To have a thriving dental practice, you need trust. To build trust, there are three key pillars you need. In this episode of Practical Solutions Day, Kirk Behrendt brings back Heather Crockett, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to share how to cultivate trust with your team and patients through empathy, transparency, and consistency. Trust is the currency of the future! To learn the three steps to create the ultimate dental practice, listen to Episode 899 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Heather:

• Send Heather an email: [email protected] 
• Join Heather on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.r.crockett
• Follow Heather on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 899: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849
• Join ACT’s BPA for the Communication Rhythms Guide: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fthe-act-dental-meeting-rhythm#email
• Join ACT’s BPA for the Building an Appreciative Workplace resource: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fbuilding-an-appreciative-workplace#email
• Join ACT’s BPA for the Chief Reminding Officer tool: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fcro-chief-reminding-officer#email

Main Takeaways:

• Learn to show gratitude and learn to apologize when you make mistakes.
• Trust takes a lifetime of hard work to build, and only a second to lose.
• Keep communication open. Transparency fosters connection.
• Show empathy. Listening strengthens relationships.
• Be consistent. Predictability builds trust.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

2:38 Why this is an important topic.

4:12 The three main components of trust.

6:41 Step 1) Transparency.

14:24 Step 2) Empathy.

20:30 Step 3) Consistency.

26:53 Which of the three do you need to work on?

29:30 We’re all human.

31:38 Final thoughts.

Heather Crockett Bio:

Heather Crockett is a Lead Practice Coach who finds joy in not only improving practices but improving the lives of those she coaches as well. With over 20 years of combined experience in assisting, office management, and clinical dental hygiene, her awareness supports many aspects of the practice setting.

Heather received her dental hygiene degree from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in 2008. Networking in the dental community comes easy to her, and she loves to connect with like-minded colleagues on social media. Heather enjoys both attending and presenting continuing education to expand her knowledge and learn from her friends and colleagues.

She enjoys hanging out with her husband, three sons, and their dog, Moki, scrolling through social media, watching football, and traveling.

In this bonus episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Barrett Straub, ACT’s CEO, and Dr. Jeff Osborne, chief dental officer of Smile Source, to make a special announcement. ACT Dental and Smile Source have officially merged! They share the “why” behind it, their vision, and their thoughts on the future of private practice. To be a part of this amazing dental community for a Better Practice, Better Life, listen to Episode 898 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Straub & Dr. Osborne:

• Send Dr. Straub an email: [email protected] 
• Join Dr. Straub on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrett.d.straub
• Follow Dr. Osborne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legacyranchdentaltx
• Learn more about Smile Source: https://smilesource.com

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 898: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849

Main Takeaways:

• This merger will expand community support for dentists and their teams.
• You are your greatest asset. Invest in yourself by joining this amazing community.
• Private practice is thriving, not dying! It is the gold standard the merger will protect.
• Don't try to do this on your own. Join the community designed by dentists for dentists.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:51 Dr. Osborne’s and Smile Source’s backgrounds.

7:04 Why ACT and Smile Source merged.

15:33 The vision and future of the merger.

20:30 Final thoughts.

Dr. Barrett Straub Bio:

Dr. Barrett Straub practices general and sedation dentistry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He has worked hard to develop his practice into a top-performing, fee-for-service practice that focuses on improving the lives of patients through dentistry.

A graduate of Marquette Dental School, Dr. Straub’s advanced training and CE includes work at the Spear Institute, LVI, DOCS, and as a member of the Milwaukee Study Club. He is a past member of the Wisconsin Dental Association Board of Trustees and was awarded the Marquette Dental School 2017 Young Alumnus of the Year. As a former ACT coaching client that experienced first-hand the transformation that coaching can provide, he is passionate about helping other dentists create the practice they’ve always wanted.

Dr. Straub loves to hunt, golf, and spend winter on the ice, curling. He is married to Katie, with two daughters, Abby and Elizabeth.

Dr. Jeff Osborne Bio:

Dr. Jeffrey Osborne earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston in 1989. He opened his first dental office in West Houston upon graduation and has owned multiple offices throughout the Greater Houston area.

Dr. Osborne was also on the Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Dental Society and served as the vice president for two years. He holds an MBA in healthcare administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and has served as a dental director for Cigna Dental. He was also the Texas dental director for United Concordia Dental Insurance. While at United Concordia, he oversaw the administration of the dental ​portion of the Texas Children's Health Insurance Program. He was also employed as the director of quality assurance for South Texas Dental.

Dr. Osborne is now the chief dental officer for Smile Source, a group dedicated to helping independent dentists thrive together. He currently resides in Pilot Point, Texas. He is married to Kim and is the proud father of Shelby, Heather, and Jack.

Are your patients just healthy, or are you underdiagnosing treatment? In this episode of Metric Mondays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down diagnostic percentage, why your numbers are low, and ways to start impacting this metric today. To learn how to be proactive in diagnosing care, listen to Episode 897 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Miranda:

• Send Miranda an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 897: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849

Main Takeaways:

• Establish a baseline for what you consider healthy.
• Talk to patients about the positive outcomes of treatment.
• Understand what low and high diagnostic percentages indicate.
• Leverage co-discovery and co-diagnosis. When patients see, they do.
• Utilize technology such as Pearl AI as a way to offer a second opinion.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:55 Diagnostic percentage, explained.

3:25 Selling is serving.

4:46 What low and high diagnostic percentages mean.

8:55 Establish a baseline for health.

11:26 Leverage co-discovery and co-diagnosis.

13:31 Use technology as a second opinion.

16:06 Talk to patients about the outcome of treatment.

18:11 More about ACT’s BPA and TTT. 

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:

Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

Are your patients just healthy, or are you underdiagnosing treatment? In this episode of Metric Mondays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down diagnostic percentage, why your numbers are low, and ways to start impacting this metric today. To learn how to be proactive in diagnosing care, listen to Episode 897 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Miranda:

• Send Miranda an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 897: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849

Main Takeaways:

• Establish a baseline for what you consider healthy.
• Talk to patients about the positive outcomes of treatment.
• Understand what low and high diagnostic percentages indicate.
• Leverage co-discovery and co-diagnosis. When patients see, they do.
• Utilize technology such as Pearl AI as a way to offer a second opinion.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:55 Diagnostic percentage, explained.

3:25 Selling is serving.

4:46 What low and high diagnostic percentages mean.

8:55 Establish a baseline for health.

11:26 Leverage co-discovery and co-diagnosis.

13:31 Use technology as a second opinion.

16:06 Talk to patients about the outcome of treatment.

18:11 More about ACT’s BPA and TTT. 

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:

Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

Do you ever look at your bank account and wonder where your money is? In this episode of Practical Solutions Day, Kirk Behrendt brings back Robyn Theisen, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to uncover four of the biggest profit drains that's giving you the Monday blues. Close these four gaps and take control of your practice! To learn how to stress less and have more money left over, listen to Episode 896 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Robyn:

• Send Robyn an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Robyn on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send the ACT Team an email: [email protected] 
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 896: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Join ACT’s BPA to access their tools and resources: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849

Main Takeaways:

• A P&L is valuable, but it doesn't tell you how to run your business.
• These four gaps won't fix themselves! Start proactively addressing them.
• Identify and minimize your effort gap. Ideally, write-offs should be less than 10%.
• Look at your collections gap. Collect 98% at minimum, but 100% should be the goal.
• Do an overhead review each month. Your overhead should be below 60% of collections.
• Calculate your cash flow gap. Budget and have cash reserves for unexpected expenses.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

2:45 Why this is an important topic.

7:42 Gap 1: The effort gap.

14:32 Gap 2: The collections gap.

20:01 Gap 3: The overhead gap.

25:40 Gap 4: The cash flow gap.

29:44 Final thoughts.

Robyn Theisen Bio:

Robyn Theisen brings an entire life and legacy of dental experience to the team and every team with which she works as the daughter and sister of dentists. With almost 20 years of experience in dentistry, her roles ranged from practice management to operations at Patterson Dental to coaching teams. Robyn’s passion is empowering teams to realize that they can dramatically impact the lives of the people they serve by implementing skills and systems to remove barriers to life-changing dental treatment. She has done it for decades and does it every day with dental teams.

Outside of coaching, she enjoys time with her husband, Rob, and two daughters, Emerson and Ruby. She loves traveling, music, fitness, and cheering on the Michigan State Spartans.

Do you want a more efficient schedule? There's a way to do it by looking at one number. In this episode of Metric Mondays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down production per hour so you can maximize your hours at work with your team. To learn the quickest way to optimize your schedule, listen to Episode 895 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Miranda:

• Send Miranda an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 895: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849

Main Takeaways:

• Production per hour measures appointment efficiency and schedule optimization.
• If you have high production per hour, it means your schedule is optimized.
• Look at your schedule and ask, “Is this the best use of our time?”
• Maximize your team and your time by delegating what you can.
• Minimize open time using the Function Accountability Chart.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

2:34 Production per hour, explained.

4:30 Production per visit versus production per hour.

9:56 Delegate and minimize open time in your schedule.

13:24 About ACT’s BPA.

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:

Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

Today, there are many ways to get information. So, how do you get good, accurate data about dental products and technology? In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Taiseer Sulaiman, associate professor from UNC, to share his thoughts on the challenges of finding reliable information on the products that will benefit your patients and your practice. To learn how to not be misled about the latest and greatest in dental innovation, listen to Episode 894 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Sulaiman:

• Send Dr. Sulaiman an email: [email protected] 
• Send Dr. Sulaiman an email: [email protected] 
• Join Dr. Sulaiman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.taiseer
• Follow Dr. Sulaiman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taiseersulaiman

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 894: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos

Main Takeaways:

• Remember that the literature can be biased.
• Slow down and do your research so you're not misled.
• Many products today have a less rigorous approval process.
• Keep an open mind, listen to all sides, and explore differing opinions.
• Being an early adopter can be important but so is sticking to what's tried and true.
• Don't get caught up in the hype about specific materials, techniques, or technology.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

2:58 Dr. Sulaiman’s background.

5:38 Why this is an important topic.

13:27 Keep an open mind and keep learning.

20:07 Products in the clinical setting versus the trial setting.

24:14 The speed of change in materials and technology.

33:00 Final thoughts.

36:34 More about Dr. Sulaiman and how to get in touch.

Dr. Taiseer Sulaiman Bio:

Dr. Taiseer Sulaiman is a tenured Associate Professor and the Director of the Advanced Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials Research at the Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his clinical certificate in Operative Dentistry, and his PhD in Dental Materials from the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomaterial Sciences from the University of Turku in Finland in collaboration with the Department of Operative Dentistry at UNC.

Dr. Sulaiman is a wet-handed clinician and a researcher who is passionate about bridging the gap between dental research and clinical application. His research focus is on dental ceramics, adhesion, cements, color and appearance in dentistry, and biomimetics. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, and book chapters. He is a member of many academies, including the Academy of Operative Dentistry, where he serves as councilor to the academy, the Society of Color and Appearance in Dentistry, IADR/AADR, and the American Dental Association. He has presented on numerous national and international stages and serves as a reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals.

Is your schedule looking a little bit empty? It’s time to take back control! In this episode of Practical Solutions Day, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down the hidden reasons why your schedule isn't full and what you can do to fix it. Full schedules don't happen by accident! To learn the three keys to a consistently full schedule, listen to Episode 893 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Miranda:

• Send Miranda an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 893: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849
• Join ACT’s BPA for the Capacity Tracker: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fcapacity-tracker#email
• Join ACT’s BPA for the Ideal Day Scheduling Guide: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fcolor-coding-block-scheduling-and-ideal-day-scheduling#email
• Try Second Opinion from Pearl: https://www.hellopearl.com

Main Takeaways:

• Figure out how much you're diagnosing and if it’s enough.
• Identify how many patients are saying yes to treatment you present.
• Of the treatment you present, how much of that are patients saying yes to?
• A consistently full schedule only happens when you put clear systems in place.
• Use resources like Pearl to improve your patients’ understanding and to gain trust.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:42 Why this is an important topic.

4:24 Figure out why people are cancelling.

7:34 How much are you diagnosing?

9:35 Revisit your treatment philosophy.

17:11 Are enough patients saying yes to treatment?

20:03 Dissect your treatment presentation system.

22:37 Are patients saying yes to enough treatment?

30:06 Final takeaways.

33:41 ACT’s BPA and other resources.

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:

Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

Do you want a better practice without the extra hours? You can! In this episode of Metric Mondays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down production per visit and help you stop filling time with single-tooth or no-charge dentistry. To learn how to better utilize appointment times, provide better care for patients, and earn more, listen to Episode 892 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Miranda:

• Send Miranda an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 892: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 18th, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-18-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205460116659
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849

Main Takeaways:

• Production per visit tells you how effectively you're using appointments.
• PPV measures whether you're just filling time or delivering meaningful care.
• Increasing PPV improves the patient experience with fewer appointment times.
• Identify what diagnosed treatment you can offer patients during morning huddle.
• Start evaluating your service mix. Have your hygiene team build in adjunct services.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:58 Production per visit, explained.

4:21 The importance of creating an experience.

9:05 Countermeasures.

9:59 How are you serving patients?

10:48 Higher PPV means better patient care.

13:27 Evaluate your service mix.

Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio:

Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

Your hygienists are vital for the success of your practice — and you can help them measure their impact! In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Ariel Juday, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to share five KPIs that will help improve efficiency, patient care, and even increase job satisfaction. To learn which metrics your hygienists should track for the health of your patients and practice, listen to Episode 891 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Ariel:

• Send Ariel an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Ariel on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send the ACT Team your questions: [email protected] 
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: [email protected] 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 891: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Sign up for ACT’s BPA to watch Katrina Sanders’s Hygiene Exam Essentials Part 1: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fvideo-recordings%2Fkatrina-sanders-hygiene-exam-essentials-part-1-innovations-in-periodontics#email
• Sign up for ACT’s BPA to watch Katrina Sanders’s Hygiene Exam Essentials Part 2: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fvideo-recordings%2Fkatrina-sanders-hygiene-exam-essentials-part-2-aap-staging-grading#email

Main Takeaways:

• By tracking these numbers, hygienists can be accountable for their role in patient care.
• Track periodontal diagnostic percentage to increase your case acceptance rate.
• Track treatment acceptance percentage to prevent disease progression.
• Track periodontal visit percentage to prevent underdiagnosing.
• Track production per visit so patients receive adjunctive care.
• Track hygiene reappointment to ensure patient retention.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:26 Why this is an important topic.

3:47 1) Periodontal diagnostic percentage.

5:12 Why periodontal diagnostic percentage is important.

8:12 Periodontal diagnostic percentage benchmarks.

8:49 2) Periodontal treatment acceptance.

9:52 Why periodontal treatment acceptance is important.

14:28 Periodontal treatment acceptance benchmarks.

15:02 3) Periodontal visit percentage.

17:27 Why periodontal visit percentage is important.

19:54 Periodontal visit percentage benchmarks.

20:17 Statistics on perio disease.

21:36 4) Production per visit.

22:06 Why production per visit is important.

23:32 Production per visit benchmarks.

25:44 5) Hygiene reappointment percentage.

32:32 Hygiene reappointment percentage benchmarks.

34:07 Final thoughts.

35:17 Ways to track these five numbers.

Ariel Juday Bio:

Ariel has a master’s in healthcare administration and several years of dental experience in all aspects of the administrative roles within the dental office. Her passion is to work with dental teams to empower team members to realize their full potential in order to better serve patients, improve office systems to ensure a well-functioning team/office, and to help everyone have fun in the process!