Dental Slang

Most dentists accept that oral health and systemic health are connected. The harder question, as Dr. Reza Ardalan puts it, is what that knowledge actually changes when a patient is sitting in the chair. In this episode, Dr. Lucy Hooper, a London GP and co-founder of the prevention-first practice Coyne Medical, answers from the physician's side of the referral.

Her answer keeps returning to inflammation. Dr. Hooper explains why the gut-mouth relationship runs in both directions, including lab research showing that immune cells primed in the gut against P. gingivalis can travel to the gums and drive bone loss. She is candid that much of this evidence is still coming from the lab rather than from patients. She makes the case that recurring mouth ulcers deserve a second look in a patient with otherwise good home care, since oral signs of inflammatory bowel disease can appear well before intestinal symptoms. Very few of those patients are ever asked about their mouth by the physician managing their disease.

The most practical stretch of the conversation is about antibiotics. More than 90% of patients carrying a penicillin allergy label aren't allergic, according to Dr. Hooper. The clindamycin they're prescribed instead can leave the gut microbiome altered years later. Dentists see that label constantly and are well placed to question it.

Dr. Hooper also shares what makes a referral letter land with a physician: be direct, say exactly what worries you, and never assume the doctor knows dentistry. She explains why she believes saliva is about to become one of the most powerful diagnostic tools in medicine, and dentists are already the ones collecting it. Her advice for Monday morning is simple: ask one more question.

Key Points

• Why the gut-mouth connection runs both ways, and where the science is still catching up
• How a questionable penicillin allergy label can cost a patient's gut health for years
• What recurring mouth ulcers can signal about disease beyond the mouth
• The open-ended question Dr. Hooper wants every dentist asking
• When a referral letter gets a physician's attention, and what to leave out
• Where saliva diagnostics is headed next

Dr. Lucy Hooper is a general practitioner and co-founder of Coyne Medical, a private family practice in Fulham, London, focused on prevention, early detection, and unhurried, personalized care. A graduate of Imperial College London, she holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master's in Healthcare Law and Ethics, Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and a Diploma in Child Health. Her practice pairs traditional family medicine with advanced health screening, including genomics and biomarker-based prevention. She is a speaker at the upcoming Wellness Dental Forum 2026 and, with Dr. Hugh Coyne, teaches a continuing education course for dentists, Dentistry & Whole-Body Health. You can follow her on Instagram at @drlucyhooper.

What if you could do a beautiful class four in the same 30 minutes you'd spend on a regular filling? In this episode, Dr. Reza Ardalan sits down with Dr. Susan McMahon, an AACD-accredited restorative dentist out of Pittsburgh and one of the most recognized clinicians in the country. Susan is the founder of Smiles in the City, a fee-for-service restorative practice she built from the ground up after starting her career in a drill-fill-and-bill amalgam office.

The conversation takes a personal turn early when Susan tells the story of the $100,000 laser whitening system she signed up for without reading the contract — the moment her practice tipped from "what people need" to "what people want." From there, Reza and Susan go everywhere: why AACD accreditation rebuilds your eye, how she became a restorative referral source for teenagers and post-ortho cases, the conservative European mindset she picked up training in Italy, why diastema closure and class four restorations can be done predictably in the same time as a regular filling, and the tag-the-practice social media system that fills her chair.

A key part of the conversation lands at the end. Susan walks Reza through her upcoming online restorative course — five one-hour modules built for general dentists who want to elevate their everyday restorations without slowing down their day. Module one is the class four. Module two is the invisible class three (no gray, no lost sheen). Module three is her five-minute finish — the polish that puts surface anatomy back so composite reads as enamel instead of plastic. Module four is using provisionals as the prototype for final restorations. Module five covers her full enamel treatment toolkit — microabrasion, infiltration, whitening combinations. It's the first time she's put her actual restorative system online, and if you've ever felt the gap between what you see on social media and what you can actually produce in your operatory, this one is gold.

Key Points

• The $100,000 laser whitening machine she signed for without reading the contract — and why it changed her career
• Why a beautiful class four takes the same 30 minutes as a regular class four — if you know the system
• The invisible class three: how to finish without gray shadow or lost sheen
• Using provisionals as the prototype for final restorations — the move most GPs skip
• The full enamel treatment toolkit: microabrasion, infiltration, and whitening combinations
• Why AACD accreditation is closer to a board exam than a CE certificate
• How she became a restorative referral source for teenagers coming out of ortho
• Why 40% of clear orthodontic cases finish with black triangles
• What four trips to Italy taught her about being conservative with the drill

Dr. Susan McMahon is a clinician and educator whose teaching focuses on conservative techniques that preserve natural tooth structure. She lectures internationally on minimally invasive cosmetic and restorative work, sharing the techniques she uses in her own practice with general dentists worldwide.

As an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Fellow of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, and Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. McMahon leads one of Western Pennsylvania's premier cosmetic dental practices. She has been named a Top Dentist more than 20 times, including consecutive annual selections as a Top Pittsburgh Dentist by her peers for more than two decades.

Find Dr. McMahon on Instagram at @smilesinthecity and @DrSusanMcMahon.

Learn more about Zero Trace Restoration on Dental Education Studios.

Five techniques that make everyday restorations look like advanced esthetic dentistry — built around systems any general dentist can run in their existing appointment blocks. The course starts on Tuesday, Sept. 15th. Join live or watch the on-demand recordings.

In this conversation, Dr. Reza Ardalan sits down with Dr. Hugh Coyne, a London-based family medicine practitioner and the son of a pediatric dentist, who built Coyne Medical with his wife and clinical partner Dr. Lucy Coyne specifically to practice the kind of preventive medicine the NHS 10-minute appointment window does not allow. His training at Imperial College London and postgraduate work in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric health, and sports medicine give him a panoramic view of the screening opportunities most dentists are sitting on without realizing it.

Dr. Coyne walks through the short blood panel he would build into every dental practice: HbA1c for diabetes risk that directly changes wound healing and periodontal outcomes, highly sensitive CRP for the kind of cardiovascular inflammation a UK Biobank study of over 400,000 people linked to a 61% higher risk of cardiovascular death, vitamin D with the K2 pairing that keeps calcium out of arterial walls, renal function, and a full blood count. From there, Dr. Coyne and Dr. Ardalan move into the oral microbiome shift from pathogen elimination to ecosystem restoration, the role of P. gingivalis in rheumatoid arthritis through citrullinated protein antibodies, and the cardiometabolic markers most patients never get tested for, including apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a). The third act covers GLP-1 medications, the Gila monster origin story, the medieval cautionary tale of Sancho the Fat, and the dental-chair implications most patients will never volunteer on a health history form.

In this Episode:

• The short blood panel any dental practice can start with: HbA1c, highly sensitive CRP, vitamin D, renal function, and a full blood count
• Why vitamin D supplementation without vitamin K2 may direct calcium into the wrong tissues, including arterial walls
• How a UK Biobank study of more than 400,000 people linked elevated hs-CRP to a 61% higher risk of cardiovascular death in patients otherwise considered well
• What the 87% of patients open to in-chair screening tells you about how to introduce blood testing in your practice without losing trust
• The rule of halves for blood pressure, and why a 158 reading caught on a second visit can be profoundly consequential for a patient's long-term survival
• How the oral microbiome model has shifted from pathogen elimination to ecosystem restoration, and what that changes about prevention
• Why P. gingivalis turns up in rheumatoid arthritis tissue, and how oral pathogens correlate with colorectal, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers
• The bachelor-party analogy for apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a), and why every dentist should know their own Lp(a) number
• What every dental practice needs to know before sedating a patient on a GLP-1 medication

Dr. Hugh Coyne is a London-based GP and the co-founder, with his wife Dr. Lucy Hooper, of Coyne Medical, a family medicine practice focused on preventive care and the early detection of disease. Dr. Hugh Coyne trained at Imperial College London with postgraduate degrees in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric health, and sports medicine, and is a featured speaker at the Wellness Dental Forum 2026. Find him on Instagram and TikTok at @drhughcoyne and the clinic at @coyne_medical.

Want to go deeper on the oral–systemic connection?

Dentistry & Whole-Body Health is a 3-part live CE series on reading the medical signals hiding in your patients' bloodwork — and knowing what to do with them.

Session 1: Hidden Signals · Saturday, November 7, 2026 The bloodwork your patients already have, read through a dentist's lens. HbA1c, hs-CRP, vitamin D, CBC — and when to monitor, pause, or refer.

Session 2: Cardiovascular Clues · Saturday, November 21, 2026 The lipid markers most panels skip (ApoB, Lp(a)) and the oral–heart connection behind them. Yes — this is the bachelor-party one.

Session 3: The New Weight Loss Era · Saturday, December 5, 2026 What GLP-1s are quietly doing to how your patients eat, metabolize, and heal — and the chairside adjustments that come with it.

All 3-hour sessions run 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET / 4 PM UK, with 30-day recording access if you can't make it live.

9 AGD-PACE-approved CE credits across the series. Nothing here asks you to become a doctor — it gives you the medical layer that's already shaping your outcomes.

In this episode, Dr. Reza Ardalan sits down with Dr. Mark Skimming, the Glasgow-based founder of Pain-Free Dentistry Group and the name that comes up more than any other when other guests on the show are asked about mentoring, coaching, or the business side of dentistry. Dr. Skimming has built a 14-practice independent group across Scotland, fully self-funded, with no bank loans and no private equity, on the back of a systems-first philosophy he learned the hard way.

Most conversations about practice growth focus on the clinical or the financial. This one focuses on the operational glue that makes a multi-site group actually work. If you've ever felt like your best clinical work doesn't always translate into a great patient experience, or if you've thought about scaling beyond one location and weren't sure where to start, this is the conversation worth your hour.

In this Episode

• How to think about the 20/80 split between clinical quality and patient experience, and where most dentists are overinvesting
• Why Dr. Skimming opened a "squat" practice in 2009 instead of buying in, and what the early disaster years taught him about systems
• The partnership model that turns A-player associates into shareholders across an entire group, not just one practice
• How a 14-practice independent group runs without bank loans or private equity, and what "anti-DSO" actually means in operation
• What goes into a 52-point document on ideal behavior, and how it changed the way Pain-Free Dentistry Group hires and promotes
• Why coachability matters more than clinical skill or business sense when Dr. Skimming evaluates a future partner
• How EOS, 90-day goals, and knowing your own Kolbe profile compensate for a founder's weaknesses
• The reading list that shaped a multi-site group: Traction, Radical Candor, Tribal Leadership, and Dan Sullivan's strategic-coach work
• What to look for when auditing your own patient journey for the friction points you've stopped noticing
• Why Spot On Business Mastery exists, and what kind of dentist actually benefits from coaching at this stage

Dr. Mark Skimming is the founder of Pain-Free Dentistry Group, a 14-practice group based in Scotland with its flagship at Dentistry On The Square in Glasgow. He graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2005, spent his early career in NHS dentistry, and opened his first private practice in 2009 before stepping out of clinical work to focus on group leadership. Dr. Skimming was named Best Young Dentist (Scotland) at the 2012 Dentistry Awards, authored Painlessly Sell Your Dental Practice, and co-runs Spot On Business Mastery, a coaching program for dentists, alongside Andy McDougall. Find the group on Instagram at @painfreedentistrygroup and on X at @PFDgroup.

In this episode of the Dental Slang Podcast, Dr. Ratna Indah shares how her background in journalism and a deeply personal family health journey shaped her approach to wellness dentistry. She explores the growing body of science behind the mouth–body connection and explains how oral health can reveal early signs of systemic disease, inflammation, and long‑term health risk.

Dr. Indah also discusses what it truly takes to build a wellness‑focused dental practice—from salivary diagnostics and laser therapy to patient education, systems, and team protocols. She breaks down the realities of operating outside traditional insurance models and explains why dentistry is uniquely positioned to play a larger role in preventive healthcare. This episode offers a forward‑thinking look at clinical care, business strategy, and the future of the profession.

Key Takeaways:

1. Oral health offers early insight into systemic inflammation and disease risk
2. Wellness dentistry is increasingly grounded in peer‑reviewed medical research
3. Salivary diagnostics identify harmful bacteria and guide prevention
4. The oral microbiome plays a critical role in overall health outcomes
5. Lasers and photobiomodulation support healing and inflammation control
6. Systems and protocols ensure continuity of wellness‑based care
7. Patient education improves engagement and long‑term compliance
8. Many wellness services fall outside traditional insurance structures
9. Collaboration with medical professionals strengthens outcomes
10. Dentistry's future lies in prevention, efficiency, and whole‑body awareness

Dr. Ratna Indah graduated with honors from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she gained valuable experience as an intern at The Gelb TMJ Center and served as a tutor. She has achieved Fellowship status with the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an honor awarded to only 6% of general dentists. To earn this designation, Dr. Indah completed over 500 hours of continuing education in various dental disciplines and passed a comprehensive exam, receiving the award in a formal ceremony. Dr. Indah is also certified in Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART), emphasizing her commitment to patient safety and advanced dental care.

In this episode of the Dental Slang podcast, Wyatt Ferber breaks down the financial framework behind a profitable, efficient dental practice. He explains the key metrics every practice owner must understand including gross profit, associate costs, lab expenses, contribution and net profit. With a clear view of the numbers, dentists can make smarter decisions, reduce waste and protect cash flow while maintaining high clinical standards.

Wyatt also explores the strategic side of practice growth. From evaluating when to bring on an associate to aligning business decisions with personal and patient goals, he explains how thoughtful planning supports long-term success. By learning to evaluate a practice objectively, set clear goals and take measured action, dentists can strengthen both efficiency and profitability. Whether the goal is growth, stability or preparing for succession, this episode encourages dentists to think like entrepreneurs while continuing to deliver exceptional care.

10 Key Takeaways

· Know Your Numbers: Gross profit, associate fees, lab costs, contribution and net profit are essential metrics for every practice owner.

· Data Drives Better Decisions: Understanding revenue and expenses allows dentists to set treatment prices confidently and run a more efficient practice.

· Start with Evaluation, Not Immediate Change: Analyze your numbers and define clear goals before implementing changes.

· Inventory Control Impacts Cash Flow: Tracking everyday supplies prevents waste and keeps spending aligned with production.

· Plan Ahead for Major Investments: Forecasting equipment purchases helps practices remain financially stable while upgrading technology.

· Associates Should Be a Strategic Decision: Hiring decisions should be guided by patient demand, practice capacity, financial metrics and long-term goals.

· Contribution Reveals True Performance: Revenue minus variable costs shows what remains to cover fixed expenses and determine break-even points.

· Prepare for Generational Transitions: Understanding the priorities of both experienced practice owners and emerging associates supports smoother succession planning.

About Bottom Line Business Planning

Bottom Line Business Planning helps dental practice owners maximize profitability through financial and operational analysis, strategic planning sessions and ongoing tracking of real-time results against forecasted performance.

BLBP is the United States partner of the United Kingdom–based dental practice profit management company Spot On Business Planning, which brings more than 15 years of experience supporting hundreds of dental practices in building stronger, more profitable businesses.

In this episode of the Dental Slang Podcast, Dr. Reza Ardalan sits down with Dr. Chad Kasperowski, a clinician whose career spans surgery, implants, airway, wellness dentistry, and digital workflows. He also serves as the team dentist for the Washington Commanders.

Dr. Kasperowski shares how his early experiences shaped a philosophy rooted in whole‑body wellness, advanced diagnostics, and truly listening to patients. He breaks down why airway issues are hiding in plain sight, how oral inflammation affects systemic health and athletic recovery, and what he's learned from treating some of the most elite athletes in the world.

They also dive deep into mouthguards, from youth sports trauma to the future of AI‑designed, 3D‑printed protection.

Key takeaways from this episode:

1. Wellness dentistry is a mindset, not a specialty.
2. Advanced diagnostics reveal systemic factors that influence oral outcomes.
3. Airway issues are everywhere, and once you learn to see them, they're impossible to ignore.
4. Elite athletes don't always have elite oral health and dental anxiety is common.
5. Oral inflammation contributes to systemic inflammation, affecting recovery and performance.
6. Custom mouthguards improve compliance because they're comfortable and retentive.
7. The future of mouthguards is digital: AI‑designed, 3D‑printed, and potentially sensor‑enabled.
8. Prevention is the best dentistry, whether through airway intervention, inflammation control or mouthguards.

If you're looking to elevate your wellness approach, rethink your role in patients' overall health, or simply hear a fascinating behind‑the‑scenes look at dentistry in the NFL, this episode is a must‑listen.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Vi Ho, a certified biological endodontist, to explore a completely different approach to patient care—one that connects oral health to overall wellness. From advanced laser techniques to biocompatible materials, Dr. Ho is redefining what it means to be an endodontist in today's wellness-focused practice.

Here's what you'll learn when you listen:

• Discover the Mouth-Body Connection: Dr. Ho explains how oral health impacts overall wellness and why she integrates functional nutrition into her endodontic practice.
• Inside What it Means to be a Biological Endodontist: Learn how lasers and bioceramic materials transform root canal procedures, reducing pain and preserving healthy tooth structure.
• Patient Comfort Like Never Before: Hear how Dr. Ho uses laser-assisted numbing and photobiomodulation to make even the most feared injections painless.
• Her Personal Story Drives Practice: Dr. Ho shares her journey through severe insomnia, digestive issues, and breast implant illness, and how it shaped her holistic approach to dentistry.
• The Science Behind Bioceramic Materials: Understand why injecting canals with bioceramic material—not traditional gutta-percha—creates a stronger, longer-lasting seal.
• From Dentistry to Real Estate: Explore how Dr. Ho applies her fearless curiosity and persistence from her clinical work to strategic real estate investments for long-term financial stability.

If you're ready to rethink endodontics, learn from a passionate innovator, and get inspired by a personal story of perseverance and curiosity, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Dr. Richard (JP) Bastien shares how he grew his practice from early-stage ownership into a thriving multi-doctor model by leading with empathy, recruiting intentionally and embracing technology without losing sight of core values. He reflects on the realities of hiring, leadership development, operational efficiency and the role of AI in modern dentistry, offering practical insights for dentists navigating growth while protecting culture and quality of care.

Key Takeaways

• Recruitment and culture: Learn how to attract and retain clinicians who fit your practice values and complement your team.

• Leadership development: Discover how to strengthen leadership skills that aren't taught in dental school, from delegation to business management.

• Empathetic team management: Understand how putting yourself in your team's shoes can improve morale, retention, and collaboration.

• Technology integration: See how AI and digital tools can enhance diagnostics, patient education, and operational efficiency without replacing clinical judgment.

• Operational efficiency: Get practical tips for streamlining workflows and controlling costs while reinvesting in team and patient experience.

• Sustainable growth: Learn how aligning growth with core values leads to long-term professional satisfaction and a thriving practice.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Bastien emphasizes making every decision through the lens of integrity, compassion and long-term impact. From supporting departing staff to integrating new technology thoughtfully, staying true to his values has helped him grow a multi-doctor practice that thrives both financially and culturally.

This episode is a must-listen for dentists looking to grow their practice without compromising culture, quality, or personal balance.

Learn more or connect with Dr. Bastien at www.bastiendentalcare.com.

Get an inside look at how Dr. Pete McClellan built a thriving multi-location practice without losing sight of relationships, communication and clinical clarity. In this episode, he shares the systems, lessons and leadership principles that helped him scale sustainably, support mid-career dentists, and create practices where doctors can thrive without burning out.

In This Episode You Will Learn

• Strategies for identifying the right team members as you scale from one office to multiple locations.
• Common mistakes dentists make when expanding their practice and how to avoid them.
• How to delegate effectively to prevent becoming a bottleneck in your practice.
• The importance of having a clear vision and "why" before growing your practice.
• How to implement systems and processes that create consistency across multiple offices.
• When and why it makes sense to bring in outside experts to support your business growth.
• Lessons on managing people, expectations, and the patient experience for long-term success.
• How scaling a dental practice is more about leadership and systems than clinical skills.
• Ways to maintain autonomy, prevent burnout, and stay effective while growing your business.

Whether you're just starting your career or planning the next chapter, this episode gives you the clarity and direction most dentists wish they had years earlier. Don't leave your financial future to chance.