The Dental Handoff

Hosted by Dr. Kelly Tanner

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Episodes

219

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Let’s stop using the wrong end of the toothbrush! This show is about passing you the knowledge, the habits, the systems and the strategies to lead your teams, lean on your tech, and listen to your gut, while you take care of teeth, and let’s get honest, the overall health, of our communities. By identifying the gaps, recognizing the plaque and extracting the truth with other experts in the field we will share their stories, empower you to own yours, and elevate your passion in the process. Show topics to include: Education, Tech, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Communication, Connection and Confidence

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60 recent

September 8, 2026Episode 22342 min

Episode 220 | Selling the Invisible: Fear, Trust, and the Business of Dentistry | Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, MAGD

Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, MAGD, built Dentaltown in 1999 because he believed no dentist should ever have to practice alone. Since then, he has grown it to 250,000 plus members in 43 countries, hosted 1,700 plus episodes of Dentistry Uncensored, lectured in 50 countries, and written Uncomplicate Business: All It Takes Is People, Time and Money. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with the man who made dentistry talk about money when talking about money was considered gross. Howard brings his blunt, warm, and wildly practical perspective to fear as the root cause, the invisible sell, the parking lot test, one-chair practices, three strikes firing, and why the man in the mirror is the only thing standing between most dentists and the practice they actually want. This episode is for every dentist, hygienist, and practice owner who has ever blamed Delta Dental, their associate, or the economy for a problem that started with a decision they made themselves. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, MAGD: Dentaltown: dentaltown.com | Personal site: howardfarran.com Practice: Today's Dental | 9633 S 48th St, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85044 Email: Howard@DentalTown.com | Phone: (480) 445-9712 Facebook: HowardFarran Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

September 1, 2026Episode 22226 min

Episode 219 | From $2 Million in Debt to a $30K AI Practice: Grit, Radical Self-Responsibility, and the Infinite Game | Dr. Shahin Safarian

Dr. Shahin Safarian, DMD, MBA, graduated from Tufts School of Dental Medicine in 2001 with $400,000 in debt. By 2008 he had three locations and $2 million in debt. He pressed restart. Today his practice is 800 square feet, one operatory, powered by AI, and running on $30,000 a month in overhead. Before dentistry, he was a professional soccer player for the Puebla F.C.A.s and the San Diego Sockers. He lettered in six sports in high school in Utah, got cut by every team for his first two years in San Diego, trained seven days a week until he made it, and then applied that same grit to dental school at 29. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. Safarian to talk about radical self-responsibility, burnout as over-leverage, the 50% payroll rule, the hygiene profitability squeeze, and why AI diagnostics accuracy is already above the human average. This episode is for dentists, practice owners, and any dental professional who wants to understand the business side of dentistry through the lens of someone who got it wrong, rebuilt from scratch, and built something leaner, smarter, and more sustainable. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Dr. Shahin Safarian, DMD, MBA: LOVE BITES Dental: lovebitesdental.com | 858-255-9689 Capital Dental Group: capitaldentalgroup.com YouTube:@drshahinsafarian Weekly Live Show: Dr. Shahin Safarian on YouTube at @drshahinsafarian Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

August 25, 2026Episode 22139 min

Episode 218 | Management of the Face in Space: Robotics, Zygomatic Implants, and the Standard Behind World-Class Surgery | Dr. Jay Neugarten

Dr. Jay Neugarten, DDS, MD, FACS, is a world-renowned oral and maxillofacial surgeon who was class valedictorian at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, earned his medical degree from Stony Brook, and completed his OMFS residency at Long Island Jewish. He is the Managing Partner and Medical Director of the New York Center for Orthognathic and Maxillofacial Surgery, an associate clinical professor at Weill Cornell, North Shore, and LIJ, and the founder of the Zaga Center New York City. He is one of the earliest adopters of the Yomi robotic dental surgery platform and in 2024 published a landmark study in the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants showing that haptic robotic guidance is more accurate than any other implant placement method. He has placed more than 800 implants robotically since 2020. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. Neugarten to talk about the philosophy behind everything he does, the technology transforming how he delivers care, and the three pillars he gives every young clinician he mentors: care, get involved, and find mentorship. This episode is for dentists, dental hygienists, dental educators, and any dental professional who wants to understand where surgical robotics is headed, what world-class mentorship actually looks like, and why the standard you set for yourself matters more than the technology you use. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Dr. Jay Neugarten, DDS, MD, FACS: Practice: nycoms.com | 501 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY LinkedIn: Jay Neugarten DDS MD FACS | Zaga Center NYC: zagacenters.com/zaga-network/dr-jay-neugarten/ Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

August 18, 2026Episode 22031 min

Episode 217 | Add First, Subtract Second: The Composite Philosophy Behind Minimally Invasive Dentistry | Dr. Michael Morgan, DDS

It is much easier to destroy tooth structure than to conserve it. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Michael Morgan, DDS, shares the minimally invasive and direct composite philosophy that has shaped 25 years of his clinical work. Dr. Morgan explains his “add first, subtract second” approach, why preserving natural tooth structure can keep future treatment options open, and how he applies this philosophy to complex clinical cases. He takes us inside a hypocalcification case and a fractured central incisor case while discussing: Why preserving tooth structure takes more skill and patience • His “add first, subtract second” philosophy • Direct composite for younger patients • His three-part composite “secret sauce”: dentin, enamel, and white tint • Hypocalcification and peg lateral cases • Digital versus analog workflows • Clinical photography and self-evaluation • Building referral relationships with orthodontists and pedodontists • The ethics of treating the whole patient • The business reality of high-level composite dentistry Dr. Morgan’s philosophy ultimately comes down to one principle: Add first. Subtract second. Because once natural tooth structure is removed, you can’t simply give it back. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Dr. Michael Morgan, DDS Website: hinsdalefamilydentist.com Instagram: @dentistrybydesignhinsdale LinkedIn: Michael Morgan on LinkedIn Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

August 11, 2026Episode 21830 min

Episode 216 | The Avoidance Tax: Why Busy Dental Practices Stop Growing | Kelly Fox-Galvagni, RDA

What separates a thriving dental practice from one that's simply staying busy? According to Kelly Fox-Galvagni, CEO of Smile Potential, the answer often isn't clinical skill, it’s leadership, accountability, and the willingness to address difficult conversations before they become expensive problems. With more than 30 years in dentistry, Kelly has helped practice owners improve profitability, strengthen team performance, and create operational systems that support sustainable growth. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, she introduces the concept of the "Avoidance Tax", the hidden cost practices pay when they delay important decisions, tolerate inconsistency, or avoid conversations that directly impact patient care and business performance. Through practical examples, including a practice that uncovered more than 1,800 patients who hadn't been contacted since 2019, Kelly explains how overlooked systems can quietly reduce patient retention, team engagement, and long-term profitability. Whether you're a practice owner, office manager, dentist, or team leader, this conversation offers practical leadership insights you can implement immediately to build a stronger, healthier dental practice. In this episode, you'll learn: What the "Avoidance Tax" really means for dental practices Why busy practices often struggle to achieve sustainable growth How neglected patient recall systems affect profitability The leadership habits that create high-performing dental teams Practical strategies to improve accountability and operational consistency How small leadership decisions influence the patient experience Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Kelly Fox-Galvagni Website: www.smilepotential.com Instagram: @smile_potential Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

August 4, 2026Episode 21732 min

Episode 215 | AI, Biofilm, and the Business of Dental Hygiene | Dr. Joy Void-Holmes, DHSc, RDH

Dr. Joy Void-Holmes, DHSc, RDH, got her start in dentistry at 16, answering phones at her dentist's office through the Marion Barry DC summer youth employment program. She watched how the practice ran, learned the front desk, and eventually went to Howard University for dental hygiene after a conversation with a security guard and a dentist who told her to try hygiene first. She is now the creator of the P3 Hygiene Growth System, Protocols, Performance, and Profitability, a consulting and training platform she built after nearly walking away from the profession. P3 has trained more than 2,000 hygienists since 2022 and expanded into in-office consulting for large group practices and DSOs. The P3 Certified designation launches August 1, 2026. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with her longtime colleague and friend to talk about what hygienists are really asking for right now, why practice owners speak numbers and most hygienists do not, and how learning to speak the same language changes everything about how your career gets treated. This episode is for dental hygienists, practice owners, and dental educators who want to understand the business side of dental hygiene and why the hygienists who learn it are the ones who stop feeling invisible. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Dr. Joy Void-Holmes, DHSc, RDH: Website: drjoyrdh.com Email: info@DrJoyRDH.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-joy-void-holmes-5092222/ Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

July 28, 2026Episode 21637 min

Episode 214 | The 4-Product Restorative System Every Dentist Needs | Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD

Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD, is a national lecturer, Editorial Director at Dental Economics, and a full-time restorative dentist in San Antonio, Texas. He is also the son of a dentist who passed away in 1990 when Josh was 10, and who he thinks about every single day he walks into his operatory. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Josh to talk about how restorative dentistry has changed in the past 50 years, what his father's 35mm slide cases reveal about how far materials have come, and the practical four-product system he uses today to handle every restoration in his practice with one universal bonding agent, one cement, and two composites. They also cover the iTero simulation workflow that transformed his case acceptance, the Cindy story that shows what a long-term lab relationship actually produces, and a fluoride varnish incident that is the funniest thing to happen in a dental operatory in recent memory. This episode is for dentists, hygienists, and dental team members who want to simplify their restorative systems, understand which materials to use when, and be reminded of why they got into this profession in the first place. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD: Email: jaustindds@me.com Instagram: instagram.com/JoshuaAustinDDS Practice: joshuaaustindds.com Seminars and Speaking: austindentalseminars.com | (210) 408-7999 Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

July 21, 2026Episode 21529 min

Episode 213 | AI, Speed to Lead, and the Dental Marketing Gap Most Practices Don't Know They Have | Dr. Syeda Andaleeb Zaidi

Dr. Syeda Andaleeb Zaidi is a prosthodontist who built a dental marketing agency from a single Facebook post in 2017 and then added an AI layer to it after getting an automated reminder call mid-procedure while her hand was in a patient's mouth. She is the founder of Techie Dentist, a dental marketing agency based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and HASI, an AI-powered patient engagement system that handles booking, recall, voice response, and lead follow-up across multiple channels. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. Andaleeb Zaidi to cover speed to lead (the 32-second booking window most practices never hear about), why ChatGPT and Gemini are now reading your Google reviews before recommending you to patients, why LinkedIn is the most underutilized platform in dentistry, and why the email list is the only marketing asset a dental practice truly owns. This episode is for dentists, practice owners, dental hygienists, and dental educators who want to understand what dental marketing and AI actually look like in practice, not in theory. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Dr. Syeda Andaleeb Zaidi: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drandaleeb/ Techie Dentist: techiedentist.com Email:andaleeb.zaidi296@gmail.com Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

July 7, 2026Episode 21430 min

Episode 212 | Functional Medicine, Gut Health, and the Hygienist Who Treats the Root Cause | Tammy Reavis, RDH, MPH

Tammy Reavis, RDH, MPH, has spent her career stuck in what she calls a piston feeling. Chairside in periodontics, she can get gum disease under control, but she cannot touch the diabetes, the high blood pressure, or the chronic inflammation sitting underneath it. So, she went and built the second half of her career around fixing exactly that. Tammy completed a year-long program through the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy and a concurrent year with the Functional Nutrition Alliance, on top of an MPH from Liberty University. She now runs Grace & Grit Functional Health LLC, a fully telehealth coaching practice, alongside her continuing work chairside. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Tammy to talk through the personal crisis that pushed her into this work, including the two weeks she spent reversing her husband's liver damage with juicing and micronutrients, and what she has learned since about gut health, root cause thinking, and the questions every dental provider can start asking today. This episode is for dental hygienists, dentists, and practice owners who want to understand the gut and oral health connection and who are curious what it looks like to build a second career around root cause care. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Tammy Reavis, MPH, RDH, BCFWC: Website: www.graceandgritfunctionalhealth.com Email: hello@graceandgritfunctionalhealth.com Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com

June 30, 2026Episode 21326 min

Episode 211 | From Clinical Burnout to Dental School Faculty: A Hygienist Career Transition Story | Tiffany Bairos, RDH, MPH

Most hygienist career transitions start with burnout and end with uncertainty. Tiffany Bairos, RDH, MPH, took a different path. After 18 years in clinical hygiene, a combination of physical wear, a research certificate, a temp job, a full-time leap, and a master's in public health brought her to a faculty role she had not planned and could not have mapped. She now teaches caries risk assessment to dental students at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. She is the only person in her department without a doctorate. And she is building a course and coaching program for dental practice owners who want to stop losing the hygienists they spent time and energy hiring. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Tiffany to talk through every stage of that journey, from the front desk job at 18 that started it all to the telehealth caries education model her students now complete as a formal competency. This episode is for dental hygienists considering a move outside clinical practice, dental school educators, and practice owners who want to understand what their hygiene team actually needs to stay. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Tiffany Bairos, RDH, MPH: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-bairos/ Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com