In this episode, Sandy Pardue kicks off a powerful conversation about the most overlooked step in fixing front desk chaos: assessing your team’s current morale, mindset, and motivation. Before you implement new systems or pile on training, you’ve got to address the emotional temperature of your practice. Is your team ready for change? Or are they quietly resisting it? Sandy lays out practical ways to reframe, re-energize, and reset expectations—ensuring your next move is a lasting one. If you wa...
Jul 07, 2025•21 min•Ep. 187
In this eye-opening episode, Sandy digs into one of the most overlooked contributors to rising accounts receivable (AR) in dental practices—abandoning mailed statements too soon. You may be emailing and texting patients about balances, but do you actually know how many patients you're reaching ? Sandy breaks down the data and shares real stats from dental dashboards, showing that many practices have incomplete contact info for 20–40% of their patients—and it’s costing them tens of thousands. Whe...
Jun 30, 2025•18 min•Ep. 186
What if your marketing isn’t the problem—but your expectations are? In this episode, Dana and Sandy welcome Grace Rizza , the powerhouse behind Identity Dental Marketing , to break down why most dental campaigns fall flat—and what actually works. From unethical agencies to underfunded ad budgets, Grace unpacks the truth most marketers won’t say out loud. If you've ever felt burned by a marketing agency, overwhelmed as a startup, or scared to go fee-for-service—this one’s for you. You’ll learn ho...
Jun 23, 2025•38 min•Ep. 185
Hiring is never just about plugging a hole. It’s a strategic leadership move—and when rushed or mismanaged, it can quietly sabotage your entire practice. In Part 2 of the Hiring Series, Dana and Sandy dive deep into what happens between identifying a hiring need and getting the green light to bring someone on board. From pecking orders to prep work, leadership courage to legal compliance, they unpack everything you should have in place before you hit “post job ad.” They also share formulas and b...
Jun 16, 2025•27 min•Ep. 184
A growing team sounds like success, but adding the wrong hire too soon can wreck morale, raise overhead, and increase chaos. In this kickoff to the Hiring Series , Dana and Sandy break down how to assess whether your practice truly needs to hire or if it’s time to get serious about systems, training, and communication first. They walk through real-world scenarios (yes, including a team walking out!) and offer tools to help you make strategic hiring decisions instead of emotional ones. You’ll lea...
Jun 11, 2025•26 min•Ep. 183
A dental team without effective meetings is like a GPS with no signal—lost, frustrated, and going in circles. In this episode, Dana and Sandy dive into the often-overlooked power of consistent, structured team meetings. From setting agendas and reviewing stats to celebrating birthdays and avoiding gum-chewing drama, they lay out the exact formula for turning “just another meeting” into a high-impact tool for team alignment, accountability, and growth. This episode is inspired by a post in the De...
Jun 03, 2025•27 min•Ep. 182
You can have the best marketing strategy in the world, but if your phone skills are lacking, patients will walk. In this episode, Dana and Sandy get real about what happens when dental teams unknowingly drive callers away with poor phone habits, disconnection, or defaulting to “no.” They walk through mystery shopper call examples, red-flag language to avoid, and the mindset shift every front desk team member needs to convert , not repel, new patients. This one’s packed with real talk, laugh-out-...
May 26, 2025•28 min•Ep. 181
We’re diving into a topic that separates struggling practices from high-performing ones—your front desk metrics . Dana and Sandy break down the most important KPIs your admin team should be tracking daily, weekly, and monthly. Spoiler alert: if you’re not measuring it, you can’t manage it! Whether you're brand new to tracking stats or need a refresh to re-energize your team, this episode gives you simple, actionable ways to bring structure and accountability to your schedule, collections, and pa...
May 19, 2025•39 min•Ep. 190
Membership Plans That Work: What Compliance Really Looks Like Dental membership plans aren’t new—but compliance around them is becoming more critical than ever. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits , Sandy and Dana are joined by Jane Levy, Co-founder and CEO of Plan Forward, to uncover how in-house dental plans can boost treatment acceptance, increase loyalty, and help practices navigate the complex world of legal compliance. They discuss real-world misconceptions, why membership plans aren’t ju...
May 12, 2025•29 min•Ep. 179
We’re diving into a topic many practice managers quietly struggle with— what happens when your team feels more like friends than employees? Dana and Sandy tackle a heartfelt listener question: “How do I manage a team I’ve been friends with for years?” Whether you were promoted from within, or made the mistake of hiring a friend, this episode will help you maintain professionalism without sacrificing connection. You’ll learn how to: Lead with warmth while keeping your edge Set clear boundaries an...
May 05, 2025•26 min•Ep. 178
Vacation-Proofing Your Team Episode Description Taking time off as a dental professional shouldn't leave you stressed out or worried about what's happening back at the office. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits , Sandy and Dana break down how to set your team up for success before you leave—so you can truly unplug. They cover real-world strategies to vacation-proof your practice, from setting department-specific goals to sending advance memos, and even encouraging team members to take ownershi...
Apr 28, 2025•24 min•Ep. 177
Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter 0:00 Episode Description Gossip may seem like harmless chatter, but it has the power to erode trust, damage morale, and derail productivity in your dental practice. In this episode, Sandy and Dana tackle the tough topic of workplace gossip—what it sounds like, why it spreads, and how to stop it before it takes a toll on your culture and your team. From NLRB...
Apr 21, 2025•30 min•Ep. 176
When the economy starts to shake, most dental practices start to shrink. But Sandy says now is the time to lean in and level up—and she’s sharing exactly how to do it. In this episode, Dana and Sandy break down what it takes to recession-proof your practice before anything happens. From tightening your finances to training your team, maximizing re-care systems to building patient loyalty, this episode is your no-fluff guide to keeping treatment plans up—even when wallets are down. Whether you’re...
Apr 14, 2025•27 min•Ep. 175
Episode Summary: This week, Sandy is fresh off an energizing Front Desk Pro seminar in Burbank, California—and she’s bringing the heat! Dana and Sandy dive deep into a topic that every dental practice owner and manager needs to master: employee one-on-ones. From handling raise requests to increasing team engagement and reducing turnover, this episode is packed with real-world strategies and scripted verbal skills you can use right away. Sandy shares how acknowledgment and structure transform the...
Apr 08, 2025•29 min•Ep. 173
Want to retain great employees and build a team that runs like a dream? It all starts with one-on-one conversations that count. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits , Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury share how regular one-on-one meetings can transform your culture, boost accountability, and keep your team growing in the right direction. They break down the timing, tools, and tone of a successful one-on-one—plus how to turn them into growth opportunities, not gripe sessions. If you want more engag...
Mar 31, 2025•23 min•Ep. 173
Is your hygiene schedule disappearing before your eyes ? You’re not imagining it! No-shows, last-minute cancellations, and poor confirmation strategies can leave your hygiene team scrambling and your bottom line suffering. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits , Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue Salisbury break down why hygiene schedules fall apart —and how to fix it for good ! From smarter pre-scheduling to foolproof confirmation techniques, they’re sharing real-world solutions to keep your chairs fu...
Mar 24, 2025•22 min•Ep. 172
📢 Episode Title: "Ring, Ring! Mastering the First Impression – Live Call Analysis" 🎙 Episode Description What happens when a potential patient calls your dental office? That first impression can make or break their decision to schedule an appointment. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits , Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue Salisbury analyze a real call from a dental practice, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and how small tweaks can dramatically improve conversion rates. Listen in as they sh...
Mar 17, 2025•22 min•Ep. 171
Episode Description Unexpected call-outs can throw your dental practice into chaos—but they don’t have to! In this episode of Dental Drill Bits , Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue Salisbury break down how to create an attendance culture that keeps your team accountable without being rigid. They’ll share real-world strategies for managing sick calls, setting clear attendance policies, and keeping your team engaged. What You’ll Learn: ✅ How to prevent a culture of absenteeism from spreading in your pra...
Mar 10, 2025•21 min
Hiring is one thing—but the interview process is where you make or break your chances of getting the right person. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits , Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury share expert strategies to help you conduct interviews with confidence, ask the right questions, and avoid costly hiring mistakes. What you’ll learn: ✅ The difference between situational vs. behavioral interview questions—and why both matter 🎯 ✅ Why working interviews are a legal and financial risk you shouldn’t...
Mar 03, 2025•28 min•Ep. 169
Finding the Right Candidate Hiring the right person for your dental practice can feel like searching for a unicorn—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode of Dental Drill Bits , Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury dive deep into how to attract and hire top talent for your dental practice without the frustration. What you’ll learn: ✅ Why a strong job ad is your first (and biggest) hiring tool ✍️ ✅ How to attract working professionals instead of job hoppers 💼 ✅ The balance between experience, atti...
Feb 24, 2025•21 min•Ep. 168
Front Desk Chaos to Clarity Episode Description: In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast , Sandy and Dana tackle one of the biggest front desk challenges in dental practices—how to maintain consistency and organization when multiple team members rotate through the same position. 🔄 One doctor from the Dental Drill Bits Facebook group asked: How do I streamline communication and documentation when different front desk employees work on different days? Sandy and Dana break it all down, sh...
Feb 17, 2025•21 min•Ep. 167
Episode Title: Do You Really Need an Office Manager? Episode Description: In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast , Sandy and Dana tackle one of the most common dilemmas for dental practice owners— Do you really need an office manager? 🤔 Hiring an office manager can seem like the perfect solution to reducing stress and improving operations, but without a clear role definition, it can create more challenges than solutions. In this episode, they break down when an office manager is truly...
Feb 10, 2025•27 min•Ep. 166
Episode Title: Mastering Onboarding for a Thriving Dental Practice Episode Description: In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast , Sandy and Dana dive into the make-or-break process of onboarding new team members in a dental practice. A strong onboarding system not only prevents turnover but also sets the stage for a thriving team culture and long-term success . 🚀 They share real-world experiences, practical strategies, and actionable steps to ensure new hires feel welcomed, supported, ...
Feb 03, 2025•23 min
Episode Title: Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule Episode Description: Welcome to another exciting episode of Dental Drill Bits ! This week, Sandy Pardue is joined by a very special guest—Dana Pardue Salisbury, the original co-host and HR business professional. Together, they kick off the new season with a deep dive into one of the most critical topics for dental practices: managing open time in your schedule. Discover actionable tips to identify, track, and eliminate wasted ti...
Jan 27, 2025•20 min•Ep. 164
This is a question Sandy Pardue gets quite often in her events, so we decided to cover it here! Here are a couple things you want to do: You need a time clock software. (Sandy recommends a software) Don’t give everyone access to change their time clock. Create a policy, and be super specific in this policy. (Sandy gives us great examples). What to say if someone still violates the policy? (Sandy provides us with what to do, a script, and how many times should we allow it). How to present the ove...
Jan 22, 2025•17 min
Wondering how to ease the burden and stress off yourself as the doctor? In this week's rerun episode of Dental Drill Bits, Michael and Sandy are exploring the universe of responsibilities that come with the role of an office manager in a dynamic and demanding dental practice. They break down the essential duties that will keep your practice running smoothly without the added headache. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Understand the scope of day-to-day activities a dental office manager oversee...
Jan 08, 2025•28 min
In this rerun episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy and Michael delve headfirst into the crucial role of an office manager in your dental practice. Listen as they unlock the job description of a successful manager and explore how imperative it is for dentists to identify potential talent hidden within their teams while filling this impactful role. Sandy and Michael dissect the cardinal role of duplication skills in a manager's toolbox and how this skill can set apart a thriving practice from a str...
Jan 01, 2025•29 min
Are you struggling with patient no-shows that disrupt your dental practice’s schedule? In this rerun episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy and Michael dive deep into practical strategies to minimize cancellations and improve patient attendance. The conversation kicks off with a focus on the art of clear communication, where they assert the power of personalized phone calls over cold automated messages. These personal touches not only confirm appointments but also strengthen the patient-practice bo...
Dec 25, 2024•27 min
In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, we're exploring the dynamics of a healthy vendor-client relationship as Sandy delves into an inspiring conversation with Megan Lohman from Plan Forward. Together, they unlock the powerful components of successful partnerships, from the nuances of clear communication to fostering mutual respect. The duo emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations and maintaining open lines of communication to ensure vendor relationships become long-term, growt...
Dec 18, 2024•28 min
Managing a successful dental practice often hinges on the seamless collaboration and communication of its team. In this episode, Michael and Sandy explore the vital elements of effective team management that can transform your practice into a harmonious and high-functioning operation. They reveal how strong systems for hiring and onboarding are not just administrative necessities but foundational strategies that influence the overall success of the practice. Sandy shares her insights into buildi...
Dec 11, 2024•21 min
