Advertise on podcast: The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

You can’t change your genes, but you can influence the environment your body’s microbes live in. So, what does your microbiome have to do with digestion, immunity, energy, mental clarity, and even the conversations you have with patients? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Uche Odiatu, dentist, health educator, and speaker, to explain why the microbiome matters and how everyday choices like fiber intake, fermented foods, movement, sleep, and antibiotic use can affect it. You’ll also learn how dental professionals can expand the conversation beyond teeth and smiles to help patients understand the connection between chewing, nutrition, saliva, and whole-body health. To start making more mindful choices for your microbiome, listen to Episode 1119 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: The microbiome is a large community of microorganisms that influences digestion, immunity, metabolism, cravings, and other functions throughout the body. Fiber, fermented foods, and a consistent light-dark cycle can help support a healthier environment for beneficial bacteria. Physical activity is associated with greater diversity in the gut microbiome, which Dr. Odiatu connects with healthier aging and metabolic function. The gut and brain communicate extensively, which is one reason the microbiome is being studied in relation to mood, anxiety, mental clarity, and emotional well-being.Dentists can make function more meaningful to patients by explaining how better chewing can support food breakdown, nutrient intake, and everyday quality of life. Saliva supports speech, chewing, digestion, and immune defense, making dry mouth an important health concern for dental teams to recognize. Antibiotics are important when medically necessary, but unnecessary or excessive use can disrupt beneficial bacteria and contribute to antibiotic resistance. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to changing your biome. 01:54 Why the microbiome matters. 03:33 Understanding the bacteria that live in and on the human body. 05:45 How fiber and the light-dark cycle affect the microbiome. 07:48 Making microbiome-conscious food choices while traveling. 10:18 Why the gut is called the “second brain.” 11:41 Movement and microbiome diversity. 13:13 The microbiome’s relationship with anxiety, depression, and emotional health. 15:15 Bringing microbiome and nutrition conversations into dentistry. 16:48 Saliva, dry mouth, and oral immunity. 19:41 Antibiotics, probiotics, and bacterial resistance. 22:24 A practical approach to improving the microbiome. 25:07 Understanding prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics. 27:00 Changing the way you think about food choices. 28:00 How to connect with Dr. Uche Odiatu. Guest Bio: Dr. Uche Odiatu has a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). He is a professional member of the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), a Certified Personal Trainer NSCA (National Strength & Conditioning Association), and the Canadian Association of Fitness Professionals ( canfitpro). He is the co-author of The Miracle of Health and has lectured in Canada, the USA, the Caribbean, the UK, and Europe. He is an invited guest on over 400 TV and radio shows, from ABC 20/20, Canada CTV AM, Breakfast TV, to Magic Sunday Drum FM in Texas. This high-energy healthcare professional has done over 450 lectures in seven countries over the last 15 years. Resources: The Second Brain by Michael Gershon: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/636974.The_Second_BrainHow Not to Die by Michael Greger: https://nutritionfacts.org/book/how-not-to-die/Human Microbiome Project: https://commonfund.nih.gov/hmpInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitspeakers/https://www.druche.com/ More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

What happens when you give someone the title of office manager without giving them the education, authority, and support to truly lead? It can create bottlenecks, misalignment, and costly problems throughout the practice. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with Lorie Streeter, a dental industry veteran with 37 years of experience, former vice president of AADOM, and current team member at MaxAssist, about the $100,000 mistake dentists make when they fail to invest in developing their office managers. You will learn how regular alignment meetings, continuing education, clearer decision-making authority, and stronger dentist-manager relationships can improve leadership and practice performance. To learn how to better develop and support one of the most important leaders in your practice, listen to Episode 1118 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Giving someone the title of office manager without the education and support to succeed can limit the growth of the practice.Dentists should clearly define which decisions their office managers are empowered to make without seeking approval.Weekly dentist-office manager check-ins can strengthen trust, alignment, and communication.Continuing education for the front-office team should be treated as an investment rather than an expense.Office managers benefit from learning alongside other experienced managers through study clubs, professional organizations, and outside education.Understanding individual personalities, strengths, and working styles can help dentists and team members work together more effectively.Strong leadership requires dentists and office managers to educate, listen to, support, and remain aligned with the people around them. Episode Chapters: 00:00 The $100,000 mistake dentists may be making. 01:04 Introducing Lorie Streeter. 03:51 The $100K Mistake 05:44 Why office managers need continuing education. 08:14 Clarifying authority and decision-making responsibilities. 13:20 Start weekly dentist-office manager check-ins. 15:18 Use regular meetings to understand your office manager's needs. 21:57 Encourage outside education and peer learning. 24:20 Managing the growing complexity of a larger practice. 29:09 Use self-awareness tools to better understand working styles. 32:35 Final Takeaways Guest Bio: With nearly three decades in the dental industry, Lorie blends deep field experience with a passion for growth and connection. As a former dental office manager and past Vice President of The American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM), she understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities practices face. Her focus at MaxAssist is to expand impact through relationship-driven strategy, smart technology, and a heart for office managers. Resources: AADOM: https://learn.dentalmanagers.com/Dental Assistant to Practice Administrator course from AADOM: https://learn.dentalmanagers.com/products/dental-assistant-to-practice-administrator-da-to-pa-curriculumMaxAssist: https://maxassist.com/lorie/https://www.instagram.com/loriestreetermaxedout/linkedin.com/in/loriestreeterhttps://www.tiktok.com/@loriestreetermaxedout More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Hygiene production problems don’t start this week — they were built months ago through leading indicators you can track and influence. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with ACT Dental coach Ariel Siegel to explain why hygiene production is a lagging indicator and how to improve it by focusing on reappointment rate, perio diagnosis, and perio acceptance. You’ll learn what hygiene breakdown looks like in real time, what predictable stability looks like when systems are working, and the simplest numbers to start tracking today so you can engineer future results instead of reacting to past ones. Listen to Episode 1021 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways Hygiene production is a lagging indicator that is built three to six months before the appointment through daily behaviors and tracking.Reviewing last week or last month’s numbers shows where you were, but it doesn’t give you a chance to change those results now.Reappointment rate, perio diagnosis, and perio acceptance are leading indicators that drive future hygiene production.When hygiene is built poorly, teams scramble to rebuild schedules, cancellations feel disruptive, and there is little depth in future hygiene.Perio diagnosis will vary by provider when the department lacks alignment, consistent protocols, and consistent verbal skills.Tracking real reappointment data (patients seen vs. patients scheduled) immediately increases awareness and improves performance.Focusing on one KPI for 30 days creates clarity for the team and compounds into stronger, more predictable hygiene production. Snippets: 00:00 Hygiene production problems are built months before today. 02:16 Hygiene production is a lagging indicator driven by leading indicators. 04:22 What it looks like when hygiene is built wrong: scrambling, inconsistency, and a weak schedule. 06:33 What it looks like when you build hygiene right: stable, predictable hygiene three to six months out. 09:23 Engineer hygiene production by tracking reappointment, perio diagnosis, and perio acceptance. 11:16 The actionable first step: track patients seen vs. patients reappointed. 13:08 Use perio diagnosis by provider to find alignment gaps and improve consistency. 15:49 Pick one KPI at a time to create focus and compounding improvement. 17:13 Data removes emotion and lets the team solve the problem together. 18:35 New BPA resources added for hygiene systems and metrics. Guest Bio/Guest Resources: Ariel has a master’s in healthcare administration and several years of dental experience in all aspects of the administrative roles within the dental office. Her passion is to work with dental teams to empower team members to realize their full potential in order to better serve patients, improve office systems to ensure a well-functioning team/office, and to help everyone have fun in the process! Resources mentioned in the episode: Best Practices Association (BPA) resources: https://www.actdental.com/free-resources/ More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Team meetings can become repetitive, unfocused, and unproductive when there is no structure, accountability, or protected time to move the practice forward. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with Christina Byrne, ACT Dental coach and leader of the coaching team, about why team meetings often fail and what high-performing dental practices do differently. You’ll learn how to structure weekly meetings, choose the right timing, track meaningful KPIs, create accountability, encourage healthy conflict, and build greater alignment across your team. If you want your meetings to lead to action instead of becoming another conversation about unresolved problems, listen to Episode 1116 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Hold a structured two-hour team meeting every week to maintain consistency, alignment, and accountability. Schedule meetings early in the day, preferably on Tuesday or Wednesday, rather than after work or during a busy Monday.Use a consistent meeting structure that includes celebrations, core values, priorities, KPIs, action items, practice development, and issue-solving.Review KPIs weekly so the team can identify problems early and put countermeasures in place before the month is over. Assign every action item to a specific person with a clear expectation for completion. Establish meeting roles such as leader, timekeeper, and note-taker to keep discussions focused and prevent unnecessary rabbit holes. Alignment does not require agreement, but teams need open communication, healthy conflict, and shared commitment before they can move forward effectively. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Why team meetings aren’t working 01:00 Why team meetings matter in a dental practice 04:06 Commit to a weekly two-hour meeting 05:50 Choosing the right day and time for the meeting 09:43 Follow an “agendaless agenda” 12:47 Focus on quarterly priorities and meaningful KPIs 13:37 Create participation, trust, and accountability 18:33 Avoid rabbit holes and assign action items 19:59 Establish clear meeting roles 23:29 Understand the difference between alignment and agreement 25:16 Protect the meeting rhythm and focus on progress 26:00 Tools for leading more effective team meetings Episode resources: Team Meetings Tool: https://hub.smilesource.com/c/resources/team-meetings Guide for Leading Great Team Meetings: https://hub.smilesource.com/c/resources/guide-for-leading-great-meetings v Guest Bio: Christina Byrne is the Director of Operations at ACT Dental, where she oversees coaching alignment, system development, and operational consistency across practices nationwide. She works closely with dental teams to help them build scalable systems that improve predictability, accountability, and long-term practice performance. In this episode, Christina references ACT Dental resources including the Analyzing Existing Systems document, the master systems checklist, and the systems and checklist support guide available through the Best Practices Association. More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Write-offs may look like a normal part of doing business, but do you know how much they are actually costing your dental practice? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with ACT Dental coach Robyn Theisen about understanding the gap between gross and net production, identifying where write-offs are coming from, and making strategic changes that improve collectible production without adding more days, procedures, or team members. Learn how to categorize your adjustments, evaluate PPO participation, review membership plans, and reduce unnecessary write-offs over time. Listen to Episode 1115 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Your write-off percentage is calculated by dividing total write-offs by gross production.Insurance adjustments, membership plan adjustments, and elective adjustments are three major categories of write-offs.Membership plan pricing should be reviewed regularly so discounts do not unintentionally increase as office fees rise.Elective adjustments such as courtesy discounts, family discounts, and warranty write-offs should be clearly defined and consistently tracked.Eliminating write-offs entirely is unrealistic, but practices can strategically reduce them percentage by percentage.Small reductions in write-offs can significantly increase collectible production without requiring additional procedures, days, or team members.Understanding individual PPO contracts and making gradual changes can help teams reduce write-offs while maintaining patient relationships. Episode Chapters: 01:00 Why write-offs matter in dentistry. 03:45 Understanding gross production, net production, and write-off percentage. 05:20 Insurance adjustments and PPO reimbursement. 06:54 Reviewing membership plan adjustments. 08:05 Understanding elective adjustments and discounts. 10:47 Why write-offs should be managed rather than eliminated. 11:50 Evaluating PPO contracts and shared agreements. 14:22 The financial impact of reducing write-offs. 18:00 Final takeaways and tracking your financial gaps. Guest Bio/Guest Resources: Robyn Theisen brings an entire life and legacy of dental experience to the team and every team with which she works as the daughter and sister of dentists. With almost 20 years of experience in dentistry, her roles ranged from practice management to operations at Patterson Dental to coaching teams. Robyn’s passion is empowering teams to realize that they can dramatically impact the lives of the people they serve by implementing skills and systems to remove barriers to life-changing dental treatment. She has done it for decades and does it every day with dental teams. Outside of coaching, she enjoys time with her husband, Rob, and two daughters, Emerson and Ruby. She loves traveling, music, fitness, and cheering on the Michigan State Spartans. Episode Resources: Financial Gaps at a Glancer:https://hub.smilesource.com/c/resources/financial-gaps-at-a-glance' Financial GAPs Calculator:https://hub.smilesource.com/c/resources/financial-gaps-calculator More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Why can your practice feel busier than ever, show higher production, and still not see more money in the bank? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT Dental’s Director of Education, to explain why gross production is often a misleading proxy for profitability and what to measure instead. You’ll learn the difference between gross and net production, how write-offs and overhead quietly erase gains, and the first steps to protect margins so profit can follow production. Listen to Episode 1057 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Gross production can be a “gross misrepresentation” of what a practice can actually collect, while net production reflects what is realistically collectible.Higher production does not automatically create higher profit when write-offs grow and overhead rises at the same time.Practices get it wrong when they celebrate production without tracking what gets adjusted away and what it costs to deliver the care.Large write-offs (insurance, membership plan discounts, elective courtesies, and untracked adjustments) can create an “effort gap” where work is done but revenue is not collectible.Adding hours, days, team members, and equipment to chase production can increase expenses and compound the profitability problem.Practices get it right by tracking adjustments by category (and often by individual insurance carriers) and by regularly reviewing the P&L to confirm expenses are aligned with revenue-producing needs.The first action steps are to clarify write-offs in the practice management system and to understand where overhead dollars are going before pushing for more production. Snippets: 00:00 Why production can be up while profit doesn’t follow. 02:10 Gross vs. net production and why the distinction matters for doctors and teams. 06:10 What it looks like when practices get it wrong and the bank account doesn’t grow. 07:05 Write-offs and the “effort gap” between delivered care and collectible revenue. 08:35 How chasing more production can quietly drive overhead higher. 10:05 Why the real issue is often strategy, not production. 14:15 The mindset shift for fee-for-service: being okay with downtime and using it well. 17:10 The first thing to do tomorrow: get clarity on write-offs and adjustments. 19:05 The next step: review the P&L and understand overhead buckets. Guest Bio/Guest Resources: Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches. Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach. More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Technology and AI are making information faster and easier to access, but speed alone will not make you a better dentist. As patients gain more information online while spending less time reading deeply, dentists have an opportunity to stand out through curiosity, knowledge, trust, and genuine human connection. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with Dr. Uche Odiatu, dentist and speaker, about why there has never been a better time to get ahead in dentistry. You will learn why depth of knowledge still matters, how high-touch care complements high-tech dentistry, why slowing down can become a competitive advantage, and how lifelong learning can strengthen patient relationships. To learn how to differentiate yourself in an increasingly fast and technology-driven world, listen to Episode 1113 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Most people have easy access to information but often lack the depth of understanding that comes from sustained reading and learning.Dentists should acknowledge patients who research their health rather than dismissing their questions or concerns.Technology can improve dentistry, but compassion, empathy, eye contact, confidence, and personal attention are what make patients feel cared for.Reading and listening to books can help dentists develop the knowledge, curiosity, and communication skills that build trust chairside.Dentists have an unusual amount of time with patients compared with many other healthcare providers, creating opportunities to become trusted sources of guidance.Greater efficiency and speed do not automatically create greater fulfillment, making intentional connection and time with patients increasingly valuable.Curiosity, continuous learning, wisdom, and human connection remain important differentiators as AI and technology become more common in dentistry. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:37 Why there has never been an easier time to get ahead. 03:14 The difference between access to information and depth of knowledge. 04:05 How dentists should respond when patients bring in online research. 06:05 High tech versus high touch in dentistry. 07:32 Why dentists should study human connection and relationship skills. 11:10 Getting lost in a book and stepping away from digital anxiety. 15:07 Being intentional about the information and media you consume. 16:48 Navigating AI-generated information and uncertain online sources. 19:22 Finding time to learn through audiobooks and listening. 22:00 Curiosity, learning, and human connection as advantages for dentists. 24:16 Why slowing down may become a competitive advantage. 27:04 The value of in-person learning and connection. 28:49 How to learn more about Dr. Uche Odiatu. Guest Bio: Dr. Uche Odiatu has a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). He is a professional member of the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), a Certified Personal Trainer NSCA (National Strength & Conditioning Association), and the Canadian Association of Fitness Professionals (canfitpro). He is the co-author of The Miracle of Health and has lectured in Canada, the USA, the Caribbean, the UK, and Europe. He is an invited guest on over 400 TV and radio shows, from ABC 20/20, Canada CTV AM, Breakfast TV, to Magic Sunday Drum FM in Texas. This high-energy healthcare professional has done over 450 lectures in seven countries over the last 15 years. Episode Resources: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

AI is changing how patients search for and choose dental practices, but traditional marketing reports may not show where those patients actually came from. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt speaks with Eric Hubbard of Pain-Free Dental Marketing about how AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are changing dental patient flow, making traditional attribution more difficult, and increasing the importance of understanding what patients actually searched for. You will learn how to improve referral tracking, why multi-channel attribution matters, where marketing dollars may be better spent, and how original content and clear trust signals can help your practice remain visible as AI search grows. Listen to Episode 1112 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: AI has quickly become a meaningful source of new patient flow, but practices may underestimate its impact because traditional tracking methods cannot always identify AI-driven referrals.Dental teams should go beyond asking patients how they heard about the practice and ask what they searched for, what mattered to them, and what information influenced their decision.Multi-channel attribution provides a more complete picture because referrals are often supported by additional research through Google, social media, websites, videos, and other channels.Patients are using AI to search for dentists based on highly specific criteria such as gentleness, insurance participation, practice values, ownership structure, and treatment philosophy.Strong SEO fundamentals, original content, good reviews, clear websites, and authentic information about a practice can also help practices perform well in AI-driven search.Marketing analysis should combine patient conversations, practice management data, and digital traffic information rather than relying on a single attribution source.Practices can strengthen trust by consistently communicating who they are, what they care about, how they treat patients, and how they serve their communities. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:53 Why AI is becoming important in dental marketing. 04:55 How digital breadcrumbs have traditionally tracked patient behavior. 08:31 Understanding multi-channel attribution. 12:07 What patients are actually asking AI when searching for dentists. 15:14 Where dental practices should consider investing their marketing dollars. 20:11 Building trust as AI-generated content increases. 22:55 Combining phone calls, practice data, and digital tracking. 25:27 Two actions dentists can take now. 26:38 Marketing by consistently talking about what you care about. 28:00 Why narrowing your message can attract the right patients. 30:32 How to learn more from Eric and Pain-Free Dental Marketing. Guest Bio: Eric Hubbard is a dental marketing professional with Pain-Free Dental Marketing. His marketing background includes experience with Procter & Gamble and GameStop, where he developed an approach centered on clearly identifying and communicating with an ideal customer. Today, he applies that discipline to dental practices, helping them improve their digital presence, attract the right prospective patients, and focus on sustainable practice growth. Episode Resources: Bite-Sized Dental Marketing podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bite-sized-dental-marketing/id1688425885Pain-Free Dental Marketing: https://www.painfreedentalmarketing.com/ More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Insurance aging tells you how much money insurance companies owe your practice and how long those dollars have been outstanding. But when claims start sitting beyond 30, 60, or even 90 days, cash flow can quickly suffer. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt is joined by coach Carlie Einarson to explain how to read your insurance aging report, recognize when claims are becoming a problem, and create a consistent system for getting outstanding balances resolved. Learn what healthy insurance AR should look like, why clear ownership matters, and what your team can start doing today to improve collections. Listen to Episode 1111 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Insurance aging shows how much money insurance companies owe your practice and how long those balances have been outstanding.The majority of healthy insurance AR should remain in the zero-to-30-day bucket.Growing balances in the 60-, 90-, and 90-plus-day buckets indicate that claims need more attention.Claims need a consistent follow-up process and a clearly designated team member responsible for resolving them.Clean claims with complete X-rays, notes, and required information can help prevent unnecessary payment delays.Insurance aging balances should decline over time rather than steadily increase from month to month.Start by identifying how much money is sitting in each aging bucket, then build systems to resolve the outstanding claims. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Metric Mondays 01:00 What insurance aging means 03:52 Signs your insurance AR is going in the wrong direction 05:12 Finding where insurance money is getting stuck 07:14 What healthy insurance aging looks like 08:57 Assigning ownership and creating a follow-up system 11:00 How to evaluate your insurance aging report 12:42 Using reporting systems to improve insurance AR 13:00 Wrap up Guest Bio: Carlie Einarson is a lead practice coach who has a passion for helping others succeed in the dental field. She loves helping to create a stable foundation for practices so both professionals and patients have a great experience every time they walk in the door! Carlie graduated from Utah College of Dental Hygiene. She has ten years of experience in the dental field, including clinical dental hygiene, front office, and leading teams. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with loved ones, traveling, skiing, playing volleyball, and golfing. Episode Resources: Check out our practice reporting guide: https://hub.smilesource.com/c/resources/practice-reporting-guide More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

In dentistry, many problems aren’t caused by the procedure itself—they come from what wasn’t discussed before treatment started. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Dennis Hartlieb, a general dentist and educator, to share four communication tips that help you set expectations, reduce misunderstandings, and protect the practice before you ever pick up a handpiece. You’ll learn how to give patients clearer choices, document risk the right way, talk through outcomes without creating fear, and spot red flags before they become bigger problems—listen to Episode 1110 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Give patients two options to simplify decisions and prevent overwhelm.Explain material choices in simple terms (composite as “plastic,” porcelain as “glass”) and connect each to tradeoffs.Set yourself up for success by having the key conversations before you start treatment, especially on higher-risk cases.Sell the benefits of the recommended treatment before you explain what can go wrong.Use photos and brief chart notes (like “reviewed photograph of crack with patient”) to document the condition and the conversation.Watch for red flags like patients who fight you on treatment, arrive with multiple splints, or evaluate dentistry with magnification.Manage expectations for single-tooth esthetics by defining “social distance” success and planning for follow-up adjustments. Snippets: 00:00 Why communication before treatment matters. 01:00 Meet Dr. Dennis Hartlieb and what he teaches. 02:10 Dennis explains his practice focus and Dental Online Training. 04:10 Dennis shares his connection to Buddy Mopper and composite dentistry. 06:10 The two-option framework for a chipped anterior tooth. 07:20 “Plastic vs. glass”: how to explain composite vs. porcelain in patient language. 09:35 What Dennis says when patients ask, “What would you do, doc?” 12:45 Managing cracked teeth: using pre-op photos to document unpredictability. 16:25 Sell the benefits first, then discuss the risks. 18:05 Missing tooth conversations: step-by-step options without overwhelming patients. 20:35 Why Dennis limits choices to two options at a time. 25:10 Red flags: patients who resist treatment or “know dentistry too well.” 28:05 Splints, magnifying mirrors, and when to step back from treatment. 31:20 Setting expectations for single-tooth matching in the esthetic zone. 34:45 Fee levels based on esthetic difficulty and patient expectations. 36:20 Why Dennis prefers composite veneers for control and predictable revisions. 39:00 Final lesson: ask questions, truly listen, and pull on the thread. 41:15 Where to find Dennis: Dental Online Training and YouTube. Guest Bio/Guest Resources: Dr. Dennis Hartlieb is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He maintains a full-time practice, Chicago Beautiful Smiles, in the Chicago suburb of Glenview, Illinois. Dr. Hartlieb is an instructor at the Center for Esthetic Excellence in Chicago and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He lectures extensively to dentists throughout the U.S. on the art and science of anterior and posterior direct resin techniques. Dr. Hartlieb is an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is also a member of the prestigious American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, and the American Dental Association. He is the president of the Chicago Academy of Interdisciplinary Dentofacial Therapy, and officer for the Chicago Academy of Dental Research study club. His dentistry has been seen in many dental publications and he has contributed articles on his techniques in restorative dentistry. Dental Online Training: https://www.dothandson.com/Dr. Hartlieb’s email: [email protected]. Hartlieb’s Facebook: / dennishartliebddsDr. Hartlieb’s social media: @hartliebdds More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

AI can make your dental practice more efficient, but what happens when efficiency starts replacing the human connections that make dentistry work? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt is joined by ACT Dental coach Heather Crockett to share four ways to protect the human side of dentistry in an increasingly AI-driven world. You’ll learn how to use AI to create more capacity, why some conversations should never be outsourced, how to preserve the patient and team experience, and why a human must remain accountable for AI-generated work. To learn how to use technology without losing the relationships that matter most, listen to Episode 1109 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Use AI to eliminate low-value work and create more capacity for leadership, patient care, and relationships.Do not automatically fill the time AI saves with more work; intentionally decide where that time should go.Human connection should not be outsourced when conversations require courage, empathy, trust, mentoring, or collaboration.AI can support patient and team interactions, but it cannot fully interpret emotions, hesitation, body language, or the nuances of human relationships.Technology should support the patient and team experience rather than replace meaningful human interaction.A human must remain accountable for reviewing AI-generated information, communication, systems, and other important outputs.Use the time AI gives back to create more space for your team, patients, family, and the relationships that contribute to a better practice and a better life. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Protecting the human side of dentistry in an AI world 02:33 Why dentists need to embrace AI thoughtfully 04:15 Trust will become increasingly important 07:40 Use AI to create capacity 09:00 Be intentional with the time AI gives back 11:46 Don't outsource human connection 15:19 Protect the human experience in your practice 17:13 Keep a human accountable to the task 19:00 Put your best energy toward what matters 21:00 Use AI to make room for more humanity 22:00 Final thoughts on creating a better practice and a better life Guest Bio/Guest Resources: Heather Crockett is a Lead Practice Coach who finds joy in not only improving practices but improving the lives of those she coaches as well. With over 20 years of combined experience in assisting, office management, and clinical dental hygiene, her awareness supports many aspects of the practice setting. Heather received her dental hygiene degree from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in 2008. Networking in the dental community comes easy to her, and she loves to connect with like-minded colleagues on social media. Heather enjoys both attending and presenting continuing education to expand her knowledge and learn from her friends and colleagues. She enjoys hanging out with her husband, three sons, and their dog, Moki, scrolling through social media, watching football, and traveling. More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Many dental practices feel surprised by their numbers at the end of the month, even when they review reports regularly. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with Miranda Beeson, leadership coach at ACT Dental, to explain the difference between leading and lagging indicators and why relying too heavily on historical data creates stress, reactivity, and missed opportunities. They break down how leading indicators connect daily behaviors to long-term results, how to spot problems earlier, and how to use data to lead calmly instead of reactively. If you want to understand which numbers actually help you influence outcomes before it’s too late, listen to Episode 1009 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways Lagging indicators show what has already happened in a practice and cannot be changed once reported.Leading indicators help predict future outcomes and guide daily and weekly behavior.Practices that focus only on lagging indicators often feel blindsided and become reactive under pressure.Tracking leading indicators weekly allows leaders to correct course before the end of the month.Hygiene reappointment, diagnostic percentage, and case acceptance are examples of leading indicators that influence production.Teams engage more effectively when they understand which daily actions influence practice results. Episode Chapters: 00:52 Leading indicators versus lagging indicators and why both matter.02:28 Why lagging indicators create reactive leadership and team stress.03:50 Using hygiene metrics to predict future production.06:11 Planning ahead for known schedule disruptions like holidays.07:38 What it looks like when practices rely only on lagging indicators.09:42 How leadership changes when leading indicators are used correctly.11:39 Tracking diagnostic percentage and case acceptance week over week.14:47 A simple first step to start using leading indicators today. Guest Bio/Guest Resources Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches. Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach. More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Dentistry is changing, and with more pressure, comparison, and noise in the profession, it can be easy for dentists to lose sight of what they actually want from their careers. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with Dr. Mitch Hopkins, a Kansas City dentist and mentor, about building a practice around your own definition of success. They discuss finding fulfillment in everyday dentistry, creating a schedule that supports your life, building the right team and culture, connecting with the right patients, and developing the skills and confidence needed for a long career. If you want to create a practice that reflects who you are without getting caught up in what everyone else is doing, listen to Episode 1107 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Dentists need to define the kind of practice, schedule, dentistry, and lifestyle they want instead of allowing outside expectations to define success for them.Becoming highly skilled at everyday dentistry can build confidence, increase professional satisfaction, and create a foundation for more complex treatment.A practice schedule can be designed around personal priorities when the dentist is willing to establish boundaries and operate efficiently.A strong practice culture depends on hiring people who fit the desired environment and developing a team that understands and supports the dentist’s philosophy of care.Marketing should communicate the practice’s expertise, personality, patient relationships, and ability to provide meaningful solutions rather than focusing primarily on technology.Dentists should continually reevaluate their priorities as their careers and lives change, including how they approach health, stress, time, and professional longevity.Younger dentists can benefit from slowing down, improving their clinical skills, learning to communicate effectively with patients, and allowing their careers to develop over time. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Dentistry is changing and writing your own ticket 01:17 Introducing Dr. Mitch Hopkins 02:47 Finding fulfillment and confidence in dentistry 05:47 Defining the practice and lifestyle you actually want 09:01 Building a schedule around your priorities 11:39 Reassessing goals and creating career longevity 14:00 Keeping the team small and protecting practice culture 18:40 Differentiating your practice through better marketing 23:24 Building a new practice space and entering the next chapter 25:35 Advice for frustrated and uncertain younger dentists 28:28 Final thoughts and how to connect with Dr. Hopkins Guest Bio: Dr. Mitchell R. Hopkins earned his DDS from the University of Missouri–Kansas City in 2008 after completing his bachelor’s degree in biological science at Kansas State University. He has owned private practices in Colorado and Kansas City and is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists. Committed to advanced restorative, esthetic, and implant dentistry, Dr. Hopkins invests extensively in continuing education and collaboration with leading clinicians. He also serves as resident faculty with Clinical Mastery in Dallas, where he teaches and mentors dentists in cosmetic and comprehensive restorative dentistry. Dr. Hopkins lives in the Kansas City area with his wife, Hillary, and their three children. Outside the office, he enjoys staying active and anything that gets him moving. Episode Resources: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhopkinsdds https://www.hopkinsdentalhealth.com/ More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Great onboarding does more than teach a new team member how to do a job. It creates clarity, connection, and a path toward long-term success in the practice. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with Jenni Poulos, ACT Dental coach, about why retention begins before a team member’s first day and how a structured onboarding process can help new hires become confident, independent contributors. You’ll learn the essential elements of effective onboarding, how to create a support system for new hires, and how to use the 333 framework to guide development through the first three days, three weeks, and three months. For a practical roadmap to improve onboarding and team retention, listen to Episode 1106 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Retention begins during onboarding, when new team members start deciding whether the practice matches what they were promised during the hiring process.New hires need clarity around their responsibilities, measures of success, decision-making authority, and where to go for help.Belonging is created through intentional preparation, including having systems, logins, trainers, and team members ready before the new hire arrives.Shadowing alone is not a complete training process because new hires need a structured development plan rather than learning only from what happens during the day.A small committee of leaders, trainers, and culture-focused team members can provide different types of support and feedback throughout onboarding.The 333 framework establishes milestones for a new hire’s first three days, three weeks, and three months, with increasing levels of competency and independence.Consistent feedback throughout the first 90 days ensures that expectations are clear and prevents the formal review from being the first time a new team member hears about a concern. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Why great onboarding supports long-term retention 02:11 Onboarding should be an intentional experience 04:07 The questions new team members are asking 08:12 Defining roles, responsibilities, and measures of success 12:59 Why shadowing alone is not training 14:03 Creating a committee of success and normalizing feedback 16:00 Introducing the 333 onboarding framework 20:39 What success should look like after three weeks 28:00 Final thoughts and the 333 Onboarding Guide Guest Bio: Jenni brings to dental teams a literal lifetime of experience in dentistry. As the daughter and sister of periodontists and a dental hygienist, she has been working in many facets of the dental world since she first held a summer job turning rooms and pouring models at the age of 12. Now, with over 10 years of experience in managing and leading a large periodontal practice, she has a firm grasp on what it takes to run a thriving business. Her passion for organizational health and culture has been a driving force behind her coaching career. She has witnessed firsthand how creating an aligned and engaged team will take a practice to levels of success that they never believed possible! Episode Resources: 333 Onboarding Guide: https://hub.smilesource.com/c/resources/3-3-3-onboarding-model More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com

Are you collecting everything your practice produces, and do you know how much dentistry you are writing off before those dollars ever become collectible? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with Carlie Einarson, an ACT Dental coach, about the difference between gross collection rate and net collection rate and what each metric reveals about your practice. You’ll learn how to calculate both rates, identify gaps in your collection systems and business model, accurately track write-offs and adjustments, and use your production and collection reports to establish a clear financial baseline. To understand which collection metrics matter and what your numbers are telling you, listen to Episode 1105 of The Best Practices Show! Main Takeaways: Gross collection rate measures collections divided by gross production and reflects how much of total production ultimately becomes cash.Net collection rate measures collections divided by net production and shows how effectively the practice collects the dollars it expects to receive after adjustments and write-offs.A low net collection rate can point to gaps involving patient balances, insurance accounts receivable, financial arrangements, same-day collections, or inconsistent collection processes.A strong net collection rate paired with a low gross collection rate can indicate significant write-offs from PPO adjustments, discounts, redo dentistry, membership plans, or other adjustments.Practices should bill their full fees and accurately categorize write-offs and adjustments to understand the financial impact of their business model.A practice should aim to collect 100% of its net production because net production represents the collectible dollars owed to the practice.Reviewing gross production, net production, and collections over the previous six to 12 months provides a baseline for identifying problems with write-offs, adjustments, collections, and accounts receivable. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Metric Monday intro 02:02 Defining gross and net collection rates. 04:13 What a low net collection rate indicates. 05:17 What a low gross collection rate indicates. 06:00 Using the numbers to understand your practice. 06:54 What strong collection performance looks like. 08:11 Accurate fee schedules and write-off tracking. 10:13 Calculating gross and net collection rates. 12:13 Why practices should collect 100% of net production. 13:25 Final tips and wrap up Guest Bio/Guest Resources: Carlie Einarson is a lead practice coach who has a passion for helping others succeed in the dental field. She loves helping to create a stable foundation for practices so both professionals and patients have a great experience every time they walk in the door! Carlie graduated from Utah College of Dental Hygiene. She has ten years of experience in the dental field, including clinical dental hygiene, front office, and leading teams. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with loved ones, traveling, skiing, playing volleyball, and golfing. More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life: Contact Gina to learn more about ACT: [email protected] Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hubUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com