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

Episode 3 of Season 2 of Kinda Different is here!    In this episode, Matt chats with Sarah Ruberg, CEO and Founder of Our Thrive Tribe, about how to display authenticity through social media, connecting digital engagement to in-person experience, and knowing patients deeply.     You can find Sarah and Our Thrive Tribe at the following places:   LinkedIn: https://www.linke...

Episode 2 of Season 2 of Kinda Different is here!   In this episode, Matt chats with Jordan Trentacosta, Senior Director of Data Analytics at United Dental Corporation, about how choice can build trust, what the data says about why patients come back, and how experience goes both ways.   You can find Jordan and UDC at the following places: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordantren...

Kinda Different is back again! Season 2 is here!    In this episode, Matt chats with Gary Bird, CEO of SMC National, about putting his team first, showing gratitude, and a holistic view of the patient journey.   You can find Gary and SMC National at the following places: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegarybird/ Website: https://smcnational.com/   See more about Differ...

Kinda Different is back for a special episode! We're joined by Dr. Barry Bartusiak - dentist, consultant, speaker extraordinaire! In this episode, Matt and Barry discuss what makes patients return to an office again and again (and again and again), understanding the most important thing, and learning from silence. Learn more about Barry and his practice at:  Website: https://www.drbarrybartus...

The final episode of Season 1 of Kinda Different is here! In this episode, Matt has the pleasure of chatting with Marko Vujicic, Chief Economist and Vice President of the Health Policy Institute (HPI) at the American Dental Association. Marko shares his thoughts on the coming wave of innovation in oral health, the importance of paying attention to patient outcomes, and painting a broader vision an...

After a week off, we're back with Kinda Different Episode 9! In this episode, Carolyn chats with Dr. Jahnavi Rao, the DSO Dentist Advocate. Jahnavi shares her thoughts on effective collaboration within dental teams and between dental specialists, the value of female representation in leadership roles, and why the human factor is so critical, even in our technological age.   You can find Jahna...

Kinda Different is back again with Episode 8!  In this episode, Carolyn chats with Drs. Scott Kalniz and Hayder Hussein from Beam Dental. Scott and Hayder share their thoughts on rewarding prevention, enabling consistency in dental diagnoses, value-based care, and how Beam is innovating in the dental insurance space.   You can find Scott, Hayder, and Beam Dental at the following places:&...

We are back with Episode 7 of Kinda Different! In this episode, Matt chats with Hayley Buckner, RDH from Elevate Oral Care. Hayley shares why she thinks the caries risk assessment, operationalized as a conversation, can make dental care more human, why Elevate is committed to prevention only, and the value of remembering to breathe outdoors.   You can find Hayley and Elevate Oral Care at the...

Episode 6 of Kinda Different is here! In this episode, Matt chats with Alison Carlman and explores the patient perspective of oral health transformation. Alison shares tips on enhancing patient experience from the patient perspective, lessons from her work in international aid and development that can be applied to healthcare, and innovating with patients instead of for them.   You can find A...

In Episode 5 of Kinda Different, we share time with Zachary Brian, DMD, MHA. We talk about his re-shaping of oral health policy in North Carolina, rooting ourselves in empathy, how the patient can be included in the care team (and being more inclusive of patients in innovation in general), and how dental education can start to teach students about patient experience.   You can find Zach and h...

In Episode 4 of Kinda Different, we have the pleasure of chatting with Teresa Williams, M.L.S., Chief Operations Officer at Dental Express, a DSO in the San Diego area. We talk about co-discovery between providers and patients, operationalizing values, and why "Tell me more" is one of the best questions we can ask. You can find Teresa and Dental Express at the following places: LinkedIn: https://w...

Episode 3 of Kinda Different is here. Today, we talk with David Nidetz, senior director at Alvarez & Marsal. We talk about reducing friction in the patient journey, accountability as a virtue, and finding connection over Zoom.   You can find David at the following places: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-nidetz-4874765 Website: https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/our-people/david-...

In this episode of Kinda Different, we talk with Danny Grannick, CEO and co-founder of Bristle, a company that helps people measure and understand their oral microbiome. We talk about problem-solving and curiosity as company values, recharging when the batteries are low, and how bringing innovation to patients is often more difficult than developing the technology itself. You can find Bristle at t...

In the inaugural episode of Kinda Different, we talk with Melissa Turner, BASDH, RDHEP, EFDA, or as many know her, @thetoothgirl. We talk about shifting the mindset that has kept dentistry inside of brick and mortar offices, why tomato season is so tasty in her house, and what it means to find comfort in care when things are scary.   You can find Melissa at the following places: Website: http...

Season 1 of Kinda Different is coming February 16th. Check back next week as we interview Melissa Turner, hygiene thought leader extraordinaire!