azda's Podcast

(41min)

Inscriptions' Editor Dr. Eric Curtis discusses women in dentistry (the similarities and differences between female and male dentists) as well as online versus in-person dental communities with AzDA Past President Dr. Allison House.

This candid conversation covers a lot of ground, but it's honest, spirited, and amusing. You'll enjoy it!

0:00 – 9:00—Dr. House’s background (and you thought you had it rough in dental school). How a dentist saving her dad’s life, and challenges of being a female dental student. How the dean of her dental school devastated her with a handshake.

9:01 – 12:00—What Dr. House did after dental school—she had $250k of debt and $75 in her pocket. What she “thought” dentistry would be like. Her challenging experience in a nondentist-owned practice—what shocked her.  

12:01 – 17:00—Dr. House’s transition into private practice. Mistakes she made and what she learned to appreciate. Her quick philosophy in dealing with insurance.  

17:01 – 21:50—Dental team female or male? Boundaries with female and male dentists. How female and male dentists relate to their teams and their patients. Why Dr. House hasn’t wore scrubs in almost 20 years.

21:51 – 24:00—Obstacles Dr. House dealt with as a female dentist. Juggling motherhood with career aspirations.

24:01– 27:00—Dr. House publicly shares her early-career experience in nondentist owned practice. She received support and judgement. She helps to get a law passed regarding corporate dentistry.

27:01– 32:00—How Dr. House prepared to become AzDA’s youngest president, and why she developed AzDA’s Women in Dentistry program and other communities at AzDA. Other communities Dr. House envisions creating. Are online communities really the answer for dentists who want community?

32:01– 35:20—Dentists and their fear of admitting mistakes, and how the internet made it worse. An informal, casual dentist-only community that supports and encourages—Dr. House’s vision compared online trolls.

35:21– 38:00—Dental students see Dr. House as the “perfect” dentist. She sets them straight quickly about her and expectations.

38:01– 41:00—Dentistry as a commodity—really? Patients have no idea how tough dentistry is, and dentists need to communicate it.

(39min)

Clinical dental hygienist, author, and international speaker, Katrina Sanders offers an expressive and even-handed perspective on how dentists and hygienists can bring in more patients, serve their patients better, and support each other. Katrina’s zest for dental hygiene is infused throughout this high-energy podcast.

(45min) 

Audience: Dentists looking to transition into or out of a dental practice.

The business of dental practice transitions is constantly changing. As young dentists are looking for quality dental practices to either purchase or affiliate with as associates, senior dentists are planning to transition into retirement from private practice and are seeking someone to take over their legacy.

If a person is either seeking to buy a practice, sell a practice, become an associate, or form a partnership with a colleague, building a knowledge base of how to construct these “transitions” is what this podcast is about.

• How does the whole ‘sales’ process work when ‘selling’ a practice?
• What would you recommend in terms of transition: a partnership or an associate to buy the practice later?
• Can you go into detail as to why it isn’t a good idea to use a general “rule of thumb” to value a dental practice for transition?
• What are the mechanics of valuing a dental practice?
• What is your experience with banks lending money to dentists to buy practices – especially with high student loans, and rising interest rates?