The Very Dental Podcast Network

Alan is joined by Dr. Gina Dorfman and Zak Allmand to talk about dentists with side gigs! Gina created YAPI which allows dentists to be paperless, allows offices to communicate within the offices as well as with patients (texting, reminders, etc.), get patient reviews as well as online appointments! YAPI does everything you wish you practice management software would do! Zak started Apex Payment Solutions, a company that helps dentists take credit card payments. According to Zak, most credit card payment companies are "shady af." Apex helps dentists get better deals on taking payments! The conversation was really interesting because we dove into side gigs for dentists: A great dental side gig comes from solving a problem that dentists are having (paperless solutions, credit card payment rip offs, no podcast that I wanted to listen to) Zak is a Viking, hates the dental tax The side gig is often "the next adventure" Idea people need help executing their ideas Side gigs are often not tied to a specific place, unlike practicing dentistry Abundance = not caring what the patient does after you've explained the options The dream isn't always to build something big enough to sell out. We'll always need the next adventure. Should new dentists be looking for side gigs? (spoiler: no) You should join the Very Dental Facebook group (password: Timmerman)! Great conversations and way less dumpster fires! Would you like to support the podcast? Then you should take a look at our sponsors! The Very Dental podcast is brought to you by the Wonderist agency. The best marketing agency to build your website, logo, SEO, design, Google Ads, social media and on. And on. Marketing your dental office...the Wonderist Agency can help! Find out more at wonderistagency.com! Very Dental is also brought to you by our friends at Microcopy Dental. Single patient use carbide burs, diamond burs, polishers and a variety of single use products that make your office more efficient, make your infection control simpler and your dentistry better! Find more information at microcopydental.com! The Very Dental Podcast network is supported by Crazy Dental! Go check out some of the best selection of dental supplies powered by an amazing website! If Crazy Dental doesn't have it, you probably don't need it! Plus, you can use the coupon code "VDP10" to get another 10% off their already amazing prices and it helps support the podcast! Go check them out at www.crazydentalprices.com! Very Dental is also supported by Enova Illumination! Enova makes custom made loupes and the very best headlamps in all of dentistry. They also sell the amazing Zumax line of dental microscopes (I've got one in my office...it's amazing!) Go take advantage of the discount that they offer Very Dental people at https://bit.ly/3cSvfta.

Alan is joined by his friend Dr. Brett Kessler to have a VERY frank talk about how people make changes in their lives. Both of them are in long term recovery from drugs and alcohol which gives them an interesting perspective on how people make behavior changes in their life. Some of the topics we discuss are: The "time machine" game and how our past experiences are formative How do recovering people deal with social situations where people are drinking? Dentists suffered during COVID because so much was out of their control How do people make positive changes in their behavior? Running sucks Counting streaks Results don't come fast enough to drive early motivation...so how do we maintain motivation? Did fear of COVID change Al's behavior? How much dental disease is preventable by behavior change (home care, diet, smoking, etc.)? Is behavior change a simple matter of education? (spoiler: hell no!) Consequences can drive behavior change. But they don't always. You should join the Very Dental Facebook group (password: Timmerman)! Great conversations and way less dumpster fires! The Very Dental podcast is brought to you by the Wonderist agency. The best marketing agency to build your website, logo, SEO, design, Google Ads, social media and on. And on. Marketing your dental office...the Wonderist Agency can help! Find out more at wonderistagency.com! Very Dental is also brought to you by our friends at Microcopy Dental. Single patient use carbide burs, diamond burs, polishers and a variety of single use products that make your office more efficient, make your infection control simpler and your dentistry better! Find more information at microcopydental.com!

Hey hey hey! Dr. Mac Jones joins the Very Clinical crew The Very Clinical guys talk about board horror stories Mac weighs in on getting contacts with Bulk EZ Make sure you're reducing enough on crown and bridge preps How do prep for retention How to grab crown prep length Plunger cusps...reduce them Learn how to recontour teeth READ THE DIRECTIONS of your materials Understand your bonding agents Simple isn't always the best Access extracted teeth, understand endo access anatomy Use an orifice opener Reduce the occlusal in endo if you can Section teeth in extractions...take out roots, not teeth Proximators Proximators + mallet Look in to bone grafting even if you aren't placing implants Instagram results...often "same day." Recalls are everything. Don't be the first person to do something. Don't be the last person, either. Be sure to check out the Very Clinical Facebook Group!

Alan is joined by a round table of dentists who want to talk about dental school and what it did to them. Dr. Russell Schafer graduated from LSU in 2013, Dr. Sarah Meyer graduated from Creighton in 2011 and Dr. Maggie Saludis graduated from University of Maryland in 2018! Each of them brings their own trauma/hilarity to the conversation! Some of the topics we covered are: instructor hazing classmates being removed operative practicals casting gold pediatric dentistry term papers and marathons taking (and failing) boards the ethical ramifications of boards using your brother as a boards patient Got your own dental school horror stories? Join the Very Dental Facebook group (use password: Timmerman) and freak us all out there!

Everyone loves the Jason Smithson-esque class IV composite done with a gorgeous wax up and beautifully layered composites placed with precision using a polyvinyl stent. These "double half caff mochaccinos with a twist and extra sprinkles can be found all over Instagram and Facebook groups. They're awesome and everyone should learn to do them. But quite often a case lands in your schedule that doesn't allow you to do the prep work for this. Sometimes you have to settle for a vanilla latte. And vanilla lattes can be delicious! Al gives you his recipe for a consistent and satisfying "vanilla latte" class IV that can make you and your patient happy with a quick and simple appointment! Some links from the show: curved Mylar strips Cosmedent's Creative Color Opaquers 3M Sof-lex discs Microcopy very fine composite finishing diamonds Cosmedent composite brushes

Today's episode is part 2 of the interview of Al by Dr. Melissa Zettler! We go all over the place in this one with topics including: How to lose weight during a pandemic Fitness as a middle aged person The one thing that Al needs for dentistry: light and magnification (that's two things) Enova Illumination light/loupe deal Melissa wants all the information about Al's farm. How many ducks are enough? Gracie the rescue lab How has work been affected by having kids?

We start off talking about summer vacations! Summer is here and we're excited, and summer plans seem real this year! As new dentists begin to graduate this year, we reminisce on our own beginnings in dentistry, failures we made and things we'd tell ourselves if we had a time machine. Topics include: Anesthesia Don't be stingy on how much you give Have a skull to review anatomy when you get into slumps When you are slower, give more anesthesia for duration of anesthesia Have a youtube video of a block saved and ready to review Cold test prior to prepping Preps: Cavity Prep are you being too conservative? The answer is probably yes Is your class ii box too small? Probably Bevel big for class V's Small class IV chips can be a big problem for you without over-engineering it. Lots of good pro-tips this week for the younger dentist. Check out the Very Clinical Facebook group for more on these topics, and so much more.

They say that turnabout is fair play, so in that spirit Dr. Melissa Zettler interviewed your host and benevolent leader, Al! A few topics covered in this first episode: How did the podcast start? Why podcasting? The heady early days of podcasting What was it like to "grow up" in a dental office? Al had orthodontics. A lot of orthodontics. How did dad's influence affect the way Al practices now? How did the "dentist's kid" lifestyle affect Al's career choices? The Zoology family! Working/owning a horse farm Al's creative space is in headphones Some links from the show: The Very Dental Facebook group

Welcome to the first episode of "Very Dental Shorts!" All of the goodness of the Very Dental podcast now in "Fun Size!" A lot of what we use in dentistry is expensive. Some of this stuff costs a bunch of money and sometimes we try and cut corners. Al offers three "expensive" items that he uses every day that are worth the money and he wouldn't live without! Zirc Crystal HD mirrors Septodont Paroject Enova Illumination surgical headlights (Qubit Cool and PLT 100a) Why buy the "expensive" one? They're noticeably better than any other product I've tried. Purchase Zirc Crystal HD mirrors and the Septodont Paroject at Crazy Dental and you'll get the best price I've found on them anywhere. Use coupon code VDP10 and you'll get 10% off of that! Buy an Enova Qubit Cool or PLT 100a using this link: for a 18% discount (or 20% discount with loupes and a light!)

Kevin and Zach are joined by Dr. Matt Hudzinski, a newly graduated dentist! First, they spend some quality time doing national board questions (giant fail). Then, Zach and Kevin both recount their dental school experiences. Dental school in the social media/Youtube era Dental school in the time of COVID. (4th year was clinical work ONLY!) And what about the debt. (Oh yes...the debt). The boys finish up with a rousing game of "how many requirements" and Matt did pretty darn well! Go join the Very Clinical Podcast Facebook group!