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The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

Hosted by ACT Dental

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Episodes

300

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Welcome to The Best Practices Show, hosted by Kirk Behrendt, founder of ACT Dental (https://www.actdental.com/) and a leader in dental practice coaching. This podcast is your gateway to discovering the hidden gems and tactics used by the most successful dental practices worldwide. At ACT Dental, we have meticulously curated strategies that have consistently proven effective in elevating dental practices. Our podcast, The Best Practices Show, extends our commitment to sharing this wealth of knowledge. Each episode features interviews with renowned dental professionals and industry leaders who have made significant strides in their practices. They share their experiences, insights, and the challenges they've overcome, offering a unique perspective that you won't find anywhere else. Why should you listen to The Best Practices Show? Whether you're a seasoned dentist, a new practice owner, or somewhere in between, this podcast is tailored to inspire and educate. Our goal is not just to provide you with information but to transform the way you think about and run your dental practice. We delve into topics ranging from advanced clinical techniques and practice management to leadership skills and personal growth. Kirk Behrendt, a respected figure in the dental community, brings his vast experience and infectious enthusiasm to each episode, making complex topics both understandable and engaging. As the CEO of ACT Dental, Kirk has helped countless dental practices thrive by focusing on holistic development - professionally, personally, and within their community. Our commitment to authenticity and practical advice sets The Best Practices Show apart. We don't just talk about theories; we dive into real-life applications you can implement immediately in your practice. Our community-centric approach means we're always listening to our audience and constantly evolving our content to meet your needs. In addition to the invaluable insights from our guests, we also provide access to exclusive resources available through ACT Dental. These resources complement the podcast topics and give you a more comprehensive understanding and practical tools to apply in your practice. By subscribing to The Best Practices Show, you're not just gaining access to a podcast; you're joining a community of like-minded professionals committed to excellence in dentistry. So, are you ready to transform your practice and be the best version of yourself? Join us on this journey, and let's grow together. Hit subscribe and never miss an episode of The Best Practices Show – where we uncover the secrets to the success of the world's best dental practices, one episode at a time. Subscribe to The Best Practices Show on Apple Podcasts Join our community and start your journey towards a more innovative, more successful dental practice today!

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 15, 202619 min

1060: Metric Mondays: Do We Actually Need More Patients– or Better Utilization? - Ariel Siegel

Most dentists believe they need more new patients, but the real problem may be how well they are using the patients, providers, and chair time they already have. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Ariel Siegel, ACT Dental coach, to explain why active patient count, pre-appointment percentage, capacity utilization, and annual patient value matter before investing in new patient growth. Learn how to identify whether your practice has a patient problem or a utilization problem, and how to start improving schedule efficiency with the data you already have. To grow more predictably with the patients already in your practice, listen to Episode 1060 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Practices should evaluate utilization of current patients and provider capacity before pursuing more new patients.New patients can add pressure because phone calls, relationship building, and appointments require more time and energy.A healthy active patient count is often around 1,200 to 1,500 patients per provider.Unscheduled active patients and low pre-appointment rates reveal opportunities within the existing patient base.Chair time utilization around 90% to 95% creates productive schedules while leaving some flexibility.Annual patient value helps determine whether a practice needs more patients or better production per patient.Capacity tracking should be reviewed consistently so each provider column has accountability.Snippets:00:00 Metric Mondays Intro01:50 Meet Ariel Siegel02:14 More Patients Myth04:18 Active Patient Benchmarks08:07 When Utilization Fails10:33 Redefining Growth11:56 Capacity Utilization Targets14:36 Action Plan With APV18:06 Vision And Wrap Up18:33 Final GoodbyeGuest Bio/Guest Resources:Ariel has a master’s in healthcare administration and several years of dental experience in all aspects of the administrative roles within the dental office. Her passion is to work with dental teams to empower team members to realize their full potential in order to better serve patients, improve office systems to ensure a well-functioning team/office, and to help everyone have fun in the process!More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

June 12, 202626 min

1059: How Digital Workflow Innovations Are Transforming Aligner Treatment in 2026 - Dr. Maria Jose Blanco Solis

Digital workflows are changing how dentists select, plan, monitor, and communicate clear aligner treatment. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Maria Jose Blanco Solis, private practice dentist and clear aligner educator, to discuss how digital workflow innovations are transforming aligner treatment in 2026.You will learn how to evaluate aligner case complexity, monitor tracking and compliance, use auxiliary techniques, manage retention protocols, and think about aligners as part of a broader functional and preventive approach to dentistry. To understand how to make aligner workflows more predictable and practical in your practice, listen to Episode 1059 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Clear aligners have expanded from simple aesthetic cases to more complex Class II, Class III, surgical, and multidisciplinary treatment plans.Case selection should include evaluation of occlusion, arch form, profile, crossbites, growth status, recession, and bone support.CBCT, STL files, and complete diagnostic records give doctors better control and confidence when planning aligner treatment.Monitoring appointments should focus on aligner fit, attachment integrity, tracking gaps, programmed IPR, and occlusal contacts.Patient compliance remains essential because aligners generally require 22 hours of daily wear.Auxiliary techniques such as buttons, elastics, TADs, and bootstrap mechanics can improve movement predictability in moderate and severe cases.Retention protocols should account for occlusal stability and patient compliance, especially when deciding between clear retainers and lingual wires.Snippets:00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro02:11 Meet Dr Mari Jose03:14 Aligners In 202605:24 Case Selection Basics06:55 Monitoring And Tracking10:37 Doctor Coaching Support11:13 Micronutrients And Compliance13:03 Retainers And Stability14:45 Aux Techniques And Elastics16:32 Posterior Open Bite Causes18:24 Retainer Wear Schedule19:52 Future Of Aligner Care22:20 Final Tips And Records23:14 Contact Info And Spark24:28 The Exchange Event Preview25:00 Final thoughts on case selection, auxiliary techniques, and live case alignment.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Dr. Maria Jose Blanco Solis is a dentist in private practice in San Jose, Costa Rica. She has worked with clear aligner therapy through Invisalign and Spark and focuses on digital dentistry, aligner workflow, case selection, clinical monitoring, and doctor education.In this episode, she discusses Spark, Vista aligners, TruGen XR material, one-on-one clinical support, and her upcoming presentation at Smile Exchange on case selection, clinical complexity, auxiliary techniques, and live case review.Resources mentioned:mariajose.blanco@envistaco.comDiscount code for the smile exchange: JOSEBLANCO26https://smilesource.com/exchangeMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

June 10, 202632 min

1058: Why Most Dental Practices Fail When Hiring Associates - Cassie Tallon

Hiring and keeping an associate sounds simple until the interview process, compensation questions, and culture-fit issues start to derail everything. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings on Cassie Tallon, an operations expert and founder of The Fractional Match, to explain why most dental practices fail when hiring associates and what to do differently. You’ll learn how to evaluate fit beyond clinical skills, how to set compensation expectations with transparency, why paying on collections matters, and how to prepare your practice so an associate can actually succeed and stay. Listen to Episode 1058 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Decide whether you want an associate purely for production or someone you will develop into a leader and potential legacy successor.Use a recruitment service instead of posting a job yourself without understanding today’s compensation models and contract pitfalls.Evaluate relational and empathetic patient-care philosophy early, not just clinical procedure capability.Confirm the associate is coachable and willing to be led during onboarding, not just eager to produce immediately.Start onboarding with financial clarity—how the P&L works and how pay is calculated—to prevent distrust and turnover.Pay associates on collections to tie compensation to real revenue and reinforce documentation, billing, and follow-through habits.Fix patient mix, services, and marketing before hiring an associate instead of expecting the associate to solve a broken model.Snippets:00:00 Hiring Associates Is Hard01:06 Meet Cassie Tallon03:41 Associate or Partner Choice05:30 Recruiting Landscape Today06:56 Fit Over Clinical Skills10:40 Pay Models That Work12:35 Equity and Autonomy14:31 Fix Patient Mix First19:10 Develop Associates Skills22:00 Retention and Transparency24:02 Work Life Satisfaction27:47 XChange Soft Skills Talk30:01 Final Advice and Wrap UpGuest Bio/Guest Resources:Cassie Tallon is a dental operations leader with 20 years of experience spanning multi-doctor practices and DSOs, including supporting growth and operational efficiency across multiple locations. She is an author focused on dental operations and has dedicated her current work to helping dentists improve efficiency, navigate growth decisions, and strengthen systems without adding unnecessary overhead.Resources mentioned:The Fractional Match: thefractionalmatch.comBook: Permission to DreamBook (upcoming): Permission to ScaleMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

June 8, 202621 min

1057: Metric Mondays: Why Is Production Up but Profit Not Following? - Miranda Beeson

Why can your practice feel busier than ever, show higher production, and still not see more money in the bank? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT Dental’s Director of Education, to explain why gross production is often a misleading proxy for profitability and what to measure instead. You’ll learn the difference between gross and net production, how write-offs and overhead quietly erase gains, and the first steps to protect margins so profit can follow production. Listen to Episode 1057 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Gross production can be a “gross misrepresentation” of what a practice can actually collect, while net production reflects what is realistically collectible.Higher production does not automatically create higher profit when write-offs grow and overhead rises at the same time.Practices get it wrong when they celebrate production without tracking what gets adjusted away and what it costs to deliver the care.Large write-offs (insurance, membership plan discounts, elective courtesies, and untracked adjustments) can create an “effort gap” where work is done but revenue is not collectible.Adding hours, days, team members, and equipment to chase production can increase expenses and compound the profitability problem.Practices get it right by tracking adjustments by category (and often by individual insurance carriers) and by regularly reviewing the P&L to confirm expenses are aligned with revenue-producing needs.The first action steps are to clarify write-offs in the practice management system and to understand where overhead dollars are going before pushing for more production.Snippets:00:00 Why production can be up while profit doesn’t follow.02:10 Gross vs. net production and why the distinction matters for doctors and teams.06:10 What it looks like when practices get it wrong and the bank account doesn’t grow.07:05 Write-offs and the “effort gap” between delivered care and collectible revenue.08:35 How chasing more production can quietly drive overhead higher.10:05 Why the real issue is often strategy, not production.14:15 The mindset shift for fee-for-service: being okay with downtime and using it well.17:10 The first thing to do tomorrow: get clarity on write-offs and adjustments.19:05 The next step: review the P&L and understand overhead buckets.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

June 5, 202628 min

1056: The Gift Inside Detour - Dr. Timothy Bizga

What do you do when a failure, setback, or “detour” hits your practice or life and you can’t see the point of it yet? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt interviews Dr. Timothy Bizga, private practice dentist and educator, about the mindset shifts behind his book Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom and how to find perspective when dentistry feels heavy.You’ll learn why “life happens for you,” how boundaries prevent burnout, and how community changes your trajectory. Listen to Episode 1056 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Dr. Bizga wrote his book to serve readers with practical wisdom drawn from patient stories and his own experiences.Writing a book requires commitment and support systems, not isolation or “doing it alone.”A misgraded writing exam in eighth grade became a long-term gift by sparking Dr. Bizga’s love of writing.The chapter “The Gift Inside the Detour” centers on changing mindset from “this is happening to me” to “this is happening for me.”Perspective often comes later, and progress in hard seasons can mean simply continuing to move forward.“Even Enamel Has Limits” is a reminder that caregivers and clinicians need boundaries to avoid burnout and breakdown.Smile Source Exchange is positioned as a community-driven learning environment where relationships and mentorship accelerate growth.Snippets:00:00 Welcome01:22 Meet Dr Tim Bizga03:04 Why Dr. Bizga wrote Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom and how patient stories shaped it.04:50 “Writing a book is the hardest thing ever” and why Dr. Bizga disagrees.06:09 “My hope is not to impress you, but to serve you” and the goal of 31 short chapters.07:50 The story behind “The Gift Inside the Detour”14:09 Applying detours to dentistry: procedures, team issues, health crises, and mindset.17:42 “Even Enamel Has Limits” and why boundaries matter for dentists and caregivers.21:39 Where to Get the Book22:26 Why Attend The Exchange 202625:09 Final thoughts on dentistry as a profession Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Dr. Timothy Bizga is a 2006 DDS graduate of the School of Dentistry! Along with having a successful practice, Dr. Bizga is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Dentistry at the School of Dentistry and the Director of Education for Smile Source, a network of more than 1,000 independent dentists who benefit from group buying, collective education and peer-sharing programs. Dr. Bizga has lectured nationally for more than 16 years and recently authored Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom.Guest resources mentioned in the episode:Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom: https://a.co/d/0aFvJ3MsThe Exchange 2026: https://smilesource.com/exchangeMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

June 3, 202631 min

1055: The Hidden Power of AI in Dentistry: How Voice Tech is Revolutionizing Practice Efficiency - Cassie Tallon & Rushi Ganmukhi

Documentation, charting, and insurance narratives are taking time away from patient care, and many teams are already stretched thin. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with Rushi Ganmukhi, founder of Bola AI and former MIT AI/NLP researcher, and Cassie Tallon, a dental operations leader and author, to explain how voice-enabled AI can reduce clinical documentation burden, improve note quality, and help practices get paid faster. You’ll learn where voice tech fits best (perio, restorative charting, and clinical notes), what it changes operationally, and how to identify the friction points in your own workflow. Listen to Episode 1055 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Voice technology can reduce the time and disruption of perio charting by allowing hands-free entry during hygiene visits.Faster perio charting supports more comprehensive perio exams, which can improve identification and treatment of periodontal disease.Delayed or incomplete notes can delay insurance submission and cash flow, creating a backlog of unsent claims.Templated, generic notes and late documentation can weaken clinical records for both insurance review and legal defensibility.Insurers are increasingly requiring more documentation, including perio charting for restorative claims, to support medical necessity.Effective adoption of AI tools depends on fast implementation, flexibility in workflows, and customization to an office’s documentation preferences.Practices can start by tracking daily workflow “sticking points” for a week and mapping which issues could be reduced with voice-driven documentation.Snippets:00:00 Voice tech as the “hidden power” of AI for practice efficiency.01:00 The documentation burden: perio charts, restorative docs, and insurance narratives.02:10 Rushi’s background in AI/NLP and MIT research, and why he entered dentistry.04:35 Why voice tech fits clinical environments better than consumer voice assistants.06:00 Bola AI’s early focus on voice perio charting and expansion to notes and restorative charting.07:05 Why integrations with practice management systems matter (Dentrix, Open Dental, Curve, Patterson, Henry Schein).08:00 The time cost of manual charting and its impact on hygiene workflows.10:00 How delays and backdating notes can hold up insurance submission and revenue.11:20 The risks of cut-and-paste templates for insurance and legal documentation.13:00 Insurance requiring more documentation, including perio charting for restorative claims.14:00 Why “decay” alone is not a sufficient clinical reason in a narrative.15:00 How dental-specific logic and terminology improve accuracy over general dictation tools.16:35 What “plug-and-play” adoption should look like in the operatory.18:10 Handling variation across practices (sleep/airway, medical billing, pediatrics, customization).19:00 Current curiosity vs. adoption: workforce shortages and the cash-flow case for AI.22:00 Overview of Bola’s three core products: Voice Perio, Voice Restorative, and AI Scribe.26:00 A practical challenge: measure how long perio charting takes and identify workflow friction points.29:00 Final guidance: start small, solve specific problems, and choose tools proven in clinics.30:10 Where to learn more and request a demo (bola.ai).Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Rushi Ganmukhi is the founder of Bola AI and has a professional background in artificial intelligence and natural language processing, including research experience at MIT focused on helping computers understand human speech and language. He leads Bola AI’s work applying voice technology to dental workflows, including perio charting, restorative charting, and AI-assisted clinical documentation.Cassie Tallon is a dental operations leader with 20 years of experience spanning multi-doctor practices and DSOs, including supporting growth and operational efficiency across multiple locations. She is an author focused on dental operations and has dedicated her current work to helping dentists improve efficiency, navigate growth decisions, and strengthen systems without adding unnecessary overhead.Resources mentioned in the episode:Bola AI (demos and product information): www.bola.aihttps://smilesource.com/exchangeMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

June 1, 202615 min

1054: Metric Mondays: Tracking Everything Is the Fastest Way to Improve Nothing - Miranda Beeson

Tracking every KPI can feel productive, but it often creates noise and diffuses accountability. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with Miranda Beeson, ACT’s co-host and practice coach, to explain why “tracking everything is the fastest way to improve nothing.”You’ll learn how to narrow your focus to a small set of metrics that match your top quarterly priority, how to separate leadership-level monitoring from team-level focus, and what to do when a metric is off-track so it actually improves. Listen to Episode 1054 of The Best Practices Show!Main TakeawaysTrack data because feelings are not reliable indicators of what is happening in the practice.Too many KPIs create overwhelm, dilute accountability, and make it harder to prioritize action.Choose three to seven “main” KPIs each quarter that directly correlate to the practice’s current priority.Leadership can monitor a broader scorecard, but the team should stay focused on the quarter’s priority metrics.Practices that track everything often bounce between problems week to week without making measurable progress.When a focus metric is off-track, the team must issue-discuss-solve instead of only reporting the number.Assign clear ownership for collecting and reporting each KPI so the numbers stay visible and actionable.Snippets:00:00 Metric Mondays Kickoff01:22 Meet Miranda Beeson02:00 Why Tracking Everything Fails03:20 Pick Few KPIs for Traction05:51 Data Rich Direction Poor07:52 What It Looks Like Done Right08:42 Choose Focus Metrics This Quarter10:47 Action Steps and Accountability13:17 Solve Off Track Metrics14:43 Wrap Up and Get HelpGuest Bio/Guest Resources:Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

May 29, 202619 min

1053: Cash Flow Confusion: How to Understand the Money Side of Dentistry - Robyn Theisen

Cash flow confusion can make a busy, high-producing practice feel like it has no money left at the end of the month. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt explains why production and a “profitable” P&L don’t always translate into cash in the bank, and he brings in coach Robyn Theisen to break down the cash flow gap. You’ll learn the difference between net profit and actual cash available, the three common places cash disappears, and which financial statements you need to see the full story and build a plan for taxes, debt, and owner compensation. Listen to Episode 1053 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Net profit on the P&L is not the same as cash in the bank.The cash flow gap is the difference between what your P&L shows and the cash actually available.Cash commonly disappears in three places that don’t show clearly on the P&L: taxes, debt payments, and owner draws/distributions.Interest expense may appear on the P&L even when the actual loan payments and balances aren’t being tracked.To understand where the money went, you need to review the P&L, cash flow statement, and balance sheet together.Predictable owner compensation, tax reserves, and a debt strategy reduce reactive decisions and stabilize cash flow.Ongoing monthly accountability and review are necessary to keep cash flow clean, especially in multi-owner practices.Snippets:00:00 Net profit versus cash in the bank.06:00 What the cash flow gap is and where it usually shows up.07:00 Why paying down debt doesn’t appear on the P&L.10:00 The three strategies: tax reserves, debt strategy, and owner compensation.11:00 The three financial statements needed to understand cash movement and what’s owed.15:00 Why multi-owner practices add complexity and require consistent monthly review.17:00 The cash flow statement tells the full story, not the P&L.18:00 BPA tools mentioned: reading the three statements, Financial Gaps at a Glance, and the calculator.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Robyn Theisen brings an entire life and legacy of dental experience to the team and every team with which she works as the daughter and sister of dentists. With almost 20 years of experience in dentistry, her roles ranged from practice management to operations at Patterson Dental to coaching teams. Robyn’s passion is empowering teams to realize that they can dramatically impact the lives of the people they serve by implementing skills and systems to remove barriers to life-changing dental treatment. She has done it for decades and does it every day with dental teams.Outside of coaching, she enjoys time with her husband, Rob, and two daughters, Emerson and Ruby. She loves traveling, music, fitness, and cheering on the Michigan State Spartans.Resources Mentioned:Financial Gaps at a Glance: https://www.actdental.com/gaps-at-a-glanceFinancial Gaps Calculator: https://www.actdental.com/gaps-calculatorMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

May 27, 202623 min

1052: 5 Myths Dentists Still Believe - Dr. Tom Hedge

Dentists often keep operating beliefs long after the market, technology, and patient expectations have changed. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with recurring guest Dr. Tom Hedge, practicing dentist and educator, to unpack myths dentists still believe — from selling to DSOs and misunderstanding recap/valuation, to overestimating the cost and complexity of modern technology, imaging, magnification, and hygiene staffing. You’ll learn how to rethink “rules of thumb,” evaluate DSO offers more clearly, adopt practical tech that improves diagnosis and case acceptance, and use education and community to stay adaptable. Listen to Episode 1052 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Dentists often assume what worked ten years ago will keep working, even when costs, fees, and alternatives have changed.DSO deals can break down when recapitalization happens and cheap money is no longer cheap, shrinking what DSOs can “skim” between dentist pay and profitability.A “second bite of the apple” payout is not guaranteed, and dentists can lose value if the DSO is not financially strong when the holdback comes due.Technology prices and workflows have changed dramatically, and many tools (cameras, scanners, digital X-rays) now deliver faster diagnosis and better patient understanding.Patient imaging can be created quickly using AI tools, which can help patients visualize outcomes and move forward without high-pressure selling.Magnification and hands-free lighting can simplify clinical work, reduce operatory clutter, and improve the patient experience compared to traditional overhead lights.Investing in continuing education moves dentists from “not knowing what you don’t know” to confident clinical decision-making, but learning never stops.Snippets:00:00 Welcome And Setup02:04 Why Myths Persist02:38 Rethinking Fees03:42 DSO Big Check Myth05:31 Recap And EBITDA08:19 Independent Dentistry Future09:39 Tech Costs Myth12:59 Hands Free Operatory Tech13:50 AI Smile Imaging Fast15:58 Magnification Lighting Simplified17:33 Hygiene Crisis Reframed19:27 Education And Community20:35 SmileSource Exchange Invite22:09 Final Takeaways GoodbyeGuest Bio/Guest Resources:Dr. Tom Hedge is widely known as one of the top-notch cosmetic dentists in the United States. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he majored in biology and chemistry. While studying at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, he conducted research resulting in the publication of seven abstracts and one paper, which received numerous awards at the state and national levels. After graduating from dental school, he completed a general practice residency at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. This advanced education included training in anesthesia, pediatrics, emergency medicine, geriatrics, TMJ treatment, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, prosthetics, and implantology.Dr. Hedge is nationally recognized not only for excellence in clinical programs, but for sound business practices that make full use of the newest technologies in dentistry. He is an alumnus of the renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, as well as the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Dr. Hedge is a frequent contributor to dental publications, as well as professional development magazines.Resources mentioned in the episode:Smile Source Exchange: https://smilesource.com/exchangeMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

May 25, 202619 min

1051: Metric Mondays: Why Isn't the Hygiene Schedule as Full as it Should Be? - Ariel Siegel

Why does hygiene feel “booked out” and still leave you scrambling to fill holes at the last minute? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with ACT coach Ariel Siegel about why an underperforming hygiene schedule is almost always a systems problem—and how to fix it with two foundational levers: a strong reappointment/recare follow-up system and a calibrated periodontal protocol. You’ll learn what breakdowns create reactive scheduling, what “getting it right” looks like in the numbers and in patient communication, and what your team can do today to start rebuilding predictability in hygiene. Listen to Episode 1051 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:A consistently full hygiene schedule depends on two core systems: strong reappointment/recare follow-up and a strong periodontal protocol.When systems are missing, teams become reactive and spend significant time scrambling to fill last-minute openings.Automated reminders are necessary, but they cannot replace a defined recare follow-up process that tracks and re-engages unscheduled patients.“Booked out” hygiene can still indicate a breakdown if the practice is constantly scrambling to fill tomorrow’s holes.A strong hygiene reappointment process requires patients to leave with the next visit scheduled and a clear understanding of why they are returning.A calibrated perio protocol increases consistent diagnosis, patient understanding, and acceptance, which supports both hygiene stability and restorative scheduling.Building systems up front reduces future effort and prevents the ongoing “chasing patients” cycle that patients often resist.Snippets:01:55 The two systems that keep the hygiene schedule predictably full.03:50 What it looks like when hygiene scheduling is broken and the team becomes reactive.04:20 Why reminders can’t be the whole recare system.05:40 “We’re booked out months” but still scrambling—what that signals.07:10 What “getting it right” looks like: reappointment commitment and follow-up tracking.09:00 How calibrating a perio protocol changes perio percentages and 4000 codes.11:30 Stop chasing patients—capture commitment while they’re in the practice.12:10 What your team can do today: find the gaps driving last-minute holes.12:40 The easiest short-term win: improve hygiene reappointment expectations.14:05 Why perio protocol calibration takes alignment, tools, and consistent messaging.16:10 Systems save hours: invest now instead of living in reactive mode.16:55 Where to find BPA resources for hygiene reappointment/recare follow-up and calibrated perio protocol.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Ariel has a master’s in healthcare administration and several years of dental experience in all aspects of the administrative roles within the dental office. Her passion is to work with dental teams to empower team members to realize their full potential in order to better serve patients, improve office systems to ensure a well-functioning team/office, and to help everyone have fun in the process!Resources mentioned:Best Practices Association (BPA) resources: https://www.actdental.com/free-resources/More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

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