There are two great instincts in healthcare, and they pull in opposite directions. One says build the deepest expertise you can and trust it to make the call. The other says build systems so consistent that every patient gets the same great outcome no matter which door they walk through. Which one is dentistry actually betting on?

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, Dr. Ryan Hungate, Chief Strategy and Clinical Officer at Henry Schein One, and Jen Steadman, Founder of JenSOS, flip a coin and argue opposite sides of specialization versus standardization. Then they bring in Dr. Alex Mehler, an endodontist who leads endodontic support services at Aspen Dental, to settle it.

They cover:

Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a debate-format series from Dental TeX-ray, Henry Schein One's dental technology and industry podcast.

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For 15 years, growing a dental group meant one thing: acquire. Cheap money and plentiful sellers made it the default playbook. That math has changed, and the tools to build a practice from nothing have never been better. So which is the smarter way to grow a DSO in 2026, acquisitions or de novo?

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, Dr. Ryan Hungate, Chief Strategy and Clinical Officer at Henry Schein One, and Ali Hyatt, Chief Commercial Officer, flip a coin and argue opposite sides of the debate. Then they bring in Anna Timmerman, a transactional healthcare partner at McGuireWoods who structures DSO and MSO deals for a living, to settle it.

They cover:

Disclaimer: nothing in this episode is legal advice. State laws vary and every deal is different, this is a conversation to bring to your own counsel.

Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a debate-format series from Dental TeX-ray, Henry Schein One's dental technology and industry podcast.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, host Dr. Ryan Hungate goes head to head with Zach Shelley, President of Zero Dental Billing, to debate one of leadership's oldest questions: is a hands-on, controlling leader the last line of defense against a drifting culture, or does real growth only happen once you let go?

The episode covers:

Evelyn is Chief Operating Officer of Children's Dental Fun Zone, a multi-location pediatric dental group.

Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental industry podcast by Henry Schein One.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, recorded live at Dykema, host Dr. Ryan Hungate debates Eric Morin, founder of Tower Leadership and author of Dental Wealth, over one of the highest-stakes decisions a dentist ever makes: take the full cash buyout and walk away clean, or roll some equity back in for a second bite of the apple.

The episode covers:

Dr. Rick Workman is founder and chairman of Heartland Dental, the largest dental support organization in the United States.

Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental industry podcast by Henry Schein One. This episode is for informational purposes only and isn't financial, tax, or legal advice. Every deal and every doctor's situation is different, talk to your own attorney and CPA before making any decisions.

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Recorded live at the Dykema DSO conference 2026, in a room built for the industry's biggest consolidators, this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors puts host Dr. Ryan Hungate up against Brian Colao, Director of Dykema's DSO Industry Group and founder of the conference, to debate one of dentistry's biggest questions: is the industry headed toward DSO dominated consolidation, or will the independent practice keep thriving? 
 
A coin flip decides who argues which side. Neither host knew his assignment until the mic was live. 
 
The episode covers: 

Dr. Greg White, President and CEO of PepperPointe Partnerships and a nearly 30-year practicing orthodontist, joins as judge. 
 
Vote in the live poll and find out next episode whether the room's verdict, cast by an audience of professional consolidators, matches where the rest of the industry actually lands. 
 
Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental industry debate podcast by Henry Schein One. 
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, host Dr. Ryan Hungate and returning guest-turned-cohost Zach Shelley debate one of the hottest topics in healthcare today: is AI actually transforming dental practices, or is it just hype?

The episode covers:

Special guest Jennifer Steadman joins to share real-world insights on onboarding AI into a dental practice without losing the personal touch patients expect.

Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental practice podcast by Henry Schein One.

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In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, host Dr. Ryan Hungate and Barbie Elmore, Director of Product, Revenue Cycle Management at Henry Schein One, debate one of dentistry's most polarizing financial decisions: should you pass the 3% credit card processing fee to your patients, or absorb it as a cost of doing business?

The episode covers:

Practice management consultant Jill Nesbitt of Optimized Dental joins as the expert referee, bringing real stories from hundreds of practices and a clear framework for who should — and shouldn't — consider surcharging.

Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental practice podcast by Henry Schein One.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

And if you tuned in last week, the results are in: Disruptors win the debate on AI in the dental office.

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, host Dr. Ryan Hungate brings together Marty Kearns and AI expert Dr. Kristin Johnson to debate whether artificial intelligence in the dental office represents a revolutionary tool for efficiency or an unnecessary risk to patient care and the human touch.

The episode covers:

The dinosaur position: Marty argues that AI introduces significant risks, including front-office job displacement, overreliance on automation, and a critical loss of human connection in dentistry.

The disruptor position: The conversation champions AI as an essential solution to eliminate front-office burnout, improve patient experiences, and usher in a "golden age" of dentistry through deep personalization and preventative care.

What both sides agree on / key takeaway: While navigating AI ethics and HIPAA concerns is a shared challenge, teams can successfully start experimenting with AI without feeling overwhelmed by focusing on practical, low-risk implementation.

Marty Kearns brings his seasoned perspective to defend traditional practice workflows as the Executive Director of RCM Business Development at Henry Schein One, while Dr. Kristin Johnson, Leader, US Public Sector Strategic Engagement Teams at AWS, leverages her deep technical expertise to break down the future of AI, AGI, and artificial superintelligence in healthcare.

Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental practice podcast by Henry Schein One.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

Healthcare is entering a new era — and not everyone will survive the shift. Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors brings together the industry’s sharpest minds across healthcare, technology, and business to challenge assumptions, debate what’s next, and expose the forces redefining the market in real time. Hosted by Dr. Ryan Hungate, each episode delivers bold perspectives, hard truths, and practical insight for leaders navigating constant disruption. Brace for impact.