AzDA's Audio Amalgam podcast

Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or just not like yourself lately? You're not alone. In this candid and deeply relatable episode of Audio Amalgam , four Arizona dentists open up about the real mental health challenges behind the smile—sharing personal stories of burnout, perfectionism, addiction, financial stress, and the silent struggles many dental professionals face. If you've ever questioned y...

AzDA member dentists Dr. Jennifer Fineberg, Dr. Lisa Bienstock, and Dr. Rob Roda emphasize that patient distress in dental offices often stems from fear of the unknown, lack of control, financial concerns, and personal stressors. To de-escalate tense situations, they recommend clear, jargon-free communication, visual aids, active listening, and empathy—acknowledging patient fears, sharing vulnerab...

Listening to this podcast is a must for any dentist practicing in Arizona. Current Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners President Dr. Anthony Herro sits down with attorney Jeff Tonner of The Dental Advocate in an engaging, eye-opening discussion about navigating Board complaints, identifying potentially problematic patients, and most important, steps you can take to protect yourself and your pr...

A no-nonsense, in-depth look at embezzlement in the dental office. How dentists can protect themselves from being a victim and what to do if they suspect something is amiss. AZ Dental CPA Chris Torregrossa ( https://azdentalcpa.com ) shares practical insights that will help you mitigate embezzlement risk (as well as offer some advice that's going to surprise you).  Embezzlement can happen anytime,...

In this podcast, AzDA Executive Director Dr. Regina Cobb and AzDA member dentist Dr. Anthony Dicello cover: ERISA, what is it? Let's clear up the mystery once and for all. What is it originally created for? Who is it really benefiting? How are insurance companies using it? ERISA is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which was designed to set minimum standards for most voluntarily establi...

88% of dentists say that referrals are their number one source of new patients. However, most dentists lack a system for attracting new patients through referrals. In this podcast, guest Brandon Barnum, Chairman of Champion Dentists, touches on the art of asking for referrals, setting the stage, listening for referral triggers, and then making the ask. He also explores the role of incentives and g...

In this latest Audio Amalgam podcast, three AzDA member dentists (two practice in an urban setting; one in a rural) discuss the challenges they face in hiring, training, and managing their dental staff. Their frank discussion covers finding the right employees, conducting performance reviews, and making the decision to let someone go. They also discuss the changing landscape of the dental workforc...

The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Kent Tuttle, a dentist who is passionate about charity work and making a positive impact. Dr. Tuttle discusses his background in dentistry, including his initial hesitation to pursue the profession and how witnessing humanitarian dentistry in Ecuador changed his perspective. He explains that he wants to inspire others to prioritize impact over mon...

Arizona dentists, you might be aware of an article that was recently published by a handful of students at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. The article was picked up by a few local publications. Leadership at the Arizona Dental Association (AzDA) and the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners (BODEX) felt the article was inaccurate, unfair, and biased. As a result, ASU Lead Editor Mr....

Feel like the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners (BODEX) is kind of a mystery? Wonder how it really works and what to do if you're contacted by them. In this episode, we're featuring two dentists who know it inside and out:  Dr. Anthony Caputo is a Dentist Anesthesiologist—practicing in Arizona since 1997. He has been involved with BODEX for over 20 years serving as a sedation and anesthesia...

A big thanks to AzDA Board of Trustees member Dr. Anthony Caputo and President of the State Board of Dental Examiners Dr. Anthony Herro for stopping into the AzDA office and recording a podcast about what dentists can do to prevent and be prepared to respond to a Board complaint.    Dr. Anthony Caputo is a Dentist Anesthesiologist—practicing in Arizona since 1997. He has been involved with BODEX f...

Give your mind a 15min relaxing respite as author, English professor, storyteller, and Inscriptions Editor Dr. Eric Curtis shares some of his beloved anecdotes that for dentists and about dentistry. Whatever today's throwing at you, take a few minutes, sit back, and enjoy Dr. Curtis's lighthearted and charming insights about dentistry. Your mind, your spirit, and your dental team (and patients) wi...

(27min) AzDA member dentists Dr. Mai-Ly Duong, Associate Director Dental Faculty; and Dr. Maureen Perry, Associate Dean for Post-Doctoral Education Director, the Center for Advanced Oral Health, discuss special care dentistry. They focus on the Center for Advanced Oral Health at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences' Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, which provides comprehensive, patie...

(37min, recorded in September 2019). AzDA's Council on Government Affairs member Dr. Brian Powley, (campaign manager for Arizona State Representative Dr. Paul Gosar, Arizona State Representative Dr. Regina Cobb, and ADA President-elect Dr. Dan Klemmedson), shares insights on running for ADA president, maintaining civility with so much partisanship, how the office of ADA president has changed over...

(51min) Past AzDA President Dr. Michael Thompson covers everything from treating family members to corporate dentistry and the danger of using CDT codes as treatment planning tools. Has the doctor-patient relationship changed over time? What should it look like? Dr. Thompson shares his insight.  0:00 – 8:30—Why dentistry? Dr. Thompson's professional background. 8:31 – 12:30—Should you treat your f...

(41min) Inscriptions' Editor Dr. Eric Curtis discusses women in dentistry (the similarities and differences between female and male dentists) as well as online versus in-person dental communities with AzDA Past President Dr. Allison House. This candid conversation covers a lot of ground, but it's honest, spirited, and amusing. You'll enjoy it! 0:00 – 9:00—Dr. House's background (and you thought yo...

(39min) Clinical dental hygienist, author, and international speaker, Katrina Sanders offers an expressive and even-handed perspective on how dentists and hygienists can bring in more patients, serve their patients better, and support each other. Katrina's zest for dental hygiene is infused throughout this high-energy podcast.

(45min)  Audience: Dentists looking to transition into or out of a dental practice. The business of dental practice transitions is constantly changing. As young dentists are looking for quality dental practices to either purchase or affiliate with as associates, senior dentists are planning to transition into retirement from private practice and are seeking someone to take over their legacy. If a...

WHAT'S THE NEWS? Last week we sent the email below to all AzDA members. Because so many questions came in, AzDA Executive Director Kevin Earle recorded a special Audio Amalgam podcast to provide some additional clarity and to address your questions.   To access the audio file, click the button below. The podcast is only about six minutes long.  Want to jump to a specific section? Use the timestamp...

(14min) People fear public speaking more than death. "This means to the average person who has to be at a funeral, you'd rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy," noted TV comedian Jerry Seinfeld. If you've made the leap to promote your practice through online video, there's far less pressure than giving a eulogy.

(31min) As a teaser to her lectures and workshop on Oct 5 and Oct 6, 2018 at the Arizona Dental Association (Scottsdale), Dr. Batoon shares insights on how to incorporate sleep medicine into your dental practice; is there one appliance that works for most sleep disorders; should you just treat patients for snoring; how to accurately give a patient exam for sleeping issues; building relationships w...

(1hr) Increased awareness about the growing problem of microbial resistance with related challenges of treating infections caused by resistant organisms has resulted in a global initiative to improve the appropriate and safe use of antibiotics. This podcast is a discussion of strategies to promote antibiotic stewardship among dental professionals.  Practical considerations for reducing unnecessary...

(33min) Dr. Marty Margetis shares a cautionary tale for any dentist who is looking to build out, remodel, expand office space, move and renovate, etc.

(1hr10min) If you've been to a Women in Dentistry (WiD) event or even on their Facebook page, you know one thing about this group: it's a vibrant, supportive community. In carrying on that tradition, WiD recorded its first roundtable discussion podcast, featuring Drs. Onika Patel, Vanessa Marinho, and Elizabeth Fleming—moderated by Dr. Mai-Ly Duong. The conversation (work/life balance, mentors, pr...

(36min) Dr. Pruzansky shares an honest and engaging look at her transition from large group practice employee to practice owner, and what she learned along the way (debt mgmt., what she looked for in a practice, patient attrition, etc). For new dentists considering ownership, you'll want to make sure you catch this podcast.