Dental school graduation is upon us and it's an exciting time in a dentist's life, but it is also a time to make important decisions. So what is some advice we would give to new dentists? What are some smart decisions we made at graduation time? And some dumb decisions we made? Contact Dental Realist: Twitter: @dentalrealist Instagram: @dentalreali…

Dental Realist is back! After a long break, the Dental Realist Podcast is back with an all-new episode. Join us as we discuss whether or not dental students should get paid for the treatment they provide patients during dental school. Dental students pay for dental school. Patients pay for treatment at the dental school. So should dental students b…

On Episode 60, we welcome Melissa Drab, fourth-year dental student at Marquette University, to The Dental Realist Podcast. We discuss a variety of dental school topics including: -High and lows of dental school -A day in the life of a dental student -How Covid-19 has changed dental school -Student loan debt -What is most exciting about life after d…

Throughout our careers all dentists will see failing dentistry and even have our own work fail eventually. But what if it was treatment that was performed recently by us or another dentist? How should those situations be communicated to patients and even to a patient's previous dentist, if necessary? And what if you suspect there has been a case of…

As an associate, how do you know when you are in a good situation or when it is time to make a change? On Episode 58, we respond to a listener email regarding their associateship and if a buy-in opportunity is a good idea. -How important is work schedule? -Will stresses be increased or reduced with ownership? -What if associate and owner practice p…

Life in a dental office can be stressful and learning how to deal with that stress on a daily basis can make the difference in a dental career. On Episode 57, we discuss the ways we have learned to deal with stress. We also talk about how we decide to add new treatment options to our practices. Contact Dental Realist: Twitter: @dentalrealist Email:…

Before joining or purchasing a practice there are some important questions that need to be asked and answered. On Episode 56, we discuss some of the questions we wish we'd had asked before we started working in or purchasing our practices. We also talk about how to handle situations when a patient talks badly about a previous dentist and much more.…

On Episode 55, we are joined by Dr. Jeff Cole, former president of the American Dental Association. We get Dr. Cole's unique perspective on many important topics, including: -The rising cost of dental school education. -Advice for new and future dentists. -The Current state and future outlook of dentistry. -The importance of organized dentistry. We…

On Episode 54, we discuss how we handle certain situations that arise in dentistry. How would we handle...: -...a patient asking to trade services? -...a patient asking for a discount? -...being pressured to perform a specialty procedure? -...a patient bankruptcy? We discuss these scenarios and much, much more! Contact Dental Realist: Twitter: @den…

On Episode 53 we welcome retired dentist Dr. Howard Trotter to the Dental Realist Podcast to discuss all aspects of his 42-year career. -Why did he choose a career in dentistry and would he do it again? -What was the biggest change in dentistry during his career? -How did he make dentistry enjoyable daily? -What advice does he have for dealing with…

On this In-between-isode, Ryder talks about The Mandalorian, the live-action Star Wars series on Disney+. Star Wars is one of Ryder's passions outside of dentistry and would love you to join him for this bite-sized episode of the Dental Realist Podcast. Disclaimer: No Jawas were harmed in the recording of this podcast. Contact Dental Realist: Twitt…

It has been six months since the ADA and local governments told dental offices to shut down temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Episode 52 we discuss if that was the right decision, how it affected dental offices in the short term, how it is still affecting practices, and much more. We start the show talking about our favorite seasons of t…

On Episode 51 we welcome Randon Jensen, practice transition consultant with CTC Associates, to the Dental Realist Podcast to discuss all aspects of practice transitions. -Is practice ownership still an attractive option for dentists? -What is the profile of a first-time buyer? -When is the right time to sell? -What is important when applying for a …

**Note: There is a bit of an audio technical difficulty for the first 5 minutes but clears up after that.** On Episode 50 we welcome back Brian Trecek, Director of Admissions at Marquette University School of Dentistry, to discuss all aspects of dental school and the dental school application process in the midst of the pandemic. -How will dental s…

Imposter Syndrome is the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved. It can affect people in any profession, including dentistry. On Episode 49 we discuss what Imposter Syndrome is, how it can affect dentists, and what can be done to manage it. We start the show by discussing our favorite bands …

Most dentists are back to work, but how has Covid-19 affected the everyday operations of dental offices? On Episode 48 we discuss: -How we felt going back to full-time dentistry. -The extra precautions we're taking. -Our least favorite pandemic phrases. -A variety of news topics. We start the episode by discussing our favorite movies of all time. W…

Even though most dentists are only allowed to treat emergency patients right now, there are still some ways to stay positive and also tackle some necessary projects at the office. We discuss some ways to find positivity during this stressful time as well as continuing to be productive even when patient treatment is not an option. Contact Dental Rea…

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life and is now having a profound effect on dentistry. On Episode 46 we discuss: -The ADA's recommendations for dental practices -How dentists are coping during this crisis -How the virus has changed every day practice -The effect the virus is having on dental students We also talk about Dr. Neff's …

On Episode 45 we talk with Benjamin Tuinei to discuss how dentists can fight against low insurance reimbursements. Mr. Tuinei is the founder and CEO of Veritas Dental Resources and host of The Navigating Dental Insurance Podcast. We cover a variety of topics, including: -How to negotiate higher reimbursements. -How to know when to drop an insurance…

Clinical board exam time is one of the most stressful periods during dental school. On Episode 44 we discuss how to best prepare for boards in the weeks and days prior. We also relive some of our memories from our boards and discuss some ideas to improve board exams for dental students. We start Episode 43 by answering a listener question and discu…

Choosing which job to pursue after dental school can be one of the dental student's most important decisions. On Episode 43 we discuss our individual stories for getting started after dental school, when dental students should start researching job opportunities, who to contact first, and what we would look for in an associate or practice purchaser…

The dental team is one of the most important assets of an enjoyable dental career. During the holidays the dental team is usually given a bonus of some kind, but how do you know how much to give each team member? And how do you scale back if your practice has had a slow year? What do you do if you staff begins to expect a bigger bonus each year? An…

With the cost of running a dental practice getting more expensive, the rise of DSOs, and the changing dental marketplace how do private practice dentists stay competitive? To help dentists and future dentists navigate their careers during these changing times, we are joined by Caleb Carter of the Ion Dental Group. We discuss smart technology purcha…

Burnout in dentistry has become a hot-button issue in recent years with more and more dentists being willing to admit they have experienced moderate to severe stress at some point in their careers. How is burnout defined? How does burnout manifest itself? How can it affect a dentist's personal and professional life? What can be done to deal with bu…

Every dentist encounters patients who have oral hygiene issues that are difficult to diagnose and questions that may not have clear-cut answers. Also, some patients claim to have immaculate oral hygiene home care, but still get cavities and want to know why. What are the best ways to deal with these patients? Is "I don't know" an acceptable answer?…

Decisions during your dental career are some of the most important you will make throughout your life. From deciding to go to dental school to deciding where to practice, decisions in dentistry can impact your life for years to come. What should be considered before making these major decisions? How do you decide between career opportunity and life…