We expect advances in clinical dentistry to make our jobs easier on us and to make outcomes more satisfactory to patients. Why shouldn’t we expect similar advances in other areas, like payment processing? Faster and more convenient payment methods are not only easier on patients—they’re easier on your team and on your practice’s bank balance. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast , I give a high-level overview of what Dentistry 3.0 means for dentistry and, more specifically, what it means...
Feb 04, 2025•12 min•Ep 161•Transcript available on Metacast Jan 28, 2025•18 min•Ep 160•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time to rethink what you know about dental practice management software. There’s no denying we practice owners are all increasingly dependent on digital solutions both to render dental services and to manage the business side of our practices. However, we are well into an age I like to call “Dentistry 3.0,” or the age of Connected DentistryⓇ. This means that we’re now living in a time when we need the digital solutions we use to have the ability to work together so that we can freely exchan...
Jan 21, 2025•15 min•Ep 159•Transcript available on Metacast Holly Doherty is the Founder, President and CEO of VIF, a team that has developed a groundbreaking tool to support families in getting the personalized care that their loved ones with special needs deserve. Far from leading the charge in name only, Holly brings decades of personal experience with caregiving to the table and champions the use of technology and interoperability between medical disciplines to foster communication between caregivers and medical professionals. In this episode of The ...
Jan 14, 2025•14 min•Ep 158•Transcript available on Metacast Cybersecurity is a topic that pops up with increasing frequency in the oral healthcare space. Practices and networks of all sizes are prime targets for cyberattacks, as CEO of Black Talon Security Gary Salman explains. But the unfortunate reality is that, despite the immense target on the backs of dental practice computers, too many practice owners overestimate the security of their systems and remain in blissful ignorance to the signs of possible compromise. In this episode of The Patient First...
Dec 03, 2024•16 min•Ep 157•Transcript available on Metacast Are you interested in taking your dental practice to the next level but are not sure where to start? DSOs have been around for quite a number of years now, but they are no longer the only option for practice owners who want to experience greater business success. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast , I sat down with Ian McNickle, CEO and one of multiple founders of ICON Dental Partners, to talk about the advantages of both the DSO (dental service organization) and DPO (dental partnershi...
Nov 26, 2024•22 min•Ep 156•Transcript available on Metacast Hate doing dentures? This is the episode for you. Voyager Dental is pushing the limits of restorative dentistry with a surprising application of artificial intelligence to the design of dentures. As a result, patients and dentists alike are experiencing phenomenal benefits. In this short but very special episode of The Patient First Podcast , I talk with Steve Floe, the CEO of Voyager Dental, about how his company helps dentists provide their patients with a consistently high quality of care whi...
Nov 19, 2024•9 min•Ep 155•Transcript available on Metacast Many people wear smartrings, smartwatches and other wearable health technology like continuous glucose monitors to gain insights about their health and to support physicians in rendering more timely and individualized care. Can you imagine the ways oral healthcare would be transformed by a dental health wearable? Lura Health is working on an intriguing solution: a continuous saliva monitor. In this episode of “The Patient First Podcast,” I sit down with Daniel Weinstein, the CEO and Co-Founder o...
Nov 12, 2024•12 min•Ep 154•Transcript available on Metacast Dentists face an enormous amount of pressure when it comes to making real estate decisions. Should you lease or purchase a site for your practice? What factors should you consider when selecting the ideal location? Is buying real estate for your business really the best investment strategy for you? Austin Hair, Managing Partner at Leaders Real Estate helps unpack some insider information that dentists need to know to make these weighty decisions. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, entrepreneur, dentis...
Nov 05, 2024•15 min•Ep 153•Transcript available on Metacast If EBITDA is still a mystery to you, don’t worry—you’re far from alone. Plus, Matt Ornstein from Dental Pitch Brokerage is here to help with a phenomenal book and insights that he shares with us in this episode of “The Patient First Podcast.” Matt has extensive experience with the business side of dental practice ownership and he explains, not only the basics of EBITDA, but the importance of balancing it with a positive cash flow to ensure a healthy business. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author and busi...
Oct 01, 2024•19 min•Ep 152•Transcript available on Metacast It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the vast array of dental software solutions there are to choose from. But going all in on the latest “all-in-one” program isn’t necessarily the answer. In fact, solutions that claim to be one-size-fits-all could potentially hinder your practice’s ability to adopt new innovations later on down the road. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast , I interview Mike Huffaker, the CRO of Planet DDS and we discuss why interoperability is integral to innovation in d...
Aug 06, 2024•16 min•Ep 151•Transcript available on Metacast Dental clinicians are trained and licensed individuals who must keep up with their CE requirements, but what about those in non-clinical roles? Managers, treatment coordinators and other front desk team members may not directly generate revenue, but they are still essential to the smooth day-to-day functioning of dental practices. This is where SPS Dental Academy steps in to bridge the gap and provide the resources practices need to build knowledgeable and capable teams. In this episode of The P...
Jul 16, 2024•15 min•Ep 150•Transcript available on Metacast For any dentist out there who feels that maintaining a social media presence for the practice is an utterly hopeless endeavor, I want you to know that I hear you and that this episode is for you. Rita Zamora of Connect90 helps dental practices maximize the results of a social media presence with minimal effort. In this interview, we discuss some of the solutions her company offers, as well as the latest techniques that have proven effective for dental practices today. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author...
Jun 11, 2024•16 min•Ep 149•Transcript available on Metacast David Pryor of Planet DDS is back on “The Patient First Podcast,” and in this episode, we discuss a hot topic: how to successfully implement a new technology in a dental practice or DSO network to unlock its full potential. Overwhelmed with the vast array of innovative technologies currently available to choose from, it's all too easy for the well-intentioned decision-makers of dental care organizations to invest in solutions and systems which then don't get properly executed, and the benefits a...
Jun 03, 2024•22 min•Ep 148•Transcript available on Metacast This is the episode I wish someone had made for me to watch back when I sold my practice to a DSO. My biggest regret from the sale? Trying to go it alone. Many dental practice owners today feel as overwhelmed by their options as I did back then, and it can be challenging to navigate negotiations to secure a deal that protects your interests. That’s why I was so excited to have Ryan Mingus, Managing Director for TUSK Practice Sales, join me on this episode of “The Patient First Podcast.” Ryan sha...
May 28, 2024•20 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast All dental clinicians who care about providing their patients with the best treatment are interested in scientific advances that elevate the standard of care. Can you imagine the possibilities that you could unlock through non-invasive and easy saliva testing? In this interview with Diane Larson, RDH, BSDH, the Director of Clinical Education for OralDNA Labs, you’ll learn about the unique benefits of salivary diagnostics. Diane’s more than two decades of experience in dentistry and her journey t...
May 21, 2024•17 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast Is AI in dentistry here to stay? If so, is that a good or bad thing for patients and practice owners? Whatever your stance on artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry may be, one thing is perfectly clear: we need more conversations to happen in order to understand what the future holds. I had just such an insightful conversation with Florian Hillen, the Founder and CEO of VideaHealth. In this interview, we discuss what AI really means for dentistry right now and its potential applications in th...
May 13, 2024•19 min•Ep 145•Transcript available on Metacast Given the massive leadership gap in dentistry and the unique challenges facing dentists today, Dr. Kevin Kremer’s insights and guidance are a breath of fresh air. Dr. Kremer has spent more than 25 years building a successful practice, Kremer Dental Care, and shares the secrets to his success by coaching dentists through the Kremer Leadership Institute. As Founder and CEO of the institute, Dr. Kremer helps dentists rediscover a passion for learning and a willingness to lead others. In this episod...
May 07, 2024•23 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast RDH Aimee Vail has been campaigning for a long time to bring back a nearly forgotten secret weapon against caries that should be in every dental professional’s arsenal: silver diamine fluoride (SDF). Why has SDF fallen out of popularity, relegated to pediatric restorative dentistry and public health dentistry? Are the undesirable cosmetic effects of SDF really as bad as many dentists believe? What are the potential applications for this extremely effective substance and how can it help dentists ...
Apr 30, 2024•19 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast Did you know that periodontal disease is more of an inflammatory one and less of an infection? Most of us dentists struggle to keep up with the latest advances in understanding of this complex disease and the treatment modalities proven to control it. That’s why I interviewed Dr. William Levine, the Chief Scientific Officer of PeriActive and a specialist in periodontal disease and implantology. Dr. Levine explains why some dentists may need to take a new approach to the management of periodontal...
Apr 23, 2024•16 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast We’re moving into an unprecedented era of dentistry, and without the right Standards and regulations in place to maintain order, our industry will essentially become the Wild West. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast , I summarize the biggest problem that the dental industry is facing today and explain what steps leaders in the space can take to start bridging the gap for a more connected future that benefits patients and providers alike. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—dentist, author, entreprene...
Apr 16, 2024•11 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast How much should you let your hygienists do in your dental practice? There’s a hot debate going on in dentistry over whether hygienists should have the option to expand their skill set to include some restorative functions. Some practice owners feel strongly that we shouldn’t be blurring the lines between areas of expertise. But RRDH Irene Iancu makes a compelling case for expanding the functions of dental hygienists. In this engaging interview, she explains how expanded functions not only result...
Apr 08, 2024•25 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast You don’t have to be a data geek like Jordan and I to leverage the power of data analytics in your dental practice. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast , I interview the Director of Product Management for beBright Jordan Trentacosta and we talk about how data accessibility can help practice owners identify and focus on the metrics that really matter. Since data is undeniably the key to enhancing the patient experience, building trust that leads to greater treatment plan acceptance rates...
Apr 02, 2024•18 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Do you have an innovative idea that you believe will transform the way we do dentistry? Are you interested in investing in a dental tech startup but need more risk mitigation? Are you simply curious about what’s going on in the field of dental innovation? Whatever your area of focus, you’ll enjoy this insightful interview with an industry veteran. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast , I ask Dental Innovation Alliance Co-Founder and Managing Partner Doug Brown how his team helps match in...
Mar 26, 2024•17 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast It turns out I was wrong about the 21st Century Cures Act. But only in technical terms, really. The reality of the situation that dental practice owners are in is still a dire one, perhaps even more serious than we previously realized. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast , I explain why we need a correction in our understanding of the federal legislation pertaining to the handling of dental patient information. In short, dentists and DSOs of all sizes are obligated by HIPAA to make pati...
Mar 18, 2024•11 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast With her entire career spent in the nonprofit sector, there’s no one else more qualified to be leading the amazing organization of Dental Lifeline Network. I interview DLN’s President and CEO Lynda Ricketson to discuss how her organization helps the disabled, elderly, military veterans and other disadvantaged individuals to access life-changing treatment provided by volunteer dentists. We discuss the benefits that dental practices can experience by joining DLN’s list of providers, and how the or...
Mar 12, 2024•23 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast Climbing the corporate ladder might be a tale as old as time, but it’s a relatively new concept in the world of dentistry. Many of the hard-working people on dental teams in DSOs are uniquely qualified to serve in positions of leadership within their organizations, but they may need a hand in realizing their full potential. CEO of Kennedy Dental Care Shelia Taylor’s story may provide just the boost these folks need to begin their journey upward through the ranks. Decades of experience proved to ...
Mar 05, 2024•22 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast Which is more important to the success of a dental practice or network: the team or the patients? In a fresh take on the classic chicken-versus-egg debate of the business side of dentistry, Founder of Active Dental Dr. Kalpesh Patel and I talk about what it really means to put the patient first and what steps dental practice owners can take to stay ahead of the competition. In this interview, Dr. Patel and I also talk about what the near future holds for the dental industry and why the trend tow...
Feb 27, 2024•16 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast What does “transparency” mean for your organization? How could transparency improve efficiencies, increase profitability and deliver greater value to patients all while raising the standard of care? I explore the topic of transparency with Karla-Marie Santiago, Director of Operations at OakpointⓇ, to discover how this core value of her DSO has strengthened their value proposition and guided the decision-making process. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast , Karla-Marie shares some pricel...
Feb 20, 2024•21 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast Imagine the possibilities if you started completing more full-arch dental implant cases. How much would your practice grow? Would you be able to work shorter days? Retire earlier than expected? There are more patients out there who stand to benefit from multiple implants than you may realize. This means there are more opportunities to improve lives and your production potential than you may know. But whether you’ve previously thought about offering full-arch implant treatments or not, the real t...
Feb 13, 2024•21 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast 
