We are live from the Spear Education Center in Scottsdale Arizona. Sully and Dr. Will Jones are here for the Restoring the Edentulous Arch workshop and the Demystifying Occlusion seminar. We are joined by Dr. Sunny Virdi, Dr. Todd Honcharik, and Dr. Murad Zaman.
We talk about starting a new practice, marketing, and photography. We also talk about biomimetic dentistry. Which is all about tooth structure conservation. We also talk about rubber dams, materials, and prep. We also talk about insurance and payment differences between the US and Canada and so much more.
You can find Will and Sunny here:
Show Notes:
[01:46] Dr. Sunny Virdi is from Canada. Today he attended the Demystifying Occlusion Seminar taught by Dr. Frank Spear.
[03:18] There are two specialists in Winnipeg that have a Spear Study Club. That is why Dr. Sunny Virdi is here. At the study club, they start the module with a case. Then everyone talks about treatment options etc.
[04:42] Sunny and Dr. Todd Honcharik and Dr. Murad Zaman just bought a practice.
[05:24] Prior to this Sunny was an associate at a couple of different practices.
[06:02] Todd graduated in 2014 and was working as an associate.
[08:46] They think the same way, and it will be a game changer to have a practice where everyone thinks alike. The new practice is a long-term play. It's in a mall and they get walk-in traffic.
[11:10] The growth strategy is to show patients that they provide value. They use photography to communicate.
[12:48] Photography really makes a difference. Sunny and Murad both have Canon 80D cameras.
[13:31] With a camera, you get the detail and the quality. Photography sets them apart.
[14:58] Sunny and Murad are both into biomimetic dentistry which means preserving the natural tooth while treating it to avoid crowns and root canals.
[15:21] Tooth structure conservation makes so much sense.
[16:49] They rubber dam everything when it's possible. With having a lot of clamps it makes it possible.
[21:32] They very rarely do full crowns unless, they are replacing one that is already there.
[25:46] Denton just needs time to bond with an indirect restoration. We talk about bonding techniques.
[36:11] Victor D. Guerrero's work on isolation and bio dentistry is definitely worth checking out. Along with, Pascal Magne's Book on Biomimetic Dentistry.
[37:11] These practices can easily be incorporated into your daily practice.
[42:22] Diversifying is part of the growth of the practice. That includes ortho and implants.
[43:10] The group values being able to work among friends and be able to talk about cases.
[45:21] The team in the new practice has been super responsive and have adapted really well. The team also goes to the CE with them.
[48:40] Listen to the Noobie Dentist Podcast Nerding Out Over Biomimetic Dentistry Part 1 With Dr. Davey Alleman DMD Part 1 and Part 2.
As always thanks so much for listening! If you like the show we would love for you to review the show on iTunes as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com.
Links and Resources:
The Millennial Dentist Website
@Millennialdentist on Facebook
On Instagram
Dr. Sully…@Millennialdentist on Instagram
Dr. Peyman…@drpeyray on Instagram
Academy of Biomimetic Dentistry
Victor D. Guerrero on Instagram
Pascal Magne Book on Biomimetic Dentistry
NDP Episode 44: Nerding Out Over Biomimetic Dentistry Part 1 With Dr. Davey Alleman DMD
We are live at Spear Studio, and so excited to introduce Dr. Darin Dichter. This studio is where a lot of the recorded video content for Spear Education is filmed. Dr. Dichter is the resident prosthodontist at Spear Education. He brings with him 20 years of clinical, research, and teaching experience. He is also an instructor for the upcoming workshop Restoring the Edentulous Arch.
Sully and Dr. Dichter kick the show off with Dr. Dichter sharing his background growing up in Oregon, and how he almost become a ski instructor instead of a dentist. They also talk about how Dr. Dichter grew a practice from scratch before deciding to do a residency. We also learn about the chance phone call that ended up placing Dr. Dichter at Spears. Sully gets to ask a lot of questions about dental careers, clinical procedures, dental education, and more.
You can find Dr. Darin Dichter here:
Dr. Darin Dichter Spear Education
Show Notes:
[02:48] Dr. Dichter grew up in Gearhart, Oregon. He went to college at the University of Oregon. He had a family friend who was a dentist, and that inspired him to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT).
[04:27] He had to choose between being a ski guide or a dentist. He chose being a dentist.
[07:22] He went to Oregon Health Sciences in Portland. After school, he worked with a family friend for a year, and then started a practice from scratch.
[12:01] Some dental schools are designed to make people really good clinicians, and others are designed to prepare people for the next step. It would be helpful to know what you wanted to do before choosing a school.
[13:31] When working in a small town everyone knows who you are and where you are. It's still easier to start a practice in a small town.
[16:08] He then moved to Portland to practice. He was at a lecture and was approached to join a study club.
[18:39] The most impactful study club that Dr. Dichter was in also had the periodontist, orthodontist, and endodontist that he worked with as members. They would study past cases to know what they would want to do differently on new cases.
[23:37] He ran a practice in Portland for about 5 years, and then decided to do a residency.
[24:11] He ended up going to UCLA.
[28:33] He almost started a practice in Orange County, but was invited to work at Spears.
[30:16] He still sees patients and then has workshops.
[31:32] He is looking for specific patients to fulfill certain dental needs. He does comprehensive restorative dentistry.
[33:44] The challenge is that everything is designed about a technique, but people need to learn the other options. And then need to know which system or technique would work the best.
[40:44] Everything we do digitally is fundamentally the same as the analog world. It's a tool that could make you more efficient or more predictable.
[45:36] You learn so much by doing your own lab work.
[49:01] Preserve the teeth, because it will preserve options for you.
[50:34] Find conservative options if you can.
As always thanks so much for listening! If you like the show we would love for you to review the show on iTunes as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com.
Links and Resources:
The Millennial Dentist Website
@Millennialdentist on Facebook
On Instagram
Dr. Sully…@Millennialdentist on Instagram
Dr. Peyman…@drpeyray on Instagram
Dr. Sullivan and I are catching up on life after a fun-filled summer. We’ve got to get back into the swing-of-things, and we kick off this episode with Dr. Sullivan as he talks about what it was like coming out of dental school and working in his dad’s practice. He also tells us about how his experience has changed his perspective in his dental practice journey.
We talk about how maturity has played a role in Dr. Sullivan’s practice: how to work with team members and how to run a business. The most significant impact for his practice was taking full DSL photos of every client. When he arrived, he saw the importance of changing the culture of the practice and approaching their patients differently.
Find out what elements Dr. Sullivan has changed that has moved his business forward in big leaps. He talks about his team, the changes he has made in technology and the most substantial change he has made to the practice: new patient intake survey.
Show Notes:
[02:05] Dr. Sullivan looks back at graduating dental school.
[02:42] Year one out of college compared to year two out of college.
[03:15] What was the first CE Dr. Sullivan took?
[04:33] How taking DSL photos of all our clients impacted our practice.
[07:38] 2018 was Dr. Sullivan’s best year and has doubled income for the practice.
[10:58] Patients want consumer-driven, same-day dentistry.
[13:02] Number of units Dr. Sullivan is passing through his business each day.
[18:19] How to focus your team on different aspects of your practice so everyone has a specialty area they work in.
[19:07] Dr. Sullivan talks about two ways to grow your practice.
[24:28] Dr. Sullivan gives us the 411 about his new space he has built.
[33:05] What Dr. Sullivan credits his success to?
[34:38] Balancing life - where are the boundaries between enjoying life and living life?
[36:16] Communication and making sure you are on the same page as your loved ones.
[38:17] To be a good leader, there is sacrifice involved.
[39:07] Dental yogis and taking the time to relax.
As always thanks so much for listening! If you like the show we would love for you to review the show on Apple Podcasts as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com.
Links and Resources:
The Millennial Dentist Website
@Millennialdentist on Facebook
On Instagram
Dr. Sully…@Millennialdentist on Instagram
Dr. Peyman…@drpeyray on Instagram
Dr. Peyray and I are catching up on life after a fun-filled summer. We’ve got to get back into the swing-of-things, and we kick off this episode with Dr. Peyray as he spills figuring out the logistics of labs. What goes on at the laboratory end? How do they process labs? This has been a significant learning experience for him. He tells all about his new perspective and appreciation for laboratory testers and the steps to testing to kick-off this episode.
We talk about the best advice for owning a practice. Dr. Peyray’s advice is, “Don’t wing it. You’ve got to be prepared.” He was complimented on his team, after having to pull his associates together. “Be more of a leader and take charge” to be a good example to his team. Don’t delegate to be lazy, delegate because someone else is a better expert than you.
Find out the details and logistics of your practice to see where you can improve. We talk about working with patients and patient culture and demographics. Your practice should have a process and options in place, such as payment plans, to make dentistry affordable for your patients. Giving patients payment options will increase your gross income for your practice. Find out what other elements you can improve to get to your tipping point!
Show Notes:
[01:35] Understanding the business and logistics of labs.
[03:16] Dr. Peyray explains how understanding the technical aspect of labs will help him clinically in the dentistry world.
[04:30] What helped Dr. Peyray the most from the business aspect of owning a practice.
[05:33] Parts of Dr. Peyray’s growth shared with us this episode.
[08:02] Common patient misconceptions in dentistry.
[11:42] Have clear financial arrangements with your patients and be up front about costs.
[14:22] Tipping point for Dr. Peyray’s practice.
[17:27] Dr. Peyray’s process for bringing on team members for his new lab.
[22:16] Lexi, Dr. Peyray’s team member, was instrumental in building his lab in the back of the practice.
[24:55] Two skills which general dentists who are fresh graduates can do well.
[26:50] Mapping out your educational journey each year to learn more skills.
[28:43] Plans for the future and how can Dr. Peyray can move forward with more cases.
As always thanks so much for listening! If you like the show we would love for you to review the show on Apple Podcasts as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com.
Links and Resources:
The Millennial Dentist Website
@Millennialdentist on Facebook
On Instagram
Dr. Sully…@Millennialdentist on Instagram
Dr. Peyman…@drpeyray on Instagram