Fearless Dentistry Podcast with Dr. John Gordon

In this episode of the Fearless Dentistry Podcast, Dr. John Gordon hosts Janice Hurley, a notable influencer in the dental community, to discuss personal and professional growth. Janice shares her journey from single parenthood to becoming a health center executive, emphasizing the importance of confidence in decision-making and leadership. She provides practical advice for dental professionals, such as improving new patient experiences and fostering a supportive work environment. The episode underscores the significance of overcoming fear, building self-esteem, and creating a culture of continuous learning to enhance both personal and professional success in dentistry.

Links and Resources:

Janice's Website

In this episode of the Fearless Dentistry Podcast, host Dr. John Gordon, a retired general dentist, converses with Mr. Bob Affleck, CEO of Dental Coach USA. They explore the challenges and opportunities for new dentists transitioning from Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) to private practice ownership. Key topics include the importance of building trust and relationships with patients, effective communication, and understanding practice valuation. They also discuss the significance of preparing for a sale, maintaining team and patient relationships, and conducting thorough business evaluations to ensure a smooth and successful transition into practice ownership.

Show Highlights:

• Challenges faced by new dentists transitioning from Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) to private practice ownership.
• Importance of building trust and relationships with patients.
• The role of effective communication in enhancing patient experiences.
• Identifying and clarifying practice goals and vision for new dentists.
• Key considerations for practice acquisition, including technology and patient base evaluation.
• Community engagement as a grassroots marketing strategy.
• The significance of education and support for new dentists entering practice ownership.
• Understanding practice valuation, including cash flow and goodwill.
• Preparing for the sale of a dental practice and the importance of financial transparency.

Links and Resources:

Connect with Bob Affleck on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Fearless Dentistry Podcast, host Dr. John Gordon and guest Dr. Natasha Brown, DMD tackle the critical issue of burnout in dentistry. Dr. Gordon shares his insights and personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of addressing burnout openly. Dr. Brown candidly discusses her struggles, including the pressures of owning a practice and her decision to sell it. They highlight the emotional and psychological challenges dentists face, the stigma of leaving the profession, and the need for self-reflection and intentional decision-making. The episode encourages seeking support and finding fulfillment in the dental field.

Show Highlights:

• The issue of burnout in the dental profession.
• Personal experiences and insights related to burnout.
• Emotional and psychological challenges faced by dentists.
• The stigma associated with leaving the dental profession.
• The importance of self-reflection and intentional decision-making.
• Feelings of shame and guilt among dentists contemplating career changes.
• The impact of societal expectations on dentists' careers.
• Strategies for finding joy and fulfillment in dental work.
• The significance of community and support networks for dentists.

Links and Resources:

Dr. Natanya on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/drnatanya

Website - drnatanya.com

Episode Description

In this episode of the Fearless Dentistry Podcast, Dr. John Gordon hosts Laura Nelson, founder of Front Office Rocks and co-founder of Sober Life Rocks. Laura shares her unexpected journey into dentistry and her decision to stop drinking in 2020, leading to the creation of Sober Life Rocks. They discuss the societal pressures around alcohol, especially in professional settings, and the importance of supportive communities for sober individuals. Laura emphasizes the need to change industry culture to be more inclusive and supportive, highlighting her mission to normalize sober choices and provide resources for those questioning their relationship with alcohol.

Show Highlights:

• Laura Nelson's journey in the dental industry
• Her personal experience with alcohol and decision to stop drinking
• Challenges of attending industry conferences and societal pressure to drink
• Vision for Sober Life Rocks and its features
• Importance of creating a supportive and inclusive community
• Stigma, shame, fear, and cultural pressures surrounding alcohol use
• Mission to create a safe and inclusive space through "Sober Life Rocks"
• Efforts to provide support within the medical and dental communities
• Collaboration and support for individuals navigating their relationship with alcohol
• Encouragement for individuals to take steps towards positive change and empowerment

Links & Resources:

Front Office Rocks

Sober Life Rocks

AR Workshops Coronado

CDA (California Dental Association)

ADA (American Dental Association)

TED Talk on Gray Area Drinker

"This Naked Mind" book

"Atomic Habits" book

Laura Nelson on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Fearless Dentistry podcast, Dr. John Gordon hosts David Harris, a dental embezzlement expert. They discuss the high prevalence of embezzlement in the dental industry, with Harris estimating a 70% chance of occurrence during a dentist's career. They explore the motivations behind embezzlement, such as financial need and feelings of undervaluation. Harris emphasizes the importance of oversight and control systems, and suggests practical measures like printing and reviewing practice management reports. The episode also highlights the emotional toll of embezzlement on dentists and the importance of balancing trust with vigilance in managing staff relationships.

Show Highlights:

- Prevalence of embezzlement in the dental industry

- Motivations behind embezzlement

- Methods used by embezzlers

- Efforts made by dental organizations to educate and raise awareness about embezzlement

- Dissemination of information on embezzlement

- Practical tips to help dentists protect themselves from embezzlement

- Emotional impact of embezzlement on dentists

- Dynamics of dental offices and the impact on whistleblowing

- Implementing a whistleblower policy

- Balancing trust with vigilance

Chapters:

The introduction (00:00:03)

Dr. John Gordon welcomes the audience and introduces the guest, David Harris, discussing the objective of the podcast.

Understanding Embezzlement in Dentistry (00:01:56)

David Harris explains the prevalence of embezzlement in the dental industry and its impact on dentists.

Challenges in the Dental Industry (00:03:43)

David Harris discusses the susceptibility of the dental industry to embezzlement and the reasons behind it.

Motivations for Embezzlement (00:05:28)

David Harris explains the motivations behind embezzlement, including financial need and a sense of entitlement.

Statistics and Industry Awareness (00:08:53)

Discussion about the prevalence of embezzlement, the role of dental organizations in educating the community, and the need for awareness.

Methods and Techniques of Embezzlement (00:11:37)

David Harris elaborates on the methods and techniques used by embezzlers to successfully steal from dentists.

Dentists' Perspective and Challenges (00:16:10)

The conversation delves into the challenges faced by dentists, their preoccupations, and the impact on vulnerability to embezzlement.

Educating Dentists and Protective Measures (00:17:41)

David Harris shares his approach to educating dentists about embezzlement and the protective measures offered to safeguard their practices.

Print your own reports (00:19:50)

David advises printing your own practice management reports to avoid selective reporting and loss of control.

Review day end reports (00:20:53)

David emphasizes the importance of reviewing day end reports to detect any discrepancies or irregularities in the practice's financial data.

Financial articulation (00:22:55)

David introduces the concept of financial articulation to ensure that the totals in daily reports align with the month-end report, preventing unauthorized activities.

Emotional impact of embezzlement (00:25:00)

David discusses the emotional toll of embezzlement on dentists, including loss of trust and the potential impact on career and well-being.

Whistleblower policy (00:29:58)

David encourages implementing a whistleblower policy to address staff reluctance to report suspicions and offers a template for this policy.

Offering a financial reward (00:33:20)

David suggests offering a financial reward, such as $2500, to incentivize staff to report embezzlement and overcome misplaced loyalty.

Protecting yourself (00:34:55)

David advises dentists to balance trust and verification, learn to interpret explanation of benefits (EOB), and investigate discrepancies independently.

Impact on relationships and trust (00:37:12)

Dr. John reflects on the impact of embezzlement on his trust in staff and the need to reassess the work-life mentality in dental practices.

Closing remarks (00:37:57)

Dr. John expresses gratitude to David for sharing valuable insights and encourages listeners to use the information to protect themselves emotionally and economically.

Links & Resources:

Book: Healers versus Stealers by David Harris

David Harris on LinkedIn

David Harris on Facebook

In this episode of the Fearless Dentistry podcast, Dr. John Gordon interviews Kandice Swarthout, a registered dental hygienist and founder of Inspired Education and Wellness Limited Partnership. Kandice shares her journey from dental hygiene to mental health counseling, driven by her interest in psychology and addressing dental anxiety. The discussion highlights the intersection of mental health and dental health, focusing on the alarming issue of sex trafficking. Kandice emphasizes the importance of recognizing trafficking signs and providing support to victims. The episode underscores the need for awareness, education, and proactive involvement in combating sex trafficking within the healthcare community.

Show Highlights:

- Introduction of Kandice Swarthout as a guest on the Fearless Dentistry podcast

- Kandiac's journey in dental hygiene and mental health counseling

- Intersection of mental health and dental health

- Connection between childhood sexual abuse and dental anxiety

- Kandice's work in a jail and encounter with victims of human trafficking

- Signs of trafficking and the complexities of trauma bonding

- Tactics used by traffickers, particularly targeting young girls

- Impact of trauma on individuals who have been trafficked

- Importance of reporting suspicions of trafficking, especially involving minors

- Resources and practical ways for dental providers to help trafficking survivors

Chapters:

Kandice's Journey (00:01:11)

Kandice shares her career journey from dental hygiene to mental health counseling and education.

Discovering Mental Health and Dental Health Connection (00:05:15)

Kandice explains how a counseling internship led her to understand the connection between mental health and dental fear.

Understanding Human Trafficking (00:09:12)

Kandice delves into her experiences with women in jail and the realization of human trafficking in her community.

Signs of Trafficking (00:10:55)

Kandice explains the clinical signs of trafficking and how dental clinicians can identify potential victims.

Challenges of Leaving Trafficking (00:18:37)

Kandice discusses the difficulties victims face in freeing themselves from trafficking and the reasons they may stay.

The recruiter's tactics (00:21:46)

Recruiting tactics and common grounds, including social media, for traffickers targeting vulnerable individuals.

Online predators (00:22:52)

The prevalence of online predators and the tactics they use to recruit and target vulnerable individuals.

Trafficking stories and tactics (00:23:52)

Real-life examples of trafficking, including stories of recruitment within schools and the tactics used to manipulate victims.

Understanding trafficking laws (00:24:52)

Discussion of laws regarding trafficking, including the definition of a trafficked person and the need for reporting.

Challenges in stopping trafficking (00:25:19)

The complexity and scale of trafficking, including the challenges in completely eliminating it.

Raising awareness and recognizing signs (00:26:00)

The importance of raising awareness and educating individuals on recognizing and responding to trafficking situations.

Preventing recruitment (00:27:11)

Methods used by traffickers to recruit individuals, including targeting teenagers and the importance of educating and protecting young people.

Impact on vulnerable individuals (00:28:04)

The vulnerability of young individuals to trafficking and the need for education and awareness to protect them.

Recognizing trauma and its impact (00:30:06)

Understanding the impact of trauma on individuals and the importance of recognizing and addressing it in healthcare settings.

Mandatory education and office protocols (00:34:22)

The need for mandatory education on trafficking and the importance of developing office protocols to respond to potential trafficking situations.

Building trust and providing support (00:38:23)

The importance of building trust with potential trafficking victims and providing support and resources to help them.

Dentists' role in combating trafficking (00:40:09)

Ways in which dental providers can contribute to combating trafficking, including providing dental care to rescued individuals.

Seeking help and resources (00:42:01)

Resources and hotlines available for individuals to seek help and guidance when encountering potential trafficking situations.

Links & Mentions

https://www.kandiceswarthout.com/

Linkedin

www.inspirededucationce.com

In this episode of the Fearless Dentistry podcast, host Dr. John Gordon chats with Dr. Aditi Agarwal, an experienced dentist and the co-founder of Practice By Numbers. They delve into Dr. Agarwal's journey in dentistry, the inception of her analytics and communication software, and its impact on her practice. They discuss the importance of understanding business metrics, offering financial flexibility to patients, and the effectiveness of follow-up systems in enhancing patient care and boosting referrals. The conversation provides insights into the tools and strategies that can help dental practices thrive.

Show Highlights:

• Dr. Aditi Agarwal's experiences in dentistry and the challenges she faced in her practice
• Development of Practice By Numbers, a software for practice analytics and patient communication
• Importance of connection with patients in dentistry
• Financial options for treatment acceptance
• Significance of a skilled follow-up system in maintaining patient relationships
• Dr. Agarwal's journey in creating the software for her own practice and its expansion to benefit other dentists
• Impact of the software on improving case acceptance rate
• Role of financial options and membership plans in treatment acceptance
• Automation of follow-up reminders and post-op instructions for positive patient experiences
• Emphasis on the importance of connection with patients, financial options, and skilled follow-up systems in dental practices

Links and Resources:

https://practicenumbers.com

Welcome to this solo episode! I recently returned from a conference in Phoenix, Arizona, and I have a lot to share with you over the next few weeks. You might ask why a 72-year-old retired dentist still goes to conferences! The truthful answer is that I am a constant learner, relentlessly reading and studying to add more arrows to my quiver in my role as a mentor to others. From the recent conference, a big takeaway for me is the importance of connection in dentistry. Explore this topic with me today!

Show Highlights:

• Humans are neurologically designed for emotional and physical connection.
• Your patients’ visions of the smile (and lives!) they want—and how to connect with them to help them
• “Fearless dentistry” is about taking a visionary mode for the future of your practice.
• Your vision gives motivation and an unstoppable purpose. (Example: Jeff Bezos)
• Learn to apply the 80/20 principle.
• The #1 thing for your practice? Learn and master the art of great communication.
• There is a seed of greatness and a hero inside you!
• How I realized my seed of greatness in one magical moment in April 1988—and it changed my life (I’ll be sharing this story in a future episode.)
• Your assignment is to answer these questions: Am I willing to sit back and visualize possibilities and opportunities in the greatest practice I can possibly imagine? Am I willing to start down that path?

Links and Resources:

FearlessDentistryPodcast.com

It all comes down to people in your practice. The workplace culture you want to create is built on solid leadership and teamwork as everyone works toward the same shared vision. As much as we rely on data and technology, the human elements of a leader and team cannot be overlooked on the path to creating a strengths-based workplace where employee engagement is the standard. I’m joined by Dr. Matthew Norton, a leadership and organizational consultant, who gives us a look at his journey to finding clarity and purpose after immense grief and loss–and how he came to the impactful work he does today. 

Dr. Matthew Norton is an expert in business-focused brain science and the founder of People Plus Purpose. His expertise is in workplace leadership and fostering workplace excellence through a focus on people and purpose. He has dedicated his career to helping companies transform their organizational culture by enhancing employee engagement, collaboration, and overall productivity. Through his work at People Plus Purpose, Matthew aims to create workplaces where people feel valued, motivated, and aligned with a shared sense of purpose. 

Show Highlights:

• Matthew’s experience with heartbreaking loss, grief, surrender, clarity, and a redefined purpose
• Gaining a new perspective on every single human being he sees 
• Purpose (as defined by Matthew): ”Living with intent to see your visions and dreams realized as you add value to others by serving them”
• How letting go of control opened Matthew to begin to heal and go in a positive direction
• Two foundational elements of a successful dental practice (or any business): a visionary leader and a winning team
• Matthew’s work in showing the value of a compelling vision and clarifying a purposeful vision
• The cultural tone is set by the key leader!
• What it means to have a strengths-based workplace 
• The value of assessments in bringing more data to the human element of leadership and workplace culture

Links and Resources: 

Connect with Dr. Matthew Norton and People Plus Purpose: Website 

*Fearless Dentistry listeners can contact Matthew for a free sample of his Core-Four Assessment!

It’s a true pleasure to welcome Tiffany Wuebben, a dynamic force in the world of dental hygiene. Tiffany, known widely by her professional moniker, the Hygienepreneur, is not just a registered dental hygienist; she’s a trailblazer who’s reshaping the very fabric of dental practice. As we prepared for today’s show, it became abundantly clear that our mutual connections, all stellar individuals, speak volumes about her character and the impact she's having on the industry. So buckle up as we dive into a discussion that promises to enlighten and inspire every dentist looking to revolutionize their hygiene department.

Tiffany Wuebben, or as you might know her, the Hygienepreneur, has been revolutionizing the field of dental hygiene with her innovative approaches and entrepreneurial spirit. A registered dental hygienist by profession, Tiffany has expanded her influence far beyond the dental chair. She’s the author of a groundbreaking book on dental hygiene management, with a second edition on the way, reflecting her ongoing commitment to education and leadership in her field. Her website and LinkedIn profile are testaments to her dedication, showcasing her initiatives and the substantial network of professionals who support and endorse her vision. Today, we’ll explore how Tiffany’s strategies can transform the dental hygiene department into a cornerstone of successful dental practice.

Show Highlights:

• Building a successful hygiene department in a dental practice.
• Soft skills in dentistry, and the importance of building patient trust.
• Empowering dental hygienists to build practices through relationships and soft skills.
• Dental hygiene practice management and patient care.
• Improving dental hygiene appointments by prioritizing patient connections and efficient workflows.
• Improving hygiene department productivity and patient care through time management and strategic scheduling.
• Improving dental hygiene practices through effective communication and metrics.
• Dental hygiene practice within a dental practice, emphasizing patient satisfaction and staff empowerment.

Links and Resources:

Connect with Tiffany Wuebben on Facebook | LinkedIn | Website

Download the PDF version of the book Hygienepreneur

https://bit.ly/42sQrwG