The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

What is the best solution for missing teeth? It depends on several key factors! In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, Dr. Dennis Hartlieb, CEO and co-founder of Dental Online Training, simplifies this complicated topic using some of his greatest case examples. With the proper techniques and assessments, you can achieve life-changing outcomes for patients that are esthetically and functionally successful. To learn how to choose the best treatment option for each unique case, listen to Episode 873 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Hartlieb:Send Dr. Hartlieb an email: hartliebdds@dothandson.com Join Dr. Hartlieb on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisHartliebDDSFollow Dr. Hartlieb on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hartliebddsLearn more about Dental Online Training: https://www.dothandson.com/homeRegister for DOT’s Study Club: https://www.dothandson.com/mentorshipWatch more on DOT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DentalOnlineTrainingListen to the DOT Sharecast: https://www.dothandson.com/dot-sharecastRegister for DOT’s porcelain veneer workshop (May 15-16, 2025): https://www.dothandson.com/course/porc-prep-liveMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 873: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRead Surgical Complications in Oral Implantology by Dr. Louie Al-Faraje: https://www.quintessence-publishing.com/usa/en/product/surgical-complications-in-oral-implantologyMain Takeaways:Determine whether restorative replacement or canine substitution is appropriate.Understand the three treatment options for congenitally missing lateral incisors.Dental implants are great — but be aware of potential complications.Be aware of various challenges for both the clinician and patients.Missing lateral incisors is almost never a single-tooth issue.Snippets:0:00 Introduction. 3:45 Dr. Hartlieb’s background. 8:51 Setting patients’ expectations. 17:50 More about Dr. Hartlieb and Dental Online Training. 23:05 Two options for congenitally missing lateral incisors. 25:25 Missing teeth, explained. 26:04 How common is hypodontia? 29:00 Fixed treatment options for congenitally missing lateral incisors. 29:25 Tooth autotransplantation, explained. 30:26 Case example: 13-year-old, autotransplantation. 38:42 Case example: 17-year-old, dental implants. 45:12 Case example: 19-year-old, dental implants. 47:46 Case example: Older patient. 50:11 Case example: Indirect resin-bonded bridges. 54:56 Q&A: The rule of no distal cantilever on a posterior. 56:53 Case example: Direct resin-bonded bridge (Ribbond bridge). 59:38 Case example: Canine substitution. 1:06:25 Challenges: Patient/parent expectations. 1:06:53 Challenges: Tooth size, shape, and positioning. 1:13:09 Important measurements to know. 1:16:02 Challenges: Altered passive eruption. 1:21:05 Short clinical crown versus altered passive eruption. 1:22:50 Things to consider for canine substitution. 1:24:46 Case example: Canine substitution, minimal treatment. 1:27:02 Case example: Canine substitution, collaborative treatment. 1:30:00 Case example: Canine substitution, 16-year-old. 1:35:08 About Dental Online Training. 1:36:40 Q&A: How to handle composite chipping. 1:41:03 Hands-on example. 1:59:28 Q&A: Dr. Hartlieb’s composite veneer fees. 2:02:17 Final thoughts. Dr. Dennis Hartlieb Bio:Dr. Dennis Hartlieb is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and maintains a full-time practice committed to cosmetic and restorative dentistry in the Chicago suburb of Glenview, Illinois. He is an instructor at the Center for Esthetic Excellence in Chicago and is formerly an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Dr. Hartlieb is an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), a member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED), the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry (AARD), the American Dental Association, the American College of Dentists, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He is the founder of Dental Online Training (DOT), an online hands-on training program for dentists, dental auxiliaries, and dental students. Dr. Hartlieb is also an examiner for the AACD accreditation process.

You’ve added more patients, more providers, and more time in the office. So, why isn't there more money in the bank? In this episode of Practical Solutions Day, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to uncover three of the biggest lies holding you back from a better practice and better life. Start working smarter, not just harder! To learn how, listen to Episode 872 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Miranda:Send Miranda an email: miranda@actdental.com Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalSend Gina an email: gina@actdental.com Learn More About ACT Dental:ACT’s webinars: https://www.actdental.com/136ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.comACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalACT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/actdentalACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdentalACT’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3137520/admin/feed/posts/ACT’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/actdentalMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (April 11, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-april-11-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1012966789937Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849Main Takeaways:Hard work alone won't fix your problems.Stop feeling that you need to have it all figured out.You are not the only one who truly cares about your practice.More patients, more providers, and more chairs doesn’t mean more profit.Focus your time and energy on doing the right things, not on trying to do everything.If you're spending the bulk of your time in your practice, you're not living your best life.Quotes:“For everyone that's listening, if you have ever felt like, ‘I should have all this figured out by now,’ no, you shouldn't. Again, these aren't the lies that we're going to talk about today either. But that's a self-limiting belief. You don't need to have it all figured out just yet. You're a high achiever — I get it. Dentists are high achievers. It can be frustrating to feel like you're spinning your wheels, especially when you see others doing something that maybe you wish you were doing already. But again, if you feel like you should have had this figured out by now, if you feel like the weight of the practice is completely on your shoulders — you care about your team, you care about your patients, but sometimes you feel like you're the only one invested in making things work — this podcast is going to speak to you.” (3:42—4:23) -Miranda“Lie number one is, ‘If I just work harder, everything will get better.’ I know, Kirk, you have a line for this. You often talk about bigger isn't always better. Work smarter, not harder. That really is the truth. Hard work alone does not solve business problems — it just makes you more exhausted.” (5:06—5:25) -Miranda“The self-limiting belief or lie we tell ourselves is, ‘If I just work harder, everything will get better.’ What this looks like in your practice is working longer hours, adding extra days, taking on more cases but still feeling financially strapped, doing everything yourself because you don't trust other people to get it right — that one is a big one with our coaching clients — and also feeling like you have to earn success through your sheer effort versus stopping and looking at, ‘Is there a smarter way to do this? Is there someone else that might be able to help?’” (5:54—6:27) -Miranda“You have to step back and analyze your time and your energy. So, we say all the time that time is the new rich. Time is a commodity. Your energy and effort is a commodity. So, instead of just doing more, taking more time that maybe is even being taken from your personal life — like you mentioned earlier in your family — and instead of taking more energy and effort that you don't have because you already feel depleted, instead, focus on doing the right things in your practice — not just doing everything, but doing the right things. And how do you know what the right things are? Really, you have to start with, what do you want your practice to become, and what do you want your life to become? Once you have a clear vision for what you want your practice to be and what you want your life to be, it's a lot easier for you to filter things through the lens of that vision and get a better idea of, is this the right thing for me to be doing? Once you know that, you can start to delegate and automate and systemize the things that are going to help you get to that vision and hit that goal. And now, you're focusing all of your time and energy on the right things.” (7:35—8:54) -Miranda“Lie number two that dentists tell themselves is, ‘I'm the only one who truly cares about this practice.’ I think there are times, sure, when there are team members here or there that aren't the right fit — right person, right seat. But I also think that your team may not care as much as you do because they don't own it. They don't have as much skin in the game. It's not their baby that they started from scratch. But that doesn't mean that they don't care at all. What I find in working with teams and having been on teams for my whole career is that team members do genuinely care. When they stop caring is when they don't understand their connection to the vision and the outcome. They really need clear expectations, strong leadership, accountability, and at the end of that being able to see, how does what I do showing up every day actually bring meaning and value to where the practice is going?” (13:36—14:43) -Miranda“The other thing you might feel in your practice is struggling to motivate your team to go above and beyond the basics. Like, you say, ‘We're in a team meeting and no one ever talks. No one speaks up. I'm talking the whole time. I don't even know why we're having team meetings.’ Or you show up to morning huddle, and three people show up late, and only two people have done their chart prep, and you're frustrated that they're showing up on a regular basis just checking the box but not really doing the work or going above and beyond. And what I would like to say is it's a self-limiting belief. It's a lie, in a way, because it could be different. In practices all over the country, probably all over the world, there are team members who care, and they show up, and they go above and beyond.” (16:19—17:00) -Miranda“The patient doesn't come first. Your team comes first. When your team comes first, and they know that, and everyone knows what we're here for and what we're doing . . . we know what our core values are, we know what we're trying to create as a patient experience, you don't have to worry about putting the patient first anymore because the patient is going to have a paralleled experience to the culture that you're creating.” (19:26—19:52) -Miranda“A lot of times, when a team member feels micromanaged it's really just a leader trying to motivate people to do something. And external motivation is never going to be as effective as internal motivation. We have to find out what internally motivates our team members. It might be a little different for each person. But in the end, what we do know is there has to be a connection to the work that we're doing, and them personally feeling like there's meaning behind it. That's going to be the only way to really get your team motivated.” (21:32—22:04) -Miranda“Stop and say, ‘If I didn't have these people, would I still have this practice?’ No. Very few dentists are out there working by themselves in their practice — no front office team members, no assistants, no hygienist. It's just you and your practice. Probably not going to be highly successful. It really does take a team to get there. So, you have to stop every now and then — we talk a lot when we're with our To The Top Study Club community about gratitude, because people could show up and go anywhere, but they choose to come to your practice. And when they're the right people in the right seats, and you're making those connections, and helping to develop them within your practice, you're going to have this culture where everyone wants to show up.” (23:09—23:55) -Miranda“When people understand why their work matters, then they're going to be more engaged.” (25:27—25:32) -Miranda“Core values are key to culture. Your culture is what's going to ultimately show the behaviors that show up within your team on a regular basis.” (25:37—25:46) -Miranda“You can get a lot of value out of your team members by making sure that you have really clear core values and that the people you bring on board also believe in those same things. Tied into that on the other side is the core purpose. What is our practice here to do? Why do we show up in this practice every day? What is the way that we want to make an impact on our community through this practice? When you can put that in front of your team over, and over, and over, your core values and your core purpose, your core values and your core purpose — be the chief reminding officer, really making sure that on a regular basis — weekly team meetings, morning huddles, monthly check-ins, quarterly planning visits, annual summits — every time you have an opportunity, connect with your team and repeat to them that this is who we are. This is how we behave. This is why we're doing this. You're going to make sure that everyone has that internal drive and motivation because they're going to believe in those same things.” (26:32—27:37) -Miranda“Lie number three, and we hear this one a lot, ‘I can't make more money unless I keep growing.’ Doctors and dentists tell themselves this all the time. You alluded to it at the top of the podcast. ‘I need a bigger practice. I need another associate. I need more chairs. We've got to produce more. We've got to produce more. There's not enough money in the bank at the end of the day.’ And that lie that we're telling ourselves, that story, that limiting belief of, 'I can't make more money unless I keep growing,’ just isn't true. The truth is that more patients, more providers, more chairs generally mean more stress and more people that you're having to manage, which is already hard enough when you're in the chair clinically, most of the time. It doesn't automatically mean more profit. In fact, real profitability comes from differentiating yourself, keeping more of what you produce, and not just increasing volume.” (28:59—29:54) -Miranda“Before you go down that path of doing more, adding more, managing more people and more space, stop and say, what's happening right now within our practice? Are we writing off too much? Are we not collecting everything that we could be? Are we spending more than we should be? Where can we start to squeeze on some of these gaps and shrink them down to where we might be able to put more money in the bank without adding more stress and more people and more chairs?” (37:56—38:22) -Miranda“Stop equating hard work with success. Now, I know that sounds a little oxymoronic because we have to work hard if we want to be successful. And from a hyper-achiever like me, trust me, it feels weird to say that out loud. But what I mean by that is, work smarter, not harder. Success is going to come from doing the right things and putting the right focus and effort and energy in the right places. So, when we focus on the highest impact areas of our practice, we're going to have a higher level of success and we don't have to work harder to get there, which was lie number one.” (40:21—40:56) -Miranda“Lead your team with clarity, not frustration. Like I mentioned, a lot of people feel very frustrated by their teams and what they perceive as a lack of engagement — or maybe there is a real lack of engagement there. They're not going to necessarily care to the level that you do, and it's probably not realistic to expect that because they don't have the same skin in the game that you do. But with the right culture, with clear expectations, with that consistent messaging of who we are, how we behave here, and what we're trying to create, they will start to attach to the meaning within what we're doing every day and be more invested in the success of the practice and in your success. They will be your champion, in the end.” (40:58—41:41) -Miranda“Profitability isn't just about seeing more patients. Differentiating yourself, taking control of your fees and your write-offs and how much you're collecting is going to get you there faster. Stop relying on volume to grow your bottom line and decide what your bottom line needs to be. What do I want to save and put in the bank or back into my practice every month? Work backwards and look at those gaps and say, what can I do with what I'm already doing and with the chairs I already have to get more out of this practice rather than increasing volume, space, time, or providers?” (41:43—42:19) -MirandaSnippets:0:00 Introduction.0:58 Why this is an important topic.5:01 Just working harder won't make everything better.7:26 Focus on the right things.13:33 You're not alone in caring about your practice.17:00 Your team comes first, not your patients.25:15 Clearly establish your expectations and core values.28:56 You can make more money without growing.32:39 Define what “more” means.35:12 Listen to ACT’s Metric Mondays.39:48 Final takeaways.43:00 More about ACT’s BPA and resources.Miranda Beeson, MS, BSDH Bio: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.

You might think your profit margin is healthy. But is it, really? In this episode of Metric Mondays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Barrett Straub, ACT’s CEO, to break down gross profit percentage, the real health indicator of your practice. To learn what a good profit margin looks like and how to start improving yours, listen to Episode 871 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Straub:Send Dr. Straub an email: barrett@actdental.com Join Dr. Straub on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrett.d.straubSend Gina an email: gina@actdental.com Learn More About ACT Dental:ACT’s webinars: https://www.actdental.com/136ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.comACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalACT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/actdentalACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdentalACT’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3137520/admin/feed/posts/ACT’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/actdentalMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 871: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRegister for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (April 11, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-april-11-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1012966789937Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849Main Takeaways:Of 100% collected, 60% goes to overhead, 30% goes to the doctor, 10% goes to ROI.Higher gross profit means more revenue for you, your team, and your practice.Remember to factor in loans and taxes. They don't show up on your P&L.Gross profit percentage is the real health indicator of your practice.Your ideal gross profit margin is about 40%.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.0:55 Gross profit percentage, defined.5:17 Why this is an important topic.7:30 Know where every dollar of production goes.10:01 Loans don't show up on a P&L.12:09 Final thoughts.Dr. Barrett Straub Bio:Dr. Barrett Straub practices general and sedation dentistry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He has worked hard to develop his practice into a top-performing, fee-for-service practice that focuses on improving the lives of patients through dentistry.A graduate of Marquette Dental School, Dr. Straub’s advanced training and CE includes work at the Spear Institute, LVI, DOCS, and as a member of the Milwaukee Study Club. He is a past member of the Wisconsin Dental Association Board of Trustees and was awarded the Marquette Dental School 2017 Young Alumnus of the Year. As a former ACT coaching client that experienced first-hand the transformation that coaching can provide, he is passionate about helping other dentists create the practice they’ve always wanted.Dr. Straub loves to hunt, golf, and spend winter on the ice, curling. He is married to Katie, with two daughters, Abby and Elizabeth.

You may have a healthy practice. But do you have healthy patients? In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Katrina Sanders, The Dental WINEgenist, to expose some of the biggest myths of the oral-systemic link869. Doing the bare minimum is not enough! To help patients achieve better health and a better quality of life, listen to Episode 870 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Katrina:Send Katrina an email: info@katrinasanders.com Join Katrina on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDentalWINEgenistFollow Katrina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedentalwinegenistLearn more on Katrina’s website: https://katrinasanders.comRegister for Katrina’s Oral-Systemic Myth course (August 1, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-oral-systemic-myth-august-1-2025-tickets-1267455015069More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 870: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosMain Takeaways:If you see something, say something. Don't wait for other doctors to address it.Believing that you're doing enough for your patients is the biggest myth.Go beyond the bare minimum when doing health history exams.Don't assume your patients know about the oral-systemic link.Make your dentistry transformational, not transactional.Define what 100% health looks like for your patients.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:55 Katrina’s background.4:54 Why this is an important topic.8:53 What does 100% health look like?14:14 The perio-systemic link, explained.23:37 Do your patients understand the oral-systemic link?28:57 Go beyond a prophy during a prophy appointment.34:04 Don't just fix teeth, change lives.35:55 Final thoughts.39:47 More about Katrina and how to get in touch.Katrina M. Sanders RDH, BSDH, M.Ed, RF Bio:In the ever-changing world of dental science where research, technology, and techniques for patient care are constantly evolving, dental professionals look to continuing education to provide insight, deliver actionable steps, empower, and create a dramatic impact within their clinical practice.With wit, charm, and a dash of humor, Katrina Sanders enchants dental professionals with her course deliverables, insightful content, and delightful inspiration. Her message of empowerment rings mighty throughout her lectures and stirs a deep sense of motivation amongst course participants.Katrina is the Clinical Liaison for AZPerio, the country's largest periodontal practice. She performs clinically, working alongside Diplomates to the American Board of Periodontology in the surgical operatory. Katrina perfected techniques during L.A.N.A.P. surgery, suture placement, IV therapy, and blood draws. She instructs on collaborative professionalism and standard-of-care protocols while delivering education through hygiene boot camps and study clubs.

We've all heard that private practice dentistry is dying. But now is the best time to own and grow your practice! In this episode of Practical Solutions Day, Kirk Behrendt brings back Debra Engelhardt-Nash, co-founder of The Nash Institute, to share highlights from the latest APDP meeting that will empower you and your team to create a better practice and a better life. To hear Debra’s top tips from the top dentists, listen to Episode 869 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Debra:Give Debra a call: (704) 904-3459Send Debra an email: debraengelhardtnash@gmail.com Follow Debra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debraengnashBook Debra for speaking or consulting: https://debraengelhardtnash.comRegister for Debra’s Dental Business School course: https://www.thenashinstitute.com/upcoming-events/dental-business-schoolRegister for Debra’s Team Communication Skills course: https://www.thenashinstitute.com/upcoming-events/team-communication-skillsRegister for the Academy for Private Dental Practice event (February 26-28, 2026): https://apdp.regfox.com/apdp-2026More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 869: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosMain Takeaways:Focus on your team culture.See your team as an asset, not a liability.Identify and remove the “arsonists” on your team.Gratitude is intentional. Reflect on how you choose to express it.Allow your team to “coach up”. Be open to receiving their feedback.Overcommunicate with your team. Don't serve them just an “empty bowl”.Don't be a chair. Exceed expectations rather than doing only what's expected.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.0:59 Why this is an important topic.7:48 About APDP and their partnership with the Nash Institute.15:03 Highlights from the APDP: Walk the talk.17:21 Highlights from the APDP: Overcommunicate.18:53 Highlights from the APDP: Don't be a chair.21:46 Highlights from the APDP: Fireproofing versus firefighting.24:39 Highlights from the APDP: Do you have arsonists on your team?26:52 Highlights from the APDP: Coaching up.29:32 Highlights from the APDP: The strength of the wolf and the pack.30:30 Highlights from the APDP: Gratitude is intentional.33:31 Highlights from the APDP: Solutions to the hygienist shortage.36:51 Highlights from the APDP: See your team as an asset.38:36 Highlights from the APDP: Explaining the why is important.40:37 Highlights from the APDP: Engagement versus retention.41:38 Future APDP events.44:36 Final thoughts.46:00 More about Debra’s courses.Debra Engelhardt-Nash Bio:Debra is a trainer, author, presenter, and consultant. Having been in dentistry for over 30 years, she engages organizations and study groups nationally and internationally. She is a continual presenter for the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. Debra is a founding member of The Nash Institute and past president of the National Academy of Dental Management Consultants. She is an active member of the American Dental Assistants Association, the American Academy of Dental Practice Administration, and the Speakers Consulting Network. She has been repeatedly recognized by Dentistry Today as a leader in continuing dental education and as a leader in dental consulting. She is also a member of the American Dental Association’s Dental Practice Management Advisory Board, and recently became the president of the Academy for Private Dental Practice.Debra is married to cosmetic dentist and dental educator, Dr. Ross Nash, of The Nash Institute for Dental Learning. She continues to work in his busy practice, doing exactly what she preaches. 

Something is quietly killing your profit — and it’s not what you think! In this episode of Metric Mondays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Barrett Straub, ACT’s CEO, to break down one of the most misunderstood numbers in dentistry. They explain the myths of overhead percentage, what a healthy overhead percentage looks like, and ways for you to lower it if it’s too high. To better understand where your money is going, listen to Episode 868 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Straub:Send Dr. Straub an email: barrett@actdental.com Join Dr. Straub on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrett.d.straubSend Gina an email: gina@actdental.com More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 868: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRegister for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (April 11, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-april-11-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1012966789937Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849Main Takeaways:Understand what it costs to run your business.Healthy practices have overhead between 55% and 65%.Your expenses should not grow at the rate of your revenue.When your overhead is too high, that means there is less money.Is your overhead too high due to overspending or a tight profit margin?If you're unhappy with your overhead, don't get emotional. Get educated.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:42 Overhead percentage, explained.3:55 Why doctor compensation isn't included in overhead.6:16 Why you need to worry about overhead.8:11 Overhead expenses, simplified.10:32 How to lower your overhead percentage: Spend less.16:19 How to lower your overhead percentage: Increase your profit margin.20:10 Last thoughts.Dr. Barrett Straub Bio:Dr. Barrett Straub practices general and sedation dentistry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He has worked hard to develop his practice into a top-performing, fee-for-service practice that focuses on improving the lives of patients through dentistry.A graduate of Marquette Dental School, Dr. Straub’s advanced training and CE includes work at the Spear Institute, LVI, DOCS, and as a member of the Milwaukee Study Club. He is a past member of the Wisconsin Dental Association Board of Trustees and was awarded the Marquette Dental School 2017 Young Alumnus of the Year. As a former ACT coaching client that experienced first-hand the transformation that coaching can provide, he is passionate about helping other dentists create the practice they’ve always wanted.Dr. Straub loves to hunt, golf, and spend winter on the ice, curling. He is married to Katie, with two daughters, Abby and Elizabeth. (Video) (Need to update timestamps)867: From Artist to Technician: Unlocking the Power of Whole-Brain Dentistry – Dr. Charlie Ward & Joshua PolanskyAre you a dentist who is an artist, scientist, or maybe even a therapist? In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Charlie Ward, visiting faculty member from The Pankey Institute, and Joshua Polansky, owner of Niche Dental Studio, to share how success in dentistry requires both hemispheres of your brain. Dentistry isn't just fixing teeth! To learn why both sides matter and how to develop the different skill sets you need, listen to Episode 867 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Ward & Joshua:Send Dr. Ward an email: charlie@bmoredentalarts.com Follow Dr. Ward on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcwardddsLearn more about Dr. Ward’s practice: https://www.baltimoredentalarts.comWatch Dr. Ward’s webinars: https://restorativenation.comFollow Joshua on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichedentalstudioLearn more about Joshua’s dental lab: https://nichedentalstudio.comRegister for Dr. Mazzola & Dr. Ward’s Mastering Treatment Planning course (October 2-4, 2025): https://pankey.org/registration/?courseId=17004&tuition=0&lodging=trueRegister for Dr. Ward’s Mastering Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry course (June 17-20, 2026): https://pankey.org/course-category/mardRegister for Dr. Mazzola & Dr. Ward’s Mastering Dental Photography course (July 30, 2026 to August 1, 2026): https://pankey.org/registration/?courseId=17781&tuition=0&lodging=trueLearn More About ACT Dental:ACT’s webinars: https://www.actdental.com/135ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.comACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalACT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/actdentalACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdentalACT’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3137520/admin/feed/posts/ACT’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/actdentalMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Main Takeaways:Don't just tap into the analytical and technical side of your brain.Dentistry also requires a high level of artistry and creativity.Develop the emotional maturity to not strive for perfection.In working with patients, you need emotional intelligence.Look within to identify your strengths and weaknesses.Quotes:“My buddy Mike, years ago, told me — let's call it a midlife crisis that I was having at 39, or whatever it was. I was telling him, ‘I really want to do more aesthetic dentistry. This is where I enjoy my work the most.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, that makes sense. You're an artist and a teacher.’ I was like, ‘That doesn't sound like me. What?’ Then, I thought about it. I was like, ‘I do the aesthetic things so that I can photograph them so I can show other people how to do it. It's exactly what I am.’ I didn't realize that until then. So, am I more of one than the other? I think I was artistic before I was systematic.” (6:18—7:02) -Dr. Ward“I also used to strive for perfection. The only thing that it did for me was lead me to burnout, smoking, and drinking. Perfection is deadly. I would actually say striving for perfection is dangerous.” (13:11—13:31) -Joshua“I'm a very open-minded person. When I see good work, I don't shit on it. I say, ‘Oh my God, that's amazing.’ So, I keep taking in what I think is perfect, and then I keep trying to make subtle changes to try to make it better. But I'm not striving for what I used to deem as perfection because, in all honesty — this isn't like a cliché thing — it does not exist. It does not exist. It just doesn't exist, and you have to be mature enough to understand that it doesn't exist.” (13:50—14:23) -Joshua“I don't want to say this, but for a doctor, I think striving for perfection is a little easier because their prep gets covered by [the dental tech’s] work. Our work is out there for the world. Like, when we look at our work, it's hard. You're naked to the world. If you see something is off, it's off. That's why I see what Charlie sees in this case. I do. But I think it looks good. I just think it looks good. And I think once you start sacrificing “excellent” for “perfection”, that's when you make mistakes. He'll go to [“fix”] it. He'll make it worse. The patient will say, ‘Oh, I used to like how it was.’ Now, you go down a rabbit hole of you have to remake them. Now, I get angry. So, it gets crazy. I think we have to be mature and know where to draw the line. The problem, I think, for young dentists is they haven't understood where that line is yet. That's where that chaos evolves. So, when I say that perfection is dangerous, I would follow that by saying you should probably go through a period of — not torture, but you should feel pain until you understand where your bar is. You should set a bar for yourself.” (14:25—15:41) -Joshua“I always saw Josh as an artist that became a technician through, I'll say necessity, exactly as he described it. I like the way he put it. Like, we see things a certain way. We see things through a certain lens or a certain perspective. So, when I'm taking a photo of something, I think Josh sees things similar to the way I see them. I think just as I became more technical to make my systems better, he had to become more technical to deal with the type of cases that he was doing. It wasn't all single centrals anymore, that he was hand-layering 15 single centrals to get the right one. He was trying to figure out how to deal with a hybrid that was fracturing. We need to know technical information about thicknesses of materials and torques and screw sizes. Like, all of these things are not artistic anymore.” (15:55—16:51) -Dr. Ward“I think that we both have to be technical because we both own businesses. I think that running a business from a creative side only could become very detrimental because our artistics have a lot of feelings. We always feel a certain way. In running a company, I think that that would be a problem. I know a lot of technicians who run their businesses off their feelings. Unfortunately, they don't really work out. So, at some point, the analytical side has to kick over and take over. Charlie and I, as we worked together over the last however many years, we both went into business also at the same time together. Charlie has grown into a bigger practice with more associates. I've grown into a bigger lab with more employees. So, I think that that's another reason our left side kind of built out of necessity. That was a survival thing. Like, ‘Sink or swim. If I don't think like this, I will probably go out of business.’” (17:12—18:18) -Joshua“I think I'm more creative because I enjoy creativity. I don't enjoy analytical stuff. I don't enjoy Newton Centimeters. I know it all, but it doesn’t get my juices flowing, whereas creativity still gets me excited. Not just in the dental world, but I love art. I love creativity. I love seeing things differently. So, I think I'm more creative. However, I think I used to be way more creative. I think that the adult may have entered the room with me and kind of keeps me — there's a dialogue, and I think there's an adult that now keeps me on a leash, where he knows I used to be free. I know now that people depend on me. I have a team. I have a lot of people that look at me. They look — not up to me, but I mentor people. I have to take it more seriously. So, although I enjoy being more creative and saying what I want, doing what I want, and acting like I want, I think the left brain kicks in and tells me like, ‘Calm it down a little bit.’” (18:34—19:46) -Joshua“It's interesting why we would become more technical. I think as I'm hearing Josh say that, I'm sure I became more technical the longer I owned my business and the more I wanted that to grow and be successful. I think that from a chairside dentist's perspective, I wanted to be better. I think I realized two things. I wasn't going to do the things to the level that I wanted to do them unless I became more systematic — that I would have the most control if I could be more systematic. That also allowed me to be able to teach it to other people because I can then conceptualize what I was doing.” (19:49—20:46) -Dr. Ward“It's not just a creative and a technical. There's also, I think, a very big emotional component to this on how to actually have this inner dialogue and then extrapolate that to the public that's your patient, that's your team member.” (22:23—22:40) -Joshua“One of the reasons why we became so technical out of necessity is we are not artists by nature. It's what we want to be when we make teeth or when we’re a dentist. But by definition of our job, we are problem solvers. People only come to us with problems. Making teeth is a problem. That patient went to Charlie because it's a problem. And we have to solve these problems. So, when these problems arise, I feel like our right and left have this crazy fight inside, and it's like a nanosecond. But then, our emotional intelligence kicks in on how to explain this to somebody to — not only get what we want, because that sounds very manipulative, but we can explain it in a way to guide it towards what our decision was. Where I think if you're . . . an emotional person, you just yell something out, it might be what is reality, but now we're not on a path to solving the problem because now you scared the patient. Or you yelled at the technician, and now . . . So, you have to have an emotional component that I think is the glue between the right and the left to be able to move with the world in order to solve the problems that you're tasked with every day.” (23:03—24:15) -Joshua“Most of us in dentistry are very technical people. But that emotional component — that you have to work with people — is part of that. The fact that you're dealing with such an emotional part of the body, not just what it shows when you smile, but also that people are very vulnerable, and they have to allow us to work on them. So, if we're not using that right side of our brain that is creative and emotional and we're only using the left side of our brain, at some point, we're going to have issues that are difficult for us to deal with. So, we've got to tap into both.” (28:15—28:57) -Dr. Ward“Look inside of yourself. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I would say look to other people to help define what your strengths and weaknesses are, which is pretty hard because you have to be vulnerable and take some criticism. But you don't really see yourself. Like we were talking about our wives earlier, my wife has definitely pointed out things to me that I can work on. I think that once you hear them, you have to...

Are you a dentist who is an artist, scientist, or maybe even a therapist? In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Charlie Ward, visiting faculty member from The Pankey Institute, and Joshua Polansky, owner of Niche Dental Studio, to share how success in dentistry requires both hemispheres of your brain. Dentistry isn't just fixing teeth! To learn why both sides matter and how to develop the different skill sets you need, listen to Episode 867 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Ward & Joshua:Send Dr. Ward an email: charlie@bmoredentalarts.com Follow Dr. Ward on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcwardddsLearn more about Dr. Ward’s practice: https://www.baltimoredentalarts.comWatch Dr. Ward’s webinars: https://restorativenation.comFollow Joshua on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichedentalstudioLearn more about Joshua’s dental lab: https://nichedentalstudio.comRegister for Dr. Mazzola & Dr. Ward’s Mastering Treatment Planning course (October 2-4, 2025): https://pankey.org/registration/?courseId=17004&tuition=0&lodging=trueRegister for Dr. Ward’s Mastering Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry course (June 17-20, 2026): https://pankey.org/course-category/mardRegister for Dr. Mazzola & Dr. Ward’s Mastering Dental Photography course (July 30, 2026 to August 1, 2026): https://pankey.org/registration/?courseId=17781&tuition=0&lodging=trueLearn More About ACT Dental:ACT’s webinars: https://www.actdental.com/135ACT’s website: https://www.actdental.comACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdentalACT’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/actdentalACT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actdentalACT’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3137520/admin/feed/posts/ACT’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/actdentalMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Main Takeaways:Don't just tap into the analytical and technical side of your brain.Dentistry also requires a high level of artistry and creativity.Develop the emotional maturity to not strive for perfection.In working with patients, you need emotional intelligence.Look within to identify your strengths and weaknesses.Quotes:“My buddy Mike, years ago, told me — let's call it a midlife crisis that I was having at 39, or whatever it was. I was telling him, ‘I really want to do more aesthetic dentistry. This is where I enjoy my work the most.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, that makes sense. You're an artist and a teacher.’ I was like, ‘That doesn't sound like me. What?’ Then, I thought about it. I was like, ‘I do the aesthetic things so that I can photograph them so I can show other people how to do it. It's exactly what I am.’ I didn't realize that until then. So, am I more of one than the other? I think I was artistic before I was systematic.” (6:18—7:02) -Dr. Ward“I also used to strive for perfection. The only thing that it did for me was lead me to burnout, smoking, and drinking. Perfection is deadly. I would actually say striving for perfection is dangerous.” (13:11—13:31) -Joshua“I'm a very open-minded person. When I see good work, I don't shit on it. I say, ‘Oh my God, that's amazing.’ So, I keep taking in what I think is perfect, and then I keep trying to make subtle changes to try to make it better. But I'm not striving for what I used to deem as perfection because, in all honesty — this isn't like a cliché thing — it does not exist. It does not exist. It just doesn't exist, and you have to be mature enough to understand that it doesn't exist.” (13:50—14:23) -Joshua“I don't want to say this, but for a doctor, I think striving for perfection is a little easier because their prep gets covered by [the dental tech’s] work. Our work is out there for the world. Like, when we look at our work, it's hard. You're naked to the world. If you see something is off, it's off. That's why I see what Charlie sees in this case. I do. But I think it looks good. I just think it looks good. And I think once you start sacrificing “excellent” for “perfection”, that's when you make mistakes. He'll go to [“fix”] it. He'll make it worse. The patient will say, ‘Oh, I used to like how it was.’ Now, you go down a rabbit hole of you have to remake them. Now, I get angry. So, it gets crazy. I think we have to be mature and know where to draw the line. The problem, I think, for young dentists is they haven't understood where that line is yet. That's where that chaos evolves. So, when I say that perfection is dangerous, I would follow that by saying you should probably go through a period of — not torture, but you should feel pain until you understand where your bar is. You should set a bar for yourself.” (14:25—15:41) -Joshua“I always saw Josh as an artist that became a technician through, I'll say necessity, exactly as he described it. I like the way he put it. Like, we see things a certain way. We see things through a certain lens or a certain perspective. So, when I'm taking a photo of something, I think Josh sees things similar to the way I see them. I think just as I became more technical to make my systems better, he had to become more technical to deal with the type of cases that he was doing. It wasn't all single centrals anymore, that he was hand-layering 15 single centrals to get the right one. He was trying to figure out how to deal with a hybrid that was fracturing. We need to know technical information about thicknesses of materials and torques and screw sizes. Like, all of these things are not artistic anymore.” (15:55—16:51) -Dr. Ward“I think that we both have to be technical because we both own businesses. I think that running a business from a creative side only could become very detrimental because our artistics have a lot of feelings. We always feel a certain way. In running a company, I think that that would be a problem. I know a lot of technicians who run their businesses off their feelings. Unfortunately, they don't really work out. So, at some point, the analytical side has to kick over and take over. Charlie and I, as we worked together over the last however many years, we both went into business also at the same time together. Charlie has grown into a bigger practice with more associates. I've grown into a bigger lab with more employees. So, I think that that's another reason our left side kind of built out of necessity. That was a survival thing. Like, ‘Sink or swim. If I don't think like this, I will probably go out of business.’” (17:12—18:18) -Joshua“I think I'm more creative because I enjoy creativity. I don't enjoy analytical stuff. I don't enjoy Newton Centimeters. I know it all, but it doesn’t get my juices flowing, whereas creativity still gets me excited. Not just in the dental world, but I love art. I love creativity. I love seeing things differently. So, I think I'm more creative. However, I think I used to be way more creative. I think that the adult may have entered the room with me and kind of keeps me — there's a dialogue, and I think there's an adult that now keeps me on a leash, where he knows I used to be free. I know now that people depend on me. I have a team. I have a lot of people that look at me. They look — not up to me, but I mentor people. I have to take it more seriously. So, although I enjoy being more creative and saying what I want, doing what I want, and acting like I want, I think the left brain kicks in and tells me like, ‘Calm it down a little bit.’” (18:34—19:46) -Joshua“It's interesting why we would become more technical. I think as I'm hearing Josh say that, I'm sure I became more technical the longer I owned my business and the more I wanted that to grow and be successful. I think that from a chairside dentist's perspective, I wanted to be better. I think I realized two things. I wasn't going to do the things to the level that I wanted to do them unless I became more systematic — that I would have the most control if I could be more systematic. That also allowed me to be able to teach it to other people because I can then conceptualize what I was doing.” (19:49—20:46) -Dr. Ward“It's not just a creative and a technical. There's also, I think, a very big emotional component to this on how to actually have this inner dialogue and then extrapolate that to the public that's your patient, that's your team member.” (22:23—22:40) -Joshua“One of the reasons why we became so technical out of necessity is we are not artists by nature. It's what we want to be when we make teeth or when we’re a dentist. But by definition of our job, we are problem solvers. People only come to us with problems. Making teeth is a problem. That patient went to Charlie because it's a problem. And we have to solve these problems. So, when these problems arise, I feel like our right and left have this crazy fight inside, and it's like a nanosecond. But then, our emotional intelligence kicks in on how to explain this to somebody to — not only get what we want, because that sounds very manipulative, but we can explain it in a way to guide it towards what our decision was. Where I think if you're . . . an emotional person, you just yell something out, it might be what is reality, but now we're not on a path to solving the problem because now you scared the patient. Or you yelled at the technician, and now . . . So, you have to have an emotional component that I think is the glue between the right and the left to be able to move with the world in order to solve the problems that you're tasked with every day.” (23:03—24:15) -Joshua“Most of us in dentistry are very technical people. But that emotional component — that you have to work with people — is part of that. The fact that you're dealing with such an emotional part of the body, not just what it shows when you smile, but also that people are very vulnerable, and they have to allow us to work on them. So, if we're not using that right side of our brain that is creative and emotional and we're only using the left side of our brain, at some point, we're going to have issues that are difficult for us to deal with. So, we've got to tap into both.” (28:15—28:57) -Dr. Ward“Look inside of yourself. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I would say look to other people to help define what your strengths and weaknesses are, which is pretty hard because you have to be vulnerable and take some criticism. But you don't really see yourself. Like we were talking about our wives earlier, my wife has definitely pointed out things to me that I can work on. I think that once you hear them, you have to look and say, ‘Okay, creativity is my strength, so I don't need to work on that. But I do have issues with frustrations when it comes to solving problems. So, look into working on that.’ That's how I think I changed, was recognizing where my weaknesses were and being open enough to work on my weaknesses.” (29:09—29:55) -JoshuaSnippets:0:00 Introduction.0:49 Are you a right or left-brained dentist?5:53 Being a technician versus being an artist: Dr. Ward.10:03 Why perfection is dangerous.15:46 Being a technician versus being an artist: Joshua.21:57 Incorporating the emotional component.25:59 Final thoughts.31:06 More about Joshua and Dr. Ward and how to get in touch.Dr. Charlie Ward Bio:After graduating from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2004, he went straight into the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He earned his DDS degree in 2008, and since then he has completed the Essentials courses and many others at the esteemed Pankey Institute, where he now serves as visiting faculty. He is currently a member of the Maryland State Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.Joshua Polansky Bio:Joshua Polansky earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Rutgers University in 2004. While working part-time at a dental laboratory, he took advantage of an opportunity to apprentice with distinguished master technician, Olivier Tric, of Oral Design Chicago. His eyes were opened to a whole new world of possibilities, and he made the decision to become a master dental technician following the path that Tric had forged.Joshua continued to acquire technical skills by studying in Europe with other mentors and experts in the field, such as Klaus Mutertheis. He earned his master’s degree in dental ceramics at the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry under Dr. Edward Mclaren, and continued his training under Jungo Endo and Hiroaki Okabe at UCLA’s Advanced Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Program working on faculty and residents cases.Joshua currently resides in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where he is the owner and operator of Niche Dental Studio.

Should you pay your team hourly or salary? Before you decide, there are some important things to know and consider! In this episode of Practical Solutions Day, Kirk Behrendt brings in Alan Twigg, co-owner of Bent Ericksen & Associates, to demystify the key differences and explain the most surprising misconceptions of paying a salary. To find out which one is right for your practice, listen to Episode 866 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Alan:Give Alan a call: (800) 679-2760Send Alan an email: alan@bentericksen.com Join Bent Ericksen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BentEricksenAssociatesLearn more about Bent Ericksen: https://bentericksen.comMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 866: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosStudy the Department of Labor’s exemption categories: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/17a-overtimeMain Takeaways:Think about your intention with salary. Who will benefit?Don't assume that paying a salary will make your life easier.Paying a salary does not mean you can do whatever you want.Understand common salary misconceptions to stay out of trouble.Be aware of the administrative burdens that come with going salary.Know the difference between exempt and non-exempt classifications.Laws and requirements differ by state. Know which ones apply to you.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.2:29 Alan’s background.3:40 The biggest misconceptions about salary.13:20 Do you pay extra for CE, team meetings, and other special events?15:03 Time off with pay, explained.19:23 Does your team have to take vacations when you do?23:22 Utilize a vacation request form.25:43 Daily salary, explained.28:03 Trends and best practices for new associates.30:42 Working interviews, explained.33:58 Skills assessments, explained.37:03 Should everyone be hourly or salary?40:07 Misconceptions about breaks, lunches, huddles, and staying over.45:59 Final thoughts.47:39 About Bent Ericksen and how to get in touch.Alan Twigg Bio:Alan Twigg is the co-owner of Bent Ericksen & Associates. For over 10 years, he has guided thousands of clients and consultants through the ever-changing world of HR and employment compliance. He is a speaker, consultant, and author who is passionate about bringing education and peace of mind to such a confusing topic.As a strong proponent of symbiotic employer-employee relations, Alan is passionate about teamwork and positive work cultures, with an emphasis on long-term personnel retention and employment compliance, where his solutions-oriented outlook excels.

How many days do you work for free? You're probably thinking, “I don't!” But you may be shocked after doing the math. In this episode of Metric Mondays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Barrett Straub, ACT’s CEO, to break down a new important KPI: days worked for free. They explain why it happens, how to calculate this number, and what you can do after knowing the data. Stop working too many days for too little money! To learn how, listen to Episode 865 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Dr. Straub:Send Dr. Straub an email: barrett@actdental.com Join Dr. Straub on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrett.d.straubSend Gina an email: gina@actdental.com More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 865: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRegister for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (April 11, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-april-11-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1012966789937Register for ACT’s To The Top Study Club (July 25, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-july-25-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1205497959849Main Takeaways:Time is the new rich. Control over time is more valuable than money.To start collecting revenue, you need to work fewer days for free.Learn how to calculate the number of days you worked for free.Figure out how many days you are willing to work for free.Work requires energy and effort. Don't do it for no pay!Snippets:0:00 Introduction.1:59 How many days are you working for free?2:45 Days worked for free, explained.3:54 The simple math.9:01 Last thoughts.12:33 Why you need to join the BPA.Dr. Barrett Straub Bio:Dr. Barrett Straub practices general and sedation dentistry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He has worked hard to develop his practice into a top-performing, fee-for-service practice that focuses on improving the lives of patients through dentistry.A graduate of Marquette Dental School, Dr. Straub’s advanced training and CE includes work at the Spear Institute, LVI, DOCS, and as a member of the Milwaukee Study Club. He is a past member of the Wisconsin Dental Association Board of Trustees and was awarded the Marquette Dental School 2017 Young Alumnus of the Year. As a former ACT coaching client that experienced first-hand the transformation that coaching can provide, he is passionate about helping other dentists create the practice they’ve always wanted.Dr. Straub loves to hunt, golf, and spend winter on the ice, curling. He is married to Katie, with two daughters, Abby and Elizabeth.

Your patients aren't truly healthy, but they're also not losing teeth. This “gray area” is keeping them in perio purgatory! In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Rachel Wall, CEO and founder of Inspired Hygiene, to explain what perio purgatory is, why it’s dangerous, and how to pull patients out of it to improve their health. To learn how to put an end to your perio blindness, listen to Episode 864 of The Best Practices Show!Learn More About Rachel:Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredhygieneJoin Rachel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredHygieneBook your discovery meeting with Inspired Hygiene: https://www.inspiredhygiene.comMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listenJoin The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaDownload ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_USJoin ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/tttSee the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/eventGet The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazinePlease leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218Episode Resources:Watch the video version of Episode 864: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videosRead Beat the Heart Attack Gene by Dr. Bradley Bale and Dr. Amy Doneen: https://baledoneen.com/bdm-booksRead Healthy Heart, Healthy Brain by Dr. Bradley Bale and Dr. Amy Doneen: https://baledoneen.com/bdm-booksWatch Dr. Amy Doneen’s Women’s Heart Health Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKo-4sSo7wMGet Inspired Hygiene’s Standard of Care Worksheet: https://inspiredhygiene.com/standard-of-care-worksheetMain Takeaways:There is a connection between periodontal disease and other fatal health conditions.Recognize the red flags for diseases such as heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes.Collaborate with your team to develop a very clearly written standard of care.Your patients trust you. Always tell them if they have periodontal disease.Find ways to overcome the lack of capacity for your hygiene patients.Chronic inflammation is not healthy! Don't develop perio blindness.Practice your verbal skills and make perio matter to your patients.Snippets:0:00 Introduction.0:44 Rachel’s background.2:56 Why this is an important topic.6:14 The link between periodontal disease and fatal diseases.9:06 Why patients fall into perio purgatory.11:12 Migraines can be red flags.14:23 Overcome lack of capacity in your hygiene schedule.16:55 Get off the prophy hamster wheel.19:20 Use a collaborative approach to diagnosis.20:30 The importance of verbal skills.24:21 Bleeding blindness, explained.26:32 Everything revolves around your standard of care.30:10 Final thoughts.33:22 More about Inspired Hygiene.Rachel Wall, RDH, Bio: Rachel Wall, RDH, BS, coaches dental teams to build highly productive hygiene departments by implementing systems for high-quality periodontal care, enrolling restorative care through hygiene and letting go of negative mindsets and old beliefs while managing the logistics of a high-performance hygiene department.Drawing from her 20-plus years of experience as a hygienist and practice administrator, Rachel delivers to-the-point clinical speaking presentations around the country. Her interactive teaching style coupled with a workshop environment creates a learning space where dentists and team members are compelled to get to the heart of what’s held them back, and inspire them to reach for more for themselves and their practices.