Accelerate Your Dental Practice with Malika and Michelle: Recent Episodes
Malika Azargoon and Michelle Affanato
Malika Azargoon and Michelle Affanato share their expertise on how dentists can accelerate their practice growth and success.
In this episode, Michelle and Malika discuss why every dental practice owner needs to understand the business side of their practice—not just the clinical side. They explain the importance of staying involved in daily operations, maintaining financial oversight, and ensuring key systems are in place to protect the practice. Through real-world examples, they highlight how unexpected staff changes and a lack of operational visibility can leave owners vulnerable to costly mistakes and missed opportunities.
Michelle and Malika also share practical strategies that practice owners can implement right away, including reviewing daily deposit reports, auditing patient accounts, reconciling financial transactions, and monitoring insurance payments and adjustments. By developing consistent oversight habits and understanding the numbers behind the practice, owners can strengthen accountability, safeguard their assets, and build a more profitable, resilient business.
What if just a few key metrics could uncover thousands of dollars in missed opportunities each month? In this power-packed episode, Michelle is joined by an all-star panel of dental industry experts:
⭐ Teresa Duncan (Odyssey Management)
⭐ Amanda DeMoura (One Wild Brand)
⭐ Lynne Leggett (Victory Dental Management)
⭐ Beverly Wilburn (Dr. Karl Smith)
⭐ Angela Davis Sullivan (Adaptive Dental Solutions)
⭐ Kate Read (EverThrive Oral Surgery Consulting)
Together, they reveal the must-track KPIs that separate thriving practices from struggling ones.
You'll discover:
✅ The hidden impact of missed calls and how they affect production
✅ Why appointment conversion rates matter more than you think
✅ How to measure marketing ROI and stop wasting advertising dollars
✅ The scheduling metrics that maximize efficiency and profitability
✅ Strategies to improve case acceptance and patient follow-through
✅ How AI, automation, and digital tools are transforming practice performance
✅ Team training techniques that drive measurable results
This conversation goes beyond numbers. The panel shares real-world insights on how tracking the right metrics can improve patient experience, strengthen team accountability, and uncover growth opportunities that often go unnoticed.
Whether you're a practice owner, office manager, treatment coordinator, or team leader, this episode will give you practical takeaways you can implement immediately to make smarter business decisions and increase profitability.
🎧 If you've ever wondered which numbers actually matter—and how to use them to grow your practice—this is an episode you won't want to miss.
This episode of The Dental Practice Launch Podcast features Shane Simmons and Michelle Affanato discussing the critical aspects of starting and growing a successful dental practice. They introduce a three-part webinar series covering foundational setup, patient flow, and practice growth strategies, emphasizing the importance of aligning operations and marketing.
SUBSCRIBE to The Dental Practice Launch Podcast!
Learn more about Crimson Media Dental Marketing and how we help dental startups grow through proven marketing strategies.
Learn more about Affinity Management Consulting.
Takeaways:* Align your practice vision with your branding and operations. * Start marketing before you open to attract ideal patients. * Focus on patient retention to ensure sustainable growth. * Use data and numbers to guide your practice expansion. * Partner with industry-experienced professionals for success.
In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon break down the key financial strategies every dental practice owner should understand to improve profitability and long-term growth. From analyzing P&L statements and reducing overhead to optimizing fee schedules and negotiating insurance contracts, they share practical insights that can make a major impact on your bottom line. The conversation also highlights the importance of budgeting, financial transparency with your team, and planning ahead for emergencies and future expansion. If you want to gain more confidence with your practice numbers and make smarter business decisions, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways you can start applying today.
In this episode, Michelle Affanato breaks down practical strategies dental leaders can use to improve attendance, strengthen accountability, and create a more reliable team environment. From setting clear expectations to having difficult conversations early, this episode focuses on building a culture where team members understand their role, communicate effectively, and show up consistently.
In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the challenges and strategies of staffing in dental practices. They cover topics like resume screening, interview best practices, background checks, and adapting to the current staffing landscape.
In this episode of Accelerate Your Dental Practice (AYDP), Michelle and Malika are joined by Beverly and Amanda for a candid discussion on networking, professional communities, and investing in the right resources to grow in dentistry. They share insights on how dentists and team members can choose the right study clubs, masterminds, and groups that provide real value—while avoiding the overwhelm of joining too many. The conversation highlights the power of smaller, focused communities where members can ask questions, collaborate, and build meaningful connections that drive growth. They also discuss impactful groups within the dental industry such as
- Beyond the Operatory
- Practice Management Power Day
- Dental Spouses in Business
- Dental Revenue Network
- Dental Entrepreneur Women
- Tiny Teeth Think Tank Study Club
- Dental Nachos
—all examples of spaces where dental professionals can connect, learn, and find their community.
In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Lauren Zano discuss the critical role of office managers in dental practices, the challenges they face, and the importance of effective communication and mentorship. They explore how office managers can help implement systems, facilitate teamwork, and navigate the complexities of patient care while also addressing the emotional labor involved in their roles. The conversation emphasizes the need for clear communication, intentional meetings, and the value of mentorship in fostering growth and development within dental practices.
In this episode of "Accelerate Your Dental," hosts Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the importance of transparency in dental practices, particularly regarding financial goals and team engagement. They emphasize that many dental professionals hesitate to share financial details with their teams, fearing it may lead to misunderstandings or resentment. However, by providing insight into the practice's financial health, such as overhead costs and collection goals, team members can better understand their roles and the importance of achieving these targets. This transparency fosters a sense of ownership and accountability among staff, ultimately leading to improved performance and morale.
In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the critical factors influencing case acceptance in dental practices. They emphasize the importance of leadership, effective communication between clinical and front office teams, and the need for training and buy-in from the entire team. The conversation also covers strategies for creating urgency in treatment recommendations and structuring discounts to enhance patient engagement. The hosts encourage practice owners to analyze their case acceptance metrics and foster a culture of confidence and clarity within their teams to improve overall patient care and acceptance rates.
In this conversation, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the critical importance of accountability in dental practices. They explore how favoritism and leniency towards certain employees can lead to resentment among team members, ultimately affecting the practice's culture and efficiency. The speakers emphasize the need for clear expectations, consistent accountability, and the establishment of a strong workplace culture that aligns with the practice's mission and values. They also highlight the challenges of leadership in maintaining these standards and the necessity of adapting to change for the betterment of the team and practice.
In this episode of Accelerate Your Dental Practice, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the critical aspects of leadership, communication, and overcoming fear in dental practices. They emphasize the importance of empowering practice owners with knowledge, continuous education for all team members, and the necessity of clear communication and accountability within the team. The conversation highlights the need for practice owners to be proactive in their management approach, ensuring that expectations are set and that team members are supported in their roles. As they approach the new year, the hosts encourage listeners to reassess their practices and focus on building a confident, well-informed team to drive success.
In this conversation, Michelle Affanato, Malika, and Lynne Leggett discuss the challenges faced by dental professionals during the year-end rush, particularly the feelings of burnout and overwhelm. They emphasize the importance of planning and preparation to alleviate stress and create a better work-life balance. The discussion also touches on the need for self-care and recognizing personal definitions of success in the dental field. Lynne shares insights from her coaching experience, encouraging dentists to find their own path and avoid the pitfalls of comparison.
In this conversation, Michelle Affanato and Malika discuss the critical importance of building a strong team for dental practices, emphasizing the need for specialized knowledge in IT, marketing, and financial management. They highlight the unique challenges of the dental industry and the necessity of having experts who understand these nuances. The discussion covers the significance of cybersecurity, the role of marketing in attracting patients, and the importance of having a CPA who understands dental KPIs. The conversation concludes with a focus on creating a safe and successful practice through careful selection of partners and proactive management.
In this conversation, Dr. John Vargas shares insights on achieving work-life balance as a dental practice owner. He discusses the importance of delegating responsibilities, fostering a positive team culture, and setting boundaries to prevent burnout. Dr. Vargas emphasizes the need for personal time and routine, as well as understanding generational differences in work expectations. He also highlights the value of taking time off to recharge and the mindset shift required to view practice ownership as a gift rather than a burden.
Episode 37: In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the current challenges faced in the dental industry, including staff dynamics, burnout, and the importance of communication and leadership. They share real-life stories and insights on how to navigate these issues effectively, emphasizing the need for teamwork and professional behavior in the workplace. The conversation also touches on generational differences in the workforce and the potential benefits of outsourcing certain tasks to improve efficiency.
In this episode, we are joined by special guest Linda Harvey!
Over the years, you may have known Linda Harvey as an OSHA/HIPAA consultant and trainer. What you might not know about Linda is that she's the Founder and Chief Knowledge Officer for the Dental Compliance Institute. DCI is an educational and membership-based organization focusing on a wide range of relevant risk management and compliance topics. DCI provides an added layer of assurance and peace of mind to your existing policies and procedures and annual compliance training. They accomplish that through one-of-a-kind Train-the-Trainer courses, a vibrant compliance community filled with current resources and tools as well as 1:1 coaching. So if you're ready to level up your compliance knowledge and expertise, check out the Dental Compliance Institute and stop endless google searches for answers.
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.c
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Linda Harvey
linda@compliancepartners.net
Episode 34: In this episode we introduce Dr. Sam! Join us as Dr. Sam goes in depth on her unique startup experience, building a patient base, hiring and training challenges, and so much more!
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Dr. Sam's Journey
2:50 The Unique Startup Experience
9:10 Building a Patient Base
16:23 Hiring and Training Challenges
18:44 Navigating Team Dynamics in Startups
24:16 Reflections on Financial Foundations
27:39 Setting Goals for Growth and Stability
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.c...
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Dr. Sam
https://www.southboulderpediatricdentistry.com/about/philosophy
@sobopediatricdentistry
Episode 35: In this episode we are joined by Special Guest, Angela Davis Sullivan! Join us as we discuss Building relationships with patients, Retention challenges and solutions, Effective patient scheduling techniques and so much more!
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Patient Retention in Dentistry
1:57 The Importance of Communication and Team Training
6:06 Building Relationships with Patients
9:50 Personalized Care and Follow-Up Systems
14:53 Converting Emergency Patients into Regulars
18:19 Emergency Preparedness in Healthcare Teams
19:59 Personalized Patient Care Strategies
21:26 Retention Challenges and Solutions
22:09 Effective Patient Scheduling Techniques
23:25 Building Patient Relationships for Retention
25:30 Creating a Follow-Up System
26:51 Understanding Patient Priorities
28:47 Addressing Patient Inactivity
31:04 Team Collaboration and Patient Trust
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.c...
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Angela Davis Sullivan
https://adaptivedentalsolutions.com/
https://linktr.ee/AngelaDavisSullivan
Episode 36: In this episode, we are joined by special guest Linda Harvey! Over the years, you may have known Linda Harvey as an OSHA/HIPAA consultant and trainer. What you might not know about Linda is that she's the Founder and Chief Knowledge Officer for the Dental Compliance Institute. DCI is an educational and membership-based organization focusing on a wide range of relevant risk management and compliance topics. DCI provides an added layer of assurance and peace of mind to your existing policies and procedures and annual compliance training. They accomplish that through one-of-a-kind Train-the-Trainer courses, a vibrant compliance community filled with current resources and tools as well as 1:1 coaching. So if you're ready to level up your compliance knowledge and expertise, check out the Dental Compliance Institute and stop endless google searches for answers.
0:00 Introduction to Compliance Challenges in Dentistry
2:07 Understanding Patient Rights and HIPAA
5:27 Navigating Security Rules and Risk Management
9:12 The Importance of Training and Education
12:46 The Role of Technology and AI in Compliance
16:28 Business Associate Agreements and Accountability
19:57 Future of Compliance in Dentistry
23:53 Conclusion and Resources for Dental Practices
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.c...
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Linda Harvey
linda@compliancepartners.net
Episode 33: In this episode Michelle and Malika discuss Enhancing patient experience and Handoffs. Everything from the importance of follow-ups and communication to navigating financial conversations with patients!
Chapters:
0:00 Enhancing Patient Experience and Handoffs
9:58 The Importance of Follow-Ups and Communication
18:36 Measuring Case Acceptance and Treatment Plans
25:21 Navigating Financial Conversations with Patients
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.c...
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Episode 32: Intro to Alternative Hygiene Scheduling Models
In this episode Malika, Michelle, and special guest Rachel Wall discuss the importance of understanding Traditional, Assisted, and Alternative hygiene models, Benefits of incorporating Alternative hygiene into your practice, overcoming financial concerns in assisted hygiene, Implementing assisted hygiene into your practice, The role of dentists in hygiene care, and so much more!
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Alternative Hygiene Scheduling Models
1:29 Understanding Traditional vs. Alternative Hygiene Models
3:32 Benefits of Alternative Hygiene Scheduling
7:13 Assisted vs. Accelerated Hygiene Explained
9:19 Overcoming Financial Concerns in Assisted Hygiene
11:34 Implementing Assisted Hygiene in Practices
14:49 Utilizing Assisted hygiene in Pediatric Practices
18:31 Navigate State Regulations in Hygiene Practices
20:50 Maximizing Hygiene Productivity and Standards
22:44 The Role of Dentists in Hygiene Care
29:44 Patient Capacity for Full-Time Hygienists
31:17 Planning for Successful Implementation of Hygiene Models
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Rachel Wall
Rw@inspiredhygiene.com
Accelerating Your Dental Practice
Episode 30, Insurance with Malika
This time, Malika and Michelle offer insight on Insurance! The team discusses how long it takes for startups or acquisitions to start seeing insured patients and what this looks like as well as information on working with third-party administrators. Malika also discusses timelines, how to navigate the insurance process, and even small pearls of wisdom that you do not want to miss!
00:24 Introduction and Malika Introduces The Insurance Topic
01:30 How Quickly Can You Get in Network – The #1 Question
02:40 Knowing What You’re In Network With
05:25 Using the Data and Pulling Fee Schedules
07:30 Deciding on Which Insurance to Utilize
09:30 How Long Getting In-Network Can Take
14:00 Credentialing
16:30 Associate Onboarding and Credentialing
18:20 Third Party Administrators
23:00 Keeping on Top of Your Fee Schedules
27:00 Reach out to the Insurance Carrier before Associating or Getting Credentialed
29:00 Closing Goodbyes
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Accelerating Your Dental Practice
Episode 29, Team Building with Dr. Josh Kuykendall
On this month’s episode, Malika and Michelle are joined by Dr. Josh Kuykendall. Dr. Kuykendall owns a practice in Spring, Texas and has heaps of knowledge on team moral, keeping employees motivated, and building a good office culture. Dr. Kuykendall shares specifics about the office culture he has created and the types of team building activities he facilitates throughout the year. The team discusses why these types of events are so important and what they truly mean to the employees that participate. Dr. Kuykendall shares several amazing and unique things that his practice does but wait until the end of the episodes to hear about the massive turn out that Free Dental Day at the office had one year!
00:45 Introducing Dr. Josh Kuykendall
02:45 Profit Sharing and Employee Motivation
05:30 Implementing Change and Sticking with It
08:35 Weekly Gift Card Incentive Raffle
14:55 Keeping Employees Happy
18:30 Monthly Outing Incentive
23:35 Quarterly Team Building
28:20 Retention in Staffing and Impact
32:00 Holiday Event for the Staff
34:00 Holiday Bonuses and Attendance
40:50 Free Dental Day
45:30 Closing Thoughts
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Josh Kuykendall
info@springdentist.com
https://www.springdentist.com/
https://www.instagram.com/springdentist/
Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 28, Mastering Time Management
On this episode, Malika and Michelle discuss time management within a practice. Join the team as they dive into how everyone in the office can become more efficient when they really focus on finding time for uninterrupted work and getting creative with the way that they do work. With their combined knowledge of clients and working in offices themselves, Malika and Michelle push further to really understand and breakdown where improvements can be made to the office schedule which is a major way to improve time management as well. When we understand what our days look like and truly evaluate our time realistically, improvements to efficiency can be made with ease!
00:55 Introduction and Time Management
02:05 Scheduling and Keeping Time Estimates Realistic
06:00 Setting Your Workspace up For Success
07:55 Being Efficient in the Morning to Prepare for the Day
10:35 Hygienists and Scheduling the Right Amount of Time
16:55 Adjusting Appointment Time to Streamline the Patient Experience. 20:15 Challenges with Administrative Work
21:45 Outsourcing for Time Efficiency
23:00 Finding Time for Uninterrupted Work
27:50 Getting Creative with Catching Up on Work
29:00 Final Thoughts and Closing
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 27, Staffing
On this episode, Malika and Michelle tackle staffing within the practice. Topics such as proper onboarding, why checking references is so important as well as things to go over when presenting an offer letter are discussed. Malika and Michelle pull from client experiences and other issues that they have come across to give advice on everything from scheduling, to hiring the right HR company. For those with practices that need structure within the realm of staffing, this episode is full of valuable information to set a practice up for success.
00:31 Introduction with Malika and Michelle
01:29 Staffing and What Hiring Looks Like Now
02:15 Having a System for Onboarding
06:30 References and Background Checks
10:10 Job Description Overview
12:05 Hours and Scheduling within the Office
18:01 Taking Time Off
21:21 How Proper Documentation Could Save the Practice
22:35 Having a Handbook and Hiring the Right HR Company
24:15 Abiding by Rules and Regulations
29:59 Closing
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
HR Companies Mentioned:
Bent Ericksen
Cedar Solutions
HR for Health
On this episode, Malika and Michelle are joined by Dr. David Maloley. Dr. Maloley is a dental expert, author, speaker and coach focusing on creating dream dental practices. On this episode, hear Dr. Maloley’s takes on how to improve the practice as a whole, including topics like burnout, how to focus on the what drives employees, as well as how to create a productive office culture. The team dives deep into tricky employees, hiring the right fit to the team, as well as where to be able to compromise and balance. Finally, Dr, Maloley shares a final note and advice you’re sure to want to hear.
00:30 Introducing Dr. Maloley
02:45 Burnout and Personal Breaking Points
05:10 Most Common Burnout Symptoms and Signs
09:00 Dos and Don’ts of Tackling and Confronting Burnout
12:35 Cultivating a Culture in the Office
14:30 Performance and Expectations
16:30 Having Difficult Conversations and Sticking to Company Values 19:00 Book Recommendations for Communication
20:35 Generational Differences and Work Life Balance
28:50 Training and Setting Employees up for Success
32:25 Advice for When Things Get Tough
38:25 Final Advice and Closing
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
David Maloley
https://relentlessdentist.com/ https://www.facebook.com/RelentlessDentist dr.dave@relentlessdentist.com
Accelerating Your Dental Practice
Episode 25, Optimizing Your Practice with Billing and Outsourcing Expert Amanda DeMoura
On this episode, Malika and Michelle are joined by Amanda DeMoura. Amanda is the Founder of Essential Dental Services, a dental billing company made up of dental practice managers. Amanda and Essential Dental Services are ready with custom help with claims, billing and insurance tasks. Amanda shares insights on what makes a more cohesive team, keeping an office productive as well as getting on top of proper documentation and why it is so important. The team pinpoints the top things that cause AR reports to build, why outsourcing is beneficial and what this looks like too. Finally, Amanda shares her own podcast happenings and Michelle shares a funny story from her office days that is a must hear.
00:32 Introducing Amanda DeMoura
01:25 The disconnect between the Administrative and the Clinal Teams
04:00 The struggles of Perio Charting and Documentation – How to get it done 09:35 Clinical Notes – Why they are so important
13:00 Time Management – a balance between Productivity and Profitability 13:28 The Top 3 things that build up an Aging Report
15:15 V erification of Benefits
17:00 Outsourcing to keep claims from building
19:50 Being days ahead of Verification to Maximize Productivity
22:20 Setting good habits with patients and Insurance
23:05 The “fainting” patient
24:30 “The Breath of Fresh Air” Dental Podcast and Closing
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Amanda DeMoura
https://essentialdentalservices.com/ https://www.instagram.com/essentialdentalservices/ amanda@essentialdentalservices.com
Accelerating Your Dental Practice
Episode 24, Optimizing Your Practice with Office Manager Beverly Wilburn
On this episode, Malika and Michelle are joined by Beverly Wilburn. Beverly is an office manager for a successful dental office that specializes in periodontics and dental implants. Beverly is an AADOM Diplomate who also recently won Practice Administrator of the Year. Topics including what to do and what not to do in the office, building and cultivating relationships within the office, different types of office managers as well as what it takes to have the role are discussed. Being an Office Manager means so many different things and the role can vary depending on office needs but being willing to step in and be involved is one of the most important qualities that one can have. The Office Manager role really ties the whole practice together and is a major component to a successful office.
00:28 Introducing Beverly Wilburn
01:40 Varying types of Office Managers
03:40 The Office Manager role
05:00 The tools that create a good Manager
07:15 Qualities of an Office Manager
10:35 Being an involved part of the team
13:30 Resources and building a network for success
17:30 Advice for the Office Manager on empowering the team
19:55 Your relationship with the team as an Office Manager
23:50 Why conferences and trainings are so important
28:05 Advice to the Dr. – Clearly define the Office Manager role 30:00 Support within the office – Good Coaching and more
31:05 Closing and where to find Beverly
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Beverly Wilburn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlywilburn/ https://www.facebook.com/beverly.wilburn/ https://www.instagram.com/dearbevvie_/
Accelerating Your Dental Practice
Episode 23, Optimizing Insurance and Financial Planning with Nick Cepparulo
This month, Malika and Michelle are joined by Nick Cepparulo, Vice President of CFS Dental Division. Nick talks about how their financial services can assist in optimizing a practice’s finances through insurance evaluation and assistance in assessing finances. Nick discusses the benefits of looking at insurance policies often to understand them better and also to get the most out of the purchased coverage. A deep dive on the different types of insurances startups might need is talked about as well as why it’s important to look at one’s policy prior to renewal in order to make sure it’s the correct one for them and that the price is right too. Although in the moment spending money for something that may or may not happen seems unimportant, these policies can be lifesaving and the team shares personal experiences and moments when they have been used. Protecting the business and lives that are involved within a practice is important for anyone trying to grow and accelerate their dental practice and Nick and the CFS Dental Division make that easier.
00:35 Introducing Nick and CFS Dental Division
01:25 How Insurance and Financial Planning can accelerate your practice
02:45 How often you should reevaluate your insurance policies
06:00 What insurances startups will need
08:50 Business insurances
12:00 Why insurance policies are important in time of crisis
18:00 Life insurance is for anyone of any age
20:00 Full service financial planning via CFS’s sister company
26:00 Being educated and aware as a startup
28:30 Why having an advisor is so important
34:00 Closing
Nick Cepparulo
www.CFSdentaldivision.com
https://www.instagram.com/cfsdentaldivision/
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Accelerating Your Dental Practice
Episode 22, Marketing Your Practice on Social Media with Minal Sampat
This month, Malika and Michelle are joined by Minal Sampat. Minal is a Marketing Strategist, Bestselling Author, and Speaker who is passionate about what Social Media can do for practices. In this episode Minal discusses all aspects of how marketing on social platforms can really help practices stand out from the rest. She discusses how to get started and even what the best way to get started is. Minal also gives advice on how to create a natural and organic atmosphere on social media. Practices can have a presence on social media that is easy and also gains traction just by being authentic. The first step to using social media to one’s advantage is getting started, the rest comes easy by just keeping content natural to the practice and individual.
00:40 Introducing Minal Sampat
01:30 Marketing on Social Media
02:15 The good, the bad, and the ugly of Social Media 06:35 Starting on Social Media
07:30 Does your practice need Social Media?
09:00 Creating an easy and organic post
16:25 How many posts should you post?
19:25 Creating captions that work
20:30 Strategies for gaining followers
26:25 Network with patients and their businesses 28:50 You don’t have to share what you don’t want to 31:30 Closing thoughts
Minal Sampat
https://minalsampat.com/ https://marketologist.com/ Info@MinalSampat.com
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Accelerating Your Dental Practice
Episode 21, Knowing Your KPIs
This episode is all about Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs. KPIs can give practices a good idea on what the practice is looking like from a data standpoint. Malika and Michelle discuss their favorite KPIs and what these mean for a practice. No two practices are the same and personalized analytics can tell a very unique story about a practice. Michelle and Malika, with their experiences in offices across the country, give insight on how these analytics can be used and the expectations associated with certain metrics. Overall KPIs can be incredibly useful for the success of a practice.
00:45 Introducing the topic: KPIs
02:25 Malika’s Favorite KPI
07:30 Michelle’s Favorite KPI
12:40 Hygiene Reappointment Metrics
14:05 When to Schedule the next Appointment
15:10 Office Production Overall
18:01 Pediatric Practices and KPIs
20:14 Insurance Claims
23:20 Using Analytics to streamline reports and KPIs
26:10 Keeping up with your Metrics
27:20 Closing
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 20,
Dental Warranty with Brad Titensor
This episode’s guest, Brad from Dental Warranty, sheds light on the new way that patients are protecting their dental investments. Dental Warranty is working with practices nationwide to provide peace of mind to patients by covering their dental procedures for up to six years. This also allows for practices to see an increased case acceptance rate as well as allow for patients to feel good about coming back to keep up maintenance on their investments knowing that they are protected. Dental Warranty is also giving AYDP listeners a special deal – mention AYPD and get started for just $250.
0:31 Introducing Brad from Dental Warranty
1:56 What is Dental Warranty?
4:30 Protection through Dental Warranty
9:30 How patients sign up
15:20 Coverages and Warranties
18:55 Appealing to patient needs in the modern world
19:55 Brad’s example
24:20 What training and presenting protection looks like in office
27:55 Getting in touch with Brad and Special Offer for AYDP listeners 32:45 Closing
Brad Titensor
Director of Sales Dental Warranty dentalwarrantycorp.com
Call or text
972-345-8998
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 19, Communication
Effective communication is essential for an efficient dental practice. By establishing clear expectations and reminding patients ahead of time of office protocols and policies, you can prevent costly last-minute cancellations and tardiness. Equally important is maintaining clear communication with your staff to avoid redundancy in questioning patients. Instill trust and clarity in both your staff and patients. Remember, respect is a two-way street!
0:22 Conversation starts 1:15 Paperwork woes 6:54 Cancelation protocol 9:25 Late patients
11:30 Patient handoff
15:04 Morning huddle 15:50 Office communication 19:50 Leadership
25:20 In closing
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 18, Accelerating Your Dental Practice with AI and Technology
AI is the future and dental practices are no exception. AI technology can provide accurate diagnoses, bill for services, make X-rays easier to understand, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. AnnMarie DePalma predict that AI will be a critical component to density in just a few short years. She’s a published oral health professional, consultant, trainer, speaker, and writer. Looking at the big picture, AI will help dentists work smarter, not harder. From buy-in to cost savings, a wide range of concerns are put to rest in this episode.
0:22 Introducing AnnMarie
2:42 AI 7:36 Hygienists 9:15 API
9:55 Billing and diagnosing
12:40 Stages of AI 15:45 Future 5-10 years
19:20 Near future of AI
22:32 Documentation
27:30 The big picture
32:19 Outro
AnnMarie DePalma
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmariedepalma/
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Successful dental practices need to plan ahead to handle both slow and busy periods throughout the year. Back-to-school/September is a common scheduling slump, when families prioritize school and after- school actives. However, offices are slammed in December when patients rush to use their dental benefits in time. This summer has also been slow, with a record number of families taking vacations abroad. Malika and Michelle offer a variety of creative solutions to take advantage of these slow and busy times.
0:22 Back to school scheduling 4:40 Marketing 8:10 Incentives 8:43 Football mouthguard 10:20 True active patient number 14:10 Team building
17:00 Importance of planning 22:45 Reviews and goal setting 26:10 Scheduling woes and traveling 30:07 Outro
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Just how important is a dentist office’s online presence and Google reviews? To answer this in depth, Malika and Michelle bring on an expert. Dr. Len Tau is a retired dentist, dental consultant, speaker, podcaster, author, and the General Manager of Dental Vertical at BirdEye, a patient experience platform. His private Facebook group “Raving Patients,” is a place for dentists to discuss marketing and social media to make their offices more visible and credible. Today, Len shares how to handle a bad review, what the ideal rating is, how to ask for a review, and how to respond to reviews without violating HIPAA.
0:22 Introducing Ken 2:50 Online presence importance 4:40 SEO 8:12 How to ask for review 9:38 Negative feedback 12:55 Involving the team 14:50 Incentivizing reviews 16:10 Responding 21:00 Fake reviews 24:10 Employee reviews 27:25 Raving Patients 30:28 Yelp 31:40 BirdEye 37:52 Get in touch
Dr. Len Tau
drlentau.com (215) 292 2100 len@drlentau.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/ravingpatient/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlentau/ https://www.facebook.com/DrLenTau/ https://open.spotify.com/show/1RDCn77A9Bmoy7e9ffbtgd?si=3be8f9b3122748ac
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/ malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co New To Dental Bootcamp https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Malika and Michelle focus on patient care. How can dental practices ensure that patients feel
valued and cared for? To start, have systems in place to avoid excessive re-scheduling and long
wait times. Dentists shouldn’t take on more patients than they can handle, especially if they are
short-staffed. Decide what kind of experience you want patients to have when they walk in the
door. This might mean re-training your front desk, outsourcing work overseas, and turning away
new patients.
0:22 Topic of conversation
4:38 New patient number
9:45 Short-staffed offices
13:50 Scheduling chaos
18:40 Take care of staff
23:00 Your vision
30:00 Outsourcing
32:40 Outro
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp
https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/
michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Kevin Henry is a dental assistant champion, the Co-Founder of IgniteDA, and the host of the
Dental Assistant Nation Podcast. He’s been in the dentistry industry since 1999 and has seen a
shift in power dynamics as the demand for friendly, punctual, and reliable dental assistants has
skyrocketed. Kevin recommends that dentists steer clear of micromanaging and conduct biannual
“stay interviews” to ensure that dentals assistants feel appreciated, understood, and empowered.
0:22 Introducing Kevin
2:06 Hiring crisis
6:20 Power shifts
7:06 Leadership
8:17 Leadership Course by Mark Murphy
9:10 Stay interviews
12:52 Pitfalls of dentists/assistant relationship
15:05 Retaining talent
23:40 Get connected
25:02 Outro
Kevin Henry
kevin.henry@igniteda.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinhenryigniteda/
https://www.kevinspeaksdental.com/
Dental Assistant Nation Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dental-assistant-nation/id1338558591
Battling the Demons of Dental Assisting by Kevin Henry
https://www.amazon.com/Battling-Beating-Demons-Dental-Assisting/dp/1947480057/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?
_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Leadership Course by Mark Murphy -- The Science and Principles of Managing People
https://www.leadershipiq.com/products/the-science-and-practices-of-managing-people-6-week-online-certificateprogram
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
New To Dental Bootcamp
https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/
Michelle@affinitymanagement.co
In this episode, Malika and Michelle welcome guest, Dr. Tony Stefanou. Tony is a trained dentist turned businessman and Certified Business Intermediary. He is the CEO and Founder of Connect the Dents, a business development consulting and M&A (Merger & Acquisition) advisory company specific to the dental industry.
Whether you plan to sell, want to expand, or are bringing on an associate, it's a smart idea to get an appraisal to know the value of your dental practice.
0:22 Introducing Tony4:42 Practice evaluations9:06 Expanding practice16:10 Private buyer evaluation VS DSO26:52 Over/under valuations28:08 Get connected
Tony Stefanou, DMDconnectthedents.comtonydmd@gmail.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tonydmd/
Malika Azargoon ZarDentalConsulting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanatoaffinitymanagement.coNew To Dental Bootcamphttps://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Having an incentive program in place is a terrific approach to recruit in and retain staff members. Investing in your team not only makes them feel valued, it’s a fun way to reach goals in the office.
For more examples of bonus programs, email Malika or Michelle with "Incentive Program" in the subject line at malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com andmichelle@affinitymanagement.co
0:22 Introducing1:52 Bonus programs3:55 Timing incentives6:14 Get creative10:14 Metrics and goals19:10 Team building23:20 Email us25:18 Outro
Malika Azargoon ZarDentalConsulting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/malika@ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanatoaffinitymanagement.coNew To Dental Bootcamphttps://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/michelle@affinitymanagement.co
In this episode, Malika and Michelle welcome guest, Natasha Gillis. Natasha is a dental and medical business lawyer with the Gillis Firm. She represents dental practices in their start-up needs, acquisitions, partnership changes, and sales.
Today, she offers some general legal advice. Topics covered: associate retention, acquisitions, partnerships, contracts, taxes, and trademarking. Natasha says, “treat your practice as a true business asset.”
0:22 Introducing Natasha1:08 Practice is a business asset5:40 Employee contracts9:16 Partnership agreements16:10 Startups vs acquisitions21:30 Trademarking31:02 Outro
Natasha Gillis, Esq of The Gillis Firm
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sngillis/https://www.facebook.com/TheSmilingLawyerhttps://www.thegillisfirm.comInstagram @TheSmilingLawyer
Malika Azargoon ZarDentalConsulting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
Michelle Affanatoaffinitymanagement.coNew To Dental Bootcamphttps://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinityman
With only a few weeks left of 2022, Malika and Michelle reflect on some of the wins and challenges dental practices faced this year. Now is the time to re-visit your vision and mission statements, increase fees, and set new goals. Dentists should feel in control of their practices by setting boundaries and expectations of their patients.
1:38 Reflecting on 2022
5:30 Wins and challenges for dentists
9:30 Set boundaries and expectations
11:40 Ideal patient
13:36 Vision and mission statements
16:50 Re-train and raise fees
24:30 Hopes for 2023
28:55 Outro
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
Michelle Affanato
AffinityManagement.co
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-affanato-7326b921/
The shortage of dental assistants and hygienists is causing hiring challenges for dentists. It's harder than ever to find and retain talented staff who will stick around when their job opportunities are abundant. Malika and Michelle share advice for finding, onboarding, and incentivizing staff to stay. Foster a positive environment at your office where people feel valued and appreciated.
1:30 Staff challenges
4:10 Work environment
7:08 Bonus incentives
9:20 Retaining and onboarding
17:32 Overhead of staffing
21:10 Avoid hiring mistakes
31:00 Closing words
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
Michelle Affanato
AffinityManagement.co
https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/
In this episode Malika and Michelle speak with Shane Simmons, the Founder and CEO of Crimson Media, a digital marketing agency. In order to attract their ideal patient, practices need to create a trustworthy online presence that tells a story. Optimizing your internal and external marketing will put your practice above the rest and guarantee an healthy influx of business
0:23 Introducing Shane
2:15 What's your story
5:56 Authentic advertising
9:15 Avoid stock photos
12:40 Find your why
18:06 Office culture
20:20 Reviews and videos matter
27:50 Where to post and how to track
32:10 Listen to the calls
35:31 In conclusion
37:30 Outro
Shane Simmons
linkedin.com/in/shane-simmons-b-s-a5051564
https://www.crimsonmediagroup.com/
Twitter @shanesimmonstv
Malika Azaroon
ZarDentalConsutling.com
https://www/linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsutling/
Michelle Affanato
AffinityManagement.co
linkedin.com/in/michelle-affanato-7326b921
Malika and Michelle welcome their first guest to discuss discovering your rhythm in the dental practice. Teresa Duncan is a dental speaker on insurance and management topics, coach, podcast host and the owner of Odyssey Management. The three of them discuss staffing, reviews, recession, checklists, calendars, workplace security and more. Don't wait until the end of the year to get on top of your dental practice business!
0:23 Introducing Teresa 2:05 Today’s topic 5:25 Google Calendar 8:00 Training and reviews 10:30 Checklists and check in’s 17:54 Buying clubs and referrals 20:20 Workplace security 21:55 Goal planning, taxes, marketing, mentoring 27:40 Insurance Update Webinar 33:20 Recession 41:40 Outro
Link to Teresa's Calendar Duties for Managers: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ScPzhQX481K6KbKB_lf5nDprAXohiTIn7ebNOLryroU/edit?usp=sharing
Teresa Duncan, MS https://www.odysseymgmt.com Nobody Told Me That! https://www.odysseymgmt.com/podcasts https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresaduncan/ https://www.facebook.com/OdysseyManagement/
Instagram @treeduncan
Malika Azargoon ZarDentalConsulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
Instagram @zardentalconsulting
Michelle Affanato https://www.affinitymanagement.co
Instagram @michelle_affinitymgmt https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/ Michelle@affinitymanagement.co
Michelle and Malika offer practical advice to help dental practices survive during a recession. They advise being cautious when it comes to dropping insurance plans, concentrating on keeping current patients, establishing a membership program, and taking into account the use of third party financing companies, bearing in mind that patients will be more anxious than ever about the expense of dental procedures.
0:22 Todays topic 2:30 Accepting/dropping insurances 8:32 Accounts Receivable (AR) 16:40 Re-care system 23:34 Membership plans 25:50 Preserving revenue— needs, wants, rainy day fund 29:56 Wrapping up 32:20 Closing words
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
Michelle Affanato
affinitymanagement.co
https://www.facebook.com/michelle.affinitymanagement/
Malika and Michelle talk about the advantages of automating systems in your dental office on the second episode of "Accelerating Your Dental Practice". It's important to streamline as much as possible during this staffing shortage. Scheduling, treatment planning, payments, appointment reminders and review processes can all be automated to save valuable time and money. Another bonus- most patients prefer automated systems over phone calls and physical mail!
0:22 Today's Topic
1:38 Scheduling
6:50 Treatment Planning
11:45 Patient Reminders
19:26 Online Payments
26:56 Reviews
29:40 Money and time savings
32:20 Closing words
Companies mentioned:
Online Scheduling:
LocalMed (www.localmed.com)
Flex Book (flex.dental/flexschedule)
Treatment Planning:
OrthoFi (www.orthofi.com)
Dentrix (www.dentrix.com)
Appointment and Payment Reminders:
Modento (www.modento.io)
Flex (flex.dental)
NexHealth (www.nexhealth.com)
Curve (www.curvedental.com)
Yapi (www.yapiapp.com)
Swell (www.swellcx.com)
Birdeye (www.birdeye.com)
Malika Azargoon
ZarDentalConsulting.com
Michelle Affanato
AffinityManagement.co
Welcome to the first episode of "Accelerating Your Dental Practice" with your hosts, Malika Azargoon and Michelle Affanato, Dental Management Consultants. Starting off, Malika and Michelle discuss the advantages of outsourcing front office tasks in the midst of the hiring drought. Dental practices can save a lot of time and money by outsourcing tasks including new patient calls, insurance verification and claims processing and follow-up.