The Very Dental Podcast Network

Latest Episodes:

Very Dental: The Dentist's Dilemma: Doctor or Entrepreneur? with Dr. Mark Costes Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

Is the entrepreneurial drive something you're born with, or can it be learned? Alan had the chance to sit down with his friend and colleague, Dr. Mark Costes, at the recent Voices of Dentistry Pop Up for a deep dive into the mindset of a business owner. Drawing from his own family history, Dr. Costes argues that an entrepreneurial spirit is often an innate trait (nature), but that the skills to succeed can absolutely be cultivated (nurture). They explore the massive shift in the dental profession from the "golden era"—when clinical skill alone could guarantee a great living—to today's reality, where staggering student debt loads make business acumen a non-negotiable key to survival and success. The conversation also contrasts the cottage industry of dentistry with the consolidated world of medicine, weighing the pros and cons of being a W2 employee versus taking on the risks and rewards of practice ownership.

Key Takeaways

Entrepreneurs: Nature or Nurture? Mark believes that while an entrepreneurial spirit might be an innate personality trait, the systems and knowledge required for business success can be learned and mastered by anyone. His father, a corporate man, had the spirit but chose security; Mark was able to live out that entrepreneurial drive.
The "Golden Era" of Dentistry is Over: Dentists from previous generations could often succeed despite lacking business knowledge because the revenue from clinical dentistry was high enough to hide inefficiencies.
The Stakes Are Higher Now: With average student debt approaching $300,000, new dentists cannot afford to be sloppy with the business side of their practice. Every penny must be accounted for, making business education more critical than ever.
The W2 Path is a Viable Option: For dentists who are not interested in the risks and stress of ownership, being a W2 employee can still lead to a successful career and financial freedom. However, it requires a different kind of discipline focused on personal finance, smart investing, and tax strategy to build wealth without the final asset of a practice sale.
If You Own, Do It Right: For those who do take the leap into practice ownership, it is crucial to commit to learning the business. Otherwise, you are taking on all the risk, liability, and stress for potentially no significant reward.
The Problem with Medicine (and a Blessing for Dentistry): While medicine offers high-income W2 opportunities, it is a highly consolidated system that often leaves physicians with little control and massive tax burdens. Dentistry remains a "cottage industry" with immense entrepreneurial opportunity, despite its own challenges with insurance and patient payment discussions.
Information vs. Willpower: Whether discussing personal health or business success, simply having the information is not enough. The key challenge is developing the discipline and willpower to act on that knowledge, a hurdle that many people struggle to overcome.

Some links from the show:

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Gary," "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

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Very Clinical: A Tip or Two with Dr. McGue Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

In this throwback episode from Voices of Dentistry 2023 in Scottsdale, Zach and Kevin are joined by guest Dr. Brian McGue for the inaugural "Myths and Tips" episode. Dr. McGue, the inspiration for this format, kicks things off by myth-busting the posterior palatal seal, questioning its origin and clinical necessity for upper dentures. For his pro tip, he shares a game-changing technique for seating crowns—especially implant crowns—by recontouring the adjacent tooth contacts to eliminate undercuts and achieve a perfect, passive fit.

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy," "Lipscomb" or "Gary!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

AME: Matt's Marketing Minute(s) Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Recorded live at our recent pop up VoD 2025, Alan is joined by the one and only Dr. Matt Standridge! Matt shares two innovative marketing strategies he uses in his practice. First, he details his process for creating personalized virtual case presentations using Google Slides. He records custom videos for potential patients, walking them through their specific case, treatment options, and fees before they even come into the office, which has led to significantly higher case acceptance rates. Second, he explains how he collaborates with patients who are professional photographers. After a patient completes a smile makeover, he gifts them a professional headshot session with one of these patient-photographers, creating a win-win-win scenario: the patient feels great, the photographer gets business, and Dr. Standridge receives high-quality "after" photos for his marketing.

Some links from the show:

Get your tickets for VoD 2026! They're going to sell out!

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook," "Gary," "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

Very Dental: Have We Reached Peak Dental Podcasting with Dr. Mark Costes Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

In this throwback episode Alan is joined by his good friend and co-founder of Voices of Dentistry, Dr. Mark Costes. They catch up after the VOD 2022 event, sharing personal stories about their kids, past injuries, and the humbling (and sometimes embarrassing) experience of getting older. The conversation wraps up with a behind-the-scenes look at the world of dental podcasting, discussing everything from download stats and interview strategies to their most memorable guests.

Some links from the show:

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Gary," "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

Very Clinical: The Ortho Champion with Maryann McFarland Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Kevin and Zach are joined by star hygienist Maryann McFarland. They kick things off with a competitive discussion about their favorite games, from Maryann's professional-level Scrabble skills to Zach's past as a ranked online poker player. The conversation then shifts to the clinical topic of the day: how Maryann champions the Invisalign workflow in the practice. She provides a masterclass on her process, detailing every step from initial patient contact and leveraging in-office marketing to using photos on a big-screen monitor, discussing financials, and performing the digital scan—all while emphasizing the crucial role of teamwork and efficiency.

Key Takeaways:

Empower the Hygiene Team: A trained and motivated hygienist can be the primary driver for Invisalign cases, from the initial conversation to the digital scan, freeing up the doctor's time and boosting production.
A System Creates Efficiency: The practice utilizes a highly systematic, team-based approach. While one person engages the patient, others prepare financial plans or manages imaging in the background, eliminating bottlenecks and making the process fit within a standard appointment.
Visuals Drive Acceptance: Using large, high-quality photos on a monitor is a powerful tool. Showing patients their own crowding, wear, or abfractions and then asking, "Are you happy with your smile?" is more effective than just describing the problem.
Make it Easy to Say Yes: Streamline the financial conversation by having payment options prepared in advance. Presenting clear solutions immediately after the patient expresses interest removes a major barrier to starting treatment.
Create Urgency (and Follow Up): Offering to scan an interested patient on the spot capitalizes on their motivation. For those who need to think about it, sending them home with a signed financial plan and following up creates a clear path to starting their case.

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy," "Lipscomb" or "Gary!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

AME: Unconscious Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Alan uses his familiar daily commute as an analogy for the routine procedures in dentistry that become second nature. He reflects on how tasks that are "unconscious" and automatic for a seasoned dentist, such as a tooth extraction, are a highly conscious and often frightening experience for a patient. Drawing on a recent interaction with an anxious patient, Al emphasizes the importance of stepping out of this professional autopilot to consciously provide more empathy and care.

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook," "Gary," "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

Very Dental: Frankly, Dental School Sucked Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

This throwback episode features Alan and his longtime friend and fellow Dentaltown veteran, Dr. Frank Clayton, for a hilarious and nostalgic conversation. They reminisce about the early days of online forums, the inception of the podcast idea, and Frank's surprising pre-dental career selling Velveeta cheese. The discussion quickly turns to the shared trauma of hating dental school and the daily, relatable frustrations of clinical practice—from the high-stakes timing of cement cleanup and the dread of a phone call from the lab to the eternal struggle for the perfect contact. It's a candid, funny, and deeply relatable chat between two old friends who aren't afraid to admit they don't have all the answers.

Some links from the show:

Speedcem Plus by Ivoclar

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Gary," "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

Very Clinical: More Than a Cleaning with Maryann McFarland Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Kevin and Zach return from a hiatus and catch up on their summer adventures before introducing a special guest: Kevin's hygienist, Maryann McFarland. Maryann shares her journey through a 32-year career in hygiene, from a frustrating first job in a "prophy mill" to finding her work home in Kevin's practice. She discusses how embracing new challenges like sleep apnea treatment, clear aligner therapy, and administering local anesthesia has reinvigorated her passion for dentistry and transformed her job satisfaction.

Key Takeaways

Find Your "Work Home": A positive and supportive work environment is crucial for long-term career satisfaction. Maryanne's story shows the stark contrast between a high-turnover practice and one that invests in its team.
Trust Empowers Your Team: Practice owners who trust their team members with new responsibilities and encourage them to develop their skills can unlock a higher level of engagement and satisfaction. As Maryanne says, Kevin "finds what we're good at and he lets us run with it."
Hygiene is More Than Cleaning Teeth: Expanding a hygienist's role beyond traditional prophies to include comprehensive care like sleep apnea, orthodontics, and implants can combat burnout and foster significant professional growth, even for a 30+ year veteran.
Embrace Lifelong Learning: Being open to learning new skills, like when Maryanne took on local anesthesia after 30 years without it, can be challenging but ultimately become one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy," "Lipscomb" or "Gary!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

AME: The Internet Before the Internet with Richard Heend Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

In this nostalgic throwback episode, Alan reconnects with his childhood friend, Richard Heend, to reminisce about the internet before the internet. They journey back to the early 1980s, discussing their first encounters with computers like the Atari 400, the magic of bulletin board systems (BBS), and the thrill of playing games like Jumpman Jr. From the screech of a 300-baud modem and the limitations of a single phone line to the novelty of a dot-matrix printer, Alan and Rich explore how these early, text-based online communities were the evolutionary precursors to today's social media. They reflect on how the fundamental human drive for connection and reaction has remained the same, even as the technology has changed beyond recognition.

Some links from the show:

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook," "Gary," "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!

Very Dental: Al and the Amazing Pants with Angus Pryor Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Alan is joined by Australian marketing expert and fellow podcaster, Angus Pryor! The episode was recorded live from the Chicago Midwinter Meeting. Their chat begins with the surprising discovery that they both live on large rural farms, complete with forests, horses, and messy ducks. This shared experience launches them into a wide-ranging conversation about the art and business of podcasting, the strange nature of social media, the complexities of modern marketing, and the fine line between ethical patient education and "salesiness" in healthcare. Angus concludes by sharing the unique value proposition of his dental outsourcing company, Dental Stars.

Some links from the show:

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Gary," "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us!