Totally Oral Podcast

This week Russ and Clint talk with Sam Katacic VP of Sales for Rapidshape.   We talk at length about the changes in the market for 3d resins and how automation is driving a lot of changes.  Rapidshape has validated over 200 resins on their platform and has processes to ensure that each print is routine and predictable.  This is really nice especially if you have staff turnover, it is easy to train new employees to your resin. Also Russ gets pretty excited to hear about their curing unit which doesn't need N2 to cure but rather uses a vacuum.  He will be looking into that product for sure.   If you want to learn more about Rapidshape, go to Rapidshape.de.

This week Russ talks with Dentscape AI co-founders Bill Chou and Sylvie Liu, DDS along with their VP of Business Development Ryan Axelson.  They've all been on the podcast before when Russ went to Smilecon in 2022.  On the previous podcast, they talked about PreTeeth AI Pro which does smile design using AI to simulate what is possible doing different treatment modalities.  Dentscape AI is a web based software that currently can design bite splints and crowns using a simplified interface with the goal being to expedite the entire process so that labs can design units in a day and be more efficient.  We talk about the process of developing the AI as well as why they first started with bite splints rather than crowns as well as why humans are still needed to guide the AI.  If you are interested in hearing about how AI is "done," it is a cool conversation. If you are a lab interested in partnering with Dentscape, contact Ryan.  His email is ryan@dentscape.ai or you can find him on Facebook as well.  If you prefer

This week Russ interviews Allison Norris an RDH who pivoted to working in the industry.  We talk about her journey and how she founded the The Dentele Group which focuses on placing non-clinical roles in the dental industry.  She essentially helps everyone from FDs at small dental offices to dentists who want to work for major companies like Henry Schein.  We also talk about her app that she is developing called Cakewalk which is meant to be Indeed for Dentists to help with hiring new staff.  If you want to reach out to Allison, you can find her on Facebook or you can email her at AllisonNorris@thedentelegroup.com.   

Clint and Russ come together to talk with long time listener Dr. Tyler Rumple.  Tyler listens to darn near all the different podcasts out there.  Tyler practices near Clint and is a busy PPO dentist who has quite a few hygienists and has merged two dental offices together to create a thriving office.  We talk about the joys of owning an office and also about his experience of being in the Navy.  Finally we talk about the importance of the ADA and about sectional matrix bands.  We reference Tor Matrix bands which are a cheap matrix that seems to work pretty darn well in both Russ's and Tyler's hands.

Russ talks with Dr. Rick Ferguson this week.  Rick and his wife are both dentists in Florida but on the side Rick teaches a few things.  He runs Implant Educators where he trains dentists on full arch as well as single units.  He also runs Digital Educators which is his platform to teach 3d printing technology and digital processes.  We talk at length about the different platforms from Asiga to Phrozen to Sprintray to Formlabs and Rick gives us his opinions of the pros of all of them as well as what made him decide to create the mini plate and heat plate for the Phrozen Mini 8ks which kinda makes the Phrozen equal to the Sprintray Pro 55S for a tenth of the cost.  We surprisingly don't go political either! Finally, we talk about the greatest part of the digital dental printing revolution which has really been the comraderie between dentists.  If you want to join his big Facebook group, Dental 3D printing group click on the link and join in the coversation.  It is a great group overall. 

Russell Schafer explains to Clinton Timmerman how he is able to make Medicaid work for his office through strategic scheduling and dentures.  Learn Russell's simple 3 step denture technique at https://www.practicebiopsy.com/denture-magic-information-page/  

Russ talks with Dr. Marcus Cowan this week.  Marcus is a dentist who moved with his wife from sunny Georgia to Boston, Massachusetts as his wife goes to surgery residency at there.  We talk about his experience moving and starting a new job as well as doing a GPR.  Also Marcus has started an implant planning lab called CowTech Dental Lab focusing on helping dentists place implants from consultation and treatment planning to execution.  We talk about the need for helping doctors plan out cases because most cases are not as easy as implant courses make them out to be.  We compare printers, resins, and softwares and talk about their pros and cons. If you want to reach out and find out more about Marcus and his lab, you can find him on Instagram at MarcusCowanDMD and his email is marcuscowandmd@gmail.com.

This week Russ talks with Dr. Steven Dold from Wichita, KS.  About a month ago, they both took a botox and filler course together and of course like good dentists, neither of them has done a single case.  We talk about how practices have peaks and valleys and good months and bad months.  We of course talk about removable and Dold talks about his removable lab Kaylor Dental.  Primarily at the end, we talk about how Steven actually does all of his own insurnace billing and why he started doing it was because he kinda needed to.  

This week Russ and Clint talk with Talon Davis.  Talon runs an 8 op PPO driven office in Dallas, Tx.  We talk about how he has implemented systems to ensure that he always has a productive day as well as venture a tad into politics which is always fun.  We might also drop the F bomb a few times.  Sorry mom...

This week Clint and Russ talk with Dr. Eric Studley.  We discuss Eric's career from getting into NYU to starting a dental office in the 80's to founding Eric Studley & Associates Inc where he helps dentists with insurance.  Overall it is a wonderful conversation.

This week Russ and Clint talk about upgrading their offices.  Russell is speaking at Cad-Ray's World Series of Digital Dentistry on Sept 5 to 7 2024.  It should be great. A few products that Russ and Clint talk about.  We don't get a dime from any of these products Yabangbang Handpieces Tuttanaur Sterilizer HDX CBCT Apex Sensors Handheld X-ray Units Justin Shafer's Software that links cell phone photos to Dexis  

Clint and Russell interview Dr. Bridgett Jorgensen out of Sugar Hill, GA this week.  Bridgett ran a FFS office for many years and sold her office in 2018.  She started Dental Practice Matchmaker after trying to find an office for her daughter to purchase during Covid and looking to upend the broker model completely.  She and her company not only run the free Facebook page Dental Practice Matchmaker but also for 30 dollars a month you can be on her website and app Dental Practice Matchmaker to either look for a job, post a job, look to buy an office, or sell your office.  We also talked a bit about her husband who started LightHouse 360.  

Russell talks with Ashtyn Hoffer out of Vancouver, Canada this week. Ashtyn is a digital lab tech designer who focuses primarily on dentures.  We talk about his experiences as a young lab learning from his father who is also a denturist and also how he has seen Exocad grow in the past few iterations as well as milling vs printing.  Also Ashytn has a new lab focused on designing removable prosthetics.  If you are interested in his services, go to The Center of Dental Excellence to see what he has to offer.  He does great work and I highly recommend him.

Russell met Brandon Allison at Sprintray Next 2024 in Miami.  Brandon is practices in Mandeville, La with his wife and brother (both dentists) in a family office.  He and his wife took over from his father and has turned it into a bustling office to say the least.  Brandon bought both the Sprintray 2 and Midas printer but also has a VHF E5 mill and does a lot of his own digital designs.  We talk about his CE journey and about he strives to learn how to do excellent clinical dentistry while maintaining a good business.  

Deren Flesher goes Totally Oral with Clinton Timmerman and Russell Schafer.  He has a private practice in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and has found a niche giving advice to dentists in various ways they can invest.  Check out his podcast Wealth Beyond the White Coat  and his website for Legacy Point Group to find out what pearls and advice he can offer you. 

Harry Wheeler and Alistair Stoddart, two dental students from The University of Glasgow in Scotland, United Kingdom, had a chance to shadow Clint at Blu Dental & Wellness in Marysville, Washington, for a week.  Before they flew out, Clint had a chance to sit down and hear their story.  Listen, and find out how dental school and the dental world is on the other side of the pond. 

This week Russell talks with Jesse Flore, CDT out of Las Vegas.  Jesse runs a specialty business supporting dentists who want to get involved in the digital world.  Jesse got his start as a denture technician which obviously made Russell kinda geek out.  Jesse is also an authorized Exocad distributor and helps implement mills and printers into dental offices.  We talk for an hour about how the new MIDAS printer will likely go into dental offices as well as how milling and printing and designing should be implemented in offices.  If you are looking to expand your dental office into a lab, call up Jesse Flor.  He will be an excellent resource. 

So Russell went to Sprintray's event and his SD card was corrupt and lost a great podcast with Vu Le...  Vu graciously came back on to talk with him for an hour about the cool new happenings in the world of 3d printing.  We discuss 3d printing, glidewell, and the MIDAS printer.  Finally we talk about his invention the VPR which is a great tool that every single dentist needs to take excellent photographs with their cell phone.  If you want to find out more about the VPR, go to Photodontist and buy one.  We don't get any money from it, but Russell owns a VPR 400 and uses it regularly.  They are great.

This week Russ and Clint speak with Patrick Allen who is a denturist from Maine who teaches dentures to lab techs, denturists, and dentists.  Patrick and Russ geek on dentures because of course they do.  We talk about lower suction dentures and how they work. Patrick is doing an upcoming course in Maine in June that Russ would highly recommend if you want to learn about dentures.  It is June 14th and 15th and is phenomenal.  Registation has been extended by a bit if you want to sign up. https://trellis.org/bps-semcd-w-paul-mcnally-peter-anastasia Also we talk about how the Maine Dental Board does everything public apparently.  If you want to listen in, you can hear it here. https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/83015731890?pwd=QmhVTjRPNDZtLy9aRXZCS2VBOEJydz09   Meeting ID: 830 1573 1890 Passcode: 56815338

Ericka Aguilar, The Dental Billing Coach, joins Clinton Timmerman and Russell Schaffer to share the secrets of getting claims paid when they are initially denied.  It turns out there's not much to it; it just takes knowing how to Google search for the state dental insurance commissioner and send a message to the right resource (and don't give up if it you're reffered to a federal agency!).  Ericka also tells us her tricks to the trade for billing procesures we are most likely already doing but not including in our claims and ways she can negotiate insurance fees.  You can find Ericka on Instagram or, better yet, go to HiddenDentalProfit.com and find out how she can help your office.  Also, give her a listen at The Dental Billing Podcast.