaluating your year-end performance How to hold a productive annual planning meeting (without turning it into a gripe session) What your team really needs to contribute meaningful input How agreements, policies, and SOPs eliminate frustration and set expectations How to turn dropped statistics into 2026 wins Why tracking new patient sources matters more than ever How to anticipate "slow" months and outflow your way into a full schedule CE planning and skill inventories for every position The importance of setting daily and hourly production goals Updates your website and systems may be overdue for The role of communication in shaping team culture and patient experience Episode Sponsors Identity Dental Marketing Looking to stand out in a crowded market? Identity Dental Marketing builds brands that convert. 👉 www.IdentityDental.com Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉 www.PlanForward.io Mango Voice VoIP for dental practices that want fewer missed calls, better patient communication, and stronger scheduling. 👉 www.MangoVoice.com Episode Quotes Worth Sharing "Your success or your lack of it depends 100 percent on what happens within your own four walls." "Annual planning isn't paperwork—it's the heartbeat of a stable growing practice." "You can't improve what you're not aware of. Stats tell the truth." "Direction beats intention every single time." Links & Resources Email Sandy for details on Front Desk Pro Virtual Training: sandy@classicpractice.com Follow us on Facebook: Dental Drill Bits Share this episode with your office manager, dentist, or colleague!

In this eye-opening episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy Pardue tackle a topic few talk about openly — why some dentists genuinely love their profession while others can't wait to get out. Drawing from Sandy's experience consulting with over 600 dental practices, they reveal the defining difference: the dentists who thrive understand business and leadership, not just clinical care. Together, they unpack why mastering people skills, systems, and practice management can transform dentistry from stressful to deeply fulfilling. From learning how to manage money and motivate your team to leading with gratitude and balance, this episode is packed with mindset shifts to help you fall back in love with dentistry. If you've ever thought, "I hate being a dentist," this episode will remind you—it's not the dentistry, it's the missing business tools. You can learn those. You can take control. And you can love your work again. Key Takeaways Business knowledge is the bridge between burnout and balance. Leadership and communication skills create calm, confident teams. Systems bring structure, and structure brings freedom. Appreciation and consistency are stronger than pay raises. Detachment and compassion prevent emotional exhaustion. A strong leader defines vision, sets expectations, and celebrates wins. You can't buy culture—you build it through trust and gratitude. Reignite your love for dentistry by investing in your people and yourself. 🎧 Listen Now: Dental Drill Bits on Apple Podcasts 🔊 Episode Sponsors: Identity Dental Marketing Looking to stand out in a crowded market? Identity Dental Marketing builds brands that convert. 👉 www.IdentityDental.com Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉 www.PlanForward.io Mango Voice VoIP that works for dental practices. Elevate your phone systems and never miss a patient call again. 👉 www.MangoVoice.com

In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy dive into one of the most challenging scenarios in any dental practice—when a team member refuses a task that's part of their role. Inspired by a real Dentaltown post, Sandy breaks down what's really behind these moments, from unclear expectations and lack of training to blurred lines of authority. She shares how leaders can respond calmly, communicate clearly, and reset accountability without damaging trust. Dana adds perspective on balancing empathy and authority, and how understanding communication styles can help prevent tension before it starts. Together, they offer practical, real-world advice to help practices turn moments of conflict into opportunities for clarity and growth. 💡 Takeaways Most refusals come from confusion, not defiance. Clear systems and written expectations prevent recurring issues. Communication—both verbal and written—is the foundation of trust. Leaders must stay approachable while reinforcing accountability. Consistency in expectations leads to predictable, positive outcomes. 🔊 Episode Sponsors: Identity Dental Marketing Looking to stand out in a crowded market? Identity Dental Marketing builds brands that convert. 👉 www.IdentityDental.com Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉 www.PlanForward.io Mango Voice VoIP that works for dental practices. Elevate your phone systems and never miss a patient call again. 👉 www.MangoVoice.com

In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy discuss the importance of measuring team energy and performance metrics in dental practices. They emphasize that while patient care is paramount, tracking statistics can enhance care quality and team morale. The conversation explores the concept of buy-in from team members, the significance of accountability, and how metrics can serve as tools for improvement rather than judgment. The episode concludes with actionable steps for practices to foster a positive culture through measurement and celebration of achievements. takeaways Your team's energy is crucial for productivity. Statistics can enhance patient care, not detract from it. Tracking metrics helps connect efforts to results. Buy-in from the team is essential for success. Purpose should always come before profit. Celebrating small wins boosts team morale. Metrics can reveal blind spots in practice management. Accountability fosters a culture of improvement. Positivity is contagious within a team. Consistent actions lead to predictable outcomes. 🔊 Episode Sponsors: Identity Dental Marketing Looking to stand out in a crowded market? Identity Dental Marketing builds brands that convert. 👉 www.IdentityDental.com Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉 www.PlanForward.io Mango Voice VoIP that works for dental practices. Elevate your phone systems and never miss a patient call again. 👉 www.MangoVoice.com ✨ Upcoming Event – Don't Miss Out! Want to take your front desk skills to the next level? Join Sandy Pardue and the Classic Practice team for Front Desk Pro in Las Vegas on Friday, November 7, 2025. This one-day seminar is packed with proven systems to reduce cancellations, boost treatment acceptance, and transform your patient experience. Register now at 👉 www.ClassicPractice.com Save $100 with code SecretSauce