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Is Your Dental Practice Leaving Money on the Table?
Running a dental practice is about more than just clinical skill—it’s about building a business that thrives financially. A major pain point for many practice owners is not fully understanding their financial data and feeling disconnected from their financial reality.

The New Dentist
2 min read


Case Continuum: The Art of Camouflaging Cant
I’m excited to share this case because it highlights a thoughtful approach to complex maxillary cant challenges, showing how they can be managed in a predictable and esthetic way. One of the key lessons is that success is not always about perfectly leveling the cant, but about camouflaging it to create a natural, balanced smile.

Dr. Amanda Seay
3 min read


A Biological Approach to Endodontics with Dr. Vi Ho
Dr. Vi Ho is bringing a fresh perspective to modern endodontics, one that blends science, curiosity, and whole‑body awareness. As a certified biological endodontist, she looks beyond traditional techniques to create a more thoughtful, patient‑centered experience. In this episode of the Dental Slang Podcast, she shares how her clinical philosophy has evolved, the tools and technologies that support her approach, and the personal journey that shaped the way she practices today.

Dr. Reza Ardalan
2 min read


What Movie Tickets Can Teach Us About Better Decision-Making
Behavioral economics shows us that gut instinct isn’t always right. While our brains evolved to enable our survival, the very instincts we possess in order to save and protect ourselves may be thwarting our efforts to financially prosper. But if we can recognize these biases in ourselves and our patients, we can make clearer decisions, deliver better care and build healthier practices. Sometimes, the smartest move isn’t to double down on the ticket you’ve already bought—it’s

Jasmin Attia
6 min read


Growing with Heart: How Dr. JP Bastien Builds a Thriving Dental Practice
In this episode, Dr. JP Bastien shares how he grew his practice from early-stage ownership into a thriving multi-doctor model by leading with empathy, recruiting intentionally and embracing technology without losing sight of core values. He reflects on the realities of hiring, leadership development, operational efficiency and the role of AI in modern dentistry, offering practical insights for dentists navigating growth while protecting culture and quality of care.

Dr. Reza Ardalan
2 min read


Dr. Ashley Joves: Turning a Personal Journey Into a Dental Community
Before I can talk about building a community, you need to know a little about me, because my history is what made it possible. I’m Dr. Ashley Joves, a first-generation Filipino-American and an only child, born just outside Columbus, Ohio. Growing up, I often felt out of place, there weren’t many people who looked like me, and being an only child, I created my own worlds, telling stories and imagining siblings just to keep myself company.

Dr. Ashley Joves
4 min read


How to Decide Between Prep Date and Seat Date for Claims Submission
This question has circulated around offices for decades: Do we submit crowns and other multi-visit procedures upon starting or at completion?
The answer is not a simple yes or no. As with most things in life, it’s not that easy, and anyone giving you a straight answer is missing part of the story. So, let’s review the facts and the complete situation so you can decide what to do within your own office:

Dr. Travis Campbell
4 min read


Inside the Mind of Dr. Pete McClellan: Leadership, Discipline and the Future of Relationship-Based Dentistry
Get an inside look at how Dr. Pete McClellan built a thriving multi-location practice without losing sight of relationships, communication and clinical clarity. In this episode, he shares the systems, lessons and leadership principles that helped him scale sustainably, support mid-career dentists, and create practices where doctors can thrive without burning out.

Dr. Reza Ardalan
2 min read


The Science of Agentic AI: From Language to Action
In recent years, “AI in healthcare” has referred to tools that support radiographic diagnosis. Years earlier it referred to scripted chatbots pretending to hold a conversation. None of it fixed the communication gap that actually matters.
But now we’re seeing something new: Agentic AI. This refers to systems that understand language and use it to autonomously perform actions.

Dr. Nate Jeal
3 min read


Blood Testing and Collaboration in Dentistry: A Conversation with Dr. John Bruce
Dr. John Bruce joins host Dr. Reza Ardalan to discuss innovative approaches to dental care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of mentorship in professional growth. From expanding clinical tools to personal stories that reveal his unique journey, this episode offers both practical insights and engaging anecdotes for dental professionals.

Dr. Reza Ardalan
2 min read


The Workforce Has Changed. Has Your Dental Practice Kept Up?
When my 25-year-old niece told me salary wasn’t her top concern in a job search, I realized just how much the workforce has evolved. Purpose now matters as much as pay — and in dentistry, that’s changing everything.

Jenine Toback
4 min read


From Coma to Comeback: Dr. Marq Sams’ Journey of Resilience and Grit
From a life-changing accident to building one of the top peri-implant practices, Dr. Marq Sams shares the lessons in resilience and leadership every dentist can apply.

Dr. Reza Ardalan
2 min read


When Protocols Prevail: A 13-Year Follow-Up on an Iatrogenic Perforation Case
Every now and then, a case comes along that reminds us why adherence to clinical protocol and sound judgment are indispensable in endodontics. This case, one of the most fascinating I’ve encountered, follows a patient 13 years after treatment and demonstrates how proper diagnosis and retreatment can turn a compromised situation into a long-term success story.

Dr. William Nudera
2 min read


Systematic Endodontics Live: Techniques, Strategies & Case Solutions
Join Dr. William Nudera for a live webinar where he expands on the concepts from his Systematic Endodontics online course. This interactive session will go beyond the fundamentals, offering a closer look at key techniques and practical strategies that make endodontic treatment more predictable

The New Dentist
1 min read


Dr. Amanda Seay’s Guide to Minimally Invasive Smile Transformations
When we talk about the restorative periodontal interface, what we’re really discussing is the harmony between the pink and the white, the tissue and the teeth. Achieving the ideal smile isn’t just about perfectly shaped teeth; it’s about how those teeth interact with the surrounding gingiva to create a natural, balanced and esthetically pleasing result.

The New Dentist
3 min read


Dr. David Sarver, P-I Brånemark Award for Lifetime Achievement Recipient
After five years of developing surgical treatment plans for patients with facial deformities, Dr. David Sarver reached out to his trusted mentor with one message: clinicians had been treatment planning wrong for 100 years. Instead of brushing him off, that mentor, Dr. Bill Proffit, encouraged Dr. Sarver to plead his case. The problem was clear: when he followed the standard methodology—focused solely on the teeth—the results fell short. Patients who had already undergone unsu

The New Dentist
6 min read


Redefining Dentistry Through Partnership: Insights from Dr. Morven McCauley
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Morven McCauley to talk about one of the biggest challenges associates face today: finding balance and autonomy in corporate or group practice settings. Morven shares some incredibly grounded advice about knowing your values, standing by your clinical standards, and having open, honest conversations with the people you work for (or with).

Dr. Reza Ardalan
2 min read


Navigating Dental Insurance: Insights from Dr. Travis Campbell
Dental insurance can feel like a tangled web of rules, contracts and affiliations. In this episode of the Dental Slang Podcast, I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Travis Campbell, better known in dentistry as The Dental Insurance Guy. Travis has built a reputation for simplifying one of the most frustrating aspects of practice ownership: managing insurance in a way that benefits both patients and providers.

Dr. Reza Ardalan
2 min read


How Not to Kill Your Patients: A Medical Guide for Dentists
Both medicine and dentistry are advancing at break-neck speeds, making it difficult for clinicians to stay current. Medical conditions and their management are increasingly complex, and if dentists don’t understand these nuances—or how they affect dental treatment, which is also growing more complex—they risk compromising patient safety.

The New Dentist
7 min read


Managing Dental Practice Bonuses: A Strategic Approach to Profitability and Staff Motivation
As a dental practice owner, one of your most important responsibilities is ensuring that your practice remains profitable. Part of this involves managing your team’s compensation, including the distribution of bonuses. While bonuses can serve as an effective tool for incentivizing high performance and rewarding exceptional effort, the way many practices approach bonuses can have unintended consequences for both their staff and their bottom line.

The New Dentist
5 min read


Why Comprehensive Cases Go Wrong Before They Begin
Smile design asks something different of us than the single-tooth dentistry most of us grew up with. Without a system to analyze and diagnose properly, the results are unpredictable. You do your best work and it still is not quite what you intended, or it looks good for a while and then something happens. That unpredictability is exhausting, and for the patient it ends in disappointment. I think it is one of the biggest hidden drivers of stress in our work.

Dr. Elaine Halley
6 days ago4 min read


The Class IV Restoration That Disappears
Why most Class IV composites reveal themselves the second the patient steps outside, and the layering technique that makes the fracture line genuinely vanish in 45 minutes of chair time.

Dr. Susan McMahon
Jun 46 min read


Mid-Treatment MARPE, a Bolton Discrepancy, and the Prepless Hybrid That Saved a Virgin Tooth
In this case, we explored one of the most challenging cant presentations I’ve seen — a patient with a severe skeletal cant involving not only the maxilla, but the orbit, eyes, and overall facial framework.

Dr. Amanda Seay
May 275 min read


The Patient Asked for Veneers. The Diagnosis Said Something Else.
“I want veneers.” Three words walked into my practice attached to a determined young man who had clearly done his research. He had seen the Instagram transformations, read about instant smile makeovers, and was ready to invest in the quick fix he thought would give him the confidence he had been looking for.

Dr. Elaine Halley
May 255 min read


Pain-Free Dentistry, On Purpose: Dr. Mark Skimming on the 80% of a Visit That Isn't Clinical
Most dentists go into ownership thinking the work is dentistry. Dr. Mark Skimming would tell them they've got the math backwards. Clinical quality accounts for only 20% of what makes a great patient visit; the other 80% is everything else surrounding it.

Dr. Reza Ardalan
May 157 min read


What Every Dentist Needs to Know About GLP-1s
While they’re best known for promoting weight loss and helping diabetic patients manage blood sugar levels, studies have shown GLP-1 receptor agonists also can lower blood pressure, improve lipid disorders and fatty liver disease, and reduce the risk of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.

The New Dentist
May 76 min read


Blood Work and Dentistry: A Missing Piece in Comprehensive Care
Early detection and prevention are the foundation of long-term wellness. Because dentists see patients more frequently than most medical providers, they are uniquely positioned to identify systemic risk factors before disease progresses. Incorporating blood testing into dental care supports truly patient-centered treatment by aligning oral health with whole-body health and expanding access to preventive screening.

The New Dentist
Apr 272 min read


How to Bill When a Patient Has Maxed Out Their Dental Insurance Benefits
This is one of the most common billing questions, and understandably so. Most offices have heard of “non-covered service laws,” but few have had the time to investigate what those actually mean, especially when handling situations where a patient has maxed out their dental insurance.

Dr. Travis Campbell
Apr 152 min read


When Dentistry Becomes Diagnosis with Dr. Ratna Indah on Systems, Science, and the Bigger Health Picture
Dr. Ratna Indah approaches dentistry with a perspective that reaches far beyond the operatory. In this episode of the Dental Slang Podcast, she shares how a background in journalism, a deep curiosity about systems, and a deeply personal family health journey reshaped the way she practices dentistry—and how she defines wellness in patient care.

Dr. Reza Ardalan
Apr 133 min read


Smile Confidence and Healthy Aging
Cosmetic dentistry is often framed as a pursuit of youth or appearance—but its impact goes far deeper. As patients age, teeth naturally wear, discolor, shift, and sometimes are lost altogether. These changes affect more than just a smile—they can influence how people see themselves, causing them to smile less, withdraw socially, and feel less confident in everyday interactions.

The New Dentist
Apr 83 min read
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