The Dental Handoff

Hosted by Dr. Kelly Tanner

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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 29, 2026Episode 22631 min

Episode 223 | From a Job That Didn't Feel Right to Chairing the ADEA Corporate Council | Wendy Bebey, RDH, BS

Wendy Bebey's first job out of dental hygiene school didn't sit right with her, from how instruments were handled to whether the role was helping her grow, and she knew it. So she left, and started a path that would eventually take her from clinical hygiene into more than 20 years across Professional Relations, Sales Management, and continuing education at companies like Procter & Gamble, HuFriedyGroup, and Young Innovations. Today, she chairs the ADEA Corporate Council Administrative Board. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner talks with Wendy about the jobs that weren't the right fit, the chance connections and mentors that changed her direction, and what it actually took (real patience, deliberate networking, about four years of positioning herself) to make the jump from clinic to industry. Wendy also shares her belief that leaving clinical practice doesn't mean leaving the profession: "once a hygienist, always a hygienist." This conversation is for hygienists wondering if their current job is the right fit, and anyone considering a move from clinical practice into industry, education, or leadership. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Wendy Bebey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendybebey/ 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 22, 2026Episode 22528 min

Episode 222 | Two Businesses, One Terrible Day: A Dental Hygienist's Story of Starting Over Twice | Debora Carrier

Debora Carrier, RDH, spent more than 30 years in the dental industry as a hygienist and CPR instructor. She got into hygiene school at 17, after a guidance counselor told her she never would, and left as the youngest person ever to sit the state boards in Illinois. She built a parallel runway modeling career alongside hygiene, co-founded The CPR Sisters with her own sister 31 years ago, and started Twice As Nice Uniforms, a temperature-regulating, antimicrobial scrub line. At 55, where she's now Founder and CEO. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner talks with Debora about what happened about four months before this recording: a certification guideline change made her CPR company's virtual business model unworkable almost overnight, and on the same day, her uniform factory of 15 years shut down. Debora walks through what it took to rebuild both, including the "no goal networking" approach she credits for most of her opportunities, and why customers who'd gone quiet for a decade came back with bigger orders than ever. This conversation is for dental hygienists thinking about a side business, practice owners who've had a business model disrupted by something outside their control, and anyone who needs a real account of what it looks like to start over more than once. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Debora Carrier: Debora Carrier, RDH Founder & CEO, Twice as Nice Uniforms | Co-Founder, The CPR Sisters | 2025 Sunstar GUM/RDH Award of Distinction – Entrepreneur Category Winner LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deboracarrier https://twiceasniceuniforms.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

September 15, 2026Episode 22430 min

Episode 221 | $12 Billion in Dental Fraud: What Every Dental Practice Needs to Know from the Payer Side | Michael Cembrola

Michael Cembrola spent more than 20 years on the payer side of dental insurance, including six years running the national sales team for Delta Dental of California and all their affiliated states. He has been inside FBI investigations into dental fraud. He has sat in rooms where insurance companies decided which new technologies, they would not cover. And he has watched the gap between carriers and providers quietly damage both sides while patients absorb the cost. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Michael to talk about what fraud looks like from the inside, why most of it is unintentional, and what happens when an honest coding mistake turns into a six-figure fine. Michael is building an AI behavioral fingerprinting tool that detects fraud in one month versus the carrier average of one year. Kelly also tells the story of her first dental job as a 22-year-old baby hygienist, the office manager who tried to pin an embezzlement charge on her, and why not knowing what petty cash was is what saved her. This conversation is for dental hygienists, dentists, practice owners, office managers, DSOs, and anyone working with dental insurance. If your practice files claims or accepts insurance, this one is directly relevant. Subscribe to The Dental Handoff on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes every week. Connect with Michael Cembrola: Company: MJC Growth Advisors | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikecembrola 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 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