Beyond the Operatory

"Sometimes you just have to start and make mistakes. Overplanning is never something that benefits you." Welcome to a special summer highlight episode of Beyond the Operatory, brought to you by the team at Dental City. We are taking a brief two-week summer break from our regular scheduling to bring you a curated masterclass featuring the best clinical, operational, and macroeconomic insights from...

"We are not pay-to-play. The stage is not for sale, it’s never been for sale, and you can’t buy your way onto it." In this final installment of a special three-part interview series on Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with Brian Colao, Member and Director of the DSO Industry Group at Dykema. Brought to you by the team at Dental City, this episode pulls back the curtain on the orig...

“We’ve got strength, we’ve got beauty. Now we’re going to start talking about long-term protection of restorations." In this special episode of *Beyond the Operatory*, host John Stamper sits down with Dr. Troy Schmedding, a practicing clinician with 30 years of clinical experience. Brought to you by the team at Premier Dental, this conversation explores a technological leap forward in composite de...

"If my handpiece isn't functioning, I am not working that day. That is the absolute reality of practicing dentistry." In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with Dr. Marc Geissberger, DDS, a practicing dentist with 35 years of clinical experience, to dive deep into how NSK Handpieces are a critical tool for his practice. While some dentists may take for granted that a...

"You learn how to do all the clinical functions in school, but the business of dental hygiene is a completely learned skill on the job." In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with Brenda Alberts, Program Director at Midstate Technical College, to unpack the evolving landscape of dental hygiene. With over 20 years of full-time clinical experience under her belt, Brend...

In this episode, John Stamper welcomes back Bill Neumann, founder of Group Dentistry Now, to provide a strategic roadmap for the modern dental practice. As the industry faces "solution overload," Bill and John discuss how to cut through the noise and identify the tools that actually drive growth and efficiency. From the evolution of digital labs and in-office 3D printing to the "unsexy" but essent...

What happens when a passion for technology meets the "digital explosion" of the dental industry? In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper continues his conversation with Dr. Ed Lin. They discuss Dr. Lin’s 26-year journey as an early adopter of game-changing dental technologies, from being the first certified Invisalign doctor in Wisconsin to implementing robotically bent wires an...

"Yesterday's solo practitioner is today's dentist entrepreneur." In this episode of Beyond The Operatory, host John Stamper is joined by Bill Neumann, co-founder of Group Dentistry Now, to explore the massive structural shifts reshaping the dental profession. Operating as the "Switzerland" of the industry, Bill shares his unique vantage point on the evolving relationship between private practices,...

In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with Dr. Ed Lin, a renowned orthodontist and international lecturer based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With over 26 years of experience, Dr. Lin shares his unique journey from being one of the first dentists mentored by Heartland Dental founder Dr. Rick Workman, to building a high-tech, boutique orthodontic practice. Dr. Lin dives de...

Your obituary won't list your bank statements—it will list the lives you touched. In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper welcomes back Ken Mathys for a vulnerable conversation about the "human side" of the dental business. After decades as a CPA and controller, Ken shares his personal transformation from a "Type-A Bean Counter" to a people-first leader. They discuss why financi...

"The era of buying your way to profitability is over. Welcome to the new reality of the DSO space."  In this episode of Beyond The Operatory by Dental City, host John Stamper welcomes back Brian Colao, Director of the DSO Industry Group at Dykema, to dissect the macroeconomic forces that have reshaped the dental industry.  From the "Great Resignation" and soaring inflation to the interest rate spi...

Patients don't just want a dentist; they want a partner who cares about their health more than the bottom line. In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper and leadership expert Betsy Mitchell discuss the rapidly changing expectations of today's dental patient. In a world where Amazon delivers in two hours, patients now expect their dental experience to be seamless, transparent, and...

Live from the Chicago Midwinter Meeting: Bridging the Gap with AI, 3D Printing & Worry-Free Workflows (Part 2) In the conclusion of our special live series from Chicago, Beyond the Operatory is behind the scenes with the industry’s leading innovators. Host John Stamper explores the "next wave" of dentistry—where high-tech AI meets human trust, and 3D printing becomes a standard, simple reality for...

Live from the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, Beyond the Operatory brings you rapid-fire insights from leading dental manufacturers to answer one question: What’s changing in dentistry right now, and what should practices be paying attention to? In this special Part 1 episode, host John Stamper uncovers trends shaping the modern operatory, from innovations that cut procedure time by up to 40% to produc...

Is your practice culture accidental, or is it intentional? In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with leadership expert Betsy Mitchell to tackle the buzzword that everyone uses but few define: Culture. They discuss why culture is actually the "personality" of your business, how to manage the fear that comes with industry changes (like AI), and why maintaining your id...

Does that staff member have 20 years of experience, or 1 year of experience 20 times? In Part 2 of our Buying a Dental Practice series, host John Stamper and consultant Ken Mathys move from the "big picture" practice evaluation to the specific due diligence required to close the deal. They dive deep into the specific numbers you need to request, why "low overhead" is often a red flag for neglected...

The P&L tells you what the practice did, not what you will do. In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with veteran practice consultant Ken Mathys for Part 1 of a deep dive into purchasing a dental practice. Buying a practice in 2026 is vastly different than it was twenty years ago. It requires looking through the lens of an entrepreneur, not just a clinician. Ken walk...

"You can't buy your way out of this economic environment. You have to grow from within." In this episode of Beyond The Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with Brian Colao, Director of the DSO Industry Group at Dykema, to discuss the critical shift from "deal-making" to "business-building." With interest rates up and Mergers and Acquisitions activity cooling, the era of rapid buying and selling...

It’s not just a dental practice; it’s a $2 million business. Are you running it like one? In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with leadership expert Betsy Mitchell to discuss the critical skills required to excel as both a clinician and strategic leader for your practice. Many dental teams resist the "business" side of dentistry, viewing practice performance number...

Talking isn’t enough—you need to connect to be heard. In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper is joined again by industry veteran Betsy Mitchell to discuss the invisible glue that holds a dental practice together: Emotional Intelligence (EQ). We dive deep into why "tone and tenor" matter more than the words you use, how to give difficult feedback without triggering defensiveness...

Public Health, DSO, Startup, or Private Practice? It’s a real-life “choose your own adventure” story—let us help you make the right choice. In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with Ken Mathys, a veteran dental business consultant with over 30 years of experience. They break down the paralysis of choice facing new dentists today and provide a "look under the hood" a...

Successful dentistry requires more than clinical skill. Are you ready to lead your winning team? Welcome to the premiere episode of Beyond the Operatory, the podcast brought to you by Dental City that cuts through the noise of modern dentistry. In this debut, host John Stamper sits down with Betsy Mitchell, an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in leadership development, to discuss...

"You've known Dental City as the 'glove company' for 30 years. Allow us to introduce a new side of ourselves." Welcome to the prologue of Beyond the Operatory, a podcast to cut through the noise of modern dentistry. In this special introductory episode, host John Stamper sits down with Jordan Lorenz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, from Dental City to discuss the vision behind this new podc...

"You've known Dental City as the 'glove company' for 30 years. Allow us to introduce a new side of ourselves." Welcome to the prologue of Beyond the Operatory, a podcast to cut through the noise of modern dentistry. In this special introductory episode, host John Stamper sits down with Jordan Lorenz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, from Dental City to discuss the vision behind this new podc...