Kinda Different: Innovation, Connection, and Making Dental Care More Human

Today’s season six finale is packed with unfiltered dental marketing insights. Matt sits down with Nicole Toudouze, CEO and founder of Transcendental, for a rapid round of hot takes on what actually drives practice growth and what quietly kills it. No fluff. No safe answers. Just practical truth from two people who want dental care to feel more human. They cover:• Why new patients are overrated an...

This episode of Kinda Different explores how Dr. Maulik Kotdawala, dentist and Director of Operational and Clinical Strategy at Advantage Dental+, drives innovation inside a large organization while keeping patient safety, prevention, and trust at the center. He and Matt talk about what it takes to move a “dental aircraft carrier,” how to align shiny new tech with real strategy, what he learned tr...

What you’ll hear: Why coaching (not consulting) is the quiet superpower for dental leaders. Thomas Passalacqua of Ascend Professional Pathways shares how a teacher’s mindset, sales empathy, and DSO experience shaped his approach to coaching: intense listening, perspective shifts, and future-focused action. We dig into building “reflexes” for better decisions, why data integrity matters only if peo...

In the newest Kinda Different episode, Matt sits down with Caroline McLeod, Value-Based Solutions Manager at CareQuest Institute and practicing dental hygienist, to unpack what it really takes to move medical-dental integration from idea to execution. They explore tech barriers, incentive design, and what CareQuest has learned running the MORE Care framework in multiple states. Caroline shares a p...

Kinda Different returns with another candid, practical conversation about shifting from “watch and wait” to proactive prevention, using AI and visual tools to make conditions clear, and leading culture change that makes dental care more human for patients and teams. What we cover ▸Why “primary care provider of the oral cavity” is more than a tagline▸Moving from restorative-first to prevention-firs...

Kinda Different is back with a practical conversation with Caitlin Walsdorf from Healthscape Advisors about where dental innovation is really happening, why “value-based care” fatigue is real, and how rebuilding trust across payers, providers, employers, and patients opens the path to better benefits and better health. What we cover ▸ The state of dental benefits and why oral health is finally get...

In this conversation, Matt Allen and Dr. Cory Scheer discuss the critical role of trust in organizations, particularly in healthcare and dental care. They explore the structure of trust, its components, and how it can be measured and maximized. Cory shares insights from his experience as a raft guide and how those lessons apply to leadership and organizational culture. The discussion also highligh...

In this episode of Kinda Different, Dr. Matt Allen interviews Jessica Fowler, a dynamic figure in the dental industry who bridges the gap between clinical practice and technology. They discuss the importance of patient-centered care, the role of innovation in dentistry, and the significance of mindfulness in professional life. Jessica shares her journey from being a dental hygienist to working in...

In this episode of Kind of Different, Dr. Matt Allen engages in a deep conversation with Matt McGaw, founder of DSO Compass, about the intersection of innovation and dental care. They explore McGaw's journey in healthcare, the role of AI in dental practices, and the importance of creating human connections in patient care. McGaw shares personal reflections on his mother's legacy and how it...

In this episode of Kinda Different, Dr. Matt Allen welcomes Dr. Jeremy Horst Keeper, a pioneer in non-invasive dental care. They discuss the innovative approaches to dentistry that prioritize patient comfort and health, including the use of silver diamine fluoride and other non-invasive treatments. The conversation explores how constraints can drive innovation, the importance of listening to patie...

🧠 The Season 5 Finale of Kinda Different is here! Tune in as Dr. Matt Allen chats with Dr. Mahrukh Khwaja, who shares her journey from being a dentist to a workplace psychologist, emphasizing the importance of mental health and resilience in the dental profession. She discusses her experiences with burnout and depression, the tools she discovered for mental fitness, and how she founded Mind Ninja...

🏔️ What does the dental innovation landscape look like from 30,000 ft? How do policy and regulatory changes shape what we see? How can dental innovation produce social good? We'll answer these questions and more in the latest episode of Kinda Different. Your host, Dr. Matt Allen, chats with Dr. Jeremy Krell of Revere Partners and they discuss the importance of learning from other industries to imp...

✈️ Another episode of Kinda Different is here! Your host, Dr. Matt Allen, chats with Dr. Brad Hughes of Vision Dental Partners and they discuss the importance of vision and innovation in dentistry, the significance of building a brand within the community, and practical advice for young dentists to enhance their communication skills and patient relationships. They explore how a strong brand can tr...

🤗 In this episode of Kinda Different, Matt has the opportunity to chat with Dr. Lauren Gerdin, the Chief Dental Officer at Cherry Tree Dental. They discuss Dr. Gerdin's journey in dentistry, the importance of data in driving innovation, and the values that shape her leadership style. The conversation emphasizes the need for a human-centric approach in dental care, the significance of mentorship,...

🛹 We're back for another episode of Kinda Different! In this episode, Matt chats with Zachary Shelley, the office manager at Satellite Family Dentistry and a former professional skateboarder. They discuss the role of technology in innovation and how it enhances various aspects of dental practice, such as patient communication, data analysis, and imaging. They also touch on the importance of think...

📚 Historically, dental school has taught dental students how to do, but has focused less on how to think. In modern dental practice, this can be a problem as cases become more complex and expectations of treatment kept in-house become higher. Enter Drs. Jason Luchtefeld and Kevin Kwiecien of the CCO Solution, helping DSOs with a fractional chief clinical officer that helps dentists not just learn...

🔎 In dentistry, it's easy to fall into the trap of a smaller field of vision being better. 5x loupes are better than 2x loupes, a microscope is better than loupes, etc. But a smaller field of vision makes it hard to see the whole picture, whether that's for an individual patient's health or for the profession in general. In this episode of Kinda Different, Matt chats with Dr. Katie Le...

🍩 Like a co-worker who brings donuts in the morning, a new episode of Kinda Different is here to brighten your day! Listen in as Matt chats with Misty Mattingly, Chief Dental Hygiene Officer at Sage Dental. Misty is a passionate advocate, mentor, and leader in the dental world, and her desire to continue to elevate the dental hygiene profession comes through loud and clear. Tune in to learn more!...

🎉 We're back! Season 5 of Kinda Different is here! And who better to kick us off than the President-Elect of the American Dental Association, Dr. Brett Kessler. Listen in to their wide-ranging conversation to get Dr. Kessler's perspective on where the ADA is focused in the coming year (and years) - and how you can help shape the journey! You can get in touch with Dr. Kessler here: Email:...

📈 If you know anything about dental analytics, you likely know Dental Intelligence. So when Steve and I met a few months ago, we knew there was a special podcast episode brewing. Steve hosts "Growth in Dentistry" - this episode is a shared episode between his podcast and Kinda Different. We dive deep into how to improve decision making in oral health using analytics, assess the gaps tha...

🎉 The finale of Season 4 of Kinda Different is here! And there is perhaps no guest more fitting to speak on innovation and making dental care more human than Dr. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz. In addition to owning her own practice, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz is also the host of another amazing dental podcast, Dentistry Unmasked, the Chief Editor at Dental Economics, and the Chief Development Officer at Cell...

➕ "The concept of continuous learning is critical for creating a high-performance culture." Dr. Jonathan Levine, clinician, thought leader, and innovator connecting the dots between oral and overall health, joins Carolyn on the new episode of Kinda Different. They discuss how to create high-performing teams that help build trust and loyalty with patients. You can find more about Jonatha...

📈 How do you start a DSO right before COVID and thrive? Listen as guest host Dr. Carolyn Brown chats with Mick Janness, CEO of Oakpoint, to discuss the blueprint for what their organization has prioritized to ensure continued growth and development. You can find more about Mick and Oakpoint at the following places: Website: https://oakpoint.us/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mick-janness/...

🤖 Everyone is familiar with AI for dental radiographs, but beyond this use case, the clinical applications of AI in dentistry have been limited until now. Listen in to hear Matt chat with Dr. Amreesh Khanna, CEO of OraQ AI, on how AI is changing diagnostics for both the provider and the patient. You can find more about Amreesh and OraQ AI at the following places: Website: https://www.oraq.ai/ Lin...

⚖️ After a couple weeks off, Kinda Different is back with a new episode featuring Kristine Berry of the Dental Diversity and Inclusion Alliance. Tune in to hear Kristine discuss with Matt how inclusion is innovative, why recognizing bias can help the dental patient journey, and what a future can look like for dentistry where everyone has a seat at the table. You can find more about Kristine and th...