One of the most important things you can do as a dentist is to be around other dentists. But they can't just be any dentist — they’ve got to be the best! To increase your chances of finding the best mentors and your tribe, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Dennis Hartlieb, founder of Dental Online Training, to share his confessions as a study club veteran and his journey of learning from the best to becoming one of the best. To hear his advice for a fulfilling career in dentistry, listen to Episode 849 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Hartlieb:

• Send Dr. Hartlieb an email: [email protected] 
• Join Dr. Hartlieb on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisHartliebDDS
• Follow Dr. Hartlieb on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hartliebdds
• Learn more about Dental Online Training: https://www.dothandson.com/home
• Register for DOT’s Study Club: https://www.dothandson.com/mentorship
• Register for DOT Fest (2025 TBD): https://www.dothandson.com/dot-fest
• Watch more on DOT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DentalOnlineTraining
• Listen to the DOT Sharecast: https://www.dothandson.com/dot-sharecast

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 849: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Learn more about the AARD meeting (invite only): https://www.restorative-academy.com/program2
• Register for the AACD meeting (April 3-5, 2025): https://www.aacdconference.com/event/5b34cc94-b65b-4163-a951-ff4ec66f1e25/conference-information-menu
• Register for Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting (February 20-22, 2025): https://www.cds.org/midwinter-meeting/registration-information/registration-fees

Main Takeaways:

• If you can't find a study club, create one!
• Don't wait around for a mentor. Go out and find them!
• You're not the only one — all dentists experience failures.
• Figure out which kind of dentistry brings you joy, then do it.
• It’s important to find your tribe, even if it’s a non-clinical setting.
• Join a study club. It’s one of the most important things you can do.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

3:01 Dr. Hartlieb’s background.

7:00 Go out and find your mentors.

8:04 Even the “greats” are just people.

12:32 The best places to meet the best people.

15:12 Learn from the best to be the best.

19:55 The consequences of self-talk.

24:50 Try different study clubs.

27:05 About the Essay Program.

31:53 Other great meetings to join.

35:05 Dentistry is about managing failures.

37:10 Every dentist goes through these cases.

39:56 About DOT.

44:27 Final thoughts. 

Dr. Dennis Hartlieb Bio:

Dr. Dennis Hartlieb is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He maintains a full-time practice, Chicago Beautiful Smiles, in the Chicago suburb of Glenview, Illinois. Dr. Hartlieb is an instructor at the Center for Esthetic Excellence in Chicago and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He lectures extensively to dentists throughout the U.S. on the art and science of anterior and posterior direct resin techniques.