Chew on This! A Dental Podcast

Is your office fun enough to keep employees happy? If you answered no then you may be in good shape! Turns out praise and appreciation is way more important than a ping-pong table. Who knew? Kevin discusses the overwhelming message he hears from his audience members and Teresa shares her strip club lunch story. How can you not listen after that teaser? 

Quotes

• “What millennials want more than anything else is that they want to have respectful communication in the workplace over trendy work perks.” 
• “If you paint with a bad brush, you will have a bad painting.”
• “I would challenge people to revisit that conversation with your employees.”
• “This generation thinks it is very important to change the world and make it a better place.” 
• “The number one thing dental assistants want is to be told thank you everyday.”
• “Mean girls are a real thing in dentistry.”
• “Shout out to that stripper - she made for a good story.” 

Resources from the show:

• Young workers now value respect over 'fun' perks in the workplace
• 4 warning signs that your workers might quit
• Crocodile Dundee - That is not a knife scene!

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy!

Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

Every day there are headlines of dentists being investigated or indicted among other things. But most dentists are pretty cool people. Until we can be known for desirable careers we will have a hard time finding qualified team members. We don’t get all down in the dumps though - join us as we talk about how jogging toothbrushes and big molar kiosks could save the day!

Quotes

• “The economy of dental hiring has changed.”
• “Dentistry as a whole has a real PR problem.” 
• “If a dentist really wants to burn out, try not having an assistant. Good luck with that.”
• “You can’t be afraid to talk about cancer in your practice, and you need to have a plan if you find something suspicious.” 
• “There are a lot of young people that don’t see themselves in a dental office, because they don’t know what it means to be in a dental office.” 

Resources from the show:

• 6 dentists making headlines
• Understaffed and ready to hire, dentists face applicant shortages as they emerge from COVID-19 pandemic
• Products - Data Briefs - Number 412 - July 2021

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy!

Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

What do you do with an abandoned dental office nowadays? The answer may surprise you! Benco’s State of Dentistry report was released and we dive into some of their findings. We see lots of growth ahead for dentistry and so do the answers. That’s not a spoiler though so you should still listen to the podcast! 

Quotes

• “The only ghost you will find here is the ghost of hospitality.”
• “Our consulting colleagues are needed now more than ever.”
• Dealing with reps: “offices realized where they were on their pecking order, and it was not cool.”
• On good sterilization techniques: “Dentistry missed an opportunity to say ‘you know we have been doing this since the AIDS epidemic.” 
• “⅓ of the practices reported that their dental lab shut down during the pandemic.” 
• “The patients don’t know what quality of care means” 
• “We will be at Hinman presenting our Trends course.”
  
  

Resources from the show:

• Former dental office to become apartments – Santa Cruz Sentinel

• State of Dentistry report
• State of Dentistry webinar

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy! Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

Did you know that your radiographs and images may not even see a human eyeball? That’s because a computer program can now do that and has been in use for a while now. We talk about dental schools and whether or not they’re graduating with enough exposure to technology. Do they really need to be laser wizards when they get their white coat? Let us know what you think! We wrapped up with a feel-good story about an assistant wanting to do great things with her lottery money. We wish her tons of luck with her generosity 😇

Quotes

• Regarding AI and our claims: “If the computer is reading it I need to make sure it can actually read it.” 
• “What are we going to do with these people that are still on film?” 
• “She (a Dentrix trainer) is talking to a practice that doesn’t have a single computer in the office.” 
• “How will dental education change after Covid-19?”
• “Will people keep the oral systemic link in mind?”
• “There is still a gap in the technology available in dental schools, vs. what they need when they graduate.” 
• “You are getting that drip down of learning, vs. learning from an actual trainer.”
• “That heart of gold that I love in Dental Assistants is all over the world.”
  
  

Resources from the show:

• Overjet Acquires Dental Claims Review Company American Dental Examiners to Offer Fully Licensed Clinical Review on Its Artificial Intelligence Platform
• Questionnaire asks how dental education will change after COVID?
• Dental assistant wishing to have her own clinic wins AED250,000 in UAE raffle draw

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy! Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

We talk about the dental impact on the Friends reunion movie. What did they do to Matthew Perry?? Another workforce study is also discussed. Where are they dentists and where are they going? Finally we wrap up with a controversial video about how patients slide into our dental chairs. The scooch, the saddle and the blank stare - you’ve probably seen these wild moves in your office. Any others? Let us know! 

Quotes

• “Root canals don’t wait for anyone.” 
• “The percentage of women increased from 24% in 2010  to 34.5% in 2020.”
• “We are up to about 50% for female dental school graduates.” 
• “The DC area is over insured.” 
• “In the DC area if you throw a rock you hit a dentist.”
• “I don’t think I can top ‘scooches’ and ‘Ask Jeeves.’”

Resources from the show:

• Friends Reunion: Matthew Perry's Slurring Is Because Of Dental Work
• The US dentist workforce – 7 key facts
• Bob & Brad's ergonomic and physical therapy Youtube channel
• Dental assistant jokes about ways people sit down and people aren't happy

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy!

Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

An article came out recently that portrays dentists as pushy and treatment-happy. Once again a tiny minority gives a community a bad name. No worries though - we have a hometown hero dentist and a talented vocalist dentist to offset any bad reputation. Hope this one hits the high notes for you! 

Quotes

• “Let’s be honest 99% of the time if you are told you need a filling, you probably need a filling.”
• “Did you know a lot of times whistleblowers will receive part of the settlement?”
• “We enjoy reading about the practices that are doing things wrong… we enjoy the trainwreck.”
• “There has not been a dentist in this county in two decades.”
• Teresa: “If Dayna recorded you around the house what kind of deal would you get? Kevin: Not a good one.”
• “You had me at Elvis themed.”

Resources from the show:

• 'Creative Diagnosis' and Outright Fraud: Why Your Dentist May Seem Pushy | Healthiest Communities Health News | US News
• Dentist Who Bilked Insurance Companies Nearly $900k Sentenced
• California dentist gets license suspended, 6 years in prison for $866K fraud scheme
• Family dentist moves to rural area to provide affordable dental care 
• Aspen Dental Dentist Goes Viral After Wife Creates Secret TikTok Account 
• The Meckelbergs (@meetthemecks) TikTok | Watch The Meckelbergs's Newest TikTok Videos 
• Bruce Murphy, DDS of Men Without Hats 

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy!

Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

Offices in WA state almost got some relief from PPE fees until reality set in. Pesky details are never a fun surprise. What would you do with $100K worth of dental equipment? We share the story of a thief who stole COVID vaccine vials along with dental equipment. Is a laser’s street value higher than an xray sensor? We pondered this along with the news that new dental schools are popping up soon.

Quotes

• “I think people are definitely hungry to get back in front of each other.” 
• “Dentists who thought they had a good relationship with their supplier realized there was more they could have done to foster that relationship.”
• “I wonder if he wanted to fill the empty vials, to sell them”
• “He also stole $100,000 worth of medical supplies.”
• “Check into a hotel for a night and steal their towels (instead), way easier!” 
• “High Point University is opening a school of Dental Medicine and Oral Health.” 
• “There are some dental assisting schools where the cost is so high ... it doesn’t make sense to spend that much.”
• “Please do not buy your dental assistant over Ebay...that would be bad.” 

Resources from the show:

• Washington Governor Inslee signs measure addressing health provider PPE costs
• Concerned Dentists of Washington State FB page
• California dentists want insurance companies to pay for COVID-19 PPE
• Man allegedly stole 100 COVID vaccine vials from dentist office
• HPU Announces New Dentistry School, Dean, Facility and Hundreds of New Jobs

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy!

Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

Wildlife veterinary dentist is definitely an interesting career choice. One of us has a huge fear of ancient animals with teeth - guess which one! We also talk about a very strange study about oral surgeon Nazis. Just because you can study it doesn’t mean you always should. Finally we talk about how people tend to end conversations at different times which can make for some awkward patient conversations. 

Quotes

• “We’ve got a crocodile over here that needs to have 3 teeth removed, you up for that?” 
• “You are going to look at a photo and your eyes are going to melt, it will be so white.” 
• “We bring you stuff that you could put in your brain, but maybe you don’t want to.”
• “It's not one demographic, it needs to be across the board where people see themselves.”
• “How much Spanish is being taught in dental school.” 
• “Did you know we are required to provide a translator.”
• “We have to be open to looking at someone and reading their face.” 
• “End the conversation by making the person feel good about the conversation.” 

Resources from the show:

• Watch A Veterinarian Perform Dental Surgery on a Live Crocodile
• The whitest paint is here -- and it's the coolest.
• JDE Article: “Very Little Progress” in U.S. Dental Schools Enrolling Black Students
• Maxillofacial surgery's dark past in Nazi Germany
• Man In the High Castle show
• Happy Days - Fonzie Jumps the Shark, creating an expression for decades
• How to end a conversation: 2 science-backed methods
• Researchers find conversations don’t end when people want them to

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy!

Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

We opened up talking about a Minneapolis practice that has finally reopened after last year’s riots. Hats off to Dr. Ali Barbarawi for committing to his community when many businesses fled. We then shifted to talking about specialists and why it’s been a struggle for some of them. Could the decision by Delta to delay reductions signal an understanding that the struggle is real? Especially post-COVID.  

Episode Highlights

• Chicago Lake Family Dental reopening
• Postcards are back - maybe?
• Unhappy specialists
• Anesthesiologists are left behind 

Quotes

• “It is said it suffered 1 Million dollars of damage from the riots.” 
• “Postcards are back as an effective form of marketing.” 
• “These people were doing their everyday thing. You can’t protect everyone at all times.”
• “It shook all of us here in Colorado.”
• “It’s a grocery store, a movie theater a school, places you shouldn’t need to worry about.” 
• “42% is a lot of people that are going to be leaving the Delta network.”

Resources from the show:

• After dental practice is set on fire, Minneapolis dentist vows 'We'll rebuild.'
• South Minneapolis dental clinic reopening after destroyed from unrest
• CDA seeks meeting with Delta Dental to underscore member concerns over proposed fee cuts - CDA
• https://www.cda.org/Portals/0/practice_support/dental_benefit_plans/delta-dental-rate-reduction-for-specialists-faqs.pdf
• Delta Dental indefinitely postpones scheduled fee cuts for 2,200 specialist dentists in California
• Anesthesiologists allege Delta Dental does not credential them
• NTMT Episode with Dr. Wells: How Do You Handle a Riot Near Your Office?

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy! 

Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook

EP 18: What If A Monkey Can’t Do Your Job? 

Working in a dental office is hard. New employees have to learn weird terminology, work with weird tools and handle weird patients. No wonder staffing is difficult. We talked about a report from Dentalpost.net that surveyed the industry about dentistry’s workplace. It has a ton of statistics for RDHs, assistants, dentists and administrative team members. Spoiler alert - we need more people to work in our offices. We need them soon. 

In this episode we talk about which states had the best wages and how COVID affected the work-life balance of most employees. Dental offices are stuck in this weird limbo where salaries and job descriptions don’t seem to mesh. We’re not sure how to fix it but we give our best ideas on the topic. 

We also talk about how nice the world would be if we could issue perio cards instead of vaccine cards. I’d dine in a no-perio zone - wouldn’t you? 

Episode Highlights

• Our dads and sports commentary 
• Survey: COVID-19 compounds dental staffing challenges
• Front Office staff members bring income to the office: An Important Rant
• Vaccine Card Perio Card

Quotes

• “There are dental and medical conditions that come along with certain ethnicities” 
• “There was so much bubbling below the surface before covid.”
• “Covid was the accelerator.” 
• “ROLL TIDE… into Sweden.” 
• “You have team issues because you hire the first person that shows up.” 
• “I was much better at getting people to give me their money, than getting them to open wide.”
• “I right now am in the choir saying PREACH.”
• “PPE prices don’t look like they are coming down.” 

Resources from the show:

• Survey: COVID-19 compounds dental staffing challenges

Also! We wrote an Ebook that is completely free for you. 50+ pages of knowledge, checklists and job descriptions. Enjoy! 

Click here for the Prepare Protect Prosper eBook

Links

**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**

Connect with Kevin on his IG page and at IgniteDDS.com

Connect with Teresa on her IG page and on Facebook