Our guest, Dr. Chris Pescatore, is using nothing more than his iPad and an off-the-shelf app to perform digital diagnostic wax-ups—right in front of his patients—in only a matter of minutes. This isn’t just a tool for planning aesthetics, prep design and occlusal adjustments—it’s also a powerful way to wow patients. In fact, Dr. Pescatore’s case acceptance rate has been hovering close to 100%. Stay tuned to learn how Dr. Pescatore has integrated this simple, inexpensive piece of technology into his daily practice—and why it’s become a true game-changer for both him and his patients. You can learn more about Dr. Pescatore's course on this topic by visiting The Center at Dental Ceramics https://www.thecenteratdentalceramics.com/upcoming-courses.
In today’s episode, we’ll discuss a scenario that every dental practice owner dreads—a disgruntled employee reporting infection control violations to the Department of Health. We’ll explore a real-life case that highlights just how devastating such a report can be, leading to potential fines, damaged reputation, loss of patient trust and even the shutting down of the practice. What can we do to prevent this? Joining us today to shed light on this topic is Dr. Karson Carpenter, a dentist and expert consultant on infection control and OSHA compliance in the dental setting. Dr. Carpenter is the founder and CEO of Compliance Training Partners, a company dedicated to helping dental practices stay compliant and navigate investigations related to infection control violations. Thanks to our episode sponsors: VOCO America - https://www.voco.dental/us/ Septodont USA - https://www.septodontusa.com/ GUM - https://www.sunstargum.com/us-en/
The reality is, many patients simply can’t afford traditional, lab-fabricated veneers. And without a more affordable option, they do nothing and continue living with a smile they’re not happy with. But now, there’s a solution. With a product called VeneerNow, dentists can offer a beautiful, life-changing makeover that’s easy to do, completed in a single visit, and well within reach for most patients. Dr. Lundon Albrecht shares with us how this easy-to-use veneer system has been a game-changer for his practice.
In a field where precision and stamina are paramount, poor ergonomics can lead to chronic pain, fatigue, and long-term health issues. But it doesn't have to be this way. By understanding and implementing ergonomic practices, and choosing the right kind of operatory delivery systems and equipment, we can transform our work environment into a space that supports our bodies as much as our skills. To tell us more about it is our guest, Katrina Klein. Katrina is a registered dental hygienist for 16 years, national speaker, author, competitive bodybuilder and certified personal trainer. She’s the founder of ErgoFitLife, where ergonomics and fitness are a lifestyle to prevent, reduce or eliminate pain. Thanks to our episode sponsors: GC America - https://www.gc.dental/ NSK America - https://www.nskdental.com/ VOCO America - https://www.voco.dental/us/
Today, we’re zeroing in on something that often gets overlooked until it’s too late: Standard Operating Procedures, or SOPs. Whether it’s training new team members, navigating a vacation or unexpected sick leave, or simply making sure tasks get done the right way every time, SOPs are the foundation of a stable, resilient practice. Our guest is Sherrie Busby, a certified dental assistant, sought after speaker and expert on creating and maintaining SOPs in the dental practice.
It’s not uncommon for those of us who are looking to hire a new office manager to have some questions. For instance, how do you find this person? What should you pay them? And once you hire someone, what is the typical training you should be giving them and, of course, what is the best way to ensure that your new office manager stays with you and isn’t tempted to look around for another opportunity, potentially at a dental office right down the road? This episode addresses these questions and more so stay tuned! Thanks to our episode sponsors: Solventum - https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/oral-care/ BISCO - https://www.bisco.com/
Even though we can’t see what’s happening inside those tiny tubes, what’s lurking there can have a big impact on the health of our patients and our practices. Joining us is someone who knows this subject inside and out—Tija Hunter. With over 40 years of experience in clinical dentistry, Tija is the Immediate Past President of the Illinois Dental Assistants Association and has also served as Vice President. She’s here to share best practices for waterline testing and maintenance, along with simple daily steps to ensure our water stays clean and safe. Plus, she’ll let us in on her go-to waterline system and a host of practical tips you can start using right away.
To guide us through the topic of Ulcerative Conditions of the Oral Cavity is our guest Dr. Ashley Clark. She brings a wealth of knowledge about the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management strategies for oral ulcerations. In this episode, she'll share insights into what dentists should look for during routine exams, when to be concerned, and how to approach treatment or referral. To reach out to Dr. Clark, please email aclark@camplaboratory.com. Thanks to our episode sponsors: VOCO America - https://www.voco.dental/us/ Shining 3D- https://www.shining3ddental.com/
As infection control regulations become more rigorous and patients grow more aware of clinical standards, it’s essential for dental teams to stay ahead—and that’s where technology and automation are making a real difference. We’re joined by Amanda Hill, a nationally recognized expert in infection control, who shares the latest advancements in sterilization and compliance tools. From preventing waterline contamination to ensuring every sterilization cycle is accurately documented, Amanda explains how the right technology can help your team maintain high standards, avoid costly errors, and deliver safer care across the board.
Are typical mouthwash products effective and are they worth recommending to our patients? Are there any products out there that can actually make a significant difference in our fight against perio disease? Our guest, Dr. Steven Milman, will address these questions and more. Dr. Milman received his dental degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. He completed his Periodontal residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He was a researcher in periodontal microbiology and was a full time periodontist in his private practice in Round Rock and Austin, Texas for 36 years. Thanks to our episode sponsors: BISCO - https://www.bisco.com/ Solventum - https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/oral-care/
In today’s episode, we’re exploring the transformative role technology plays in elevating the patient experience—helping create more meaningful interactions, better outcomes, and stronger trust in the care being delivered. When dental hygienists actively engage with cutting-edge technology and the clinical tools that come with it, they not only improve patient education, case acceptance, and compliance, but also help streamline insurance claim approvals and enhance overall clinical efficiency. In doing so, many hygienists gain a renewed perspective on their profession—often leading to greater career fulfillment and satisfaction. Our guest is Alicia Murria, RDH, with a masters in dental hygiene. She can be reached at aliciamurria.com.
Melissa Turner has been a practicing dental hygiene for 20 years and she is of the mindset that nothing is out of reach when it comes to opportunities for dentists and dental hygienists. She attributes many of these opportunities to the rapid advancements in technology as well as our inner desire to expand our own horizons beyond clinical dentistry. Join us for an informal discussion with Melissa addressing fractional executives in dentistry, the growth of multi-location group practices and how the role of dental hygienists will revolutionize the dental practice. Thanks to our episode sponsors: NSK America - https://www.nskdental.com/ GC America - https://www.gc.dental/ GUM - https://www.sunstargum.com/us-en/
According to our guest, Dr. Mauricio Watanabe, a world-respected speaker and clinician, by using a highly filled nano-composite to fabricate the crown, the same material we use for our deep margin elevation and filling in our undercuts, a semi-direct full coverage restoration will provide long-term predictable success. And Dr. Watanabe has years of cases and research to support his opinion. The whole procedure can be done in 30 minutes when pouring your impression with a fast setting silicone material. So if you're looking to practice conservative dentistry and preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible and still deliver a full coverage crown, you might find the semi-direct restoration an excellent option for many of your large caries cases. Dr. Lauren Rainey, a well-respected clinician and KOL will also be joining us.
As a dentist you are a medical specialist. That means it is totally appropriate and acceptable to tap into a patient's medical insurance for procedures that fall within the realm of medical necessity. And there are plenty of procedures performed in our operatories that do fall within the range of medical necessity. So why would we want to start billing to medical insurance companies and how difficult is this to do? To answer these questions and more is our guest, Kandra Sellers. Kandra is a RDH with over 25 years in the dental industry. She is widely considered one of the most passionate and respected dental coaches. She is an educator in the field of oral systemic health, as well as founder and CEO of TIPS Medical Billing. Thanks to our episode sponsors: Shining 3D- https://www.shining3ddental.com/ VOCO America - https://www.voco.dental/us/
In today’s episode, we’re spotlighting the dental hygienist as more than just a provider of cleanings—but as a true prevention specialist. That means shifting from a reactive mindset to a proactive one: taking the time to perform comprehensive risk assessments on almost every patient. Why? Because identifying risk factors early is the key to building targeted, effective treatment plans that can help stop disease before it leads into much more serious and expensive problems. Our guest is Alicia Murria, a RDH with a masters degree in dental hygiene. She is a member of the Hygiene Faculty with Align Technology, Associate Hygiene Productivity Coach with Inspired Hygiene, and alumni at Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene.
Perhaps we look at teledentistry as something that would be good for practices in remote areas but not particularly useful for urban practices, where patients can easily get to dentists. But there's actually a lot more below the surface when it comes to teledentistry. Especially today, where we continue to see increasing demands for convenient healthcare solutions. In this environment, teledentistry emerges as a tool that holds immense potential for every dental practice. To tell us more about it is our guest Dr. Maria Kunstadter. Over the past decade, Dr. Kunstadter, a practicing dentist, has been at the forefront of this innovative approach to dental care, integrating it seamlessly into her practice while also dedicating herself to educating and assisting fellow dental professionals in maximizing the potential of teledentistry. Thanks to our episode sponsors: Solventum - https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/oral-care/ BISCO - https://www.bisco.com/
In today’s episode, we’re focusing on one of the most critical — and often overlooked — elements of clear aligner therapy: clear aligner attachments. If you’ve ever dealt with aligners that don’t seat, patients who fall behind in treatment, or cases that just aren’t progressing as planned, we’ve got some troubleshooting tips you won’t want to miss. Our guest is Dr. Foroud Hakim. He has maintained a private dental practice for over 30 years, is a sought after key opinion leader and speaker and is a highly respected consultant for new product evaluation and development.
Today we'll talk with Dr. Scott Benjamin about how he streamlined his root canal cases and boosted his confidence and success rate by incorporating dental laser technology into his endodontic workflow. He sees lateral canals filled with sealer on post-op x-rays like never before! Dr. Benjamin has been in private practice in rural upstate NY for over 40 years and is an internationally recognized authority on dental lasers and advanced dental technologies. Dr. Benjamin has faculty appointments at several universities, is the Chairman of the ADA Standards Committee Working Group on Dental Lasers and is a Past-President of the Academy of Laser Dentistry. He currently serves on the editorial review board for several prestigious dental journals. Thanks to our episode sponsors: GC America - https://www.gc.dental/ NSK America - https://www.nskdental.com/
Luke Kahng, famous lab technician and lab owner, shares candid and valuable insight into one of the most critical links in dentistry today—the relationship between the dental practice and the lab. This episode is entertaining and informative! For more info on Luke and his lab visit https://www.lsk121.com
While you're working hard in your operatory preparing an MOD on #15 something is about to happen at the reception desk that will haunt you and your practice for months and months to come. It will also cost you thousands of dollars. And this can happen to any dental office, especially those that don't train their employees on the nuances of HIPAA compliance. It all started when a patient who owed the practice money requested their dental records. To tell us how this all played out and what it cost the practice owner is our guest Dr. Karson Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter is a dentist and expert in OSHA and Infection Control Compliance and is founder and president of Compliance Training Partners. Thanks to our episode sponsors: BISCO - https://www.bisco.com/ Solventum - https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/oral-care/