The Dental Hacks Podcast

Dr. Zak Allmand joined the other Zach and Kevin at Voices of Dentistry! He brought some interesting takes to their list of VoD questions (and inspires a few more!) The questions: How did COVID affect your practice? You have to have a crown on #2...what material do you choose? Did you/would you place sealant on your own children? Your significant other needs ortho...wires/brackets or aligners? If your own #29 needed endo/core and crown/crown lengthening, would you do it or go right to an implant? If your significant other had a slight diastema between 8 and 9 would you suggest ortho, resin or porcelain? Go check out the Very Dental Facebook group (use password Timmerman or Hornbrook or McWethy for entry!) and go check out the Very Clinical Facebook group, too! If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  Listen, most dental practices are wasting an enormous amount of time and money on disorganization. Zirc's Color Method takes all of your instruments and all

Inspired by a recent class taught by Dr. Tomas Linkevičius, Al considers compromised in dental treatment. Dr. Linkevičius talked about how at one time "success" in implant therapy included some expected bone loss. This is a compromise that was expected and he argues that we know better now. It made me think about the compromises that I make in my clinical dentistry. Some are inevitable, but some are because it's "just the way we do it."  I'm calling on all Very Dental people to consider the compromises you make in your dentistry (and maybe your life) and make sure when you're compromising that you're doing it intentionally.  Some links from the show: "Zero Bone Loss Concepts" Tomas' website Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy." If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  Listen, most dental practices are wasting an enormous amount of time and money on disorganization. Zirc's Color Method takes all of y

Clinical organization can save a practice time and money. Having all the instruments and materials where you need them and when you need them can shave minutes off procedure times. Having each procedure color coded and organized can save hours of team training. Using the right system for organization is really important...but how do you know what's right? Alan is joined by Kay Hickey and Tina Punton from Zirc Dental Products. At it's core, Zirc has always been about organization and efficiency. Tina and Kay explain how Zirc can help you implement systems of clinical organization and efficiency in your practice whether it's just using their amazing cassettes, trays and tubs or utilizing their entire Color Method consulting solutions!   It's time for you to look into how Zirc can make your office more efficient, productive and organized! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/zirc! Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy." If you'd like to support the Very

A team doesn't feel empowered just because you say they should be. It's built into the culture of the office and it's one of the things that makes an office a great place to work! Al discusses what his empowered team looks like on a day to day basis! Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman" or "Hornbrook!" If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  Listen, most dental practices are wasting an enormous amount of time and money on disorganization. Zirc's Color Method takes all of your instruments and all of your materials and organizes it perfectly into color-coded tubs, trays, and cassettes. You gotta look into this for your practice and if you’re thinking, “Alan I do not have time for this!” you’re in luck because Zirc just launched a new service department where they will do it all for you!  Go to verydentalpodcast.com/colormethod and they’ll give you 50% off their Deeper Assessment consulting plan. Come join me in Chicago on May

Jason Smithson joins Alan again to discuss his new gig with Spear, dental philosophies and whether we should teach to the median dentist or the exceptional ones! Jason talks about teaching "Exellence in Composite Restorations" at Spear Education in Scottsdale, AZ! Spear Summit 2022 is coming September 15-17th! Jason's course: "Nature's Chaos in Balance" Minimally invasive/biomimetic philosophy vs. "terminal dentition" style philosophies and "living in the middle." How can our training limit our treatment options? How often are you offering a gold onlay? Jason's experience with milled gold! The bell curve of dentists...should we be teaching to the median skill set? We should be simplifying instead of complicating. Placing composite in increments is complicated and difficult in the BEST of circumstances. Smithson on fiber reinforcement Simplifying the layering steps allows for more time in finishing and polishing! Jason wants a butt joint margin vs. a beveled margin! Join the Very Dental Facebook group us

Dr. Melissa Zettler does KILLER composite veneers and shows a lot of them on Instagram! Zach loves composite veneers, Kevin hates them! The guys talk with Melissa about the how and why she chooses composite for cosmetics! Some links from the show: Melissa's Instagram If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I use Zirc’s products literally every day! Everything Zirc produces is meant to make your life easier! They bring color and efficiency to all your clinical processes. Zirc also makes some really nice denture and retainer boxes and they can even customize your logo on them! My youngest kiddo is in Invisalign right now and I’m going to tell you that the customized logo is a powerful reminder to your patients and their family! Head over to verydentalpocast.com/zirc to order these boxes and explore all of their products. Our friends at Cosmedent want to give you a polishing secret weapon. What’s that secret weapon? It’s called Enamelize! This Cosmedent Top

Dr. Dawn Kulongowski joins Alan to talk about addiction, continuing education and professional organizations. Whose responsibility is it to get the word out about professionals with substance use issues? Whose responsibility is it to get them help? As Dawn and Alan figure out, it's not completely clear! If you liked this episode you should subscribe to The Peaceful Practice podcast! To contact Alan or Dawn: email us: podcast@peacefulpractice.com Join our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessforprofessionals If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I use Zirc’s products literally every day! Everything Zirc produces is meant to make your life easier! They bring color and efficiency to all your clinical processes. Zirc also makes some really nice denture and retainer boxes and they can even customize your logo on them! My youngest kiddo is in Invisalign right now and I’m going to tell you that the customized logo is a powerful reminder to

Dr. Paul Homoly is a legend in dental communication. Alan was joined by Paul at The Voices of Dentistry for a podcast about evolutions. Whether it's how Paul's speaking business has evolved through the COVID era or how dental teams can evolve the way they practice dentistry by investing in themselves and the way they communicate with their patients, Paul will have you spellbound!  How Paul's business changed during COVID (also his golf game) The red carpet experience (and who gets it) Dental folklore (some people just have a s****y truck!) Should complex care patients come into the practice through hygiene? When does readiness happen? Patients can sense when a dentist NEEDS them to do the work. And they can sense when the dentist doesn't care if they do the treatment. Leadership isn't just for teams. It's for patients, too. Some links from the show: Paul's website If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I use Zirc’s products literally every day! Ever

Dr. Alan Mead joins Zach and Kevin to do a deep dive into block scheduling! Kevin kicks off this amazing conversation with THE question: "what are you selling?" He then explains how block scheduling has crushed it in his practice and how you can take back control of the chaos in your schedule!  Want more information? Become a member of the Very Clinical Facebook group where Kevin kicked off a rip roaring thread about block scheduling! If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  Listen, most dental practices are wasting an enormous amount of time and money on disorganization. Zirc's Color Method takes all of your instruments and all of your materials and organizes it perfectly into color-coded tubs, trays, and cassettes. You gotta look into this for your practice and if you’re thinking, “Alan I do not have time for this!” you’re in luck because Zirc just launched a new service department where they will do it all for you!  Go to verydentalpodcast.com/colorm

Our training leads us to believe that we need to DO SOMETHING. When our patients present with a problem we're supposed to have a solution! But is that correct? Does every aptient problem have a solution that we can "fix?"  Al talks about the concept of intervention bias and his recent experience in a medical setting. 

Practice management software is a weak spot in dentistry. Much of what we use today is based on database technology from 20+ years ago. PMS hasn't kept up with the rest of the technology world. Alan recently sat down with Dr. Rania Saleh to talk about a cloud based practice management software called Oryx. Rania is the creator and CEO of Oryx Dental Software. It's an all inclusive, cloud based software.  I'll be blunt...this is the future of dental practice management software and you're going to be hearing a lot about it from me in coming months! Some links from the show: Oryx Dental Software Kois Center If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  Listen, most dental practices are wasting an enormous amount of time and money on disorganization. Zirc's Color Method takes all of your instruments and all of your materials and organizes it perfectly into color-coded tubs, trays, and cassettes. You gotta look into this for your practice and if you’re thinking

Dr. James Nelson from New Orleans joins Kevin and Zach to run the gauntlet at VoD 2022!  The questions: How did COVID affect your practice? You have to have a crown on #2...what material do you choose? Did you/would you place sealant on your own children? Your significant other needs ortho...wires/brackets or aligners? If your own #29 needed endo/core and crown/crown lengthening, would you do it or go right to an implant? If your significant other had a slight diastema between 8 and 9 would you suggest ortho, resin or porcelain? Go check out the Very Dental Facebook group (use password Timmerman or Hornbrook for entry!) If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I recently posted a simple case i the Very Dental Podcast Facebook group. The case came together using Cosmedent's Renamel Microfill. Nothing polishes or holds a polish like a microfill and Renamel microfill is available in a ton of shades and comes in both syringes and compules. Go check out Rena

Al runs into some artificial intelligence in a medical setting and riffs on how this might apply in dentistry at some point. Some links from the show: Oryx Dental Software WoundZoom If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I recently posted a simple case i the Very Dental Podcast Facebook group. The case came together using Cosmedent's Renamel Microfill. Nothing polishes or holds a polish like a microfill and Renamel microfill is available in a ton of shades and comes in both syringes and compules. Go check out Renamel Microfill at verydentalpodcast.com/microfill. You’re going to find a ton of uses for it and you’ll wonder how you worked without it! I’ve been using a Medit scanner from CAD-Ray since early 2019. I just upgraded to the i700 and I really like it. Medit has a lot to offer including a very appealing price point, no monthly fees and support that only CAD-Ray can offer! If you’re ready to bring digital dentistry into your practice, you need

Alan is joined once again by Dr. Mark Costes. The guys are a couple of months post Voices of Dentistry and do a little wrap up.  Mark is the founder of the Dental Success Institute, a podcaster and a good friend. The guys have a wide ranging conversation that covers all kinds of topics! VoD wrap up What it's like to be 50 Does shaming work in dentistry/medicine? Mark's next project...the Dental Success Summit at the JW Marriott resort on June 10-11th! Go learn about stuff that they didn't teach in dental school! Do meetings with like minded people! A little "inside baseball" from two titans in dental podcasting Have we reached "peak podcast?" Does the guest matter with regard to downloads? Who is Mark's favorite/most interesting interview? Some links from the show: Dental Success Summit is June 10-11th 2022 (use code "Alan2022" for an extra 10% off!) Voices of Dentistry is January 20-21 Go check out the Very Dental Facebook group (use password Timmerman or Hornbrook for entry!) If you'd like to support the

Dr. Matt Standridge, the ketodontist himself, stepped off the stage at VoD directly into a podcast with Zach and Kevin! He answered the questions that everyone was talking about and some of them might surprise you! The questions: How did COVID affect your practice? You have to have a crown on #2...what material do you choose? Did you/would you place sealant on your own children? Your significant other needs ortho...wires/brackets or aligners? If your own #29 needed endo/core and crown/crown lengthening, would you do it or go right to an implant? If your significant other had a slight diastema between 8 and 9 would you suggest ortho, resin or porcelain? Go check out the Very Dental Facebook group (use password Timmerman or Hornbrook for entry!) If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I recently posted a simple case i the Very Dental Podcast Facebook group. The case came together using Cosmedent's Renamel Microfill. Nothing polishes or holds a polish li

Could buying a REALLY nice saxophone make you a better saxophonist?  Well, maybe. But you'd be better off investing in lessons and practicing a lot. A nice horn is icing on the cake, but it can only make so much difference.  The same goes for dental instruments, materials and technologies. Al loves the idea of short cuts, but over and over he's realized that success comes with putting in the work. Some links from the show: Chad LB's Instagram Selmer Mark IV vs. Nexus 1 Go check out the Very Dental Facebook group (use password Timmerman or Hornbrook for entry!) If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I recently posted a simple case i the Very Dental Podcast Facebook group. The case came together using Cosmedent's Renamel Microfill. Nothing polishes or holds a polish like a microfill and Renamel microfill is available in a ton of shades and comes in both syringes and compules. Go check out Renamel Microfill at verydentalpodcast.com/microfill. You’re goin

Inspired by bad service at his bank and horrible features in accounting software, Al turns to his Brain Trust to talk about the resistance to change and how to break through it! Dr. Dawn Kulongowski, Dr. Melissa Zettler and Dr. Frank Clayton join Al to discuss all the ways that we resist our gut and drag our feet against the changes we need to make. Whether it's moving your office, firing your employee or switching banks, we've got ideas about how to help you move through change! Go check out the Very Dental Facebook group (use password Timmerman or Hornbrook for entry!) If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I’d like to thank Cosmedent for their support of the Very Dental Podcast network! Let’s talk about Ideal preps. That’s what we’re all aiming for and one excellent way to get there is to use a dual cured core material to build a broken down tooth back up to ideal contour. Cosmecore from Cosmedent is my choice for buildups. It’s dual cure, comes in a

Zach and Kevin interview Dr. Erin Elliott and her husband Tom! We learn a bit of the family history (get ready for TMI!) and then the fellas throw Tom (a nondentist) and Erin (an amazing dentist) and they run the VoD 2022 questions on the Elliotts! The questions: How did COVID affect your practice? You have to have a crown on #2...what material do you choose? Did you/would you place sealant on your own children? Your significant other needs ortho...wires/brackets or aligners? If your own #29 needed endo/core and crown/crown lengthening, would you do it or go right to an implant? If your significant other had a slight diastema between 8 and 9 would you suggest ortho, resin or porcelain? Do you want to weigh in? Join us in the Very Clinical Facebook group!  If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I’d like to thank Cosmedent for their support of the Very Dental Podcast network! Let’s talk about Ideal preps. That’s what we’re all aiming for and one excelle

When you're putting in legitimate effort and not getting results, it feels really unfair. What do you do when you're doing the best you can and things still aren't going well?  Al has some thoughts about this related to some medical stuff he has going on. But really, these challenges can be related to all kinds of things in your life. Go check out the Very Dental Facebook group (use password Timmerman or Hornbrook for entry!) If you'd like to support the Very Dental Podcast Network then you should support our sponsors!  I’d like to thank Cosmedent for their support of the Very Dental Podcast network! Let’s talk about Ideal preps. That’s what we’re all aiming for and one excellent way to get there is to use a dual cured core material to build a broken down tooth back up to ideal contour. Cosmecore from Cosmedent is my choice for buildups. It’s dual cure, comes in a variety of colors and cuts just like a tooth. You’ll get a super smooth finish with no gouging. Both work great, but those syringes are handy and