Accelerate Your Dental Practice with Malika and Michelle

What if just a few key metrics could uncover thousands of dollars in missed opportunities each month? In this power-packed episode, Michelle is joined by an all-star panel of dental industry experts: ⭐ Teresa Duncan (Odyssey Management) ⭐ Amanda DeMoura (One Wild Brand) ⭐ Lynne Leggett (Victory Dental Management) ⭐ Beverly Wilburn (Dr. Karl Smith) ⭐ Angela Davis Sullivan (Adaptive Dental Solu...

This episode of The Dental Practice Launch Podcast features Shane Simmons and Michelle Affanato discussing the critical aspects of starting and growing a successful dental practice. They introduce a three-part webinar series covering foundational setup, patient flow, and practice growth strategies, emphasizing the importance of aligning operations and marketing. ‍ SUBSCRIBE to The Dental Practice...

In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon break down the key financial strategies every dental practice owner should understand to improve profitability and long-term growth. From analyzing P&L statements and reducing overhead to optimizing fee schedules and negotiating insurance contracts, they share practical insights that can make a major impact on your bottom line. The convers...

In this episode, Michelle Affanato breaks down practical strategies dental leaders can use to improve attendance, strengthen accountability, and create a more reliable team environment. From setting clear expectations to having difficult conversations early, this episode focuses on building a culture where team members understand their role, communicate effectively, and show up consistently.

In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the challenges and strategies of staffing in dental practices. They cover topics like resume screening, interview best practices, background checks, and adapting to the current staffing landscape.

In this episode of Accelerate Your Dental Practice (AYDP), Michelle and Malika are joined by Beverly and Amanda for a candid discussion on networking, professional communities, and investing in the right resources to grow in dentistry. They share insights on how dentists and team members can choose the right study clubs, masterminds, and groups that provide real value—while avoiding the overwhelm...

In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Lauren Zano discuss the critical role of office managers in dental practices, the challenges they face, and the importance of effective communication and mentorship. They explore how office managers can help implement systems, facilitate teamwork, and navigate the complexities of patient care while also addressing the emotional labor involved in their roles....

In this episode of "Accelerate Your Dental," hosts Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the importance of transparency in dental practices, particularly regarding financial goals and team engagement. They emphasize that many dental professionals hesitate to share financial details with their teams, fearing it may lead to misunderstandings or resentment. However, by providing insight into...

In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the critical factors influencing case acceptance in dental practices. They emphasize the importance of leadership, effective communication between clinical and front office teams, and the need for training and buy-in from the entire team. The conversation also covers strategies for creating urgency in treatment recommendations and stru...

In this conversation, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the critical importance of accountability in dental practices. They explore how favoritism and leniency towards certain employees can lead to resentment among team members, ultimately affecting the practice's culture and efficiency. The speakers emphasize the need for clear expectations, consistent accountability, and the establis...

In this episode of Accelerate Your Dental Practice, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the critical aspects of leadership, communication, and overcoming fear in dental practices. They emphasize the importance of empowering practice owners with knowledge, continuous education for all team members, and the necessity of clear communication and accountability within the team. The conversati...

In this conversation, Michelle Affanato, Malika, and Lynne Leggett discuss the challenges faced by dental professionals during the year-end rush, particularly the feelings of burnout and overwhelm. They emphasize the importance of planning and preparation to alleviate stress and create a better work-life balance. The discussion also touches on the need for self-care and recognizing personal defini...

In this conversation, Michelle Affanato and Malika discuss the critical importance of building a strong team for dental practices, emphasizing the need for specialized knowledge in IT, marketing, and financial management. They highlight the unique challenges of the dental industry and the necessity of having experts who understand these nuances. The discussion covers the significance of cybersecur...

In this conversation, Dr. John Vargas shares insights on achieving work-life balance as a dental practice owner. He discusses the importance of delegating responsibilities, fostering a positive team culture, and setting boundaries to prevent burnout. Dr. Vargas emphasizes the need for personal time and routine, as well as understanding generational differences in work expectations. He also highlig...

Episode 37: In this episode, Michelle Affanato and Malika Azargoon discuss the current challenges faced in the dental industry, including staff dynamics, burnout, and the importance of communication and leadership. They share real-life stories and insights on how to navigate these issues effectively, emphasizing the need for teamwork and professional behavior in the workplace. The conversation als...

In this episode, we are joined by special guest Linda Harvey! Over the years, you may have known Linda Harvey as an OSHA/HIPAA consultant and trainer. What you might not know about Linda is that she's the Founder and Chief Knowledge Officer for the Dental Compliance Institute. DCI is an educational and membership-based organization focusing on a wide range of relevant risk management and complianc...

Episode 34: In this episode we introduce Dr. Sam! Join us as Dr. Sam goes in depth on her unique startup experience, building a patient base, hiring and training challenges, and so much more!   Chapters:  0:00 Introduction to Dr. Sam's Journey 2:50 The Unique Startup Experience  9:10 Building a Patient Base 16:23 Hiring and Training Challenges 18:44 Navigating Team Dynamics in Startups 24:16 Refle...

Episode 35: In this episode we are joined by Special Guest, Angela Davis Sullivan! Join us as we discuss Building relationships with patients, Retention challenges and solutions, Effective patient scheduling techniques and so much more!   Chapters:  0:00 Introduction to Patient Retention in Dentistry 1:57 The Importance of Communication and Team Training 6:06 Building Relationships with Patients 9...

Episode 36: In this episode, we are joined by special guest Linda Harvey! Over the years, you may have known Linda Harvey as an OSHA/HIPAA consultant and trainer. What you might not know about Linda is that she's the Founder and Chief Knowledge Officer for the Dental Compliance Institute. DCI is an educational and membership-based organization focusing on a wide range of relevant risk management a...

Episode 33: In this episode Michelle and Malika discuss Enhancing patient experience and Handoffs. Everything from the importance of follow-ups and communication to navigating financial conversations with patients!  Chapters: 0:00 Enhancing Patient Experience and Handoffs 9:58 The Importance of Follow-Ups and Communication  18:36 Measuring Case Acceptance and Treatment Plans 25:21 Navigating Finan...

Episode 32: Intro to Alternative Hygiene Scheduling Models  In this episode Malika, Michelle, and special guest Rachel Wall discuss the importance of understanding Traditional, Assisted, and Alternative hygiene models, Benefits of incorporating Alternative hygiene into your practice, overcoming financial concerns in assisted hygiene, Implementing assisted hygiene into your practice, The role of de...

Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 30, Insurance with Malika   This time, Malika and Michelle offer insight on Insurance! The team discusses how long it takes for startups or acquisitions to start seeing insured patients and what this looks like as well as information on working with third-party administrators. Malika also discusses timelines, how to navigate the insurance process, and even...

Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 29, Team Building with Dr. Josh Kuykendall   On this month’s episode, Malika and Michelle are joined by Dr. Josh Kuykendall. Dr.  Kuykendall owns a practice in Spring, Texas and has heaps of knowledge on team moral, keeping employees motivated, and building a good office culture. Dr. Kuykendall shares specifics about the office culture he has created and t...

Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 28, Mastering Time Management On this episode, Malika and Michelle discuss time management within a practice. Join the team as they dive into how everyone in the office can become more efficient when they really focus on finding time for uninterrupted work and getting creative with the way that they do work. With their combined knowledge of clients and wor...

Accelerating Your Dental Practice Episode 27, Staffing On this episode, Malika and Michelle tackle staffing within the practice. Topics such as proper onboarding, why checking references is so important as well as things to go over when presenting an offer letter are discussed. Malika and Michelle pull from client experiences and other issues that they have come across to give advice on everything...