The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

You're good at planning your vacations. But how about planning for your business? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Ariel Siegel, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to break down how to strategically plan for your future and build a thriving practice. When you fail to plan, you are planning to fail! To learn how to make a great plan for a great future, listen to Episode 938 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 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 938: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (October 17, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-october-17-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1218436780209?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
• Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (October 24, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-october-24-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1218452908449?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
• Join ACT’s BPA for their SWOT Analysis tool: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fswot-analysis-tool-with-examples#email
• Join ACT’s BPA for their OGT tool: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fogt-tool-outcomes-goals-target#email

Main Takeaways:

• Failure is a consequence of not having a plan.
• A thriving practice doesn't just happen! It happens with planning.
• With the right tools and strategies, planning won't be as hard as you think.
• Analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in your business.
• Use the SWOT analysis to plan and create an aligned, smart, and healthy practice.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:38 Why this is an important topic.

7:02 SWOT analysis, explained.

10:05 The three pillars for success: Aligned.

19:10 The three pillars for success: Smart.

22:30 The three pillars for success: Healthy.

25:34 Select key areas to focus your planning.

29:52 Final takeaways.

32:42 About ACT’s To The Top, tools, and resources.

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!

Over 50% of practices are either thinking about or starting to move out of network. It’s a trend that's not slowing down! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dave Monahan, founder and CEO of Kleer, to share the shocking data behind going out of network and why you’ll wish you had done it sooner. To learn all the benefits of going out of network for you and your patients, listen to Episode 937 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dave:

• Send Dave an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Kleer-Membersy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clerri_official
• Learn more about Kleer-Membersy: https://clerri.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 937: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos

Main Takeaways:

• More practices than ever are thinking about or going out of network.
• Going out of network doesn’t mean you will lose the majority of your patients.
• Whether you're going fully or partially out of network, adopt a membership plan.
• Membership plans are cost-effective for patients and will be better for your practice.
• Start by dropping your lowest producing insurer. You'll wish you had started it sooner!

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:50 Are dentists going out of network?

4:56 Why are large insurance companies purchasing dental practices?

7:09 How many patients will you lose if you go out of network?

9:34 What happens if dental insurance disappears?

13:14 Final thoughts.

14:18 More about Kleer-Membersy.

Dave Monahan Bio:

Dave Monahan is the CEO of Kleer, an advanced, cloud-based platform that enables dentists to easily design and manage their own membership plan and offer it directly to their patients. Kleer is turn-key and free to implement. Their mission is simple: partner with dentists to increase the value of their practices by making dental care accessible and affordable to everyone. 

Establishing core values is the most important thing you will do for your practice. But core values aren’t just words on the wall! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Heather Crockett, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to share how to keep your core values alive and prevent them from becoming stale over time. To learn how to make core values the heartbeat of your practice, listen to Episode 936 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 Kirk an email: [email protected] 
• Send Courtney an email: [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 936: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Join ACT’s BPA for their Identifying Your Core Values resource: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Flencioni-s-core-value-diagram#email
• Join ACT’s BPA for their How to Bring Your Core Values Alive resource: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fdiscussions%2Fhow-to-bring-core-values-alive#email
• Read Traction by Gino Wickman: https://benbellabooks.com/shop/traction

Main Takeaways:

• Use your core values as decision-making filters. They will guide your culture.
• Core values can be on your walls. But they need to be alive in your halls!
• Talk about your core values constantly. You can't just set it and forget it.
• Embed your core values into your hiring process to identify red flags.
• Create exercises to help your team remember your core values.
• Find ways to include patients in your core values journey.
• Give recognition when core values are represented.
• Share your core values through storytelling.
• Track shout-outs and core values usage.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:20 Why this is an important topic.

2:59 Core values are your filter.

4:48 Use storytelling to share your core values.

9:36 Recruit and onboard using your core values.

12:31 Tie performance evaluations to core values and use positive reinforcement.

15:36 Include your community.

19:05 Create themes and use daily reinforcement.

23:00 Final takeaways.

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.

Are you unhappy with your practice and feeling stuck? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Pamela Maragliano, chief editor of Dental Economics, to inspire you with her journey to pursue excellence with confidence. Stop compromising your values to make others happy! To learn how to build your ideal vision, team, and practice, listen to Episode 935 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Maragliano:

• Follow Dr. Maragliano on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpamela_maragliano
• Listen to Dentistry Unmasked podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37jqQgIVQQhZpJ6cx3hs1K
• Learn more about Dental Economics: https://www.dentaleconomics.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 935: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos

Main Takeaways:

• Don't compromise your values — especially for a team that doesn't care.
• Create a mission and a vision for your practice to attract your people.
• If you're not happy with your practice, do something about it!
• Stop wasting time with negative people or energy suckers.
• Always keep looking for the right team members.
• Be open and enjoy the ride for your career.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:00 Dr. Maragliano’s background.

6:02 Challenges in transitioning from hygienist, to prosthodontist, to practice owner.

7:43 Dr. Maragliano’s treatment style philosophy.

10:27 The current state and trends in dentistry.

12:31 Don't compromise your values.

16:00 Figure out your non-negotiables.

18:48 Find the right people and create a mission.

21:47 Values, explained.

27:02 Don't stop looking.

31:41 Have a ride-or-die in your office.

35:35 Have people you trust and give them autonomy.

38:10 Final thoughts.

40:12 More about Dr. Maragliano and how to get in touch.  

Dr. Pamela Maragliano Bio:

Dr. Pamela Maragliano, DMD, is the chief editor of Dental Economics. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics.

Uninsured patients are afraid of the dentist. But it’s not the pain they're scared of! They don't have coverage, and they're anxious about the cost. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dave Monahan, founder and CEO of Kleer, to share how to remove this barrier and grow your collections by 182%. To learn the easier way to get patients through the door and accept treatment, listen to Episode 934 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dave:

• Send Dave an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Kleer-Membersy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clerri_official
• Learn more about Kleer-Membersy’s case studies: https://clerri.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 934: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos

Main Takeaways:

• Focus on getting existing patients to come in more often and accept needed treatment.
• Uninsured patients avoid dentists mostly due to lack of coverage and fear of cost.
• Patients with coverage, such as a membership plan, come in twice as much.
• Membership plans increase treatment presentation and acceptance.
• You will keep more of what you produce with a membership plan.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:56 Engage your existing patients.

4:05 Coverage, defined.

6:06 Kleer’s case study data.

11:09 Collections is the most important metric.

12:58 Average discount percentages.

14:59 Final thoughts.

16:03 More about Kleer-Membersy.

Dave Monahan Bio:

Dave Monahan is the CEO of Kleer, an advanced, cloud-based platform that enables dentists to easily design and manage their own membership plan and offer it directly to their patients. Kleer is turn-key and free to implement. Their mission is simple: partner with dentists to increase the value of their practices by making dental care accessible and affordable to everyone.

Do you ever wish you had a second set of eyes — without the headache of opinions and emotions? Well, now it’s possible! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Mike Buckner, executive vice president of revenue at Pearl, to showcase the impact of using AI to provide better care for your patients. To learn how AI will help you detect problems earlier, more accurately, and even more quickly, listen to Episode 933 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Mike:

• Send Mike an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebucknerpearl
• To connect, learn more about Pearl, and receive exclusive ACT Dental Partner benefits, please visit https://pages.hellopearl.com/act

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 933: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Read Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell: https://www.buybackyourtime.com

Main Takeaways:

• Think of AI as a spell check tool. It can help you do more and save time.
• AI, in recent years, has become even better with diagnostic accuracy.
• Reduce insurance claims headaches with AI's flagging system.
• Increase your confidence by using AI as a second opinion.
• With AI, you will be able to provide better patient care.
• Appoint a team member to be your “AI researcher”.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

0:42 Buy Back Your Time.

2:51 AI, explained.

5:56 How quickly is AI learning?

9:18 The impact of poor X-ray quality.

13:16 How the AI flagging system works.

14:02 AI helps you provide better care.

15:47 Final thoughts.

17:09 More about Pearl AI.

Mike Buckner Bio:

Mike has spent the last 12 years growing dental software technology companies that are designed to streamline office efficiency and increase overall production while elevating the standard of care for your patients.

Mike has led business development and partner strategy for Solutionreach back when offices were just starting to text patients to confirm appointments. He then helped grow Dental Intelligence, focusing on providing valuable insights to practices, allowing them to focus on vital key performance indicators to improve overall practice health.

Following that, Mike joined Weave while it was in its infancy, leading partnership growth strategies. His most recent endeavor finds him as the Executive Vice President of Revenue at Pearl, the first company to bring Artificial Intelligence into the dental space with comprehensive FDA clearance to assist clinicians and team members in reading and detecting pathologies in 2D X-rays (Bitewings and PAs). 

You don't need to work harder, and you don't need to produce more. You just need to collect what you're owed! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Robyn Theisen, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to show you how much money you're leaving on the table and how to tighten your collection gap. To learn how to start collecting 100%, listen to Episode 932 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 Courtney an email: [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 932: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register to ACT’s BPA for GAPs at a Glance: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Ffinancial-gaps-at-a-glance#email

Main Takeaways:

• 95% sounds pretty good. But collecting 95% of your collectible production is not an “A”.
• Your issue isn't collections — it’s not having firm and strong financial arrangements.
• Financial conversations start at the front. Empower your team with confidence.
• Verbal skills matter. Be aligned with your language when asking for payment.
• Do consistent billing and follow-ups and have someone own these systems.
• It’s not about producing more, but about collecting everything you produce.
• Improving collections even by 1% or 2% has huge gains over time.
• Always aim to collect 100% of what you net produce.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:45 The collection gap, explained.

2:43 95% is not an “A” when it comes to collections.

5:11 What your collection percentage should be and why it might be off track.

8:48 The impact of gaps on your overhead percentage.

11:14 Collect 100%.

12:36 Shrink the collections gap for true profitability.

14:26 Verbal skills matter.

15:29 Know your numbers.

16:17 Understand what 1% or 2% means over time.

16:42 Final takeaways.

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.

You want to fill your practice with cash-paying patients. But being uninsured doesn't mean more loyalty and more treatment! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dave Monahan, founder and CEO of Kleer, to share some shocking data on cash-paying patients and why you need to invest in a membership plan for your practice. To learn how to increase the number of ideal, cash-paying patients, listen to Episode 931 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dave:

• Send Dave an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Kleer-Membersy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clerri_official
• Learn more about Kleer-Membersy: https://clerri.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 931: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Learn more about Pearl Street Dental Partners: https://www.pearlstreetdentalpartners.com

Main Takeaways:

• Don't assume that your uninsured patients are paying full fee. They aren't!
• Study the data between active cash patients versus membership patients.
• Membership plans will attract and retain patients with better patient care.
• Moving cash-paying patients to a membership can double your metrics.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:54 Why these metrics are important.

3:48 Pearl Street case study.

8:08 Active patients, explained.

9:27 Data on uninsured patients versus membership patients.

12:48 Data on discounts for uninsured patients versus membership patients.

14:52 Final thoughts.

16:34 More about Kleer-Membersy.

Dave Monahan Bio:

Dave Monahan is the CEO of Kleer, an advanced, cloud-based platform that enables dentists to easily design and manage their own membership plan and offer it directly to their patients. Kleer is turn-key and free to implement. Their mission is simple: partner with dentists to increase the value of their practices by making dental care accessible and affordable to everyone.

Time is the one thing you can't buy back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Mike Buckner, executive vice president of revenue at Pearl, to talk about AI and how it can help you and your team be more efficient in your practice. To learn how to free up time for the things that matter most, listen to Episode 930 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Mike:

• Send Mike an email: [email protected] 
• Follow Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebucknerpearl
• To connect, learn more about Pearl, and receive exclusive ACT Dental Partner benefits, please visit https://pages.hellopearl.com/act

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 930: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Read Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell: https://www.buybackyourtime.com

Main Takeaways:

• Almost 90% of the work offloaded to AI is accurate.
• Audit your time to determine which tasks drain you most.
• Offload the low-value or most draining tasks to technology.
• Replace the time you've bought back with higher value tasks.
• Appoint a team member to be the “AI expert” to help you integrate AI.
• Practices resistant to AI will be surpassed by practices that leverage it.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

0:34 Time is your most important commodity.

2:47 The three-step process to offload what drains you.

4:56 Benefits of using Pearl AI for office managers.

8:50 Why Pearl AI is a better insurance verification solution.

11:05 How Pearl AI helps you be efficient with your time.

13:19 How accurate is Pearl AI?

14:42 Does Pearl AI work with all software?

15:15 Things you should know about AI.

17:47 Final thoughts.

19:36 More about Pearl AI.

Mike Buckner Bio:

Mike has spent the last 12 years growing dental software technology companies that are designed to streamline office efficiency and increase overall production while elevating the standard of care for your patients.

Mike has led business development and partner strategy for Solutionreach back when offices were just starting to text patients to confirm appointments. He then helped grow Dental Intelligence, focusing on providing valuable insights to practices, allowing them to focus on vital key performance indicators to improve overall practice health.

Following that, Mike joined Weave while it was in its infancy, leading partnership growth strategies. His most recent endeavor finds him as the Executive Vice President of Revenue at Pearl, the first company to bring Artificial Intelligence into the dental space with comprehensive FDA clearance to assist clinicians and team members in reading and detecting pathologies in 2D X-rays (Bitewings and PAs). 

Without clear communication, even the best teams can fall apart. So, how do you clearly communicate expectations as a leader to your team? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to share a framework for when and how to give feedback — and how to receive it! To learn how to create a stronger team through clear communication, listen to Episode 929 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] 

Learn More About ACT Dental:

• ACT’s Events: https://www.actdental.com/event
• ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.com
• ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• ACT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/actdental
• ACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdental
• ACT’s LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/actdental/

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 929: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Read Radical Candor by Kim Scott: https://www.radicalcandor.com/the-book
• Read Thanks for the Feedback by Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313485/thanks-for-the-feedback-by-douglas-stone-and-sheila-heen

Main Takeaways:

• Clear is kind. Being clear is better than being “nice”.
• Be consistent, specific, and safe when giving feedback.
• When you're consistent, clear, and calm, you will earn trust.
• Don't only give feedback when your expectations aren't being met.
• Proactively reward good behaviors or when expectations are being met.
• Learn the three feedback styles of appreciation, coaching, and evaluation.
• Start with having systems. It helps provide clarity for what needs to be done.
• Systems should be documented so they can be referenced, reviewed, and revised.
• Reframe your fears around providing feedback. If you avoid it, it is harmful to the team.
• Think of feedback as a gift, not a punishment — not only as the giver but as the receiver.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

2:02 About ACT’s BPA, TTT, and Pro Coaching.

5:09 Why this is an important topic.

8:33 The value of strong communication.

13:24 Clear is kind.

17:57 E – R = C: Systems and core values.

27:53 Keys to giving clear feedback.

32:15 The different types of feedback.

43:48 Key elements of feedback.

46:35 Giving feedback without fear.

50:58 When to give feedback.

54:03 Feedback type examples.

55:48 Final takeaways.

59:18 More 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.