The Very Dental Podcast Network

In this episode of the Very Clinical podcast, Zach and Kevin take a nostalgic trip through the evolution of technology and the social dynamics of the dental profession. The duo starts with a look at their "tech origins," comparing stories of 3.5-inch floppy disk backups, FORTRAN punch cards, and the struggle of logging into office computers via dial-up modems. The conversation then shifts to the p...

Alan explores why musical tastes often freeze in middle school and why a 54-year-old dentist still feels like he's in his twenties—until he sees the Ticketmaster bill for Rush's 50th-anniversary tour. Alan dives into the friction of analog nostalgia, from landlines to worn-out cassettes, and contrasts it with the instant-access world of his 18-year-old son, Sean. It's a reflection on whether the "...

Alan catches up with dental administration expert  Teresa Duncan at the "posh" Chicago Midwinter Meeting press center to discuss the shifting landscape of dental documentation and technology. The conversation dives deep into the ADA's refreshed radiographic guidelines , emphasizing the shift from "implicit" to "explicit" clinical notes and how AI and ambient listening are revolutionizing chart acc...

This special episode of the Very Dental Podcast flips the script, featuring Dr. Alan Mead as a guest on the Just a Couple of Dentists podcast with hosts Dr. Alex Kantor and Dr. Eric Applesies . In a wide-ranging and speculative conversation, the trio peers into the future to imagine the landscape of Dentistry in 2050 . From the role of AI and robotic assistants in practice management to the potent...

Alan catches up with his longtime friend and dental school classmate, Dr. Bart Schultz . The duo takes a nostalgic and candid look back at Al's "super senior" days at the University of Minnesota, critiquing the traditional dental school model as a "scam" that often fails to provide students with enough clinical repetitions. They dive deep into the frustrations of the Minnesota Care Tax , the ethic...

Alan sits down with Kirk Dewart of US Bank to pull back the curtain on the world of dental practice finance. With 15 years of experience in the healthcare banking niche, Kirk debunks the myth that individual ownership is dead and discusses why dentistry remains one of the safest bets for lenders. The conversation covers the critical importance of early preparation for buyers, how banks evaluate st...

Zach and Kevin are joined by Alan to navigate the murky waters of patient skepticism. The trio explores the frustration of the "impasse"—when clinical evidence points to a cracked lower molar, but the patient is convinced the pain is coming from a perfectly healthy upper tooth. They discuss the strategic use of referrals to specialists for "validation," the evolution of clinical confidence that co...

Alan returns from a 1,000-mile Spring Break 2026 road trip to share reflections on family, travel, and a "brain-breaking" visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While trekking through the New River Gorge and hunting for kinetic ball machines in Akron and Charleston, Alan finds himself pondering the evolution of media distribution. He explores how the shift from the gatekept era of radio and MTV...

In this "impromptu soundcheck" turned full-length conversation, Alan sits down with the legendary Dr. Randy Houska (affectionately known as Papa Randy) at the Implant Pathway during Voices of Dentistry 2026. The duo dives deep into the gratifications of long-term patient relationships—discussing the evolution of dental benefits in Saginaw and the unique bond formed with patients over decades of ca...

Kevin and Zach are joined by Alan once again, this time to dive into a candid discussion about the humbling realities of long-term dental practice. The core of the conversation explores the "amateur mistakes" and unexpected hurdles that still plague even veteran dentists with decades of experience, such as the "hot tooth" that refuses to numb, the extraction that goes sideways, and the technical d...

Alan reflects on a recent shift in his clinical routine: stepping back into the role of a dental hygienist due to staffing transitions and vacations. While many dentists avoid the "prophy" side of the chair, he argues that performing hygiene—when supported by an assistant who understands the workflow—offers invaluable diagnostic insights that are often lost during a standard five-minute exam. By s...

Alan is joined by Jack Minahan from Henry Schein Practice Transitions for a deep dive into the modern landscape of dental practice sales, recorded live at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting. The conversation moves past the outdated stereotypes of the transition industry, with Jack providing a data-driven look at why private practice ownership remains the dominant model despite the high-profile growth o...

In honor of this weekend's Spear Summit, this episode of Very Dental Classics features a conversation with the legendary  Dr. Jason Smithson on a Friday morning at the 2022 Spear Summit in Arizona. Amidst coffee and Waffle House nostalgia, they dive deep into the philosophy of "anti-smile design"—the art of making teeth look believable and individual rather than generic. Jason discusses his approa...

Alan reflects on the fine line between clinical intuition and cognitive bias. Sparked by a failed trivia question about  SpongeBob SquarePants , Alan dives into the psychology of decision-making, exploring Daniel Kahneman's "fast vs. slow" thinking and the pitfalls of confirmation bias . Drawing on 30 years of dental practice, he discusses how "gut feelings" are often just highly trained pattern r...

You're missing 33% of incoming calls at your office. That's a huge deal. But what if there was a simple way to make sure you miss NONE of them? In this episode of the Very Dental Podcast , recorded live at Voices of Dentistry 2026 , Alan sits down with dentist-turned-entrepreneur Dr. Deren Flesher . Deren shares his journey from clinical practice to the administrative side of the industry, detaili...

In this "Classics" episode, Alan sits down with Dr. Gregg Kinzer at the 2022 Spear Summit to discuss the long-awaited return of in-person dental education. Gregg shares his excitement about the palpable energy of live meetings and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how he curates the world-class speaker lineup for the Summit. The conversation dives deep into the philosophy of "Spear Interactive,...

Alan dives into the rejuvenating power of a tech refresh in the dental operatory. After a brief detour discussing the bittersweet postseason fate of the Miami University Redhawks basketball (they made it!), the focus shifts to a trio of "new toys" that have transformed his clinical workflow. The centerpiece is the installation of the Zumax  OMS 2050 microscope , which Alan credits with finally rem...

Alan sat down with  Dr. Matt Burton to talk shop in a "swanky" new Chicago Dental Society podcast lounge that's a far cry from the usual exhibit hall floor.  Matt shares the latest evolution of the Quad Matrix System, detailing how a few "minor" tweaks to wedge angles and material firmness are making a massive difference in clinical predictability. Between the deep dives into dental engineering, t...

"If people don't value dental health, I don't care if it's free. They're not doing it." —  Dr. Frank Spear In this "Very Dental Classics" throwback episode Alan sits down with the legendary  Dr. Frank Spear at the 2022 Spear Summit. Recorded in the quiet moments of the exhibit hall, the duo explores the evolution of the Summit from a small faculty gathering into a global "family reunion" for the d...

Alan reflects on the grogginess of "springing forward" and why he's perfectly content being a "bad influencer" in an era of highly curated dental content. He dives into a major equipment refresh at his practice. New scope, new scanner cart and some new handpiece tubing should make for a cool week. The heart of the episode explores the contrast between his "authentic" feed of horses, cats, and moun...

In this episode of the Very Dental Podcast, Alan sits down with Dr. Tiana Hall at the 2026 Voices of Dentistry meeting in Gilbert, Arizona, to explore the unique world of correctional dentistry. Tiana shares her transition from private practice and volunteer work to her current role as a prison dentist in Utah, explaining how the move helped her navigate professional burnout by trading administrat...

Today's Very Clinical Throwback episode brings us back to November 2023 with Kevin and Zach at their very best answering scenarios with a voluminous "Ask Us Anything" mailbag. The duo balances clinical expertise with their signature banter, covering everything from the Cleveland Browns' defense to the ethics of stealing hotel cookies for $20. On the clinical side, they tackle the philosophy of mat...

Alan balances the local charm of a family trip to the Henry Ford Museum with the heavy, often unspoken emotional realities of a "mom-and-pop" dental practice. After braving the Michigan winter to celebrate his son's 16th birthday, Alan dives into the complex feelings that arise when a long-time, difficult patient appears in the obituaries. He explores the "bell curve" of patient relationships—from...

In this high-energy episode recorded live at the 2026 Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting, Alan once again sits down with Whitney DiFoggio, better known as teethtalkgirl to discuss the evolving landscape of dental communication. Whitney shares her journey from YouTube pioneer to a leading voice in dental public health, emphasizing her "relatability equation": how building trust through shared interes...

This throwback episode is actually an older episode of Very Dental featuring one of the amazing co-hosts of Very Clinical! In this wide-ranging "shop talk" session, Alan is joined by Zach to revisit the early days of dental social media and the evolution of their clinical workflows. From the "crushing it" culture of the old Dentaltown forums to the practicalities of the modern operatory, they dive...