Spend time with Stephanie Botts as we discuss how to focus on being pain free in 2026.  From your operatory  to your mental and physical health...prevention is key to feeling healthy.

Is your office manager truly managing—or simply keeping the office running day to day?

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam are joined by the one and only Dr. Roger Levin, who brings his decades of experience in practice management and dental consulting to a critical (and often overlooked) topic: what it really takes to build an effective office manager.

Too often, office managers are promoted into the role without clear expectations, structured training, or the tools they need to succeed. Dr. Levin breaks down why that happens—and more importantly, how to fix it.

He shares what separates a true manager from an administrator, and how proper training and development can transform an office manager into a confident, competent leader who actively drives practice growth.

If you’re a dentist wondering why your team isn’t operating at the level you expect—or an office manager looking to step fully into your leadership role—this episode offers practical insight you can put into action immediately.

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has been around for years—but how it’s actually used in practice is still widely misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. Brian Novy and Dr. Pam Maragliano take a closer look at where SDF fits in modern caries management, what clinicians often get wrong, and why it continues to spark debate.

From technique missteps to patient communication, this conversation moves beyond theory into the realities of clinical practice. The hosts challenge the idea that caries treatment must always be surgical, reframing SDF as a practical tool for arresting disease, stabilizing lesions, and buying time—especially in high-risk or complex cases.

They also explore how SDF integrates with restorative approaches like glass ionomer (SMART technique), and where it makes the most sense across different patient populations, including pediatric and elderly patients.

Along the way, the discussion touches on a growing tension in dentistry: how coding, reimbursement, and legacy practice models can shape clinical decisions—sometimes in ways that don’t fully align with disease management.

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam and Brian sit down with Dr. Jonny Norris, the creator of an upcoming Netflix documentary that promises to challenge long-held assumptions in dentistry and spark important conversations with patients. As the profession anticipates a public spotlight on treatment decisions and standards of care, Dr. Norris shares his perspective on minimal intervention dentistry and what true conservatism should look like in modern practice. The discussion explores the science and clinical application of preventive and bioactive materials such as silver diamine fluoride, povidone iodine, and glass ionomers—and how these tools can help clinicians preserve tooth structure while improving long-term outcomes. This is a timely, thoughtful conversation about ethics, prevention, patient communication, and how dentists can be prepared—clinically and conversationally—for the questions that may soon be coming their way.

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam and Brian chat with Dr. Charlie Ward, who was recently accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Ward pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to earn AACD accreditation—from the specific types of cases required and the rigorous evaluation process to the mentorship, preparation, and mindset shifts that made the difference. He also shares some of his go-to products and clinical strategies that helped elevate his results and set him up for success.  If you’re looking to sharpen your cosmetic dentistry skills or are considering the AACD accreditation pathway yourself, this inspiring and practical conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

Resources:

Email: [email protected]

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam  sit down with Dr. Jason Auerbach—better known to many as @bloodytoothguy. With a schedule that seems nonstop, we finally ask the question everyone’s wondering: does he still see patients? (Spoiler: you’ll have to tune in.)  Beyond the social media persona, Dr. Auerbach dives into serious clinical ground—highlighting the critical importance of thorough diagnostic documentation, smart medical billing strategies, and how proper records protect both patients and practices. He also references the American Dental Association recommendations on CBCT use, sparking a thoughtful discussion on imaging standards and clinical responsibility. Insightful, practical, and refreshingly candid, this episode blends real-world dentistry with behind-the-scenes perspective from one of the profession’s most recognizable voices.

Resources:

https://www.ada.org/about/press-releases/new-recommendations-confirm-dental-x-rays-most-effectively-used-in-moderation

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212440325013252

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam and Brian sit down with renowned pharmacologist Tom Viola for a timely and practical conversation on preventives in dentistry. From the latest updates on antibiotic prophylaxis to what every dental professional should know about the growing use of PrEP and PEP, this episode breaks down complex pharmacology into clear, clinical takeaways you can use immediately. And in true Dentistry Unmasked fashion, the discussion takes an unexpected (and entertaining) detour into chapstick. Insightful, relevant, and just the right amount of fun—this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, we cover Brian’s all-time favorite topic… saliva.

Pam and Brian sit down with Dr. Paul Slowey—the innovator behind many of the salivary diagnostic tests transforming health care today. He’s the mind behind cutting-edge saliva tests, including the one used by the NFL to help determine whether a player has suffered a concussion.

But that’s just the beginning.

What if we told you that Alzheimer’s disease can be detected in saliva up to 10 years before clinical symptoms appear? The implications for dentistry—and for health care as a whole—are staggering.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How salivary diagnostics are changing medicine and dentistry

• Why saliva may be the most underutilized diagnostic tool in health care

• The science behind concussion testing through saliva

• What early Alzheimer’s detection could mean for patients and practices

• Why the future of precision health may start in the dental chair

Salivary diagnostics isn’t just “the future”—it’s already here. If you’ve ever wondered how dentistry fits into the larger medical landscape, this episode will change the way you see the power of a simple saliva sample.

Trust us—Brian is excited about this one and you will be too!

Resources:

[email protected]  Dr.Paul Slowey

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam Maragliano and Brian Novy take a deep dive into one of dentistry’s most talked-about preventive materials: Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF). They break down what SDF is, how it works at the chemical and clinical levels, and how to thoughtfully select the right cases to ensure predictable, patient-centered outcomes. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. There’s a bigger issue at play—pending legislation that could eliminate a CDT code tied to preventive care, potentially impacting how practices implement and get reimbursed for SDF treatment. What could this mean for your preventive protocols and your bottom line.  If you’re incorporating SDF into your practice—or considering it—this episode delivers the clinical clarity and policy awareness you need to stay informed and prepared and get involved.

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam and Brian sit down with Dr. Uche Odiatu for a conversation that goes far beyond the operatory.

With RFK’s newly proposed inverted food pyramid making headlines, what does it actually mean for your patients—and for your own daily life? Dr. Odiatu breaks down how today’s heavily processed diet (now making up 55% of adults’ and 65% of children’s calories) is impacting systemic and oral health in ways we can no longer ignore.

You’ll hear:

The key nutrients almost everyone is deficient in

What to look for when choosing a high-quality fish oil

How the oral cavity is designed to protect itself—even when the diet is working against it

Practical, real-world strategies to reduce inflammation and support total health

Resources:

[email protected]

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/01/08/well/08WELL-FOOD-PYRAMID1/08WELL-FOOD-PYRAMID1-superJumbo.png

https://epic.iarc.fr/

https://open.spotify.com/show/7iQXmUT7XGuZSzAMjoNWlX