T-bone Speaks Dentistry

This special epsiode I share with yiu the 3D Bootcamp and how it will help you take back control of your practice.

TBS258 - Implant Weekend Open Mic with Harjeet Mangat   Dr. Harjeet Mangat is one of the dentists at Mangat Family Dentistry, a practice that has offices in Pine Grove and Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania. Their services include oral exams, routine cleaning and gum infection treatments, children’s dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and composite fillings. Harjeet obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Temple Kornberg School of Dentistry in 2014.   Harjeet joins Sully and me to discuss implants and some of the ways you can elevate your practice without damaging patient retention. He describes his experience with implants and why he chose to do it freehand early in his career. He shares how he heard about 3D Dentists, our courses, and what he learned from our event. We describe the benefits of insurance and hygiene for your practice and our preferred business models. I also explain why DSOs regularly beat private practices when at

TBS259 - Implant Weekend Open Mic Part 2 with John Acosta   Dr. John Acosta is the owner of Pacific Coast Dental, a practice in the Pacifica, California area whose services include preventative dentistry, general dentistry, one-day crowns, and Invisalign clear braces. He earned his dental degree in his parent’s home country, the Philippines, and subsequently took continuing education in the US. Dr. Acosta has over 20 years of experience and is a proud member of many dental associations such as the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and the San Mateo County Dental Society, of which he was president in 2018.   Dr. Acosta joins me and Sully during Open Mic Night at the 3D Dentist Retreat. He asks questions regarding best marketing practices for business owners and how to let patients know about your dental services upon their arrival. I share the importance of marketing your culture, especially with social media. I discuss what it means to be financially flexible and express my

Regardless of the number of tools or procedures you add to your practice, the principles of dentistry don’t change. Whether it’s done by hand or with a robot arm, the job will always revolve around a person’s mouth. What does change is the information we align our brand of dentistry with—being rigid in this industry will not make for a successful practice. It’s why we must pursue continuous education and attend masterminds. Not only do these keep us up to date on new knowledge, they offer us various opportunities to connect with other practitioners who could be future business partners. Today, I share why I started hosting continuous education events and seminars. I describe the many professional and social benefits of participating in any of our events. I explain why sedation is an overlooked service and why practices should start implementing it. I discuss debts and why I’m a strong advocate of not paying them right away. I also share the critical differences between block scheduling and priority scheduling

TBS256 - Sirona World 2021 Recap Crowds. Just the thought of this word is enough to make anyone hate going outside their house. However, at the height of the pandemic, we missed huge gatherings, busy streets, and arguably even city traffic. It’s why speaking in front of large crowds at the recently concluded Sirona World 2021 was breathtaking, more so after a year of doing nothing but virtual events with a limited number of participants.  Today, I share my thoughts on Sirona World 2021, held in Las Vegas. I describe what the event was like, the energy it radiated, and what it felt like after a year of lockdowns and social distancing. I explain the key takeaways of my presentation and the pressure I felt when I was up on stage. I also share the stories of people saying they listened to the podcast and someone personally coming up to me for business advice.  "Business is not the enemy of dentistry—busyness is." - Tarun Agarwal This week on T-Bone Speaks Dentistry Podcast: ●     Why I go

Caroline Tuttle is the owner of Tuttle Dental Care, a family practice in West Windsor, New Jersey. The services they offer include veneers, bridges, fillings, dentures, implants, Invisalign, hygiene, and crowns. Caroline didn’t always share her father’s passion for dentistry, preferring at first to earn a degree in psychology and a minor in economics in 2008. The passion took root regardless, and she enrolled in Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in 2012, graduating five years later. She recently took over ownership of the family practice and expanded their services to include the latest tools and dental technology. Caroline joins us today to discuss what it was like taking over a family practice. She shares the experience of working with her father and the wisdom she gained. She describes how continuing education became a factor in their practice’s expansion and the tools she has since bought. She explains what she learned from our mastermind and some key takeaways regarding delegation and block scheduling. C

We’re living in a world where you either keep up or get left behind, and this is especially applicable in the dental profession. The tools we use and the procedures we do are always evolving, meaning you can never be too up-to-date with the latest in dentistry. How do you pick the right CEs? What are some of the things you need to do to get the most out of your CEs? Today, I’ll discuss how CEs improve your practice and how the value you get from expensive CEs are worth it. I describe the preparations required to maximize your CE experience. I explain why you sometimes have to get bad CEs. I share the key reasons why all your team members have to attend CEs. I also discuss the reasons why CEs that get you started quickly are the most imperative.  "Quite frankly, whether I liked or didn't like it, I needed CEs for my practice." - Tarun Agarwal This week on T-Bone Speaks Dentistry Podcast: Making the most out of your CE time and money The preparations and plans you need before, during, and after the CE c

Rick and Sully Sullivan are the father & son owners of Sullivan Dental Partners, a fourth-generation practice in Brentwood, Tennessee, that has been in service since 1970. They are best known for constantly innovating and keeping up with the latest dentistry tools while keeping costs attractive to patients. Their team is composed of experts in endodontics, prosthodontics, sedation, and implant dentistry. Unlike other successful practices, Rick and Sully are continuously pursuing continuing education to ensure they remain at the top of their trade. Rick and Sully join us to discuss what it’s like to run a successful, family-owned and operated dental practice and why they decided to set up a bigger office in an entirely new location. We discuss why Rick hired Sully as an associate and his biggest fears with hiring a family member. We discuss what the first months were like for Sully and how they kept everything professional regardless of what happened during the day. Rick discusses the time he was battling

In every business owner’s life, there comes a time when an economic downturn tests how well they can adapt. In my case, during the recession of 2008, I was forced to choose among being rigid, hoping things get better, or taking a risk by learning new things in an attempt to recession-proof my practice. I chose the latter, which also helped me prepare for the pandemic of 2020, which is still persisting today. Today, I describe some of the methods you can use to prepare your practice and make it recession-proof. I share how the crash affected my mindset toward business goals. I distinguish between the 2008 and 2020 economic crashes and why my practice is more resilient today. I explain how dentistry has always been a thriving industry. I offer advice on how to make your services more affordable without reducing revenue. I also share why having a survival mindset will restrict the growth of your business and your long-term aspirations in this industry. "I don't believe there's a one-size fits all approach t

I started my dental practice in 2001 and have made many mistakes along the way, but I’ve also learned from every one of them. One of the most critical lessons managing a business has taught me is the importance of maintaining practice culture. You can hire the most decorated team members, but at the end of the day, there is always a chance that drama can happen. You certainly don’t want drama while you’re trying to run a practice in the middle of a pandemic, but is there a way to prevent that? Today, I describe my journey into dentistry starting from the day I graduated. I discuss why dentistry doesn’t require as much scaling as other businesses to improve profits. I share the struggles we encountered the year before, how we’re getting back on track, and the services and team changes we made. I explain why you should not have the same team forever, the benefits of reshuffling team members, and maintaining practice culture. I also share why priorities scheduling is better than block scheduling. "The best way t

Sleep apnea is commonly discussed in dentistry. I remember visiting dentistry forums in the 2000s—way before social media was even a term—and reading success stories of other dentists with dental sleep. I added sleep in our practice, but to say we had an adequate run would be an overstatement. My team had to abandon it in 2010 because the business model we had wasn’t the right fit at the time. It wasn’t until I listened to a podcast five years later when I decided to get dental sleep back in my practice. We had professionals teach us the ropes, and the rest is history. Today, I share the story of how I came to include sleep in my practice and why it wasn’t a good fit right away. I recount when I removed dental sleep from my practice, when I decided to get it back, and what went right the second time. I explain what the 4-step workflow is and how we developed it. I discuss my thoughts on referrals, medical insurance, and digital impressions. I also share what I want my practice to become in the near future. "T

Ryan Skale is the owner of Skale Dental Professionals, a family-owned practice in Northbrook, Illinois. The father-son managed practice specializes in general and preventative dentistry as well as guaranteed individualized treatments. Ryan has completed over 200 hours of continuing education and accomplished a TMJ and Sleep Therapy residency program. He has over 11 years of private practice and is currently pursuing a fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. Today, Ryan joins us to share his key takeaways from our mastermind event. He describes how he managed his business before he started scheduling more implants. He discusses how he found out about the podcast and what got him interested in joining our mastermind. He explains how dental photography helped his practice grow. Ryan also shares how 2020 affected his business and why he was initially hesitant to offer implants. "Thanks to technology and modern advancements, dentists have the ability to do so many phases of clinical care within their pract

Dr. Jeffrey Scammahorn is the owner of Westmoore Dental Studio, a dental practice located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They offer services related to implants and bridges, sleep apnea, preventative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative dentistry. He started Westmoore Dental Studio in September of 2019 only to encounter the many challenges wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic barely six months later. Despite the struggles, Jeffrey found ways to adapt and improve his techniques in both services and leadership practices. Joining our mastermind helped him in these endeavors.  Today, Jeffrey joins us to describe his experience during our mastermind event: his takeaways, the people he met, and the relationships he formed with other dental professionals. He shares how the pandemic affected his newly bought practice and the lessons he learned from the experience. He explains how the mastermind event changed the way he ran his practice, especially when hiring team members. He discusses how implants and sedati

Morgan Gibson is a dentist in Anniston, Alabama who manages Gibson Family Dentistry, a practice that offers cleanings and examinations, cosmetic dentistry, crowns and bridges, smile makeovers, and dental implants. Morgan attended the University of Alabama, where she obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degree. She also earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She specializes in smile rehabilitation, dental implants, and general dentistry.  Today, Morgan joins us to share her experience with dental implants and why she was hesitant to try them in the past. She describes the kind of dentistry she provided when she was starting and why she felt burned out. She discusses the time she decided to do implants, the struggles she had initially, and how she feels about them today. She explains how implants had allowed her to practice dentistry with a lower stress level. Morgan also shares advice to those who may want to try something new, like implants. "Implants are like

Farai Kufakwedu is the Founder and Head of Momentum Building at Dentistry Flywheel, a company that helps practices achieve their true earning potential by utilizing “the Flywheel Effect”. Partnering with Dentistry Flywheel can help your practice convert more leads into patients, attract more high-value cases, and boost patient retention. Farai is also the author of The 9-Star Patient Experience: MOMENTS OF MAGIC PLAYBOOK, where he talks about the strategies business owners can incorporate into their day-to-day that can boost patient referrals and retention. Today, Farai shares how he applies the Flywheel Effect to dental practices. He describes what the Flywheel Effect is, where he learned it, and what it can do for your practice. He explains how it works and the essential aspects relating to practice culture and online presence. He shares actionable tips for building your website and creating marketing funnels for your dental practice. Farai also discusses the team members who need to master sales and market

My first few years as a dentist didn’t involve dental implants, and most of it was due to my lack of surgical confidence. It wasn’t like I needed to include dental implants in my practice - business was booming without it. Then, the Crash of 2008 happened, and it opened my eyes to the importance of offering a variety of services that cater to a broader market. One of these is dental implants, a procedure that, to this day, not many dentists provide. I invested in learning the basics and advanced implant procedures, allowing my practice to grow exponentially. It was one of the best decisions I have made in my career. Today, I share the economics of including implants in your practice, how many you can typically do in a year, and the potential earnings you’re missing out on by not offering it. I discuss why there’s never a ‘perfect time’ to start offering dental implants. I describe my first implant experience and my takeaways from that day. I explain the different side effects of having implants in your practi

Dr. Bryan Seth Debowsky is part of the DentFirst Dental Care team in Atlanta. He specializes in General Dentistry and obtained his degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Shortly after graduating from dental school, Bryan joined the US Air Force Dental Corpse and remained for five years where he developed his skills in surgical, restorative, and endodontic dentistry. After he left the Air Force in 2005, Bryan joined the DentFirst team where he currently practices as one of their core members. Today, Bryan shares the perspective of a DSO when it comes to supporting dental practices. He describes what led him to become a DSO, his experience in the Air Force, and why he chose to remain a DSO. He discusses the reasons he became a dentist in the first place and why he insists on hiring more specialists. He compares and contrasts the difficulties of a private practitioner and a DSO when it comes to hiring and retaining associates. Bryan also shares his thoughts on how to beat bigger competition, how to be

Chris Barrett is the Clinical Director for Britely Dentures + Implants Studio, a practice that exclusively offers implants and dentures services. Some of the services they offer are full mouth dental implants, traditional dentures, and single tooth replacement. He has provided over 1,000 implants to his name and over 1,000 hours’ worth of continuing implant education. Chris also serves as a clinical instructor at Implant Pathway to guide other dentists to safe and effective implant treatments.  Today, Chris joins us to share why he chose to exclusively offer implants in his practice and the significance of mentorship. He describes why he had to travel around the country a lot and why he eventually settled down in Arizona. He explains why he initially found no interest in doing implants and why implants piqued his interest. He shares his experience in looking for a dental coach and the importance of networking in the dentistry industry. He also discusses building your team and the roles you want to fill t

Grant Olson is the owner of Innovative Dental, a practice in Springfield, Missouri that offers various services, including root canal therapy, fillings, crowns, veneers, whitening, implants, dentures, and orthodontic procedures. He is one of only 300 CEREC Mentors globally and is a known expert in smile makeovers, performing dozens every year. Grant is also the owner of the Innovative Dental of Springfield YouTube channel where he shares content about his passion for dentistry and talks about the latest in cosmetic dental procedures and technology.  Today, Grant joins me to share how YouTube changed the way he marketed his services and why video marketing is the best way to attract new customers. He describes what the practice was like when he first bought it and the effort he and his team made to bring it back to life. He explains how his religious beliefs allowed him to have the mentality to succeed in the dental industry, the type of content he produces, and how he managed to grow his YouTube channel.

Jillian Swafford is a Dental Speaker, Coach, and owner of Oaks Dental Designs, a fixed dental lab in Pikeville, Tennessee. Established in 2018, Oaks Dental Designs provides various dental lab work, including function restoration, MCX5, Pressed Emax, Implants, Precision Milled Nightguards, and Gold Titanium Implant Restorations, to name a few. As a coach, Jillian helps dental offices have better communication with their suppliers.  Today, Jillian joins us to share the cultural impact a leader should have in their dental practice. She shares the main cultural drivers behind excellent practices and why any member can be that driver. She discusses why she chose to focus on dentistry as a career and what made her want to open her own business. She explains how she got into the business of coaching and some of the hardest lessons she has learned. She describes the effects of office drama in a practice and how a leader should extinguish them. Jillian also shares her experience in handling a team member who was