Less Insurance Dependence Podcast

In this episode, Gary reflects on the birth of the first dental podcast (the Thriving Dentist Show) from its humble beginnings to its current format, new chapters, new formats, and work-life balance. This episode strives to look back at how it all began and reflect on how far we've come.

It's all about your mindset! In this episode, Gary emphasizes why more dentists should incorporate same-day dentistry into their repertoire, along with the importance of a can-do attitude. Gary also talks about the impact of the 2008 recession on his practice, LifeSmiles, and the changes they had to make to get through it.

It's the 50th episode of the Less Insurance Dependence Podcast, and we're paying tribute to the Pankey Institute that's celebrating 50 years in Dentistry. The work of Dr. Pankey, along with Bob Barkley, Omer Reed, and many others, is what launched Gary's career 39 years ago. In today's episode, Gary takes a trip down memory lane and shares Dr. Pankey's story and his lasting impact on dentistry.

In an attempt to satisfy everyone, most practices try and implement a hybrid-approach where one dentist is a fee-for-service dentist and another an in-network dentist. In this week’s episode, Gary and Naren discuss this hybrid model and its pros and cons. If you are a practice owner considering implementing a hybrid model, this episode is a must-listen!

Often most dentists overlook developing their soft skills in pursuit of clinical skills. In this week’s episode, Gary encourages dentists to improve their soft skills to become a successful dentist. Regardless of whether you are at the start of your career or a mid-career dentist, this episode will inspire you to improve how you interact with patients as well as team members.

Every industry today uses data to make informed decisions and be on top of its game. In this week's episode, Gary outlines how you can benefit from data-driven decision making. Together, Gary and Naren discuss the top 3 practice metrics dentists should focus on and how to analyze the numbers to make strategic decisions in their practice.

Hygiene cancellations and no-shows are an epidemic that affects dental offices throughout the country. In this week’s episode, Gary outlines 5 tips that will virtually eliminate hygiene cancellations and no-shows. If you are a practice that is struggling to get patients to keep their appointments, this episode is a must-listen!

Successfully reducing your dependence on insurance is an incredible achievement that deserves celebration. This week Gary shares the story of a practice that successfully managed to reduce its dependence on PPO plans. Gary also highlights lessons other practices can learn from this practice, along with the importance of preparing your team before going out of network.

Often we are so focused on the minutiae of day to day work that we overlook opportunities to grow our practice. This week Gary and Naren discuss how to identify these moments and leverage them with your practice’s marketing efforts. This episode is full of useful information that you can immediately use to influence your patients.

Dentistry has historically been a solo endeavor, however, more and more dentists are moving away from this model. In this episode, Gary shares his experience with his practice Lifesmiles, and their journey from a solo dentist model to a two-dentist practice. Gary and Naren also discuss when to consider making the transition if you're a solo practice and its advantages.