Episodes

  • 1063: Metric Mondays: Production Gaps Usually Start in the Schedule, Not the Operatory - Ariel Siegel

    1063: Metric Mondays: Production Gaps Usually Start in the Schedule, Not the Operatory - Ariel Siegel
    Jun 22 2026

    Production gaps are often blamed on low case acceptance or insufficient diagnosis, but the real issue may begin with how the schedule is structured, protected, and maintained. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt talks with dental practice coach Ariel Siegel about identifying whether lost production begins in the schedule or the operatory. You will learn how reappointment systems, downtime monitoring, intentional scheduling, and future schedule protection can create more consistent production and smoother clinical days.

    To understand where production gaps begin and what your team can do about them, listen to Episode 1063 of The Best Practices Show!

    Main Takeaways

    • Production problems may result from scheduling systems even when diagnosis and treatment acceptance remain strong.
    • Constantly filling last-minute openings prevents administrative team members from completing other production-building activities.
    • Filling schedule gaps with unsuitable appointments can disrupt the intended flow and energy of the clinical day.
    • Strong reappointment systems help patients understand why they are returning and reduce future cancellations.
    • Protecting the future schedule allows the team to maintain production goals and minimize bottlenecks.
    • Monitoring doctor and hygiene downtime reveals both large openings and smaller gaps that accumulate throughout the day.
    • Designing the schedule around provider energy and appointment type supports more consistent monthly production and revenue.

    Snippets:

    00:00 Metric Mondays Intro

    01:19 Schedule vs Operatory

    02:20 Why Gaps Happen

    03:28 When It Goes Wrong

    04:26 Scramble Fill Trap

    06:51 Getting It Right

    07:57 Protect Future Schedule

    09:17 Design Around Energy

    10:07 Action Steps Today

    11:17 Resources and Wrap Up

    11:57 Final Thanks and Outro

    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!

    Guest 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/bpa
    • Upcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/
    • Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/
    • Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com
    • Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • 1062: Solutions for the Front Office Bottleneck - Richard May

    1062: Solutions for the Front Office Bottleneck - Richard May
    Jun 19 2026
    Missed calls, staffing shortages, and phone fatigue can create a front office bottleneck that affects both the patient experience and practice production. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt speaks with Richard May of Mango Voice about how modern VoIP systems and AI receptionists can help dental practices answer more calls, streamline scheduling, document patient conversations, and reduce administrative workload without eliminating the human relationships patients need.Learn where AI is most useful, which conversations should remain with team members, and how practices can evaluate these tools responsibly. To improve your phone workflow and reduce pressure on your front office, listen to Episode 1062 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Front office bottlenecks occur when team members must manage ringing phones, arriving patients, scheduling requests, insurance questions, and payments at the same time.Missed calls can represent lost new-patient opportunities and make it difficult for practices to measure the production they are losing.An AI receptionist can answer simultaneous calls, schedule selected appointments, respond to common questions, and filter spam or irrelevant calls.AI tools should be customized with accurate practice information and used as an extension of the team rather than a replacement for every human interaction.Phone integrations with practice management software can identify callers, open patient profiles, create conversation summaries, and reduce manual documentation.Payment disputes, detailed insurance questions, sensitive family concerns, and treatment conversations still require human judgment and empathy.Modern VoIP systems can use mobile applications and cellular data to keep business calls operating during an internet outage.Snippets:00:00 The front office bottleneck in dental practices.01:27 Meet Richard May04:18 How competing front office demands create workflow bottlenecks.06:21 Phone fatigue and the impact of missed calls.08:33 How an AI receptionist handles simultaneous and after-hours calls.10:09 Addressing concerns about AI representing the practice.15:09 Why dentists underestimate the importance of their phone systems.16:39 How patient expectations influence which dental practice they choose.19:10 Using transcripts, keyword searches, and automated patient notes.21:21 The staffing crisis and AI-supported administrative work.23:26 Which tasks should remain human.26:40 How AI can triage after-hours and emergency calls.29:20 How VoIP reliability and mobile applications have improved.31:32 Final considerations for adopting AI in the dental practice.34:24 How to test Margo and schedule a Mango Voice demonstration.Guest Bio/Guest ResourcesRichard has had a fulfilling career in public health, where he spent a decade dedicated to improving community wellness, health education, and preventive care. His work in public health allowed him to make a tangible difference, positively impacting lives and communities, a passion that continues to drive him.Following his public health career, Richard joined Mango, bringing his dedication to health and wellness into a new professional chapter. His role at Mango is a perfect fit, aligning with his values of teamwork, community engagement, and continuous improvement.Mango Voice: https://www.mangovoice.com/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
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • 1061: Who’s In Your Corner? Why Community Matters in Practice Ownership - Miranda Beeson

    1061: Who’s In Your Corner? Why Community Matters in Practice Ownership - Miranda Beeson
    Jun 17 2026
    Building, growing, and owning an independent dental practice can feel isolating, especially when decisions, team challenges, and long-term vision fall on the practice owner. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT coach and dental practice leader, to explain why community matters in practice ownership and how the right support system can help dentists and their teams make better decisions, avoid unnecessary mistakes, build confidence, and grow with greater clarity. To learn how to find the right people in your corner, listen to Episode 1061 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Independent practice owners do not have to solve every challenge alone.A strong professional community provides shared learning, support, accountability, and practical perspective.The right community helps dentists shorten the learning curve by learning from others’ real-world experiences.Community should align with the practice owner’s values and avoid judgment, toxicity, or hidden agendas.Team members also need community and role-specific support to grow in confidence and leadership.The Community Hub provides forums, study clubs, clinical education, resources, and vendor connections for dentists and their teams.Community is a strategic advantage because it helps practice owners think better, lead better, and grow faster.Snippets:00:00 Who Is In Your Corner01:19 Meet Miranda Beeson02:15 Why Dentists Feel Alone04:09 Tribe Stories And Patterns07:41 Isolation And Negative Self Talk08:34 What Community Really Means10:59 Avoid Toxic Communities13:31 Real Benefits For Owners15:25 Belief And Accountability18:15 Community For The Whole Team23:20 Inside The Community Hub26:43 Forum Wins And AI Examples32:19 More Questions Solved Fast37:56 Final Takeaways And Invite40:33 How To Get Started42:32 Closing And Call To ActionGuest 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.Resources mentioned in this episode:To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt/ ACT Dental resources: https://www.actdental.com/free-resources/For more information about the community, contact gina@actdental.comMore 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
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • 1060: Metric Mondays: Do We Actually Need More Patients– or Better Utilization? - Ariel Siegel

    1060: Metric Mondays: Do We Actually Need More Patients– or Better Utilization? - Ariel Siegel
    Jun 15 2026

    Most dentists believe they need more new patients, but the real problem may be how well they are using the patients, providers, and chair time they already have. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Ariel Siegel, ACT Dental coach, to explain why active patient count, pre-appointment percentage, capacity utilization, and annual patient value matter before investing in new patient growth.

    Learn how to identify whether your practice has a patient problem or a utilization problem, and how to start improving schedule efficiency with the data you already have. To grow more predictably with the patients already in your practice, listen to Episode 1060 of The Best Practices Show!

    Main Takeaways:

    • Practices should evaluate utilization of current patients and provider capacity before pursuing more new patients.
    • New patients can add pressure because phone calls, relationship building, and appointments require more time and energy.
    • A healthy active patient count is often around 1,200 to 1,500 patients per provider.
    • Unscheduled active patients and low pre-appointment rates reveal opportunities within the existing patient base.
    • Chair time utilization around 90% to 95% creates productive schedules while leaving some flexibility.
    • Annual patient value helps determine whether a practice needs more patients or better production per patient.
    • Capacity tracking should be reviewed consistently so each provider column has accountability.

    Snippets:

    00:00 Metric Mondays Intro

    01:50 Meet Ariel Siegel

    02:14 More Patients Myth

    04:18 Active Patient Benchmarks

    08:07 When Utilization Fails

    10:33 Redefining Growth

    11:56 Capacity Utilization Targets

    14:36 Action Plan With APV

    18:06 Vision And Wrap Up

    18:33 Final Goodbye

    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!

    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/bpa
    • Upcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/
    • Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/
    • Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com
    • Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • 1059: How Digital Workflow Innovations Are Transforming Aligner Treatment in 2026 - Dr. Maria Jose Blanco Solis

    1059: How Digital Workflow Innovations Are Transforming Aligner Treatment in 2026 - Dr. Maria Jose Blanco Solis
    Jun 12 2026
    Digital workflows are changing how dentists select, plan, monitor, and communicate clear aligner treatment. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Maria Jose Blanco Solis, private practice dentist and clear aligner educator, to discuss how digital workflow innovations are transforming aligner treatment in 2026.You will learn how to evaluate aligner case complexity, monitor tracking and compliance, use auxiliary techniques, manage retention protocols, and think about aligners as part of a broader functional and preventive approach to dentistry. To understand how to make aligner workflows more predictable and practical in your practice, listen to Episode 1059 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Clear aligners have expanded from simple aesthetic cases to more complex Class II, Class III, surgical, and multidisciplinary treatment plans.Case selection should include evaluation of occlusion, arch form, profile, crossbites, growth status, recession, and bone support.CBCT, STL files, and complete diagnostic records give doctors better control and confidence when planning aligner treatment.Monitoring appointments should focus on aligner fit, attachment integrity, tracking gaps, programmed IPR, and occlusal contacts.Patient compliance remains essential because aligners generally require 22 hours of daily wear.Auxiliary techniques such as buttons, elastics, TADs, and bootstrap mechanics can improve movement predictability in moderate and severe cases.Retention protocols should account for occlusal stability and patient compliance, especially when deciding between clear retainers and lingual wires.Snippets:00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro02:11 Meet Dr Mari Jose03:14 Aligners In 202605:24 Case Selection Basics06:55 Monitoring And Tracking10:37 Doctor Coaching Support11:13 Micronutrients And Compliance13:03 Retainers And Stability14:45 Aux Techniques And Elastics16:32 Posterior Open Bite Causes18:24 Retainer Wear Schedule19:52 Future Of Aligner Care22:20 Final Tips And Records23:14 Contact Info And Spark24:28 The Exchange Event Preview25:00 Final thoughts on case selection, auxiliary techniques, and live case alignment.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Dr. Maria Jose Blanco Solis is a dentist in private practice in San Jose, Costa Rica. She has worked with clear aligner therapy through Invisalign and Spark and focuses on digital dentistry, aligner workflow, case selection, clinical monitoring, and doctor education.In this episode, she discusses Spark, Vista aligners, TruGen XR material, one-on-one clinical support, and her upcoming presentation at Smile Exchange on case selection, clinical complexity, auxiliary techniques, and live case review.Resources mentioned:mariajose.blanco@envistaco.comDiscount code for the smile exchange: JOSEBLANCO26https://smilesource.com/exchangeMore 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
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • 1058: Why Most Dental Practices Fail When Hiring Associates - Cassie Tallon

    1058: Why Most Dental Practices Fail When Hiring Associates - Cassie Tallon
    Jun 10 2026
    Hiring and keeping an associate sounds simple until the interview process, compensation questions, and culture-fit issues start to derail everything. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings on Cassie Tallon, an operations expert and founder of The Fractional Match, to explain why most dental practices fail when hiring associates and what to do differently. You’ll learn how to evaluate fit beyond clinical skills, how to set compensation expectations with transparency, why paying on collections matters, and how to prepare your practice so an associate can actually succeed and stay. Listen to Episode 1058 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Decide whether you want an associate purely for production or someone you will develop into a leader and potential legacy successor.Use a recruitment service instead of posting a job yourself without understanding today’s compensation models and contract pitfalls.Evaluate relational and empathetic patient-care philosophy early, not just clinical procedure capability.Confirm the associate is coachable and willing to be led during onboarding, not just eager to produce immediately.Start onboarding with financial clarity—how the P&L works and how pay is calculated—to prevent distrust and turnover.Pay associates on collections to tie compensation to real revenue and reinforce documentation, billing, and follow-through habits.Fix patient mix, services, and marketing before hiring an associate instead of expecting the associate to solve a broken model.Snippets:00:00 Hiring Associates Is Hard01:06 Meet Cassie Tallon03:41 Associate or Partner Choice05:30 Recruiting Landscape Today06:56 Fit Over Clinical Skills10:40 Pay Models That Work12:35 Equity and Autonomy14:31 Fix Patient Mix First19:10 Develop Associates Skills22:00 Retention and Transparency24:02 Work Life Satisfaction27:47 XChange Soft Skills Talk30:01 Final Advice and Wrap UpGuest Bio/Guest Resources:Cassie Tallon is a dental operations leader with 20 years of experience spanning multi-doctor practices and DSOs, including supporting growth and operational efficiency across multiple locations. She is an author focused on dental operations and has dedicated her current work to helping dentists improve efficiency, navigate growth decisions, and strengthen systems without adding unnecessary overhead.Resources mentioned:The Fractional Match: thefractionalmatch.comBook: Permission to DreamBook (upcoming): Permission to ScaleMore 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
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • 1057: Metric Mondays: Why Is Production Up but Profit Not Following? - Miranda Beeson

    1057: Metric Mondays: Why Is Production Up but Profit Not Following? - Miranda Beeson
    Jun 8 2026
    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
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • 1056: The Gift Inside Detour - Dr. Timothy Bizga

    1056: The Gift Inside Detour - Dr. Timothy Bizga
    Jun 5 2026
    What do you do when a failure, setback, or “detour” hits your practice or life and you can’t see the point of it yet? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt interviews Dr. Timothy Bizga, private practice dentist and educator, about the mindset shifts behind his book Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom and how to find perspective when dentistry feels heavy.You’ll learn why “life happens for you,” how boundaries prevent burnout, and how community changes your trajectory. Listen to Episode 1056 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Dr. Bizga wrote his book to serve readers with practical wisdom drawn from patient stories and his own experiences.Writing a book requires commitment and support systems, not isolation or “doing it alone.”A misgraded writing exam in eighth grade became a long-term gift by sparking Dr. Bizga’s love of writing.The chapter “The Gift Inside the Detour” centers on changing mindset from “this is happening to me” to “this is happening for me.”Perspective often comes later, and progress in hard seasons can mean simply continuing to move forward.“Even Enamel Has Limits” is a reminder that caregivers and clinicians need boundaries to avoid burnout and breakdown.Smile Source Exchange is positioned as a community-driven learning environment where relationships and mentorship accelerate growth.Snippets:00:00 Welcome01:22 Meet Dr Tim Bizga03:04 Why Dr. Bizga wrote Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom and how patient stories shaped it.04:50 “Writing a book is the hardest thing ever” and why Dr. Bizga disagrees.06:09 “My hope is not to impress you, but to serve you” and the goal of 31 short chapters.07:50 The story behind “The Gift Inside the Detour”14:09 Applying detours to dentistry: procedures, team issues, health crises, and mindset.17:42 “Even Enamel Has Limits” and why boundaries matter for dentists and caregivers.21:39 Where to Get the Book22:26 Why Attend The Exchange 202625:09 Final thoughts on dentistry as a profession Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Dr. Timothy Bizga is a 2006 DDS graduate of the School of Dentistry! Along with having a successful practice, Dr. Bizga is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Dentistry at the School of Dentistry and the Director of Education for Smile Source, a network of more than 1,000 independent dentists who benefit from group buying, collective education and peer-sharing programs. Dr. Bizga has lectured nationally for more than 16 years and recently authored Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom.Guest resources mentioned in the episode:Timeless Tidbits of Wisdom: https://a.co/d/0aFvJ3MsThe Exchange 2026: https://smilesource.com/exchangeMore 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
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins