There’s a lingering misconception that dental technology is expensive. That may have been true in the past, but that excuse doesn’t hold up in dentistry today. Not only is the cost of technology going down, but we’re now at a point where you can’t afford NOT to have it in your practice. Dental technology makes treatment more comfortable and convenient for everyone involved, including patients and providers, and the same is true of practice software and other modern tech tools. The right tools wi...
Jul 25, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 106
Dentistry is notorious for being expensive, but it’s a totally unjustified reputation. So why do patients perceive dentistry as costly, especially when they are quick to shell out even more money on less important things? I’ve touched on this topic in the past, but it’s time to explore in depth the real reasons patients balk at the cost of their dental care. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I explain why cost is just an excuse for avoiding a trip to the dentist. I also share what de...
Jul 17, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 105
Get ready to taste the world’s first candy formulated to actively fight against the effects of tooth decay. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I interviewed Dr. Mohamed Harunani, the creator of Dream candy—delicious lollipops and button candies engineered to promote tooth remineralization and neutralize an acidic oral environment. Instead of just “watching” a questionable-looking incipient lesion, you can now give your patients a very tasty oral hygiene adjunct that could aid in remin...
Jul 11, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Dentistry has seen phenomenal improvement over the past few decades, but the best is yet to come. In fact, it’s almost here. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I explain “Dentistry 3.0,” the next big stage of development for dentistry as a profession. This episode also discusses the new technologies and systems that dental practice owners need to know about in order to keep up with Dentistry 3.0. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin, author, entrepreneur, dentist and advocate for the Standards and in...
Jul 04, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 103
Some dental professionals believe that giving patients increased access to their own dental health data would be dangerous. But in reality, doing so is an integral part of patient-partnered dentistry. But what exactly does patient-partnered care mean? Why is it so important? How is it different from developing a co-diagnosis with the patient? And why is improving access to data vital to patient-first dentistry? Learn the answers in this episode of The Patient First Podcast. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin,...
Jun 26, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 102
You’ve already heard about Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Emotional Quotient (EQ) is also receiving lots of attention these days. But have you ever heard about XQ? “XQ” stands for Experience Quotient and it can be defined as the measure of an individual’s collective experiences that gives them a unique perception of or insight into something. I'm Dr. Bryan Laskin, author, entrepreneur, dentist and innovator in pursuit of better dentistry for all. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I cont...
Jun 20, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 101
Very soon, everyone in dentistry will be talking about Connected Dentistry™. What is it? Why was it developed? What problems will it solve? How will it transform the way both dentists and patients experience dentistry? I share the answers to those questions in this landmark episode of The Patient First Podcast. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin, entrepreneur, author and a dentist in pursuit of better dentistry for all. My team and I are working hard at promoting the development of Standards that will ensure ...
Jun 13, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Workplace “culture” isn’t a fluffy corporate buzzword that’s code for office parties—it’s the very lifeblood of productive dental practices. Despite all the talk about “culture,” few people understand what it really is. This is unfortunate for dentistry, where culture is the secret to building strong teams and productive practices, especially now that most dentists are dealing with a staffing crisis. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, you’ll learn exactly what “culture” means in the c...
Jun 06, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 99
You would think that any progress made in the area of medical-dental integration would be a step forward. But why does it seem like the first step is a futile, bottom-up approach? Anything that improves access to care for patients is a very welcome development. If it doesn’t promote true medical-dental integration, however, then that very development could lead to even more confusion over where one healthcare professional’s responsibilities end and another’s begins. In this episode of The Patien...
May 30, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Dentists have enough to worry about as it is with the ever-present fear of a malpractice lawsuit hanging over their heads. One wrong move, and they can say ‘goodbye’ to their dream of running a profitable practice. The bad news is that, as three dental practices recently experienced, dentists now have to worry about what could happen if they DON’T take a certain action. That action? Releasing complete dental records to patients in a timely manner. The even worse news is that most dentists couldn...
May 22, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 97
Most people would rather go into debt or get locked into a payment plan for a new car than pay for a dental procedure that costs a tiny fraction of the price of a new car. Why is this? Why is dentistry always perceived as expensive when it’s actually much more affordable than most medical procedures? How are dentists helping to propagate the misconception? What can patients do to seek out the affordable dental care they need? And how can dentists break the taboo surrounding finances in dentistry...
May 16, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 96
The CEO of a successful DSO visited me at Toothapps headquarters and asked an intriguing question that, really, everyone in dentistry needs to be asking. Dentistry is experiencing a revolution in response to some major problems in the industry, particularly when it comes to the open sharing of dental patient data. With sprawling networks of dozens or hundreds of practices to manage, DSOs are definitely feeling hindered by outdated and incompatible practice management systems, and so they are log...
May 09, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Even if, like me, you had never heard of “AGGA” before, the recent bad press surrounding this orthodontic appliance has been hard to ignore. The Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA) has been flying below the radar for quite a few years, unknown to even many dentists, until recent lawsuits cast a spotlight on the device, raising questions on FDA-regulation in dentistry. As I explain in this episode of The Patient First Podcast, there is simply not enough information to make a solid judgment ...
May 02, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 94
Dental practice owners and managers deal with thorny issues on a daily basis. But which problems are truly important and which ones are truly urgent? Knowing the difference is the key to solving the biggest issues in our industry. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I explain how to determine whether a problem is urgent versus important (or both) and how this can help you keep your dental practice functioning efficiently. Looking beyond the dental practice, the principles I share in th...
Apr 25, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 93
Patients, how long should you wait to get a tooth filled? Dentists, how long should you wait before telling a patient they need a filling? The answer just might surprise everyone. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I begin by going back to the basics to explain what dental decay is and what to expect if it goes untreated. Patients will learn when they should agree to get a filling, and dentists will learn about an exciting new industry development that will change the parameters for d...
Apr 18, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 92
You've heard the hype about ChatGPT; now it's time to see how it can make your job as a dental professional or practice owner much easier. Artificial intelligence (A.I.), generative artificial intelligence in particular, is here to stay, and it holds immense potential for the dental industry. There are upsides and downsides to A.I. technology, of course, but there are compelling reasons dentists should start incorporating A.I. even in small ways right now. In this episode of The Patient First Po...
Apr 11, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 91
Did you know that your patients' health information is being held hostage in a data prison? The conversation about Practice Management Systems (PMS) in dentistry has gotten stale. What's worse, most dentists today aren't aware that PMS systems that don't comply with recent legislation could leave dentists vulnerable to fines of up to $1 million. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I explain why it's high time we change the conversation about storing dental patient data. I'm also excite...
Apr 04, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Your dental team is full of geniuses! So why doesn't it always feel that way? According to the book "The 6 Types of Working Genius" by Patrick Lencioni, there are different types of 'working genius,' and your dental team needs to have a healthy balance of all the types to function harmoniously. Here in "Books Applied to Dentistry," my favorite segment of "The Patient First Podcast," I review this quick and eye-opening read by Patrick Lencioni and explain how you can apply the assessment to your ...
Mar 28, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 89
There’s new legislation now in effect that affects all dentists and their patients in the United States. The problem? Virtually no one knows about it. I recently attended an event called “Datapalooza” where I gleaned a ton of compelling insights about the transfer of patient health data. This might sound like some nerdy and insignificant matter. But in an economy where people spend six times more on healthcare than any other developed nation and still face a declining life expectancy, it’s clear...
Mar 21, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Hate flossing? Then you're going to really enjoy learning about the best thing that could happen to teeth since the electric toothbrush. In this episode of the Patient First Podcast, I interview Eli Packouz, CEO and Co-Founder of Instafloss, the latest automatic flossing device that is here to turn the oral hygiene industry upside down. I had so much fun talking with Eli and learning about all the time and research (and pain!) that went into the development of Instafloss. This device is truly a ...
Mar 14, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 87
On average, a trip to the ER takes longer than 4 hours and costs over $1,000. In light of these numbers, dentists can and should do more to keep their patients out of the emergency room. This is especially true considering that patients who visit the ER with a dental emergency are later sent to their dentist for follow-up restorative care anyway. A dental emergency is a legitimate reason to worry, but patients can avoid the hassle and cost of an ER visit if dentists take just a couple simple ste...
Mar 07, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 86
Why do so many dentists hesitate to invest in CBCT imaging? There's a fascinating connection between the dental industry's obsession with profitability and dentists' reluctance to adopt technology like CBCT scanners. I uncover that connection in this episode of The Patient First Podcast. As dental practice owners are feeling sandwiched between reduced reimbursements and rising overhead costs, the topic of dental practice financial health (EBITDA) has become a hot one. But oddly enough, many dent...
Feb 28, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 85
This record of my three biggest flub-ups in dentistry was apparently the hottest episode on my podcast in 2022. Why do we love to watch others fail? 😅 These wild-but-true stories are pretty darn juicy, so I thought I’d share this again for new subscribers who might have missed this episode when it first aired. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin, author of “The Patient First Manifesto”, and a dentist who’s willing to share his professional failures in order to help you avoid making the same mistakes. I also l...
Feb 21, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 84
This list of the top four technological advances in dentistry to keep an eye out for in 2023 just might surprise you… The dental industry as a whole is way behind the times when it comes to applied technology. When equipped with the right tools, however, dentists can empower their patients and make treatment more convenient than ever before. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I share my list of the top four technologies that can transform the dental treatment experience for both patie...
Feb 14, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Did you know that dentistry is stressful for patients and providers alike? Dentistry ranks highly as one of the best jobs in the United States. But it could be the best career ever if it weren't for the anxiety that overshadows dental treatment experiences. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I explain how reducing dental patients' anxiety reduces stress for dentists and their teams. I also dive into some solutions that can make dentistry a better experience for everyone involved. I'm ...
Feb 07, 2023•12 min
Do you have teeth? Then this podcast is now for YOU. It’s been an immense joy to work on this podcast and help dental professionals learn how to put patients first. But vital feedback from dental patients has alerted me to the need to bring even more patients into the conversation. I’m thrilled to announce that I’m taking this podcast in a new direction with the goal of helping dentists and patients bridge the gaps in their expectations and communication. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin, author of “The Pat...
Feb 02, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 81
More than 1 in 3 dentists today are currently struggling to hire and retain talented team members. I should know. I'm one of them. The dental industry is experiencing a very real and chronic shortage of hygienists and assistants. Dentists need to develop a holistic strategy that keeps their practices competitive and appealing in a field where there just aren't enough job candidates to go around. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I explain when you should consider offering competitive...
Jan 24, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Did you know that there is a strong correlation between customer satisfaction and revenue growth? In Episode 79 of The Patient First Podcast, I review the results of a survey that reveals just how badly the business of dentistry is failing in comparison with other industries. The results also illustrate how the patient experience is the key to the success of dental practices. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin, author of “The Patient First Manifesto,” and a dentist who's learned that customer service in denti...
Jan 17, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Did you know that some 20 to 30% of your patients could be delaying dental treatment because your practice makes it too hard to book an appointment? In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I share the fascinating results of a recent survey by Byte of over 1,100 dental patients and explain practical ways you can optimize your dental practice to grow your productivity. I'm Dr. Bryan Laskin, author of "The Patient First Manifesto," and a successful dentist who's learned through experience tha...
Jan 10, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 78
The pandemic permanently changed dentistry as we know it. Those who believe the changes were only temporary are in for a rude awakening. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I answer a question someone asked me about where dentistry is currently at in the stream of time. I'm Dr. Bryan Laskin, author of "The Patient First Manifesto", and a dentist who's keeping his finger on the pulse of the industry to help other dentists change with the times. Learn how to boost your profitability by s...
Jan 03, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 77
