Everyday Oral Surgery

Recent technological advancements have led to incredible innovations in oral surgery, and today’s guest, Dr. Andy Loetscher, DDS, MS, is using them to full effect at his Atlanta Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Implant Center. After taking us through his full arch rehabilitation surgery process, Dr. Andy explains what Face Hunter is and how he uses it at his practice. We then learn why pa...

During today’s episode, Dr. Ben Hechler joins us in conversation to unpack some of the most used tools in reconstruction and when to use them. Assistant Professor of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery and Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery at Duke University, Dr. Hechler has a gift for transferring knowledge in a way that is easy to understand. Tuning in, you’ll get an overview of reconstruction options for...

Back and neck pain are common complaints amongst oral surgeons, and incorrect chair positioning is one of the main culprits. Unfortunately, chair positioning is not something that is taught during residency, so in this episode, Jake and Grant discuss how to ensure that your posture is taking pressure off your spine, how chair positioning impacts visibility, why you shouldn’t be afraid to sit, and...

Implant surgery is an enormously rewarding specialty that requires careful preparation. Joining us today to share his wisdom on what it takes to build a thriving implant practice is Dr. Andy Loetscher of Atlanta Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery & Implant Center. In this episode, we find out how Dr. Loetscher started, marketed, and streamlined his practice, as well as how he refined his implant t...

It can be hard to formulate long-term treatment plans when your patients are young. Syndromic craniosynostosis is diagnosable at birth, meaning that the treatment plans need to start from the get-go. In the previous episode, we spoke to Dr. Michael Markiewicz (MD DDS FACS) about craniosynostosis: how to diagnose it, what causes it, the different forms of the deformity, and why doctors shouldn&apos...

As a surgeon, you can never stop learning, and being able to diagnose and treat non-syndromic craniosynostosis is a skill you want to have as an oral surgeon! Today we are welcoming Dr. Michael Markiewicz back to the show to talk to us about this deformity. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how to diagnose craniosynostosis, what causes it, the different forms of the deformity, and why doctors shoul...

There are many options when it comes to orthognathic surgery and making the right decisions for your patient can be daunting. Joining us today on Everyday Oral Surgery is the illustrious Dr. Benjamin Hechler. In this episode, you’ll hear all about Dr. Hechler’s process of discussing options with new patients, and his preferences when it comes to molars, double jaw surgery, class three patients, us...

There’s a relatively noticeable difference in treatment between a younger patient population and a geriatric one. How do you, as a practitioner, find ways to make your practice thrive with a patient base largely filled by patients 70 years and older? The guest on today’s episode of Every Day Oral Surgery is Dr. Nguyen, who practices a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery with expertise ran...

Today on Everyday Oral Surgery, we sit down with Dr. Chad Petersen, an oral maxillofacial surgeon practicing in Cheyenne, Wyoming, as he offers his perspective on thriving as an OMS in a more rural area. We discuss some strategies for getting more referrals, catering to patients who have to travel long distances, and coordinating implants with surgeons in different states. Dr. Petersen also makes...

Early diagnosis and early treatment are the keys to managing any immune-based disease. But, how do oral diseases differ? Dr. Robert Marx, OMFS, podcast host and author, extensively discusses immune-based diseases which are specific to the oral cavity. It is important to understand why normal physicians tend to discard any significant signs or symptoms specific to oral diseases (typically due to a...

Today we are joined by North Carolina-based oral maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Ben Hechler to discuss all things TMD/TMJ. Dr. Hechler shares his philosophies on treating TMD and performing TMJ surgery, as well as some intricate treatment details. We learn about his standardized TMD/TMJ examination and diagnosis process, and how he determines whether a patient qualifies for TMJ surgery. Dr. Hechler br...

Treating patients for cleft lips and palates can be a long road filled with multiple surgeries and long recovery periods. They also need support in multiple areas, from feeding to speech therapy. That is why it’s so important for patients to have a skilled and diverse team assisting them; including nurses, speech-language pathologists (SLPs,) and of course, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Today o...

There are many ways to be a leader, but there aren’t nearly as many ways to do it properly.  At the end of the day, your focus needs to be on the community that you are leading and teaching, not your own image. In today’s episode Dr. Ben Hechler, an OMFS, explains how to determine, create, and successfully use leadership styles and skills during residency. Drawing on his own experiences of being a...

The path to where we want to be is not always linear. Dr. Carlos Moretta, a practicing Oral and Maxilla Facial Surgeon (OMFS), went through clinical internships, residency, an unhappy experience in pediatric surgery, and a year of research before he ended up where he felt like he belonged. While discussing his career history, Dr. Moretta describes his mission trips to Central America, South Americ...

There are two important aspects when dealing with stress and burnout: what it is and how you perceive and respond to it. Dr. Ben Hechler, a third-generation dentist, is here to share his knowledge and personal experiences as comfort and support for those struggling. Ben leads the conversation by exploring his dealings with verbal abuse, bullying, and managing patients’ unrealistic expectations abo...

Is there a way to make MMF easier, faster, and safer? Dr. Andrew Jenzer and Dr. Joe Ivory are exploring the introduction of dental occlusion ties for maxillomandibular fixation and they are joining us to discuss their findings today on Every Day Oral Surgery. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what a dental occlusion tie is, how they work, what they can be used for, their benefits, their challenges,...

Today’s episode is all about what happens when things go wrong in the salivary glands, and what to do about it! As Dr. Ben Hechler explains, there are two categories of salivary gland disease (infectious and tumor masses), and retrograde tracking of bacteria is overwhelmingly the most common cause. You will hear about the different factors that lead to the retrograde tracking of bacteria, other fa...

Welcome to another episode of Every Day Oral Surgery! Today we are discussing what it’s like for women in surgery to be part of the “good ole boys club”, with the phenomenal surgeon, Dr. Erin Sheffield. We discuss what her residency was like as a woman, how she gained the confidence to assert herself and establish boundaries, how her first real job coincided with an important IVF appointment, and...

Welcome back to Everyday Oral Surgery! Today, we have two guests with us to explore a few key topics. Join us as Drs. Matthew Pham and Poolak Bhatt weigh in on finding your first job after completing your studies. You’ll hear about Dr. Bhatt’s educational Instagram page, started while recovering from a car accident, and Dr. Pham shares some consistent insights he shares on his weekly phone calls w...

Outside of head and neck or cosmetics, fellowships aren’t encouraged in the OMS world, and our guest today calls for that to change. Dr. Brian Farrell is an orthognathic surgeon practicing in Charlotte, North Carolina and he joins us today to discuss the value of fellowships and mentorship, and to share his wisdom with residents on the cusp of committing to a niche. We learn about Dr. Farrell’s in...

Antibiotics have become the go-to prescription for many doctors nationwide. But are antibiotics being over-prescribed and is this a cause for concern? Here today to help us answer that question is Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr. Erin Sheffield.  Her practice is in Quincy, Illinois and, with the help of her doctor husband, she has made it her mission to rid her town of antibiotic overuse. After...

Today’s guest has dedicated his life to helping dentists create incredible practices that serve their patients, their employees, and clinicians while growing as big as they want to! Stephen Thorne is the founder and leader of Pacific Dental Services. He started his career by working in his father’s dental practice and learned all aspects of the business there before founding his company in 1994. P...

Today on Everyday Oral Surgery we welcome Dr. Eric Holmgren, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with a rich background in both academia and private practice. Tune in today to hear the story of how his diverse career trajectory has taken shape and how his experience in different environments has strengthened what he brings to the table. Learn how Dr. Holmgren has chosen to challenge himself and what...

In this episode of Every Day Oral Surgery, we talk about osteomyelitis, a rare disease that manifests in a range of patients and is often difficult to diagnose, with expert Dr. Benjamin Hechler. Dr. Hechler is an Assistant Professor and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Duke University Health System and specializes in oral, head, and neck oncologic surgery. We unpack the various challenges associa...

Thanks for joining us for another episode of the Everyday Oral Surgery podcast. Today we are joined by Dr. Shaun Young of MOSAIC Maxillofacial Surgical Arts in Tampa Bay, Florida. Dr. Young has a lot of experience with trauma cases and in this episode, we learn about the evolution of his implant and bone grafting techniques and the technology that has allowed for a smoother surgical process. Dr. Y...