The Patient First Podcast with Dr. Bryan Laskin

RDH Aimee Vail has been campaigning for a long time to bring back a nearly forgotten secret weapon against caries that should be in every dental professional’s arsenal: silver diamine fluoride (SDF). Why has SDF fallen out of popularity, relegated to pediatric restorative dentistry and public health dentistry? Are the undesirable cosmetic effects of SDF really as bad as many dentists believe? What are the potential applications for this extremely effective substance and how can it help dentists provide patient-first care? Find out by watching this enthusiastic interview in which Aimee reveals all the behind-the-scenes work that went into bringing SilverSense SDF™ to market and securing FDA approval. Aimee also shares what she is doing to help raise awareness of the benefits of SDF among more general dentistry practices in the United States. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—an author, entrepreneur and dentist who isn’t afraid of silver diamine fluoride and the life-changing impact it can have on patients. Learn more about the benefits of SDF in general dentistry: CentrixDental.com Connect with Aimee on LinkedIn: Aimee Vail, RDH, MHA/Ed.

Did you know that periodontal disease is more of an inflammatory one and less of an infection? Most of us dentists struggle to keep up with the latest advances in understanding of this complex disease and the treatment modalities proven to control it. That’s why I interviewed Dr. William Levine, the Chief Scientific Officer of PeriActive and a specialist in periodontal disease and implantology. Dr. Levine explains why some dentists may need to take a new approach to the management of periodontal cases in their practices and explains how doing so is easier than you might think. We talk about how a very special formula he has developed could help providers treat periodontally involved patients with a reduced need for mechanical debridement. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, entrepreneur and a fellow dentist in search of the most effective innovations in technology and medicine that help dental professions put the patient first. How patients and dentists can shop PeriActive: GetPeriActive.com

We’re moving into an unprecedented era of dentistry, and without the right Standards and regulations in place to maintain order, our industry will essentially become the Wild West. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I summarize the biggest problem that the dental industry is facing today and explain what steps leaders in the space can take to start bridging the gap for a more connected future that benefits patients and providers alike. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—dentist, author, entrepreneur and engineer of solutions and Standards that foster interoperability and innovation in dentistry. Get involved with the development of dental Standards: DentalStandardsInstitute.com Learn more about solving the Dental Disorder: DentalDisorder.com Experience Connected Dentistry™ today: Toothapps.com

How much should you let your hygienists do in your dental practice? There’s a hot debate going on in dentistry over whether hygienists should have the option to expand their skill set to include some restorative functions. Some practice owners feel strongly that we shouldn’t be blurring the lines between areas of expertise. But RRDH Irene Iancu makes a compelling case for expanding the functions of dental hygienists. In this engaging interview, she explains how expanded functions not only result in greater job satisfaction for hygienists, but can also benefit a practice’s bottom line and improve access to care for patients. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, entrepreneur, dentist, host of “The Patient First Podcast” and advocate for all innovations and advancements in our industry that help improve access to oral healthcare while opening doors for increased profitability. Follow Irene: https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene/

You don’t have to be a data geek like Jordan and I to leverage the power of data analytics in your dental practice. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I interview the Director of Product Management for beBright Jordan Trentacosta and we talk about how data accessibility can help practice owners identify and focus on the metrics that really matter. Since data is undeniably the key to enhancing the patient experience, building trust that leads to greater treatment plan acceptance rates and improving the efficiency of network operations, owners and leaders of practices and groups of all sizes will benefit from considering the many exciting up-and-coming solutions for data analysis and accessibility in the dental space. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—dentist, author, innovator and data geek who wants to help others experience the magic that results from the hard science of data. Learn more about ToothappsⓇ Insights: Toothapps.com

Do you have an innovative idea that you believe will transform the way we do dentistry? Are you interested in investing in a dental tech startup but need more risk mitigation? Are you simply curious about what’s going on in the field of dental innovation? Whatever your area of focus, you’ll enjoy this insightful interview with an industry veteran. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I ask Dental Innovation Alliance Co-Founder and Managing Partner Doug Brown how his team helps match investors with promising startups in the dental space. We discuss common industry challenges, how DIA helps practice owners to overcome them, and trends in dental innovation that have the most exciting potential. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—dentist, author, entrepreneur and innovator keen to explore any and all solutions that make the practice of dentistry a better experience for everyone involved. Contact Doug Brown with queries about DIA: DIAlliance.com Doug(at)DIAlliance(dot)com

It turns out I was wrong about the 21st Century Cures Act. But only in technical terms, really. The reality of the situation that dental practice owners are in is still a dire one, perhaps even more serious than we previously realized. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I explain why we need a correction in our understanding of the federal legislation pertaining to the handling of dental patient information. In short, dentists and DSOs of all sizes are obligated by HIPAA to make patient data accessible to their patients, and the 21st Century Cures Act prohibits actions that unnecessarily limit accessibility to data. I also explain what is currently the ONLY solution that allows dental practices to comply with both HIPAA and Cures Act regulations. Learn what my team and I currently know about patient data accessibility in this episode and follow this space to stay up-to-date with new clarifications. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—entrepreneur, author, dentist and advocate for the dental Standards and innovations that will continue to make oral healthcare more efficient, effective and patient-focused. Learn more about the biggest issues fragmenting our industry: DentalDisorder.com Get your practices compliant with the only solution that gives patients access to their own dental data: Toothapps.com

With her entire career spent in the nonprofit sector, there’s no one else more qualified to be leading the amazing organization of Dental Lifeline Network. I interview DLN’s President and CEO Lynda Ricketson to discuss how her organization helps the disabled, elderly, military veterans and other disadvantaged individuals to access life-changing treatment provided by volunteer dentists. We discuss the benefits that dental practices can experience by joining DLN’s list of providers, and how the organization makes it easy for dentists to give back to their communities. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, you’ll not only learn more about this incredible opportunity to be a volunteer dental care provider, but you’ll also learn how Connected Dentistry™ is key to improving access to oral healthcare for everyone. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—an author, entrepreneur, innovator and dentist who can personally attest to the life-changing power of offering volunteer dental treatments. Get involved by signing up at: WhyIDental.org

Climbing the corporate ladder might be a tale as old as time, but it’s a relatively new concept in the world of dentistry. Many of the hard-working people on dental teams in DSOs are uniquely qualified to serve in positions of leadership within their organizations, but they may need a hand in realizing their full potential. CEO of Kennedy Dental Care Shelia Taylor’s story may provide just the boost these folks need to begin their journey upward through the ranks. Decades of experience proved to Shelia Taylor that a love for helping people combined with a ‘can-do’ attitude are all that’s needed to achieve previously unimaginable success. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I interview Shelia to hear how she went from a disillusioned dental assistant to the CEO of a highly successful dental network and what advice she has for DSOs who want to strengthen their organizations through organic growth. Anyone in dentistry who loves what they do will find Shelia’s experience entertaining, relatable and inspirational, just as I did. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, entrepreneur, dentist and a fellow advocate of patient-first care for people everywhere. Contact Shelia: SheliaT(at)kennedydentaltx(dot)com Kennedy Dental Care: KDCSmiles.com

Which is more important to the success of a dental practice or network: the team or the patients? In a fresh take on the classic chicken-versus-egg debate of the business side of dentistry, Founder of Active Dental Dr. Kalpesh Patel and I talk about what it really means to put the patient first and what steps dental practice owners can take to stay ahead of the competition. In this interview, Dr. Patel and I also talk about what the near future holds for the dental industry and why the trend towards great consolidation and commercialization of dental care could be a good thing for patients and providers alike. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—an author and a fellow dentist and visionary who loves talking with forward-thinking leaders like Dr. Patel to gain even greater insight into the definition of Patient-First care. Contact Dr. Patel to learn more about his successful de novo strategy: ActiveDentalDFW.com

What does “transparency” mean for your organization? How could transparency improve efficiencies, increase profitability and deliver greater value to patients all while raising the standard of care? I explore the topic of transparency with Karla-Marie Santiago, Director of Operations at OakpointⓇ, to discover how this core value of her DSO has strengthened their value proposition and guided the decision-making process. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, Karla-Marie shares some priceless insights that other DSO leaders won't want to miss. We also discuss how a lack of interoperability is the biggest problem in the dental industry and how the solution to this problem lies in a patient-first approach to care. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, entrepreneur, dentist and engineer of solutions to the interoperability problem many DSOs are struggling with today. Contact Karla-Marie: oakpoint.us or karla(at)oakpoint(dot)us Learn more about the dental industry’s massive disorder and its solution: DentalDisorder.com Explore solutions for DSOs who want to leverage interoperability for greater transparency: Toothapps.com

Imagine the possibilities if you started completing more full-arch dental implant cases. How much would your practice grow? Would you be able to work shorter days? Retire earlier than expected? There are more patients out there who stand to benefit from multiple implants than you may realize. This means there are more opportunities to improve lives and your production potential than you may know. But whether you’ve previously thought about offering full-arch implant treatments or not, the real trick lies in getting started, and this is where my friend Greg Essenmacher comes to the rescue. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I interview seasoned consultant Greg Essenmacher on how he helps dental practice owners break into the market of full-arch implant dentistry, build rock-solid business plans for growing their practices on the foundation of this lucrative service offering and understand how to connect with patients to help more of them experience an elevated quality of life through dental implant treatment. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, entrepreneur and a dentist working to help other dentists provide their patients with better care. Start building your dental implant empire: Dentalconsult4u.com Explore the potential of teledentistry and more: Toothapps.com

What does a DSO have in common with an FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center)? Find out in this episode of “The Patient First Podcast.” I interview Dr. Mark Doherty, the brilliant CEO and Co-Founder of D4 Practice Solutions, and he shares some intriguing insights on what DSOs can learn from government-subsidized care to improve the quality and profitability of the care provided by their networks. As always, I pick my guest’s brain to get further insight into what the near future holds for the dental industry. Dr. Doherty and I also talk about how DSOs can leverage culture to create alignment between leadership and the front lines. This is a must-see episode for any DSO leader today who wants to brace their organizations for the changes that lie just ahead. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, dentist and entrepreneur who’s ever on the search for solutions and strategies that make dentistry more efficient and interconnected. Get the insights needed to start growing your DSO: D4PracticeSolutions.com

Sleep-disordered breathing affects more of your patients than you may realize, and no one is better positioned to help them than you are. By offering dental sleep treatment, you can help your patients experience a better quality of sleep, of health, of life, and you can help your practice benefit from a whole new revenue stream. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I interview President of Sleep Group Solutions John Nadeau on the experience he’s gained from over two decades in this field, where oral healthcare has perhaps the most direct and profound impact on overall patient wellbeing. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, dentist and entrepreneur fascinated by any opportunity to provide our dental patients with more connected, integrated and comprehensive care. Everything you need to start offering dental sleep treatment: SleepGroupSolutions.com

Finally, 5 out of 5 dentists agree on SOMETHING. Unfortunately, there are influential powers that be in dentistry who do not agree on this, and that spells doom for a profession that believes in putting the patient first. When surveyed whether they would like to have access to relevant patient medical records for diagnosing and treatment planning purposes, 100% of the responding dentists said yes. The problem? As I explain in this episode of The Patient First Podcast, our industry does not have a viable solution that supports the secure and free exchange of patient health information between the medical and dental disciplines. Until now. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, dentist and an entrepreneur who’s working hard to raise awareness of the sole solution in dentistry that helps dentists readily access the information they need to render the care their patients deserve. Explore the solution for yourself: Toothapps.com

David Pryor is BACK in this interview, and we have a blast sharing and comparing our predictions for dentistry in 2024. David Pryor of Planet DDS is the former host of The Patient First Podcast, a long-time friend and a trusted industry expert. In this interview, Dave returns to talk AI, cloud-based practice management systems and anticipated DSO growth trends. It was great to reconnect with Dave in the studio of The Patient First Podcast and I know that anyone who cares about better dentistry will be keen to listen in on our conversation. Learn more about the dental industry’s biggest problems by reading my latest book: DentalDisorder.com

Meet the secret weapon that private equity firms run to for help understanding clinical operations and optimizing their organizations: Kerry Straine of Straine Dental Consulting, Analytics and Management. With decades of experience working with thousands of dental practices and DSOs of all sizes, Kerry is THE expert to consult when it comes to planning network operations. In this fast-paced and in-depth interview, Kerry explains the importance of building a business around a clinic-focused model and sheds light on the current role of private equity on the DSO scene. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, entrepreneur and a dentist who can personally attest to Kerry Straine’s expertise. Learn more about how Straine can help you implement the ideal data-based operations strategy: Straine.com kerry(at)straine(dot)com

We’re at the start of a brand new year and it’s a time for both reflection and projection: reflection on things that happened in dentistry in 2023 and projection, or calculation, of the changes we can expect to see in the industry moving into 2024 and beyond. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I reflect on the predictions I had made at the start of 2023 and discuss which ones came true and which ones did not. Additionally, I share my predictions for 2024 of the trends and changes that will continue to transform dentistry. Whether you are a patient, a dentist, dental professional, the owner of a group practice or DSO or even an industry vendor, I welcome your thoughts on this episode! Do you agree or disagree with my predictions? What others would you add to this list? I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—dentist, author, entrepreneur and engineer of solutions that continue to revolutionize the delivery of dental care for both patients and providers. Learn more by reading Dental Disorder: DentalDisorder.com

The field of oral healthcare is poised to overlap closely with pathology, according to Dr. Mohammad Kamal, the CEO and Founder of OMNIPathology Lab. The connection between the mouth and overall health is garnering increasingly more attention in recent times, necessitating the need for improved collaboration and integration between medical and dental providers, particularly when it comes to screening for infections. One example of this is revealed by Dr. Kamal in this fascinating interview, as he explains an undeniably vital opportunity that offers significant benefits to patients and dental providers. In this episode of “The Patient First Podcast,” you’ll learn exactly what this opportunity is and why you should be one of the first to leverage it in your practice or network. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—a dentist with a vision of a more interconnected network of healthcare that puts the patient first, and an entrepreneur with solutions for supporting interoperability between medical disciplines. Information on HPV throat testing for patients: https://www.omnipathology.com/throat-hpv-testing-for-patients Start offering HPV throat testing in your practice: https://www.omnipathology.com/oropharyngeal-hpv-testing-for-dental-practices Explore dental practice solutions that support interoperability: Toothapps.com

With consumers increasingly searching for convenient solutions with simple and affordable monthly payment plans, in-house memberships are the inevitable future for dentistry. Founder and CEO of DentalHQ Dr. Brett Wells is a dentist who knows all too well the pain of juggling collections with the other responsibilities of running a dental practice. He set out to solve this problem nearly a decade ago and now has a fantastic solution that he talks about in this episode of The Patient First Podcast. In this interview, Dr. Wells and I discuss the simple beauty of in-house membership plans for dental practices and how they deliver myriad benefits to the practice and its patients, both uninsured and insured. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, dentist, fellow entrepreneur and problem-solver passionate about making dentistry more accessible to more people by supporting those who provide it. Contact Dr. Wells to learn more: DentalHQ.com Brett(at)DentalHQ(dot)com