Cognitive bias is a mental shortcut that influences our thinking and decision-making, leading us to process information in a selective and subjective manner. In some instances it can result in inaccurate or irrational judgments. So why are we talking about this on a dental podcast? Well, if this kind of shortcut thinking happens too often in the dental setting, it is likely that our infection prevention and control protocol will become compromised. So to address the different kinds of cognitive biases we experience and ways in which we can manage them on a personal level and as an entire dental team is our guest Michelle Strange. Michelle has over twenty years of experience in the dental field, transitioning from a dental assistant to earning advanced degrees in health science and dental hygiene education.

So, there is no doubt, we are practicing in an era where composite and resin technology continue to play a major role in restorative dentistry. And with that, the adhesive layer and our technique in handling the adhesive complex is critical for our restorations to stand the test of time while we do our best to eliminate post-operative sensitivity. Today we'll be talking to an expert in restorative dentistry. His name is Dr. Rolando Nunez. He is a practicing dentist and has published many articles on restorative dentistry in peer reviewed journals. He is also a consultant for Bisco.

As individuals, each of us have a unique set of oral health needs. These needs are influenced by a myriad of factors including our age, medical history, dental history, lifestyle, and genetics. And because of this, oral health assessments are pivotal in both diagnosing existing issues and in crafting preventative strategies to maintain long-term oral health. To talk about the oral health assessment in more depth and give us some super practical recommendations is our guest Kerry Lepicek. Kerry over 20 years of clinical experience as a registered dental hygienist and continues to work part-time in a clinical setting. She is an international speaker, a published author. and serves on the Advisory Board of the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health.

When it comes to buying your dental supplies, everyone is looking to save money. But when you're shopping for PPE, like a dental glove or mask, you have to be extremely cautious about whom you're actually buying from. After all, gloves and masks are considered medical devices. So the question is, do you completely trust your vendor and are you sure you're actually getting PPE that has gone through the rigorous quality control that's part and parcel with an FDA-approved and medical grade device? To help us better understand how to manage the cost and quality of our PPE, are two incredibly knowledgeable people, Linda Harvey and Mary Govoni. They are arguably among the best educators, authors and speakers on the topic of Infection Prevention and Control.

How do we avoid the side effects and potential emergency situations that can be associated with both local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors? What can we do to minimize the risk and manage the emergency situation? Our guest is Dr. David Isen, who runs a dental clinic in Toronto, Canada, Sleep For Dentistry. He has given over 400 presentations around the world on topics related to the management of medical emergencies in healthcare settings, local anesthesia for dentistry and the use of sedation in dentistry.

Women have historically been central to the field of dentistry, constituting over 95% of dental assistants, hygienists, and office managers. However, when it comes to women in leadership roles within practices, organized dentistry, and the industry, the percentages don't reflect this same level of representation. In this episode we'll delve into the relevance of this disparity with our guest Dr. Lauren Rainey. Dr. Rainey owns and operates her own clinical practice and currently teaches direct restorative techniques to dentists in the US & Canada.

Thanks to our episode sponsors:

COLTENE - https://www.coltene.dental/viva-hyflex/

GC America - https://www.gc.dental/

Chairside denture relines are one of those few dental procedures that have not really changed very much. Technique is important but as important is using the right materials. So today we'll be talking to Dr. Ian Shuman, a dentist who has been making dentures and doing chairside relines for over 35 years. He will share with us some key tips and tricks and his favorite materials that never let him down. Dr. Shuman has been named one of the Top Clinicians in Continuing Education since 2005 by Dentistry Today. An educator and author, Dr. Shuman is a pioneer in developing advanced, minimally invasive techniques including the development and production of the V-DOC, a device used to measure and determine a patient’s vertical dimension of occlusion.

Every day, as a dentist, hygienist, or an assistant, you go to the office and do the best you can to provide top notch patient care. But even though you may be providing the best clinical care, does the patient feel special and are they likely to leave the office thinking, wow, I am so happy I found this dentist. In this episode we'll be talking about the customer experience... and how your practice can deliver a world class customer experience that will be instrumental in growing your practice. Our guest today, Ella Mullokandova, has over 16 years of experience as a dental hygienist and is co-founder of Converge Dental.

Thanks to our episode sponsors:

DENTALEZ - https://www.dentalez.com/

J. Morita - https://www.morita.com/usa/

I'm pretty sure that most of you listening to this podcast have heard of Silver Diamine Fluoride. But did you know that combining SDF with the application of glass ionomer can be a long term solution to restoring a badly decayed tooth. And did you know this can be accomplished with no anesthesia and no rotary instrumentation. Sounds far fetched but the reality is, Dr. John Frachella has been doing this successfully for 50 years. This episode will open your eyes to treating decay medically with the use of SDF and GI.

Today we'll take a closer look at the different kinds of sedation that we, as dentists, can offer our patients. What types are available, what are the risks and benefits and how much training do we need to administer sedation to our patients? To answer these questions and more is our guest Dr. Stanley Malamed. Dr Malamed is a world-respected dentist anesthesiologist and emeritus professor of dentistry at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of U.S.C., formerly the University of Southern California School of Dentistry.

Thanks to our episode sponsors:

3M - https://www.3m.com/clarity-aligners-flex/

BISCO - https://www.bisco.com/