From substance abuse to the top of American dentistry.
From contemplating suicide to testifying before Congress.
Dr Brett Kessler's story is not what you'd expect from the leader of 100,000 dentists.
Contact Point – Dentistry's Next Decade. Hosted by Dr Simon Chard.
Dr Brett Kessler is the immediate past president of America's largest dental organization, a general dentist, endurance athlete, and founder of Dentistry Reimagined – a coaching practice helping dentists design lives worth living. In this conversation he and Simon go deep on addiction, burnout, fluoride, robotics, and why the mouth needs to be reconnected to the body before it's too late.
In this conversation:
Why Brett entered dental school with a substance abuse problem and graduated with a worse one. The phone call to a state wellbeing program that saved his life and how the profession's own support network gave him a second chance. Treating homeless patients in recovery and how fixing their teeth kept them sober longer than anything else. The CNN story that went national and led to him testifying before the US Congress ten years after he wanted to die. Building a fee for service reconstructive practice inspired by Dawson and Pankey while staying sober one day at a time. The five year vision exercise that led him to run for national office and why he never thought he'd win the presidency. 82% of dentists showing signs of clinical burnout and why high achievers don't ask for help until it's too late. Meditation, journaling, breath work, and why his broken brain could not fix his broken brain. Mentorship, coaching, and the mindfulness practice he's done every morning for 28 years. Why dentistry is hard and why new graduates are barely competent when they qualify. The trust recession, solo practice isolation, and why $350,000 of debt is forcing young dentists into high volume models they hate. Selling his practice to a five practice group that failed and why he chose to keep advocating instead of going back chairside. The fluoride wars with RFK Jr., the Harvard study everyone quotes, and why 80 years of data still matters. Hydroxyapatite as an alternative and why holistic science is no longer fringe. The patient with bacterial endocarditis whose infected tooth was killing her heart valves and why dentistry didn't get paid. Oral Health 2050, the Boston Consulting Group, and designing the future of dental care delivery before someone else does it for us. Why healthcare is a right but oral healthcare is still a privilege and what the minimum standard for oral health should actually be. Seven to seven, not five to five, and why we need to stop selling ourselves short. Saliva as the new blood, the oral microbiome, and why prevention is about to shift from surgical to chronic disease management. Private equity, DSOs, unrealized expectations, and why depression is off the charts in dentists who sold. Robotics, Waymo, driverless cars, and why the culture isn't ready for autonomous dentistry yet but it's coming. AI as a digital assistant whispering patient history in your ear and how technology should enhance human connection, not replace it. The sacred cow of the doctor patient relationship and why every decision must center the patient. Dentistry Reimagined, executive coaching, and helping burned out dentists design a work life that feeds their real life. Physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social wellness and why success is being a catalyst for positive change in the world.
Chapters
- 00:00:00 Introduction: From Substance Abuse to ADA President & The Power of Recovery
- 00:08:38 The Sobriety House Project: Treating Addiction Through Dentistry
- 00:16:38 Rising Through Leadership: From Colorado to the ADA
- 00:25:11 The Burnout Crisis: 82% of Dentists Show Clinical Burnout Signs
- 00:28:18 Mindfulness & Recovery: The Daily Practice That Saved His Life
- 00:37:26 Why Dentistry is So Hard: High Achievers, High Debt, High Volume
- 00:43:26 Mentorship & Coaching: The Path Out of Burnout
- 00:51:01 The Fluoride Debate: Standing Up to RFK Jr. & The Science
- 01:03:51 The Mouth-Body Connection: Why Oral Health is Essential Healthcare
- 01:11:12 Minimum Standards for Oral Health: The Hip Replacement Analogy
- 01:16:46 Oral Health 2050: Designing the Future of Dentistry
- 01:27:12 Prevention Over Surgery: Saliva as the New Blood
- 01:33:35 DSOs, Private Equity & The Sacred Cow of Patient Relationships
- 01:45:49 AI & Robotics: The Digital Assistant Imagination
- 02:02:51 Dentistry Reimagined: Coaching for Your Best Life
▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬
Dr Brett Kessler is the immediate past president of America's largest dental organization, a general dentist with 30 years of clinical experience, and founder of Dentistry Reimagined. He is a recovery advocate, endurance athlete, and chair of Project Oral Health 2050.
▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬
Dr Simon Chard is Past President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co founder of PÄRLA, and principal of Rothley Lodge Dental Practice.
