Not every patient is a good fit for your practice. Life is actually easier when you prune the bad ones. If you've dealt with patients who miss appointments, delay payments, or even compromise your team's safety, this episode is for you. This episode breaks down when and why patient termination may be necessary.   You'll need a well-documented process for issuing termination letters and handling uncomfortable situations, like bumping into a terminated patient outside the office. Ensuring a...

Being a new manager is scary and challenging. Everything is different now. You are juggling your work friendships  and building trust with your doctor. You're managing different personalities all while  leading by example, there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Plus, it can be lonely at the top.   I’ll share personal stories—like a lesson learned the hard way with patient emails 🤦🏻‍♀️—and share insights specifically for new managers. Be sure to check the show notes for added...

These are excerpts from two fun episodes of my other podcast Chew on This. Have you ever wondered how treatment in space would happen? Of course you have! My co-host Kevin Henry and I explore the challenges of space dentistry, including how microgravity affects oral care and the innovations being developed for astronauts. We also discuss Minnesota's recent legislation allowing dental assistants to administer certain injections, highlighting the implications for dental practices and patient...

What's the big deal with the AADOM Conference? New attendees are often surprised by the event so let me share what to expect. The AADOM Conference offers networking and educational sessions plus key opportunities for dental office managers to elevate their careers. ‘Recharged’ is a common way to describe how you'll feel after the sessions. I'll cover:   Who attends How it's evolved over the years The quality of education The various awards & designations  This conference is on...

I'm sharing a recent podcast episode I recorded with my friends at A Breath of Fresh Air. Their podcast focuses on dental billing and they wanted my thoughts on our industry’s future.  We talked about the surprising ways dental and medical billing might start to merge, and why having top-notch training and qualifications isn't just a good idea — it's a must. And, of course, we’re dishing out plenty of practical tips, insider insights, and a few laughs along the way. I hope this episode is...

Dealing with out-of-control claims can feel overwhelming but I’m here to help you get a handle on it. We’ll break down actionable steps to bring order to the chaos and make sure your dental aging report cleans up nicely. I’ll walk you through essential steps like setting up separate bank accounts to keep things organized, running insurance aging reports to keep track of pending claims, and sorting out those duplicate claims before deadlines hit. My advice on staying patient and organized...

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@odysseymgmt You should know a few facts about leaving a network before you make any big decisions. In this solo episode, I share tidbits from my hundreds of strategy calls with dentists and managers on this topic. Typically the call starts out with a focus on how much revenue can be generated and patient reactions. I’m more concerned with level-setting your expectations and taking care of your team members. Touchpoints:  Losing patients will suck Why...

My Mid-Year Insurance Update webinar generated a lot of questions (as usual!). I couldn’t answer them all so I thought I’d share them with you. The webinar touched on Open Season, Medicare Advantage, audits, materials upgrades and participation considerations. This mixed bag of questions was fun to answer and I hope you are able to utilize the info!    A few talking points:  Navigating shared networks Billing for non-covered services Self-funded and fully funded Medicare...

In this episode I was able to hang out with Sean Hamel, the brain behind the Art of Dental Marketing. He believes strongly in personalized, emotionally engaging marketing and gave us lots of examples. He talked about using killer videos and photos to rock Google My Business and then shared super creative ways to get your practice noticed in your community. I still have a lot to learn about videos and self-promotion! Ready to level up your marketing? Let's dive in!   A few talking points:  ...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  My friend Brant Herman joins me to talk about virtual clinical dentistry. It's not a stretch to call him a dental visionary. His Mouthwatch camera enabled low cost intraoral imaging at a time when documentation needs increased tremendously. It was a foray into teledentistry that led to our topic of virtual care solutions. Dentistry.one is helping dentists interact and treat patients who often can't make it into our offices. For all of...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  In this special mini edition of “Nobody Told Me That!” I turned the reins over to Rita Zamora of Connect 90 to share her expertise in social media content. Social media fatigue is real, but Rita has solutions. Bonus Tip – Get Some Help: If social media still feels too daunting, Rita advises considering professional help, such as the services offered by her team at Connect 90. They offer a free 30-day trial for social media management,...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  In this episode of "Nobody Told Me That!" we explore how modern solutions like virtual assistants are transforming dental practices. Joined by industry experts Rita Zamora and Rebecca Herring, expect thought-provoking insights on the rise of virtual front desk teams and how they're revolutionizing patient interactions. From chatbots charming Gen Z to full virtual admin teams, we discussed the tech-savvy solutions reshaping the dental...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  In this episode, I interviewed Dr. Mike Barniv who has impressive street cred in the AI, carrier and clinical arenas. He’s currently the VP of Clinical Affairs at Pearl. Dr. Barniv shared AI’s role in treatment case acceptance. Hint - it helps tremendously! We had a frank talk about how the carriers are using AI in adjudication.  A few talking points:  How does AI help dentists to efficiently examine historical images to chart...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  In this episode, we tackle the financial challenges of operating a dental practice, with a special focus on managing supply costs and leveraging vendor relationships. Joining us is Ted Osterer, my friend from Synergy Dental Partners, who shares great advice to optimize dental practice operations. Look at all that we covered: Dental Supply Management Navigating PPO Challenges Role of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) ...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  Lisa Greer is the California Dental Association’s dental benefit expert (and repeat guest!). We talked about quite a few topics including Change Healthcare and advice that can get you audited. We both firmly believe that the insurance coordinator is a key player in protecting the doctor’s license. Look at all that we covered:  Navigating Change Healthcare's Issues Submitting treatment on claim forms CDT codes and how to stay...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  Join us for a candid conversation about financial management and team development. I’m thrilled to welcome back my close friend, Dayna Johnson, a dental consultant who's made a name for herself in the world of digital workflows and accounts receivable wizardry. We tackled these topics:  Why collection conversations are scary Transparency and practice numbers Investing in training and employee retention How to reduce...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  Understanding the impact of Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) is critical for every office manager and dentist. My friend Dr. Tony Stefanou - the founder of Connect the Dents - is a solid resource in this area. Even if you’re not planning to join one soon you should know how they operate and grow. We can all learn from the different business models which operate around us. I asked Tony what piques a DSO’s interest and that led to a...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  Great employees are worth their weight in gold. Managing them is usually the most taxing part of the job. Different personalities, different ages - all of it comes with pros and cons. My guests - Michelle Coker and Matt Nelson from the California Dental Association - help offices with these challenges every day. We unpacked the nuanced dynamics of workplace communication and the generational differences coloring today's dental...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  It’s always fun to have Rachel Wall back for hygiene updates. She’s the founder and president of Inspired Hygiene and is my go-to for shedding light on the latest trends and products in dental hygiene. We tackled these topics:  The challenges of the various hygiene compensation models How a knowledgeable administrative team impacts patient communications Strategies for expanding service offerings in dental hygiene to keep...

SHOW NOTES: Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  Returning guest India Chance joined me for another infection control, bug-filled episode! She's the founder of Learn to Prevent and always teaches me something new. Sometimes I wish I didn't know it but it's important for our patients and practices. Some highlights from our talk: Infection Control and Compliance: Autoclaves - who knew they could be a hot topic? See what I did there? 😄 We talked tracking parameters for...

Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube!  In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Bryan Laskin – a dental tech entrepreneur, an author and a good friend. He's been on before (Ep 76) and just like last time, the conversation flowed. Dentistry is changing behind the scenes. We think of progress as materials updates and faster scans. But what happens when the changes occur behind the scenes yet have such a huge impact on your job? Some highlights from our talk: Digital...

In this episode, I was joined by Andrew Johnston, co-founder of “A Tale of Two Hygienists,” and the man responsible for The Dental Podcast Network at Dental Economics. He's also a restorative hygienist. Also making an appearance was Editor-In-Chief at Dr. Bicuspid and my Chew On This Podcast co-host, Kevin Henry. We discussed some of the noticeable movements that have been shaking the current norms in the dental industry: Artificial Intelligence: We had to discuss the world of artificial...

In this episode, we dive deep into the concerning issue of workplace violence in dental offices. I was joined by my friend Duane Tinker, a compliance consultant and former investigator for the Texas Dental Board. This episode is a bit more serious than usual but oh so important. Dental Office Safety: We discuss the duty of business owners to provide a safe workplace, the importance of contingency plans, and the potential legal ramifications they may face in case of violent incidents. We...

In this episode, I was joined by Gary Bird, founder and managing partner of SMC National, to discuss changes in dental marketing strategies. We talked about many topics but really became animated when these came up: Video Marketing: Gary emphasized the importance of video in marketing, especially for promoting larger dental treatments. He discusses how high-quality videos can lower customer acquisition costs, build trust with patients, and address specific concerns of pediatric patients...