The Dental Hacks Podcast

Al invites all Very Dental people to attend his study club! The Fall meeting of the Francis B. Vedder Society of Crown and Bridge Prosthodontics (aka: The Vedder Society) is meeting this September 24-26 at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, MI! It will feature the one and only Dr. David Hornbrook speaking on "Cements and Ceramics 2021." It's 13 hours of CE for $300 in an autumn paradise. Very Dental people will enjoy fantastic CE, food, recreation and most importantly camaraderie! Go check it out at www.veddersociety.com or fill out the registration here. Some links from the show: Take a listen to the podcast I did with the Vedder Society back in 2019 for the 60th anniversary of this very special study club!  Traverse City airport Shanty Creek Resort  

Zach and Kevin get stood up! Zach and Kevin discuss core build up techniques We discuss the difference between space fillers and true build ups Kevin discusses his “ reverse build up” for Cerec We marvel at certain Florida dentists’ amazing core build up technique and protocol Please join our Facebook page!

Alan is joined by Dr. Gina Dorfman and Zak Allmand to talk about dentists with side gigs!  Gina created YAPI which allows dentists to be paperless, allows offices to communicate within the offices as well as with patients (texting, reminders, etc.), get patient reviews as well as online appointments! YAPI does everything you wish you practice management software would do! Zak started Apex Payment Solutions, a company that helps dentists take credit card payments. According to Zak, most credit card payment companies are "shady af." Apex helps dentists get better deals on taking payments!  The conversation was really interesting because we dove into side gigs for dentists: A great dental side gig comes from solving a problem that dentists are having (paperless solutions, credit card payment rip offs, no podcast that I wanted to listen to) Zak is a Viking, hates the dental tax The side gig is often "the next adventure" Idea people need help executing their ideas Side gigs are often not tied to a specific plac

Alan is joined by his friend Dr. Brett Kessler to have a VERY frank talk about how people make changes in their lives. Both of them are in long term recovery from drugs and alcohol which gives them an interesting perspective on how people make behavior changes in their life. Some of the topics we discuss are: The "time machine" game and how our past experiences are formative How do recovering people deal with social situations where people are drinking? Dentists suffered during COVID because so much was out of their control How do people make positive changes in their behavior? Running sucks Counting streaks Results don't come fast enough to drive early motivation...so how do we maintain motivation? Did fear of COVID change Al's behavior? How much dental disease is preventable by behavior change (home care, diet, smoking, etc.)? Is behavior change a simple matter of education? (spoiler: hell no!) Consequences can drive behavior change. But they don't always. You should join the Very Dental Facebook group (p

Hey hey hey! Dr. Mac Jones joins the Very Clinical crew The Very Clinical guys talk about board horror stories Mac weighs in on getting contacts with Bulk EZ Make sure you're reducing enough on crown and bridge preps How do prep for retention How to grab crown prep length Plunger cusps...reduce them Learn how to recontour teeth READ THE DIRECTIONS of your materials Understand your bonding agents Simple isn't always the best Access extracted teeth, understand endo access anatomy Use an orifice opener Reduce the occlusal in endo if you can Section teeth in extractions...take out roots, not teeth Proximators Proximators + mallet Look in to bone grafting even if you aren't placing implants Instagram results...often "same day." Recalls are everything. Don't be the first person to do something. Don't be the last person, either.  Be sure to check out the Very Clinical Facebook Group!   

Alan is joined by a round table of dentists who want to talk about dental school and what it did to them. Dr. Russell Schafer graduated from LSU in 2013, Dr. Sarah Meyer graduated from Creighton in 2011 and Dr. Maggie Saludis graduated from University of Maryland in 2018! Each of them brings their own trauma/hilarity to the conversation! Some of the topics we covered are: instructor hazing classmates being removed operative practicals casting gold pediatric dentistry term papers and marathons taking (and failing) boards the ethical ramifications of boards using your brother as a boards patient Got your own dental school horror stories? Join the Very Dental Facebook group (use password: Timmerman) and freak us all out there! 

Everyone loves the Jason Smithson-esque class IV composite done with a gorgeous wax up and beautifully layered composites placed with precision using a polyvinyl stent. These "double half caff mochaccinos with a twist and extra sprinkles can be found all over Instagram and Facebook groups. They're awesome and everyone should learn to do them. But quite often a case lands in your schedule that doesn't allow you to do the prep work for this. Sometimes you have to settle for a vanilla latte. And vanilla lattes can be delicious! Al gives you his recipe for a consistent and satisfying "vanilla latte" class IV that can make you and your patient happy with a quick and simple appointment! Some links from the show: curved Mylar strips Cosmedent's Creative Color Opaquers 3M Sof-lex discs Microcopy very fine composite finishing diamonds Cosmedent composite brushes

Today's episode is part 2 of the interview of Al by Dr. Melissa Zettler! We go all over the place in this one with topics including: How to lose weight during a pandemic Fitness as a middle aged person The one thing that Al needs for dentistry: light and magnification (that's two things) Enova Illumination light/loupe deal Melissa wants all the information about Al's farm. How many ducks are enough? Gracie the rescue lab How has work been affected by having kids?

We start off talking about summer vacations!  Summer is here and we’re excited, and summer plans seem real this year! As new dentists begin to graduate this year, we reminisce on our own beginnings in dentistry, failures we made and things we’d tell ourselves if we had a time machine. Topics include: Anesthesia Don’t be stingy on how much you give Have a skull to review anatomy when you get into slumps When you are slower, give more anesthesia for duration of anesthesia Have a youtube video of a block saved and ready to review Cold test prior to prepping Preps: Cavity Prep are you being too conservative?   The answer is probably yes Is your class ii box too small?   Probably Bevel big for class V’s Small class IV chips can be a big problem for you without over-engineering it. Lots of good pro-tips this week for the younger dentist. Check out the Very Clinical Facebook group for more on these topics, and so much more.

They say that turnabout is fair play, so in that spirit Dr. Melissa Zettler interviewed your host and benevolent leader, Al!  A few topics covered in this first episode: How did the podcast start? Why podcasting? The heady early days of podcasting What was it like to "grow up" in a dental office? Al had orthodontics. A lot of orthodontics. How did dad's influence affect the way Al practices now? How did the "dentist's kid" lifestyle affect Al's career choices? The Zoology family! Working/owning a horse farm Al's creative space is in headphones Some links from the show:  The Very Dental Facebook group

Welcome to the first episode of "Very Dental Shorts!" All of the goodness of the Very Dental podcast now in "Fun Size!" A lot of what we use in dentistry is expensive. Some of this stuff costs a bunch of money and sometimes we try and cut corners. Al offers three "expensive" items that he uses every day that are worth the money and he wouldn't live without! Zirc Crystal HD mirrors Septodont Paroject  Enova Illumination surgical headlights (Qubit Cool and PLT 100a) Why buy the "expensive" one? They're noticeably better than any other product I've tried. Purchase Zirc Crystal HD mirrors and the Septodont Paroject at Crazy Dental and you'll get the best price I've found on them anywhere. Use coupon code VDP10 and you'll get 10% off of that! Buy an Enova Qubit Cool or PLT 100a using this link: for a 18% discount (or 20% discount with loupes and a light!)

Kevin and Zach are joined by Dr. Matt Hudzinski, a newly graduated dentist!  First, they spend some quality time doing national board questions (giant fail). Then, Zach and Kevin both recount their dental school experiences. Dental school in the social media/Youtube era Dental school in the time of COVID. (4th year was clinical work ONLY!) And what about the debt. (Oh yes...the debt). The boys finish up with a rousing game of "how many requirements" and Matt did pretty darn well! Go join the Very Clinical Podcast Facebook group!  

A solo episode featuring your benevolent leader doing some podcast housekeeping as well as talking about a variety of dental topics! The Very Dental Facebook group has amazing potential to create a tribe of like minded people! Join it with password: "Timmerman" and see what's happening in the Very Dental community! Social media is a garbage fire, but there are some diamonds hiding in the rubbish How are guests for the show chosen and why I take my "curating" job seriously The monetization talk: ads vs. Patreon...weigh in! Learning to love removable Why I didn't do consults before and why I'm doing them often now The Vedder Society invitation: September 24-26th, come see Dr. David Hornbrook with Al! Some links from the show: The Very Dental Facebook group Freddie Mercury goofing around during "One Vision" GC ISO Functional Compound Lang Denture Duplicator Ministar from Great Lakes Orthodontics The Francis B. Vedder Society

Dr. Sara Rosen joins Alan to talk about dental school, the new grad experience and what it's like to be a part of the "COVID class."  Dr. Sara Rosen recently graduated from the Touro College of Dental Medicine in New York. They discussed all kinds of things including dental school, residencies, boards, clinical competency and being a student in the COVID era! Also, Alan offered some of the wisdom from members of the Very Dental Facebook group to new graduates and dental students!  The conversation: Sara attended the Touro College of Dental Medicine which is BRAND NEW! New York licensing and residencies Why choose a residency? New dental schools and adding bagels...the problems that new schools have to address How did the dental school handle COVID? Transitioning from dental school to "post dental school" How is Dr. Rosen thinking about dental school debt? Did she understand the debt she would be facing? The Very Dental Facebook group offers amazing advice! If you'd like to see the advice offered you need to

The Very Clinical Podcast welcomes Dr. Ash Mark of All Things Dentistry fame is back with us to discuss all things Canadian, all things endo, and all sorts of other things. We kick off by discussing our favorite Canadian acting legends. Then into a rousing discussion about MB2 and cone beam for endo. If you’re on Dentaltown Ash recommends Hank’s Guide to the MB2 as a definitive topic thread on MB2. Ash has 4 different videos on all aspects of MB2, all shot through a scope.  Kind of a visual expansion of that thread. Kevin enjoys watching MB2 videos on Christmas morning while his wife is in the shower.  Let that sink in for a moment.  #nerdalert There’s European endodontist named John Rhodes - do a youtube search for him, he also produces some great content on endo and specifically MB2. Ash starts getting into anesthetic chemistry - our minds are blown.  Get out your OrGo chem book, or don’t.  You do you. Ash gives a pro tip for PDL anesthesia - 30 gauge super short needles. Thanks for listening.  Ash is in t

Alan is joined by three amazing guests to discuss hiring and how COVID has changed everything when it comes to being an employer!  The guests: Dr. Matt Standridge is a clinician, educator and podcaster who’s been on the podcast a whole bunch of times and has had some pretty serious hiring and staffing issues over the last year! Sandy Pardue is the founder of Classic Practice Resources. She’s an absolute wizard with office systems and should be the first person you think of for consulting and team training. Sandy is also a podcaster and has been on the show a bunch of times, too! Paul Edwards is the founder of CEDR Solutions. You need employee handbooks and CEDR Solutions is who you should get them from. Also...CEDR Solutions is basically an all in one HR solution for dental offices.  The conversation: Matt turned over almost his ENTIRE TEAM in the last year! (Oof) Are people "getting paid to stay home?" The hiring situation was getting tough before COVID! Child care, home schooling and family situations ha

Dr. Mark Whitefield joins Alan for a rousing discussion of how implants can change everything for the general dentist. Mark is a fourth generation dentist from Nashville who admits to being obsessed with dental implants! Mark talks about being accredited in both the AACD and AAID and how that's made him a better dentist. Mark graduated in the mid 90's during the big cosmetic boom but switched his focus to dental implants in the early 2000's. What I noticed about Mark is that his mindset is that dental implants can be for anyone. Not just high end/wealthy patients. Mark hates removable! He tries to get edentulous patients back to TRUE FIXED! (particularly in the mandible) Cost effective fixed implant restorations are within reach!  What keeps dentists from getting into implants? Keeping implants in house Can a person who fears surgery become a surgeon? Young dentists aren't afraid of anything and they have a ton of debt! Removing barriers to implant treatment Mark explains that dental benefits actually cover

We welcome Dr. Ash Mark of of All Things Dentistry Youtube page fame! Ash showered! He’s in Canada! Ash has almost as many views on his Youtube channel as Kim Kardashian We talk Canadian rock bands Ash makes some really long videos but lately they are on calcified canals Endo tips! Diagnosis PA and BW CBCT The 6mm rule Magnification! Munce burs We discuss table top root canals We discuss separated files We discuss Gentle Wave Join our Very Clinical  Facebook group!

Al is joined by long time listener favorites Dr. Frank Clayton and Dr. Melissa Zettler for a talk about regrets. Between the three of them they've had 72+ years of experiences of dentists and practice owners. Al asks the question: what do you wish you had done better? What regrets do you have? And man did this Group Function come through!  Start saving EARLY! (no, even earlier) Avoid buying stuff on payments Use your student loan money wisely Buy used cars Not letting employees go sooner Take more time off...being away from the office is NOT the same as "losing money." Not even close. Take CE, but don't be in a rush. Choose CE early that can pay off over a longer career. Get to a point where you don't care if the patient follows through with care. Lay the patient back far enough. The patient is only there for an hour. You're there ever day. Orthodontics is a great choice for a lot more patients than dental school ever taught you. Make connections with honest colleagues...find people to give honest feedback

Al is joined by his best friend from dental school, Dr. Bart Schultz. Their main conversation focuses on getting the most out of continuing education. Their wide ranging conversation covered a LOT of topics: Why you should be doing more consults? What does a consult do for you? Getting reps Why "my practice isn't like that..." is a cop out The "surgically comfortable" mindset (some people are just plain less scared to try new stuff) Getting reps and keeping reps up Learning that you DON'T want to something is still useful information Note co-op from dental school 16 finals in 2 days and mixing zinc phosphate Context and why dental school doesn't work Dentists and interpersonal skills How to take away the right stuff from CE CE as an investment...take CE early = get more from your investment Some links from the show: Spear Education Spear Practice Solutions Dental Online Training