ZenOne Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Dr. Thomas Graf shares his journey from being a general dentist to specializing in surgery and owning his own practice. He discusses the challenges and growth he experienced as an entrepreneur and the importance of restructuring his business. Dr. Graf also talks about building a strong team and the roles and responsibilities within his practice. He emphasizes the need for clear vision and finding associates who are driven by the right reasons. He shares his insights on finding associates and the importance of keeping them busy and fulfilled in their roles. In this conversation, Thomas Graf and Tiger Safarov discuss the challenges and opportunities of private practice ownership in the dental industry. They emphasize the importance of finding the right associates and creating a supportive and empowering environment. They also highlight the need for private practice owners to think like entrepreneurs and run their practices as businesses. Thomas shares his experience of restructuring his practice's operations and the lessons he learned along the way. They both express their love for dentistry and the satisfaction that comes from being an entrepreneur.
More information: https://www.graf.dental/meet-dr-graf
Takeaways
- Entrepreneurship comes with challenges, but with hard work and restructuring, it can lead to growth and success.
- Building a strong team with clear roles and responsibilities is crucial for the smooth operation of a dental practice.
- Finding associates who are driven by the right reasons and align with the practice's vision is essential for a successful partnership.
- Keeping associates busy and fulfilled in their roles is important for their growth and the success of the practice.
- Dental schools can be a valuable resource for finding potential associates, and reaching out directly to graduates can yield positive results. Finding the right associates and creating a supportive environment is crucial for the success of a private dental practice.
- Private practice owners should think like entrepreneurs and run their practices as businesses.
- Restructuring operations and investing in systems and processes can lead to improved efficiency and profitability.
- Being an entrepreneur in the dental industry requires hard work, outside-the-box thinking, and a willingness to learn and adapt.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction and Meeting Dr. Thomas Graf
(01:29) Challenges and Growth of Entrepreneurship in Dentistry
(05:06) Transition from General Dentist to Surgery Specialist
(08:49) Building a Strong Team and Dealing with Cultural Issues
(13:54) Roles and Responsibilities in Dr. Graf's Practice
(18:11) Finding Associates Driven by the Right Reasons
(23:52) Utilizing Dental Schools as a Resource for Finding Associates
(29:08) The Readiness for an Associate and Keeping Them Busy
(34:13) The Challenges of Dental Education and Finding the Right Associates
(36:38) Thinking Like an Entrepreneur in Private Practice Ownership
(42:39) Flexibility and Empowerment in Practice Operations
(48:25) The Importance of Organization and Preparedness in Private Practice Ownership
(53:36) The Rewards and Satisfaction of Being an Entrepreneur in Dentistry
In this episode Tiger and Jaclyn break down the operational side of a dental practice. What does operational excellence look like, what are the elements of a solid on boarding, how to create SOP, and how to make sure your process actually make an impact on your practice!
More information: https://cornerstoneavenue.com/about-jaclyn/
Jaclyn’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclynkobza/
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:23) What is Cornerstone Avenue, Coaching or Consulting?
(01:25) What is Operational Excellence?
(07:30) How to take Action in creating process driven practice?
(10:00) Simple Tasks vs Complex Tasks?
(14:35) How to deal with Staff pushback when creating SOP and implementing processes?
(18:56) Dentistry nightmares
(20:55) What are the 3 most expensive things you have to get right?
(24:30) Most important HR system you have to get right!
(29:35) Create a document “Working with Dr. Awesome”
(32:35) The power of Checklist
(36:00) Off boarding checklist is a key to less stressful departure
(40:30) Tech stack and digital infrastructure of your dental practice
(44:05) How to setup ideal email for your dental practice
(51:00) Dental Compliance
(56:00) What is the final result of working with Cornerstone Avenue
(57:00) What is Dental credentialing?
(58:00) What are the Top challenges of Private Practices?
(01:03:00) Is there good stress?
(01:04:00) Closing Thoughts
Bio
Dr. Karan Thachil’s educational journey, spanning from the University of Georgia to the Dental College of Georgia, has equipped him with an insightful blend of academic knowledge and clinical skills. His expertise, enriched by a Master’s in Biology and a Doctorate in Dental Medicine, along with specialized training in dental implants and third molar impaction, positions him as a well-rounded dental expert in our practice.
Away from the clinic, Dr. Thachil is deeply committed to his family, enjoying quality time with his wife, Pooja, and their children, Aahana and Dev. His interests extend beyond dentistry, embracing hobbies such as reading, golfing, and being an avid supporter of Georgia’s sports teams. This balanced lifestyle enhances his relatable and approachable demeanor.
Summary
Dr. Karan Thachil shares his journey of starting a dental practice and challenges faced along the way. He discusses the decision to open a startup instead of going the acquisition route and the benefits of creating something from scratch. Dr. Thachil emphasizes the importance of having a good work-life balance and finding a business partner with complementary skills and personalities. He challenges the narrative that dentists should work for DSOs and highlights the advantages of starting your own practice. Dr. Thachil also emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, building a strong team, and providing excellent patient care. Dr. Karan Thachil shares his experience of starting a dental practice and provides advice for others who are considering opening their own practice. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision, treating staff well, and networking within the local community. He also highlights the need for patience and perseverance, as building a successful practice takes time. Dr. Thachil and his partner have set goals for the next five years, including equipping all operatories and supporting both doctors to work full-time. They also plan to focus on building a strong team and maintaining a positive office culture.
More information: www.esteemdentalstudio.com
Takeaways and Notes
- Good to Great -https://a.co/d/1X4ht6m
- Traction - https://a.co/d/f1qT2N4
- Unreasonable Hospitality - https://a.co/d/c7ligki
Chapters
(00:00) Starting a Dental Practice from Scratch
(05:17) Choosing a Startup Over Acquisition
(08:00) Creating a Positive Office Culture and Treating Staff Well
(08:29) Debunking the Narrative: Dentists Can Succeed Outside of DSOs
(12:19) Efficiency and Speed in Dentistry
(13:52) The Importance of Debriefing and Communication with Dental Assistants
(13:58) Networking and Building a Strong Presence in the Community
(20:22) Wearing Multiple Hats: The Challenges of Being a Business Owner
(21:30) Networking and Building a Strong Team
(22:20) Continuous Learning and Guidance
(23:19) Customer Service and Respect
(24:00) Focusing on Quality Over Quantity
(25:59) The Role of Spousal Support in Practice Success
(28:47) Practicing Delayed Gratification and Financial Responsibility
(33:52) Being Accountable and Providing the Best Care for Patients
(41:04) Conclusion
In this conversation, Lynne Leggett discusses the difference between stress and burnout. She explains that stress is a normal part of life and can be managed through completing the stress cycle, while burnout is a more severe state where individuals feel completely overwhelmed and disengaged. Lynne emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between the two and not using the terms interchangeably. She also highlights the role of culture, leadership, and mindset in preventing burnout and creating a positive work environment. Lynne provides examples of stress and burnout in a dental practice and shares the steps to address burnout when it occurs. In this conversation, Lynne Leggett discusses the importance of open communication and coaching in dental practices. She emphasizes the need for dentists to have open door policies and to actively check in with their team members. Lynne also highlights the importance of creating a supportive and caring environment for team members who may be going through personal challenges. She encourages dentists to be proactive in offering help and support, whether it's through small gestures or more significant interventions. Lynne also discusses the role of vision and mission statements in guiding the practice and creating a strong team culture. She emphasizes the need for dentists to embrace their role as coaches and to continuously work on improving their leadership skills. Finally, Lynne explains the difference between a good coach and a great coach, and the importance of creating a team atmosphere in the dental practice.
To Connect with Lynne:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynne-leggett-17173614/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bballcoach12/
Website: https://victorydentalmanagement.com/
Chapters
(00:00) Understanding the Difference: Stress vs. Burnout
(08:31) Recognizing and Addressing Burnout
(23:18) Creating a Game Plan: Practice and Team Mentality for Success
(28:06) The Importance of Open Communication and Coaching
(35:42) Being Human and Building Trust
(41:46) The Role of Vision and Mission
(49:35) From Good Coach to Great Coach
(52:23) Creating a Strong Team Culture
(54:29) Fostering Ownership and Commitment
In this conversation, Dr. Olson discusses his recent experiments with new technologies in his dental practice, including a 3D printer and AI tools. He shares his experiences and thoughts on the potential benefits and challenges of these technologies. They also discuss the need for better practice management software that focuses on business aspects and provides more automation. Dr. Olson expresses his desire for AI to be used in insurance automation and the potential for AI to assist with systematizing dental practices. They also touch on the topic of delegating business decisions to team members and the challenges dentists face in managing their practices. The conversation covers topics such as the potential for creating a group of dental professionals that can be shared among dental offices, the pros and cons of using temp agencies, the future of dentistry with AI and technology, and the importance of collaboration and customization in the industry.
Dr. Andrew Olson Dentist and Owner of Wasatch Dental; Assistant Professor at the University of Utah School of Dentistry. He has a very unique story of becoming a dentist and then pursuing a business education at the University of Utah School of Business. Please enjoy our wide ranging conversation.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-olson-069042147/
Software: Botdent.com
Chapters
(00:00) Exploring New Technologies in Dental Practice
(02:33) The Potential of AI in Dental Practice
(07:38) Delegating Business Decisions to Team Members
(15:05) The Need for Better Practice Management Software
(30:55) The Future of Dentistry with AI and Technology
(35:07) AI in Dental Practice
(42:57) The Importance of Collaboration in Dentistry
(46:03) Dr. Olson's Consulting and Software
(48:51) Taking Control of the Business Side of Dentistry
In this conversation, Malika Azargoon discusses the challenges of pediatric dentistry, the pressures faced by pediatric dentists, and the impact of Gen Z employees on dental practices. She also shares insights from her experience as a marathon runner and the parallels between running a marathon and managing a dental practice. The conversation covers topics related to the challenges and pressures faced by dentists in their professional and personal lives, the importance of work-life balance, the decision to open a practice, the pitfalls of owning a pediatric practice, and the value of dental assistants. It also delves into the dynamics of pediatric practices, the role of dental assistants, and the need for clear career growth paths for assistants. The conversation concludes with book recommendations and a promise of a potential part two.
Bio:
Malika Azargoon is the dynamic Consultant, Founder, and Principal of Zar Dental Consulting. With over 20 years in the dental industry, Malika has become a leading dental management consultant.
A graduate of George Washington University, Malika’s energy and enthusiasm propelled her from dental assistant to business manager in a top dental practice. Recognizing the demand for her expertise, she founded Zar Dental Consulting, which now serves hundreds of practices. Her commitment to client-focused, results-driven strategies has built a business known for significantly increasing dental practice profits.
Malika is a sought-after speaker at national dental conferences, known for engaging teams and driving remarkable breakthroughs. Dentists and their teams appreciate her relatable approach, earning her titles like “Dental Therapist” and “Team Whisperer.”
An avid runner, Malika brings the same energy to her consulting work as she does to every race. She uses her marathon training as an analogy for consulting—commit to the race, stay determined, and cross the finish line.
Schedule a call with Malika: https://calendly.com/zardentalconsulting/zar-client-call?month=2024-06Learn More at:https://www.linkedin.com/in/zardentalconsulting/
Chapters
(00:00) Challenges of Pediatric Dentistry
(02:08) Pressures Faced by Pediatric Dentists
(28:11) The Importance of Personal Balance in Dental Practice Management
(32:52) The Decision to Open a Practice and Career Growth
(46:13) The Value of Dental Assistants in Pediatric Practices
(57:02) Creating Career Growth Paths for Dental Assistants
(01:01:00) Book Recommendations and Part Two Promise
In this conversation, Dr. Mark Costes shares his insights and experiences as a successful dentist and entrepreneur, his upbringing and the influence of his parents on his work ethic and values. He emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and the need for continuous personal and professional growth. Dr. Costes reflects on the misconceptions people may have about him and highlights the role of persistence and luck in his life. He shares his red switch, which is the drive to prove himself and deliver exceptional results. He discusses the challenges he faced in his career, including dealing with criticism and developing a strong work ethic. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and setting high goals. Mark shares his future goals, including writing a non-dental book and launching a DSO.
Chapters:
(0:00) - Introduction
(02:15) - Mark’s upbringing and the influence of his parents
(07:45) - What most people get wrong about Dr. Mark Costes
(11:26) - What is Mark’s red switch
(14:50) - What did Mark know early in the career, but it finally hit him in the 40s and 50s
(22:10) - The problem with setting low goals
(23:15) - Is there anything in the last 2 years that Mark changed his mind on?
(35:30) - What does Mark tell young dentists that say “Mark I want to be like you”? Master 4 Futures and Master your ideal practice.
(40:00) - What’s next for Mark?
The conversation explores the concept of leadership and its application in dental practices. It discusses the misconception that leadership is solely the responsibility of the owner or manager, emphasizing that leadership is a collective effort.
Takeaways
- Leadership is a collective effort and not limited to the owner or manager.
- Setting clear expectations and providing tools are essential aspects of leadership.
- The term 'leader' is often overused and misused, and individuals need to earn their leadership roles.
- Effective communication, transparency, and trust are crucial for building a successful team.
- Dentists face challenges in developing leadership skills, but the younger generation shows a strong desire to improve. Work-life balance is important to millennials and younger professionals, who prioritize a different style of work and life.
- Culture in the workplace is subjective and can vary from one office to another, but it is important to define and align with the values and goals of the business.
- Setting clear expectations and holding team members accountable is crucial for maintaining a positive work environment.
- The process of hiring and firing should be done with dignity and open communication, focusing on the needs and goals of both the employer and the employee.
- Creating a strong culture starts with defining the vision and values of the business and aligning behaviors and goals with those values.
- The firing process can be made easier by using tools such as the Arch template and radical candor to have difficult conversations and set clear expectations.
Bio: Meet Geri Gottlieb, founder and CEO of GG Practice Coaching & Development, a seasoned coach, communications expert, and speaker. With over three decades of experience in dental practice management and leadership development, she brings a unique blend of expertise to drive sustainable growth. From owning two successful periodontal practices with her husband Dr Bob Gottlieb, to being a lead coach with ACT Dental Practice Management and Motivational Speaker Kirk Behrendt to launching her own venture in 2019— she knows what it takes to build a thriving business from scratch. With a passion for continuous education and a deep sense of empathy, Geri is dedicated to helping dental professionals grow and succeed. With a wealth of experience and a thirst for knowledge, she bridges the gaps between clinical expertise, leadership, management, and ownership. Armed with certifications in Adult Learning, Behavioral Therapy, The Five Behaviors of a Team®, DiSC® Behavioral Assessments, and her newest addition—The Working Genius—Geri is equipped to delve into the individual needs of every leader and team member.
Website: https://ggpracticecoaching.com/
Shortcuts:
(0:00) - Podcast Intro
(00:12) - What is Leadership
(01:40) - Is “Leadership '' over-hyped in dentistry?
(08:53) - Difference between Well Oiled Machine Practice and a practice that needs work?
(11:59) - What are the boundaries for transparency in the dental practice?
(20:28) - Why are people afraid of conflict at work?
(22:40) - Ability to read the room?
(23:28) - What would “Hell yea” look like?
(27:03) - DISC
(27:35) - Does the new generation of dentists struggle with leadership?
(30:45) - Misconception of work-life balance
(34:45) - Where to start with the Culture?
(39:39) - Mastering the skill of firing
(44:10) - How you fire is more important than how you hire!
(48:50) - The first time you feel you need to let someone go, you should let them go!
(51:04) - 5 Appreciations in the workplace
(53:45) - When is the right time to call GG
Julie Varney is the biggest advocate for dental assistants in the US. She has been in the industry for 32 years and has accomplished a lot. In this interview she shares her thoughts on what;s holding back the profession of dental assistants and what one person can do to improve her or his career path.
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dentalassistantsrock?igsh=MWE2dHZrbWJmbnJ4NQ==
Registration for the zenone.com/badass
(0:00) - Podcast Intro
(00:40) - TEasing Julie with hosting National conference in March 6-8 2025
(04:02) - National shortage of Dental Assistants, what happened?
(06:03) - What happened with dental assistants
(07:29) - How to determine a reasonable hourly rate for a Dental Assistant?
(10:04) - Are the dental assistants entitled?
(11:15) - Intro to June 28th Full Day workshop
(11:49) - How Julie started instagram account
(18:42) - Who is the workshop for?
(19:30) - Why Dental Assisting schools are not providing adequate training for the industry?
(27:15) - ADA, TDA, AGD and impact of these organization on Dental Assistants
(32:08) - How to leave your current job as a professional?
(36:00) - How to answer tricky questions at the job interviews
(38:54) - How to evaluate practices when interviewing for a job and ask good questions?
(41:25) - “What type of growth opportunities at your dental practice?”
(43:30) - How to get unstuck?
Michelle Affanato started her career in dentistry at the age of 15 and worked her way up to become a dental consultant. She has a unique perspective on the industry, having worked in various roles and even helped a bank with startup practice financing. Michelle believes that the key to success in dentistry is being willing to put in the work and not just focusing on clinical responsibilities. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the business side of dentistry and being involved in all aspects of the practice. Michelle's consulting focus is on system implementation and training, particularly in effective scheduling, financial management, and communication between the clinical and administrative teams. In this conversation, Michelle Affanato discusses the importance of having clear communication and systems in a dental practice. She emphasizes the need for a visual reminder of important information, such as X-rays or photos, to ensure that the team is consistently reminded of necessary procedures. Michelle also highlights the benefits of morning huddles in getting the entire team on the same page and maximizing productivity. She advises offices to focus on the highlights and important information during huddles, rather than going through every patient on the schedule. Michelle also touches on the use of sports analogies in business and the importance of defining success based on individual goals. She encourages private practices to focus on the patient experience and their own definition of success, rather than considering selling to a DSO as a solution to challenges. Michelle also discusses the difficulties in finding and retaining staff in the current job market and suggests considering training and onboarding individuals from outside of dentistry. Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability in a startup practice, as systems and layouts may need to be adjusted as the practice grows and changes.
Takeaways
Success in dentistry requires putting in the work and not just focusing on clinical responsibilities.
Understanding the business side of dentistry and being involved in all aspects of the practice is crucial.
System implementation and training are key to effective scheduling, financial management, and communication within the practice.
Open-mindedness and a willingness to overcome challenges are important traits for success in dentistry. Clear communication and visual reminders are essential in a dental practice to ensure that the team consistently follows necessary procedures.
Morning huddles are a valuable opportunity to get the entire team on the same page and maximize productivity by focusing on the highlights and important information.
Defining success based on individual goals is crucial for private practices, and selling to a DSO should not be seen as the only solution to challenges.
Finding and retaining staff can be challenging in the current job market, and considering training and onboarding individuals from outside of dentistry may be a viable option.
Flexibility and adaptability are key in a startup practice, as systems and layouts may need to be adjusted as the practice grows and changes.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction and Reconnecting
(07:59) What Sets Michelle Apart as a Consultant
(28:06) Focus of Michelle's Consulting and Implementing Systems
(39:04 )Challenges and Strategies for Finding and Retaining Staff
(50:29) Defining Success and Setting Clear Goals
(58:02) Improving Efficiency and Patient Experience
In this podcast Michelle and I discuss how to become a trusted member of the team and learn to become the lead dental assistant. Learning how to communicate and the fundamentals of delegation. Michelle has been with Ballantyne Endodontics For 15 years and became clinical leader. Michelle Allen bio
Discount code : ZENONE for $400 off both the independent and The Independent + The collective (which is the coaching option). The next 8 week class starts on May 1st!
Shortcuts:
(0:00) - Podcast Intro
(01:10) - Balancing Act of day to day activities
(03:59) - What is the role of Lead Assistant
(06:56) - Responsibilities of a Lead Dental Assistant
(09:30) - Hiring the right people
(10:38) - Did your pay go up?
(12:17) - $45/hour Assistant, is it possible?
(14:35) - Is there a ceiling?
(16:43) - How to build trust between a doctor and a dental assistant
(23:16) - Non Verbal Communication in clinical settings
(25:35) - Sequence of procedures is a foundation for successful non verbal communication
(28:24) - Why is it so hard for practice to master non verbal communication
(30:32) - What is the goal for the course?
(33:53) - The reason for Polished Academy name
(34:32) - Do you have training for general practice dental assistant
(36:44) - How do you plan to manage the Full Time job and Coaching other offices?
(38:10) - What’s wrong with the current definition of a Dental Assistant
(39:40) - Michelle’s Story
(41:45) - You should do more in life and take on more responsibilities/challenges
(44:26) - What’s next?
(48:21) - What would you tell someone who is just starting out in the endo practice as an assistant?
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/MichelleAllen_DA/
More information about the course: https://polishedacademy.vipmembervault.com/
Reference https://a.co/d/j9nQO6W
DISC assessment - https://www.discprofile.com
Unreasonable Hospitality - https://a.co/d/4VnNM0e
4000 Weeks - Time Management for Mortals - https://a.co/d/07zZnVh
Dr. Benjamin Johnson, DDS ( Bio; LinkedIn)
Dr. Benjamin Johnson graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Biology (2005), he attended Ohio State’s School of Dentistry and graduated in 2009.
In 2010, Dr. Johnson moved to Texas to work with Dr. Dale McCall (at what would become Acre Wood Dental). When Dr. McCall retired in 2011, Dr. Johnson purchased the practice and continued its tradition of excellent care while adding personal touches to grow it to the next level.
Dr. Johnson was blessed with a flourishing practice in Waco and needed additional space to grow. Acre Wood Dental expanded by acquiring two additional practices in neighboring towns – Temple and Gatesville.
In 2016, he updated and remodeled Acre Wood Dental Waco – going from five operatories to 17 operatories. In 2022, he started remodeling the Acre Wood Dental Temple location. In 2023 he purchased a practice in Round Rock Texas, making it his 4th location.
Shortcuts:
(00:00) - Podcast Intro
(00:27) Goal Setting
(02:20) Yearly Planning retreat
(04:15) Debt Reduction Framework for Goal Setting and Work Life Balance
(06:30) “I don’t really have goal for trips or income”
(08:20) The home is a foundation for a family
(09:15) Round Rock practice purchase story
(11:15) 5 Year gap between practice 3 and 4
(11:45) Dynamics of Power couples and how decisions are made
(13:30) Payroll nightmares when running 3 lean practices
(14:50) “Can you walk us through the purchase details?”
(17:19) Practice video walk through
(18:40) So why other buyers missed this gem? The real art of the dental deal
(20:55) “I did act fast”
(22:30) Price breakdown of this deal in real time, buildout/cabinetry, equipment, supplies, CEREC adds up to $1.1 million
(24:56) The risk reward was so extreme
(26:20) The importance of business acumen
(27:36) Associates expectations in the first 10 years of professional career
(29:25) “if you are worried about cash flow, great be an associate. If you are worried about net worth, then own”
(31:55) Cash flow or net worth, what do you want?
(33:37) People have the pressure because they don’t have the support at home
(36:20) Long term vision for the practice
(37:40) Are there more purchases after this practice?
(38:12) The team of rock stars that you need to have around you to scale
(39:48) “When I drive I’m a quiet kind of ride guy”
(41:02) “If you have no experience the headspace is a scary space because you don’t know” [42:01]
Dr. Aaron Nicholas (Bio, Insta, LinkedIn), In this wide ranging conversation we cover many topics that include burnout, suicide in dentistry, backpain, coping mechanisms, and mastery. Probably the most important part of the podcast is when I ask Dr. Nicholas, what fears does he have for the profession of dentistry?
Shortcuts:
(0:00) Podcast Intro
(01:20) Dr. Aaron’s retirement and how he keeps himself busy
(03:30) The Fairytale of Selling a Dental Practice
(05:50) Dentist burnout and what is the real reason?
(10:38) What is the Source of the burnout?
(12:50) 3 Dimensional framework to evaluate work-life balance - Work-Goals-Life
(17:50) Different Coping mechanisms to overcome burnout
(22:00) Healing back pain book
(26:10) 1 Thing Young Dentist can do to avoid the burnout and avoid back pain
(28:35) How do you pick good dental coaching?
(30:40) 5-6 Years before you become a master
(33:19) How would Dr. Nicholas would write chapter 1 of the book?
(34:42) What fears do you have about the profession of dentistry?
(42:10) We are really new to AI game with diagnosis
(42:50) Next 10 years of Dentistry and what is the bright side of dentistry?
(45:45) What is true Mastery? How to define mastery and achieve it?
Dr. Aaron’s courses and References:
- https://www.mondaymorningdentistry.com/
- Extraction course - https://www.mondaymorningdentistry.com/handsonextractions
- Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection - https://a.co/d/82BPUd2
- Colorado Surgical Institute- https://www.coloradosurgicalinstitute.com/#5
- Implant Pathway - https://www.thepathway.com/
Get in touch with Dr. Aaron Nicholas - anicholasdds@gmail.com
There are many aspects we can all agree are missing in dentistry today. However, from my perspective, having worked with dental teams daily, I can clearly see that onboarding, training, and nurturing for your team is sorely lacking. Let's refer to it simply as "training".
How do I know? Well, I constantly hear phrases like, "They don't even know how to put on a rubber dam" or "How many times do I need to say that I use plain cetonest?" or my personal favorite, "I just need a dental assistant who can get the work done." What does this mean?
Please check out full article here
- Trend 1: One of the most significant trends I've noticed is the increasing popularity of buying groups.
- When evaluating a group, dental practices should ask the following questions related to their negotiated formulary:
- Which manufacturers offer the deepest discounts?
- How often are discounts negotiated?
- Is pricing volume-based?
- Does the buying group negotiate a percentage discount or a fixed price per product? (We recommend the latter.)
- Trend 2: Labor costs are driving the adoption of tools that reduce manual work. This trend is evident.
- When selecting the right ordering platform for the practice, several considerations are crucial:
- Data ownership: Ensure the practice owns all data and can access the entire database at any point.
- Setup cost: There shouldn't be a setup cost to start using an ordering platform.
- Trial period: Request a free trial to assess usability before committing.
- Trend 3: Private practices are becoming savvier about where to save and are utilizing their freedom to invest in products that make a difference.
Reference:
We come across the following groups the most:
- Synergy Dental
- DentalWhale Savings Network
- SourceClub
- DSN (Dental Success Network)
- Kois Buying Group
- Mari’s List (for Orthodontic offices)
In this wide ranging conversation we cover many topics:
- Startup, In Network, Out of Network, and knee deep in construction a story of 3 practices
- We didn’t even remind them to schedule the next appointment, was that a mistake?
- We still have a capacity issue, bit on the hygiene side
- Why do you need an associate if your hygiene schedule is not full?
- Passive Income strategies.
- Is Real Estate investment a good alternative to Dentistry?
- The Breakdown the business side of Dental Emergencies
Few things we mentioned on the Pod:
-Round Flash Photo Diffuser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NQ6UT4W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
- 3D Printer for office things: http://bambulab.com/
TimeStamps:
[00:55] Introductions
[13:16] Looking for an associate. Avatar of the Ideal Associate for Ayrat, Andy, and Winston
[19:17] Challenges and Goals
[22:23] Why do you need an associate if your hygiene schedule is not full?
[23:32] The Business side of dental emergencies
[28:20] Marketing Strategies
[32:06] “I see a lot of our friends selling”
[32:10] Passive Income in Dentistry, Myth or Reality?
[35:27] Not Practicing Dentistry and Invest in real estate
[37:40] Real Estate VS Dentistry
[42:18] Construction Challenges
[43:56] Latest Technology Purchases
[51:02] Working with In House Marketing Team
Future Topics: Advisors and Coaching in Dentistry
Dr. Andrew Olson Dentist and Owner of Wasatch Dental; Assistant Professor at the University of Utah School of Dentistry. He has a very unique story of becoming a dentist and then pursuing a business education at the University of Utah School of Business. Please enjoy our wide ranging conversation.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-olson-069042147/
Software: Botdent.com
Topics:
01:00 Introductions
03:34 Early Days
05:05 What sparked the interest in Dentistry?
08:00 Why did you pursue an MBA?
17:45 Misconception of business education and the importance of it to have a competitive edge.
20:00 2 Takeaways from Business School
22:30 The Superpower of a dental practice
25:50 Business Books
27:30 What does the next generation of Dentists look like?
33:11 What would a dentist miss out on if avoid being an owner
35:47 Unfortunate story of a doctor who should’ve been an associate
50:21 Credit Cards and Passwords
59:12 “I actually don’t have an office manager”
01:01:58 What is the Culture?
01:03:00 What is one killer of culture
01:06:05 Who is your competition?
01:09:45 The Future of Private Practice Ownership
01:12:43 0-10 Scale of Future of Dentistry
Books Recommendation
- Four Disciplines of Execution
- eMyth Revisited
- Psycho-Cybernetics
Welcome to Episode 79 where I ask Ayrat, practice administrator at Cedar Park Dental Wellness, what’s new and exciting in 2024. We spent most of the time discussing pitfalls of going out of network with dental insurance companies.
Welcome to Episode 78. In this short episode, I interviewed one of the early ZenOne customers and someone whom I admire for his work ethic and humbleness. Dr. Fan shares the story of growing up in Claremont California, going to dental school in New York, and settling in Austin.
Timestamps:
00:00:40 When Dr Fan started his practice
00:01:02 Dr. Fan's bold relocation to Austin
00:02:01 Becoming a dentist
00:04:51 Looking for the first job
00:06:48 Purchasing a practice
00:09:40 One patient at a time
00:12:12 Why Dr Fan selected his dental school
00:13:42 Constant self-development and self-education
00:15:41 How technology helps Dr Fan achieve results
00:16:21 When you work for a DSO you are driven by numbers
00:17:53 Unwinding After a Long Day
00:20:51 Dr. Fan's Aspirations
00:21:40 Ownership is not for everyone
Welcome to Episode 77 where we visit Garrison Dental Solutions in Michigan. We met with the team, toured the manufacturing facility, and discussed the challenges of serving practices across the country. At the end of the visit, I sat down with the Director of Sales for North America, Richard Markules
Timestamps:
00:01:43 Intro
00:03:00 Introduction to dental
00:04:30 Garrison started in the basement
00:06:30 What is the sales process?
00:07:45 What has changed in Dentistry in the last 10 years?
00:09:00 What does make private practice strong?
00:10:33 How often do the owners of Garrison go to the factory?
00:11:26 Culture at Garrison Dental
00:13:45 How to align yourself with the right partners
00:16:20 Educational resources for dental teams
00:17:20 Closing Notes
Welcome to Episode 76 where I’m joined by my good friends Dr. Scott Goldman (LinkedIn) and Dr. Peter Boulden DDS (LinkedIn). On this podcast, we debunk all the pros and cons of selling a practice to DSO (2 times) and he learned and experienced all of the things DSOs offer. On the other hand, Dr. Boulden resisted the urge to sell to DSO for years and kept building his group in Atlanta to now 8 locations in Georgia. Dr. Boulden is also a co-host of Bulletproof podcast and Bulletproof Mastermind to help private practices continue staying private.
Hope you enjoy it.
Tiger
Timestamps:
(00:01:25) Dr. Scott Goldman's introduction
(00:02:28) Dr. Peter Boulden's introduction
(00:04:30) Scott, Why did you sell to DSO? $32mm revenue, 12 locations, and 8.5 EBITDA
(00:06:18) How much did you sell it for?
(00:08:29) Are you a Platform practice for Private Equity?
(00:12:25) Build one practice really well and get a better multiple
(00:14:40) Scott breaks down the details of his acquisition
(00:18:52) “I’ve never seen less than 5 years you need to stay as a selling doctor, Isn’t that crazy”
(00:20:20) What is the recapitalization?
(00:21:42) The effect of the high-interest rates. Continuation vehicle is a new thing. What is it?
(00:23:00) difference between Private DSO/dentist-led/backed and 100% PE-backed
(00:24:02) Dr. Boulden real rub with the PE-backed DSOs
(00:25:33) The pros of the DSOs.
(00:27:36) “Partnerships often don’t work”
(00:30:37) “I can guarantee you when they are private they are run better than a DSO”
(00:31:10) What are the emotional things that people do not talk about
(00:34:30) No one washes the rental car!
(00:36:44) No Thy self!
(00:38:55) What is the other option?
(00:39:00) “Private Practice Valuations are going to stay stable to other private practice doctors. Those valuations will hold. DSO valuations are only going to go down”
(00:42:40) Are you Redlining yourself running your private practice?
(00:44:00) 4 things to do before selling the practice
(00:46:45) “It wasn’t worth it for me at some point to continue” Dr. Goldman
(00:48:00) How Dr. Goldman started with 780SF, 2 chairs, FFS, $997 in collections with 75% take home.
(00:49:45) Ownership is not for everyone
(00:54:05)” I wanted to buy time” Dr.Goldman
(00:56:28) How to owner finance to your associate?
(01:02:30) Closing thoughts and we discuss what makes dentistry so great!
Welcome to Episode 75 where we discuss a big announcement we made about future plans of Zen Supplies and introduction of the new platform -ZenOne. I asked Delaney Barber (Practice Success Manager) and Jillian Gomez (Partner Vendors Manager) to join me on this podcast to share the news and the feedback we received so far. Jill shares the details of her work of adding thousands of SKUs and most importantly the Quality process. This is a short and sweet episode to give listeners a glimpse into the inner workings of Zen Team!
Book a demo to experience the new platform in action: zensupplies.com/demo
Experienced Operations Officer with a demonstrated history of successful work in the Supply Chain and Logistics industry. Skilled in Cash Flow, Financial Operations, Manufacturing Operations, Warehouse Operations, and Warehouse Control. Strong finance professional with a Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA focused in Accounting and Finance from University of Central Arkansas.
Today I had a chance to discuss all things hygiene with Laura and Danielle. They met 15 years ago at th hygiene schools and since then stayed friends and 12 months ago started Diamond Dental Hygiene Career Coaching. On this podcast we discuss:
- What holds most of the hygienists back?
- How to manage a toxic environment and when is the time to call quits?
- How to build a nurturing Growth mindset?
- What causes the burnout?
- Characters traits of a great dental hygienist?
- Does everyone need to be a leader?
- Some of the negatives of a dental hygiene profession during Covid
Danielle’s Bio & Laura’s Bio
To book a free consultation click here
Amy Bridger has exclusively worked in the dental industry since 2013. Having worked with multiple customer segments, including private practice, emerging groups, DSOs, as well as GPOs across the country, Amy’s knowledge base of the dental industry is extensive. She takes pride in identifying and helping her customers realize potential areas of improvement within their procurement, marketing, and operational strategies. Having worked for Henry Schein for 6 years, Amy came to Dental Whale at the beginning of 2020 to launch and lead their Strategic Partnership Division, which includes relationships with DSOs, GPOs, Consultants, Associations as well as Private Equity Firms. She holds a BBA in Management and an MBA from the McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University.
We cover so many different topics on:
- How UPS mastered logistics and what Private Practice Owners can learn from it
- GPO myths and tactics
- Free Goods and Specials. Why dental practices should stay away from Manufacture Promotions
- The current wave of simplification and transparency in the dental industry
- Why your best today could be different from your best tomorrow
- Nobody dies from dental supplies
- Disney Customer Experience
This podcast is not financial advice, please talk to your financial adviser or tax planner or people that are certified.
Shannon Blackmon is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, highly trained in financial planning and investment management. Helping others not only survive but flourish and live full, prosperous lives is her goal. Shannon enjoys co-creating custom financial plans with her clients’ well-being at the center.
Shannon earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona and her Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University. Shannon is a Registered Life Planner® through Kinder Institute. She is also a Certified Financial Therapist-Level I™ Practitioner. She serves as Co-Chair for the Horizons Foundation’s Professional Advisors Council and is a member of Dental Speaker Institute, and Dental Speakers Bureau.
Reach out to Shannon: shannonb@thomasdoll.com
Resources:
- Link for Shannon’s Assessment: https://measure.datapoints.com/survey/842/iIRZck0XLr0dpzJBy9bT
- Robo Adviser (we do not earn any commission) https://www.wealthfront.com/
- Online Brokerage Firms (we do not earn any commission)
We cover so many topics ranging from:
Timestamps:
(01:32) What do people get wrong about the finances
(04:31) How Dental Assistants can get on the path of creating wealth
(07:22) How start setting money aside for Emergency Fund (Rainy Day fund)
(10:45) Emergency Fund gives you a boost of confidence
(12:51) What to do if the practice you work for doesn’t have 401K offering
(14:37) Traditional vs Roth IRA differences
(17:36) How and why to choose Certified Financial Planner
(19:13) What is the cost of working with a Certified Financial Planner
(24:20) People hide bigger problems behind Money Problems
(28:50) How to discover your goals
(36:10) Modern platform to manage your finances
(39:11) Real meaning of Paying Yourself First
In this episode I have a special guest, Cassie Kellner, who I met 4 years ago and was immediately impressed by. Cassie has been in the dental field for 20 years and started as a general dentist assistant when she was 19 years old. After 4 years she moved to assisting at the Ortho office and since then she’s been in love with orthodontics. After years being in the field she moved to Hummingbird Associates as a Clinical Systems Consultant. We cover so many topics ranging from:
(5:45) How to transition from general to orthodontics
(7:18) Misconceptions of transitioning from General to orthodontics
(13:05) Why dental assistants do not see dentistry as a career path
(19:05) What do you do when you feel stuck?
(20:40) What’s the right way to complain and is best to talk to?
(24:40) Create 90 Day Onboarding system
(27:15) Asana in Dentistry
(31:30) Just jump! It’s an incredible ride
(33:33) Parenting and Dentistry
(36:00) Our industry needs to be be doing more for employees with kids
(37:05) What would the Stellar Maternity Leave package look like?
(43:13) Day to Day challenges of being a mom and trying to keep the job
(49:20) How to have difficult conversations?
(51:30) Parenting advice, the good and bad advice we both received? And some strange questions that people ask you 🙂
(55:25) Best Parenting advice from Cassie
(58:18) Real Life scenario of balancing home and work and how to communicate with your office? (sorry for my language here) How do we support people that are going through rough times?
Around (33:33) we switch gears to Parenting since we are both parents. Cassie’s kids are 4 and 3. My kid is almost 8 months old. So we felt there is a lot that needs to be said about parenting and dentistry.
In this episode I sat down with Colin Ambler (LinkedIn) who is co-owner of Noble Dentistry, 14 ops with 50 staff members, with his wife and also a founder of a new dental startup Team Care (teamcaredental.com). We discuss why reward/incentive programs are important, key elements and the effects of the productivity of the practice.
We also touch on how he and his wife grew the practice from scratch and what important checkboxes you need to check in order to grow and never lose sight of details.
Towards the end of the episode Colin shares one nugget that any practice can take and build their successful practice.
In this episode, Jillian from Zen Supplies interviews Celeste Izquierdo, Assistant Manager and Treatment Plan Coordinator at Triangle Family Dentistry-Morrisville in North Carolina. Celeste is not only a skilled dental professional but also a talented self-taught artist. In this interview, she shares her journey of discovering her passion for art at a young age and how it intertwines with her career in dentistry. From Bob Ross to animation, Celeste's diverse artistic influences have shaped her unique style and approach. Be ready to be amazed by the way Celeste incorporates her artwork into the dental office, using it to communicate complex procedures to patients and create a welcoming atmosphere. This captivating dialogue truly shows the fusion of creativity and oral healthcare as well as the beauty that emerges from their harmonious combination.
In this episode, Delaney Barber, Customer Success Manager at ZenSupplies, discusses with Amanda Garthwaite, Regional Director Of Operations at Lightwave Dental, the story of how Lightwave offices got acquainted with ZenSupplies and started their journey towards efficiency and transformation. The journey wasn’t all smooth and effortless. But due to the challenges they faced, Amanda and her team understood the importance of constant analysis, communication, trainings, and support. Amanda describes how ZenSupplies helps them stay under budget and consolidate all their needs in one convenient place. No more juggling multiple systems and vendors, they now had a unified hub of resources at their fingertips.
Amanda’s advice to other dental practices is that technology is not something to be feared but embraced. It is a key that would unlock doors they never knew existed, changing the mindset and paving the way for efficiency.
Laura shares the excitement of being acquired. We discussed the origin story, specialty, having 2 competing offices across the street, and crazy stories from when they acquired offices. Eventually New Horizons became a 13 location DSO and recently got acquired by 2 other national DSOs. Laura started as a hygienist and worked her way up to a Clinical Operations Coach, overseeing ordering, clinical and all of assisting roles. We discuss culture and what makes a great culture. Finally we touch on patient experience, specifics on how to really deliver unique patient experience.
Dr. David Bonner has a years of clinical experience and business success that now he has a chance to share with fellow dentist. I love the energy and true passion Dr. Bonner has to dentistry. We kick off the conversation discussing sensitivity, amalgams, public speaking, defining success, doctor's attitude, coaching, work life balance, and how to love the dental industry!
Dr. David Bonner Bio:
Leader in Advanced General Dentistry Dr. David M. Bonner was recognized as “Citizen of the Year” in 2013 by the Dumas & Moore County Chamber of Commerce. In 1992, nomineed Texas Dentist of the Year.
The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio has honored him as an Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor.
He lectures throughout the country to dental schools and Professional Dental Associations on dental technology, dental materials, and dental practices.
Dr. B’s enthusiasm for dentistry is contagious. His son, Dr. Reagan A. Bonner, graduated from The UT Dental School in San Antonio. His younger son, Dr. Justin D. Bonner, graduated from the UT Dental School in San Antonio and works as an Oral Surgeon in Temple, TX at the Baylor Scott & White Hospital. His daughters-in-law, Rachel and Lydia, are both Registered Dental Hygienists.
Dr. Bonner says, “I love the Texas Panhandle and its people. I was raised here and wanted to raise my family here among some of the best people on earth.”
“Dr. B” earned a B.S. in chemistry and biology at Stephen F. Austin State University in 1976, where he also taught chemistry and worked in chemical research.
In 1980, he graduated with his doctorate from The University of Texas Dental School in San Antonio. While there he worked as a research scientist in biomedical materials.
In 2009, he earned his M.B.A. from Texas Tech University with a certified emphasis in Health Care Management.
After dental school graduation, Dr. Bonner returned to his hometown of Dumas where he has been in the practice of Orthodontics & General Dentistry since June of 1980.
Dr. Bonner is active in organized Dentistry. He served as President for the Panhandle District Dental Society in 2010-2011, a component of the American Dental Association. He has served as President of the Panhandle Academy of General Dentistry, and Vice-President of the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. He is a member of professional organizations including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Orthodontic Society, International Association for Orthodontics, American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Texas Dental Association, Panhandle District Dental Society, Alumni Association of the Student Clinicians of the American Dental Association, and Memorial Hospital Staff.
Active in the community, he taught 7 courses of Human Anatomy & Physiology at Amarillo College. He served as the “Head Wrangler” for Dogie Days 2008 and serves the Dumas Noon Lions Club as the Immediate Past District Governor for the Lions District. Dr. Bonner is also currently serving as City Commissioner & Mayor Pro Team for the City of Dumas.
He has coached many of our youth in football, basketball, wrestling, soccer, and baseball. He and his wife Gayla, of 41 years, have four married children and nine grandchildren.
Matt Barber is a Managing Partner at Highwire Ventures | Fractional Chief Strategist | Venture Studio Operator| Municipal Innovation strategist| Helping funds & business leaders manage change & strategy. He founded Highwire Ventures with Richard Margolin in the summer of 2019 and continued to pilot this theory with Robokind and other clients approaching their next round in capital injection through management consulting, process strategy, partnerships, and outcome planning. His "ecosystem" process has helped multiple companies reach higher valuation and reduce wasted spending during growth. He began to connect multiple angels and institutional investors as a "scout" for potential investments through Highwire Ventres and the extensive knowledge and process that this type of engagement would create for business owners, founders, board members and investors alike.
One of the challenges on remote work is being connected to your team and building personal relationships. The solution for that is Offsite, which we recently had in Austin. One night of a few drinks and a day of planning and working together. Our goal is to host entire team offsite in Europe in 2023!
We discuss what made her successful, what was difficult and has helped her to switch gears, stay within dental field and grow professionally. At Zen we believe Dental Assistant is a career that can bring a lot of rewards to a person from financial stability to higher pay, to personal satisfaction.
We also discuss our challenges of scaling and how to preserve personal touch with our office even in the midst of growing.
John has a unique story, growing up in the family restaurant business, learning important skills early on. As John said during the interview "When it comes to leadership and management, there is nothing new under the sun" it's important to establish your decision framework, principles and guiding values to become a great leader. We go into details and examples from John career at Sleepy's (10 year career path) and National Veterinary Associates (4 years) and how the idea of Servant Leadership has led John to the current role at Light Wave.
My Takeaways:
- Good people do great things
- First line of team and management is the most critical part of the organization and senior level management is the least important
- Empower the front line management
- Principles for growth:
- Self Exploration
- Decision Making Framework
- Values
- Work life balance always comes with the question: "What are you willing to give up to achieve X"
- No Foundation leads to firefighting. Strong foundation, leadership, long term planning leads to high performance
- One important skills to transition from junior management to more senior is to "Learn how to Story-tell"
- Walk and take calls to manage
Hope you enjoy it!
Elizabeth starts at 5am everyday at the gym to start moving and prepare for any challenges the day can bring. Then the work starts at 6:30am with one of the 6 locations at River Run dental. Her job role is a Clinical director, but she wears many hats to help achieve the goals. We spend a good amount of time discussing goals, and how to find a dental practice that has goals and focused on growth. Elizabeth shares her simple questions to identify the right practice for yourself. Know what you are looking for and find the practice that can help you get there.
We talked a little about early days of the pandemic in 2020 and how Zen was able to help River Run during PPE shortages.
Angie Bachman, Director of Education at Design Ergonomics, shares her story from Dental Assistant to Supplies Sales Rep and to a role at Design Ergonomics where she helps offices to truly get organized. We cover many things including my favorite topic, a career path for Dental Assistant how practices can create one to provide a path for your team. Other topics include:
- Career Path for dental assistants, clinical track and business track. How to make it work
- Ways to motivate the team
- Becoming an Expert in the field
- Empowering the team to make decisions
- How to design workflow of the practice for maximum efficiency
- How to layout Inventory storage in the dental practice
Dr. Tom has incredible story of growing up in Chicago ,having paper routes at 9 years old and growing up in the family of 6. After completing dental school, Tom joined the Navy for 5 years and then spent some time in Seattle making $31,000 a year before landing in Weatherford Texas. He recently expanded to a new building, from 2200 SF 7 ops space to a 4000 SF 12 ops stand alone building. Dr. Novak shares his life wisdom on running a practice, raising kids and building incredible family.
More about Beacon Dentistry: https://www.beacondentistry.com/thomas-novak-dds.html
and Dr. Tom Novak Biography: https://youtu.be/egNCFjQh4yQ
Today I seat down with Santosh Patel, President of Complete Specialty Solutions. We talk about early days and how Santosh had to take PTO days to visit dental conferences and meet people at the Starbucks to save money on fancy dinners. With support of his and the family he decided to go all in and pursue the journey against his own doubts of being an entrepreneur.
We cover so many things, how AI platforms, like Overjet and Pearl and true AI applications in dentistry that will revolutionize the industry just like CEREC and digital scanners did back in the days. We discuss leadership traits, biggest cause of specialists burn out, leading by guilt vs fear, and seeing how dentistry will go through next economical challenges as it always does. And we finish our conversation with Santosh’s best advice for life and parenting: “You are never going to be perfect, your kids are never going to be perfect, just accept it and enjoy the life”
Timestamps:
3:45 - Starting Complete Specialty Solutions
7:45 - Push back from the Industry
8:00 - a case for building internal software platform
12:00 - Genesis of the idea for the business “Why dental industry didn’t have in house specialty services”
13:50 - Most Specialist coming out of Residency with a tremendous debt
16:35 - “I never had entrepreneurial bone in my body”
17:25 - The concept of changing lanes
19:00 - Dentist take all this debt, get excited about future, build the practice and open the door. And the number of patients is not there. Then they start to question
21:20 - hitting the bottom. It’s always the payroll question
24:26 - Push back and misconceptions early on
30:10 - Constant chicken and the egg problem and to tackle it
37:50 - Larges cause for specialist burn out
46:40 - Employee Retention is a huge issue in dental practices
47:40 - AI in Dentistry - Overjet and Pearl
49:00 - How to apply AI platform to identify hidden revenue with your current patient base
51:45 - AI will change the industry, same scanner and Cerec changed dentistry back in the day
53:00 - Favorite thing about running Complete Speciality Solutions
59:50 - Unique Leadership traits
1:03:45 - Dentistry will always bounce back from any challenge
About Pearl: https://www.hellopearl.com/
About Overjet: https://www.overjet.ai/
To learn more about Complete Specialty Solutions:
Complete Specialty Solutions provides in-house specialty solutions to general dentist offices through our unique combination of clinical, business and operational support delivered as an integrated and turn-key solution. Our highly experienced team has activated and scaled in-house specialty solutions across all major specialties (oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, and pediatric dentistry) in both solo office and large DSO operations during the past eight years.
http://www.completespecialty.com/
🎥 VIDEO DESCRIPTION:
Welcome back to ZenOne podcast. Today I'm visiting one of my favorite offices in Waco Texas, Acre Wood Dental and the team, Dr. Ben Johnson, Allison, Meghan and Dan Johnson. We discuss projects Dr. Johnson completed during COVID, managing during tough times, culture and leadership.
We cover so many great topics on desire, what makes one pursue perfection and continue to grow professionally. Dr. Johnson shares a story of a personal failure and steps he took to overcome. As Winston Churchill was working to form the United Nations after WWII, he famously said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. In our context never let a great challenge go wasted without a growth
At about 32 minutes into the conversation we change gears from personal growth and business to family and fundamentals of the successful marriage.
Show notes and timestamps
14:00 - Changing Practice Management Software
16:40 - How Dr. Jonson evaluates new software options for the office
19:30 - Desire to Grow and add more practices. How to identify strengths and what is the max
24:00 - Daily Routine for peak performance
25:00 - Lights go off but we continue recording
26:15 - Are you born with desire and ambition
30:00 - Steps to overcome failures
32:40 - "How much do you share with your wife?"
40:30 - We mention Dr. Tom Novak (Beacon Dentistry) and his relationship advice
To learn more about Dr. Johnson's incredible story, please watch this video:
https://youtu.be/Hr6y0SSuv1o
Website: https://www.acrewooddental.com/
📌 ABOUT THIS CHANNEL:
Hi friends, my name is Tiger and I'm the founder and CEO of ZenSupplies, an inventory management and ordering platform for Dental Practices across US. We focus on building a simple solution for our clients to manage inventory, place all orders in one place and customize products your way. If you like videos, interviews and how tos about efficiency, inventory process and smart ordering as much as we do, please subscribe to our channel.
🔗 LINKS
ZenSupplies Blog:
https://www.zensupplies.com/blog/
ZenSupplies Podcast:
https://www.zensupplies.com/zenone-podcast/
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4I-NnQ8VfQ73hQS80gDB4Q
Follow us on Instagram:
@zen.supplies
🎥 VIDEO DESCRIPTION:
Many of our friends have been asking "What is going on with Zen?". Well, we have been very busy and now I'm excited to share with you what's new, what's coming in the next few months and what's the format for ZenOne Podcast.
📌 ABOUT THIS CHANNEL:
Hi friends, my name is Tiger and I'm the founder and CEO of ZenSupplies, an inventory management and ordering platform for Dental Practices across US. We focus on building a simple solution for our clients to manage inventory, place all orders in one place and customize products your way. If you like videos about efficiency, inventory process and smart ordering as much as we do, please subscribe to our channel.
🔗 LINKS
ZenSupplies Blog:
https://www.zensupplies.com/blog/
ZenSupplies Podcast:
https://www.zensupplies.com/zenone-podcast/
Our weekly newsletters (with product overviews and specials):
Follow us on Instagram:
@zen.supplies
We invited Dr. Matthew Kathan from Timber Dental, Portland-based small DSO with 5 locations. During COVID, Dr. Matt invented a product and he will share with us what he learned. I’m really excited to discuss how we can help and support dental inventors across the US. For more information on Dr. Matt's product, please visit: https://alignedintegrations.com/
Tiger will ask Mary about the current shortage of Nitrile Gloves and Surface disinfectants (wipes). What are the options if we can't buy any more (which our team is working really hard to make sure that doesn't happen).
Mary's Bio is Here: Mary Govoni is an internationally recognized speaker, author and consultant, working with dental teams for over 40 years on clinical efficiency, infection prevention, ergonomics, and team communication.
Mary is a Certified OSHA Outreach Trainer and assists dental practice across the country in achieving compliance with regulatory requirements. Mary also is known for her practical approaches to implementing systems and protocols to enhance patient safety, privacy and data security. Mary a past president of the American Dental Assistants Association, a member of the American Dental Hygienists Association, a member of the Organization for Safety Asepsis and Prevention, the Academy of Dental Management Consultants and the Speaking and Consulting Network. She has published numerous articles in Dental Economics, The Dental Assistant Journal, RDH Magazine, Dentistry Today, Inside Dentistry and many others.
Together we can PLAN in Advance!
Our friends at ProEdge Dental (https://proedgedental.com/) are launching 2 new products and we invited The "Wizard of Water" Mike Rust and Kellie Thimmes to bring light to what these products are, how they can help dental offices. Once again, we will most likely discuss the issues related to water treatment within a dental practice. If you remember from the last webinar, Mike is a great guest and we can talk for hours. Please join us for this energetic, informative and exciting live webinar on Thursday 7/23 at 11am CST.
By the way have you seen their awesome video clips?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSugiQTRVaxwnOIiCj3eog/videos
Kellie's Bio: Kellie Thimmes is the Senior Consultant and Education Specialist for ProEdge Dental Water Labs. A former urology nurse with a background in biology, Thimmes most recently graduated magna cum laude from Colorado Technical University, with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Thimmes holds multiple certifications in dental infection control, including the OSAP & DALE Foundation certification. Since joining the ProEdge team 3 years ago, she has helped thousands of dental healthcare professionals establish and maintain a safe water protocol. Thimmes has made it her mission to arm as many people as possible with the knowledge needed to keep their patients and their practice safe.
Mike's Bio: Mike Rust is the Regional Sales Manager for ProEdge Dental Water Labs, the largest and most experienced dental water lab in the world. His 31 years in the dental industry, high-energy personality, and genuine care for his clients have made him a well-respected professional and friend. Much of his time is spent working 1-on-1 with dental professionals, sales reps, and industry educators to help them learn how vital safe waterlines are to protecting their patients, practice, and reputation.
Before becoming a dental waterline expert with ProEdge, Mike excelled in helping his clients find infection control and clinical solutions at Cottrell Ltd., Dentatus USA, and Confirm Monitoring. Mike has lectured for multiple hygiene associations on infection control and his insight into dental waterline safety is relied on by many of the movers and shakers in infection control compliance. In addition to his time "in the lab", Mike lives an adventurous life in Colorado with his wife,
Jennifer. The two have recently seen their two children off to college and are enjoying their empty nest with outdoor adventures in skiing, mountain biking, and riding motocross. Lastly, in line with his heart to care for those around him, Mike sits as the President of the Board for a small non-profit connecting musicians to benefit organizations serving Denver's homeless citizens.
About ProEdge Dental Water Lab:
ProEdge Dental Water Labs was originally formed out of the largest dental sterilization monitoring company in the world. While building that company, we realized the growing need for dental waterline testing and treatments. With little help out there, dentists were turning to us for help. So we started offering dental unit waterline testing in 2003 and began to develop the framework we have today.
Dear ZenFamily,
With the 4th of July holiday coming up in a few days, we decided to host a webinar on the importance of supporting US based manufacturers. There are a lot of discussions on US made products. Some were surprised with "why we don't make masks anymore" and "Why US made PPE is as expensive as from outside of the US". These and many other questions I would like to address with Jennifer Guarino, CEO of ISAIC (Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center), a nonprofit domestic apparel manufacturing factory and workforce development institute in Detroit that changed their direction to making Gowns and Masks during the pandemic. Please tune in on Wednesday for an exciting live discussion.
Please check out ISAIC (Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center) here: www.isaic.org
For many dental offices across the country it's been really challenging to bring the team back, adjust the schedules to the new guidelines and hire new team members. Also new guidelines for the PPP loan forgiveness were just announced. Therefore, we are extremely grateful to have Tim back on the live webinar to cover these and more HR related questions and challenges.
How do we move forward with a "New Norm"? Well part of that is disinfecting the rooms and I am lucky to have a friend, Dr. Tom Larkin who introduced me to an expert in the field of Fogging - Mike Sands. Here is a short description from Dr. Larkin himself:
"Mike Sands is authoritative. In fact, he holds several patents and his company Cloudburst developed the first sideline misters introduced in the NFL in 1994. They were the first misting/cooling system used in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Mike is a serial inventor and holds several patents in this space. I have no idea how I stumbled onto their website, but I am glad I did. I think cold fogging is an integral part of our come back protocol. Search the internet and you will see electrostatic sprayers and numerous fogging sprayers. Many, direct from China. I have been quoted as much as 30K for a system. Mike will break it down and introduce you to a fogger for less than 50 BUCKS! One per Op. Personal fogging protection. "
On Friday 5/22 at 1pm CST, we invited Dr. Gina Dorfman, a dentist and fellow CEO of Yapi Dental and Julie Varney, CDA, RDA, COA, FAADOM, CDSO, CDSH, Mentor of Dental Assistants Rock to share their experiences, tips and advice on reopening your practice. Dr. Dorfman's practice reopened on Monday, 5/18 and she will share with us how her office went through the reopening process and what their quarantine experience was like. Julie is in New York and her office has not reopened yet. They've done a lot to train their staff on new updates, performed a systems check and stocked up on PPEs. Dr. Dorfman will also talk about some protocols!
On this webinar we invited Mary Govoni to help Tiger to discuss following:
- What product will be in HIGH demand soon. Plan AHEAD
- What products can be helpful during reopening of your dental practice
- How to tell the difference if your masks are counterfeit
- Update on the Current Group Order (I hope to have exact dates)
Since your dental units have been sitting idle, water can become contaminated, and before opening the practice back you need to make sure to follow protocols. We will discuss:
- What it means to test the water lines and how soon.
- Difference in In office tests and the test that are done in the lab.
- Answer questions from the audience
We are bringing back Dr. Justin Moody to talk about an emotional roller coaster we are going through and how to best prepare for getting ready to reopen. We will discuss what steps Dr. Moody and his team took to get through this across all of his businesses. I would like to cover leadership, how to manage change, and communication skills with the team.
After such a wonderful webinar with Julie Varney and Ronda Holman on 4/6, we invited them again to share some thoughts and ideas with us on side hustles for dental assistants! Julie and Ronda will join Iryna, our ZenTeam member to cover lots of cool ideas on the matter! In addition, John from Dental Assistants Worldwide will be joining us to share what his side hustle is all about! We will talk about various side hustles that assistants can discover for themselves. We plan to cover the following:
- Julie's, Ronda's and John's side hustles
- How to find YOUR side hustle
- Staying busy with your side hustle during quarantine
We invited one of my good friends, Dr. Brett Gilbert, an endodontist in Chicago, who has built a following on a simple message of accepting life challenges with a positive mindset. Dr. Brett and I met at the Yoga workshop last December, hosted by The Dental Yogis, and since then we became good friends. I really hope to cover following:
- Having a positive mindset and being optimistic during the time of uncertainty
- Why did you start practicing Yoga?
- Why would you recommend dentists and the team to start Yoga at Home?
- Steps you need to convert your passion into a creative and productive goal
By many of your requests we invited Mary Govoni to the live webinar to discuss one thing that ALL offices are worried about - how we are going to protect our patients, our staff and ourselves. In addition, Tiger will go over how to plan to purchase most essential items before reopening the practice. Let's make sure we all come back STRONG and prepared when the big day comes!
After such a wonderful live event with Tim Twigg on 3/31, we invited him again to share some updates and news on what's been happening with the HR aspect of dentistry, as well as to answer questions about unemployment, how to keep your team engaged, working from home, and how to plan to rehire team members once we go back to seeing patients regularly.
Many of us have been wondering what the coronavirus situation is like for other countries, especially for dental practices, so we invited Emilie from France and Dr. Nic Anderson from New Zealand to share what's been happening in their home countries. Emilie and Dr. Anderson will join Tiger and they plan to cover the following:
- What the coronavirus situation is like in each country
- Are dental practices open in other countries?
- Everyone's outlook on COVID-19
- How is everyone looking at the bright side of the coronavirus?
We invite you to participate and tune into our live event happening on Wednesday 4/15 at 2 pm, where Iryna, our ZenTeam member will be joined by dental assistants from Zen Offices and they will share how their inventory and processes happen! We invited Andrea from Sullivan Dental Partners in Nashville, TN, Brittany from Castle Peak Dental in CO, as well as Shelby, RDH from Southwest Nebraska Dental Center in McCook, NE to share with us how they stay organized when it comes to managing their office's inventory. So if you're just as curious as we are to see how the ordering process happens for other practices, join us at 2 pm CST on 4/15! We plan to discuss the following:
- Step-by step ordering process of each practice
- Excellent examples of an inventory process
- My office is all cluttered, I'm a hoarder, where do I even begin?
- How to take advantage of quarantine to manage inventory and improve the ordering process
Let's open up this week's Live Webinar with a good friend, co-owner/CEO of PPO Profits; co-owner/CEO of Verrific, and Zen Member (VIP Dental Lounge). On this live event our goal is to discuss how to keep working on insurance and prepare yourself to when we get back to seeing patients. We will cover:
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Collecting insurance claims during downtime
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Insurance work from home options during quarantine
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How to collect 30 K in insurance claims from home
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Insurance pre-authorizations (pre-denials) and how they put the patient on hold
On Thursday 4/9 at 2 pm CST we invited two special guests, Mary Beth, founder and CEO of Dental Support Specialists and Missy Fryer, co-owner of Buckeye Dental Solutions, to discuss what it means to prepare yourself for anything life throws at you. Both Mary Beth and Missy have unique stories to share with us! We hope Mary Beth will tell us more about starting Dental Support Specialists with her husband Joe and later co-founding Dental Survival Guides with Missy Fryer (one of our own ZenFamily)
On Wednesday, 4/8 at 2 pm CST we invited Ivana Bueno, the director of operations from Dental 360 and Associates in Chicago, IL to share with all of us the current situation in their office. Ivana's office has been seeing 7-12 true emergencies per day, with limited team (or almost no team at this point) and a full schedule, for the emergency only times. Ivana brings many years of experience in the dental field and we can't wait to hear her share the story of what her office is currently going through.
We will cover:
- How COVID-19 is affecting dental assistants nationwide
- The reuse of masks due to shortage
- I filed for unemployment, what do I do when offices open back up?
- What to expect when returning to work
Julie and Ronda will share their experience and give us excellent tips and advice for staying strong, busy and informed during the times of uncertainty!
- Is our generation (millennials) ready for this?
- How to manage stress that it doesn't lead to tragic events
- How do we keep our perspective if for some this is the first major
- Is your circle of friends lighting you up or not?
- How the current COVID-19 situation affects dental practices
- Key Provisions in the stimulus package for offices and team members
- Will the package help to keep the team employed?
- What to know before sending the team home and what our team members need to know
- Do and Don't of remote work
The webinar will be hosted by Iryna, a Zen Team member who is also a dental assistant, and we invited Vanessa and Rosanna from Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, as well as Alyssa from Harvest Dental.
We plan to discuss the following:
- Reality of Dental offices being closed
- Work from home options for dental assistants
- Pay cuts/Unemployment- how to deal with the financial aspect of this crisis?
- 10-15 years from now how would we look at this time period and what reflection would we take with us
On Thursday 3/26, 12 pm Central, Live Webinar, with Dr. Cristian Pavel and Dr. Danielle. Some of you might think "Oh c'mon not another breathing exercise", just give it a chance. On this live event we will talk about Yoga, Breathing, Meditation, dealing with stress and how overcoming challenges is actually healthy. Both Dr. Pavel and Dr. Casciololi have done tremendous amount of work with a dental community to help with anxiety, stress and as simple as being happy. At times like these, it's important to first lead ourselves into calmness, clarity, and prosperity. Only then can we lead our staff, our loved ones, and our patients.
We plan to discuss the following:
- Reality of Dental offices being closed
- Emergency Patients vs Complete Closure. Should Specialist still be open?
- What can we do while on mandatory quarantine? Implant Courses?
- 10-15 years from now how would we look at this time period and what reflection would we take with us
- Will fireballs really gonna help?
- maybe more, if time allows
On Monday 3/23 2pm Central Live Webinar, I invited my good friend Dr. Gina Dorfman, dentist and fellow CEO of Yapi Dental. Dr. Dorfman is a published author and an experienced public speaker. She has contributed to many dental publications and has spoken at many live events throughout the years. Her latest passion is her new podcast, Behind the Smiles.
On this Live Webinar I Plan to cover the following:
- Reality of Dr. Gina's Practice
- Emergency Dentistry/ Remote Dentistry
- CEO Hat of Yapi Dental, Survival Plan
Starting tomorrow we are kicking the series of live events streaming right into your Zen account. Tomorrow, Friday 3/20, we will have our first LIVE webinar with Mary Govoni (Compliance Expert) and Julie Varney (Rock star Dental Assistant, Creator of the DANCE Conference) where we will discuss:
- What to do if you are open and seeing emergency patients
- What to do if you are completely closed
- How to use down time effectively
- How to prepare for when you are back and running
- What sources to trust