AME: Endpoints

AME: Endpoints

Alan kicks off the July 4th holiday week by diving into the psychological relief of "hard endpoints" in dentistry. From the binary satisfaction of an extraction to the gamified progress bar of using disclosing solution during hygiene, he contrasts these clean wins with the existential anxiety of restorative work—like chasing deep caries or dropping crown margins on a difficult second molar. But in a twist of ultimate podcasting irony, the dental gods decide to test his philosophy mid-recording. After literally just cementing a crown on a patient with limited opening, Alan returns to the microphone to reveal that the crown shifted, leaving an open margin. What follows is a raw, honest, and comforting look at perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and why real-world dentists have to give themselves a break when the finish line turns into a truce. Join the Very Dental Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/752256272130042] using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul, Bioclear, Hornbrook, Gary, McWethy, Papa Randy, or Lipscomb! The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! We're proud to be supported by the folks at Net32! https://www.net32.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=very-dental-fb I'm a big fan of the Bioclear Method [https://www.bioclearmatrix.com/bioclear-learning-center/]! I think you should give it a try and I've got a great offer to help you get on board! Use the exclusive Very Dental Podcast code VERYDENTAL8TON for 15% OFF your total Bioclear purchase, including Core Anterior and Posterior Four day courses, Black Triangle Certification, and all Bioclear products. Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you'll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/crazy] and use coupon code "VERYSHIP" you'll get free shipping on your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist]! Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/enova] to see their whole line of products! CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you'll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay]!

Very Dental: The 80/20 Rule of Dental Hygiene with Beth Parkes

Alan welcomes Beth Parkes, a clinical dental hygienist and educator from Canada, to break down the evolving world of hygiene instrumentation. Beth challenges the common "ultrasonics-to-completion" mindset, advocating instead for a balanced marriage of 80% power scaling and 20% intricate hand instrumentation for optimal tactile feedback. The duo dives into the resurgence of guided biofilm visualization, the absolute game-changer that is the "Vision Butler" (hilariously rebranded as Spandex Advanced in the US) lip and cheek retractor, and the critical metallurgical differences between "sharpen-less" and truly "sharpen-free" hand instruments. Finally, Beth shares her strategic "making every tray count" system designed to streamline sterilization workflows, keep kits lean, and foster respect between practice owners and hygiene teams. Some links from the show: * Garrison Dental [https://www.garrisondental.com/] * Sharp Diamond instruments by LM (distributed by Garrison) [https://www.garrisondental.com/lm-sharp-diamondtm?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=22860330919&utm_medium=ad&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22850625084&gbraid=0AAAAADuSkfe5DOL4sP4rPfhoLWUFUzN2u&gclid=CjwKCAjw0o3SBhBVEiwAh28-jWBbPLWZjZzUEJcfjsCkAlPx9NaYLJ5kGDV2VxFuCI0XadDXY1Ba8xoCV1AQAvD_BwE] * Spandex Advanced Lip & Cheek Retractor from Hager Worldwide [https://hagerworldwide.com/product/spandex-advanced-lip-cheek-retractor/] * Vision Butler from Curion Dental (in Canada) [https://curion.ca/products/dental-organiser-visionbutler-autoclavable-silicone-lip-cheek-retractor?srsltid=AfmBOooPTL4dL7087WaelTI5e49Ddy0U-wMaXjQC-A67brKjweaI5aCv] Join the Very Dental Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/752256272130042] using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul, Bioclear, Hornbrook, Gary, McWethy, Papa Randy, Frank or Lipscomb! The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! We're proud to be supported by the folks at Net32! https://www.net32.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=very-dental-fb I'm a big fan of the Bioclear Method [https://www.bioclearmatrix.com/bioclear-learning-center/]! I think you should give it a try and I've got a great offer to help you get on board! Use the exclusive Very Dental Podcast code VERYDENTAL8TON for 15% OFF your total Bioclear purchase, including Core Anterior and Posterior Four day courses, Black Triangle Certification, and all Bioclear products. Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you'll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/crazy] and use coupon code "VERYSHIP" you'll get free shipping on your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist]! Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/enova] to see their whole line of products! CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you'll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay]!

Very Clinical: 12 Crowns and $350K in Debt? Inside Modern Dental Education

This throwback episode from 2023 features Dr. Meylinda Meredith. Zach and Kevin welcome back special guest Meylinda, as they kick things off with some hilariously relatable (and occasionally creepy) bad neighbor stories. The conversation then shifts to the front lines of dental education, diving into the post-COVID realities of dental school, the controversial shift to pass/fail and typodont-based board exams, skyrocketing tuition costs, and the critical decline of clinical "reps" for incoming graduates. Some links from the show: * UMKC School of Dentistry Alumni Page [https://dentistry.umkc.edu/alumni/] * Stevenson Dental Solutions YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@StevensonDentalSolutions] Join the Very Clinical Facebook group! [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1731846006905360] Join the Very Dental Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/752256272130042] using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul, Bioclear, Hornbrook, Gary, McWethy, Papa Randy, or Lipscomb! The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! We're proud to be supported by the folks at Net32! https://www.net32.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=very-dental-fb I'm a big fan of the Bioclear Method [https://www.bioclearmatrix.com/bioclear-learning-center/]! I think you should give it a try and I've got a great offer to help you get on board! Use the exclusive Very Dental Podcast code VERYDENTAL8TON for 15% OFF your total Bioclear purchase, including Core Anterior and Posterior Four day courses, Black Triangle Certification, and all Bioclear products. Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you'll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/crazy] and use coupon code "VERYSHIP" you'll get free shipping on your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist]! Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/enova] to see their whole line of products! CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you'll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay]!

Very Dental: Airway, Orthodontics and Omissions with Dr. Matt Standridge, part 2

The cliffhanger is paid off in this highly anticipated follow-up episode! Alan welcomes back Dr. Matt Standridge to finish their deep dive into the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) controversial white paper on Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB). Matt pulls back the curtain on the paper's actual citation list, exposing questionable sample sizes, misplaced reference numbers, and instances where the AAO's conclusions directly contradict the very research they cited. From the true diagnostic value of CBCT scans to the data surrounding tongue ties, premolar extractions, and palatal expansion, this episode explores the standard of evidence-based medicine in modern orthodontics and highlights the massive opportunity ahead for practitioners willing to follow the science. Some links from the show: * Sleep-disordered Breathing and [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVjNzJHzzXvVZnNWGBhRrjvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1] Orthodontics: An American Association [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVjNzJHzzXvVZnNWGBhRrjvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1] of Orthodontists white paper update [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVjNzJHzzXvVZnNWGBhRrjvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1] * Matt Standridge's VERY thorough rebuttal [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVjNzJHzzXvVZnNWGBhRrjvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.2] * Matt would like to thank some mentors/friends for the inspiration: Drs Mark Deluke, Audrey Yoon, Tracey Nguyen, Jeff Rouse, and Marianna Evans Join the Very Dental Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/752256272130042] using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul, Bioclear, Hornbrook, Gary, McWethy, Papa Randy, Frank or Lipscomb! The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! We're proud to be supported by the folks at Net32! https://www.net32.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=very-dental-fb I'm a big fan of the Bioclear Method [https://www.bioclearmatrix.com/bioclear-learning-center/]! I think you should give it a try and I've got a great offer to help you get on board! Use the exclusive Very Dental Podcast code VERYDENTAL8TON for 15% OFF your total Bioclear purchase, including Core Anterior and Posterior Four day courses, Black Triangle Certification, and all Bioclear products. Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you'll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/crazy] and use coupon code "VERYSHIP" you'll get free shipping on your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist]! Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/enova] to see their whole line of products! CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you'll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay]!

Very Dental: Airway, Orthodontics and Omissions with Dr. Matt Standridge, part 1

Alan is once again joined by podcast veteran Dr. Matt Standridge to dissect the American Association of Orthodontists' (AAO) controversial 2026 white paper on sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and orthodontics. Together, they pull back the curtain on the document's surprising omissions—including a shrinking author panel that entirely removed sleep physicians—and critique its heavy, restrictive reliance on full polysomnography (PSG) as a gatekeeper for early pediatric intervention. Dr. Standridge highlights how the paper's narrow scope and questionable citations conflict with both well-established historical data and contemporary European medical guidelines, framing the white paper more as a defensive "CYA" document than a progressive guide for patient care. Some links from the show: * Sleep-disordered Breathing and [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVjNzJHzzXvVZnNWGBhRrjvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1] Orthodontics: An American Association [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVjNzJHzzXvVZnNWGBhRrjvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1] of Orthodontists white paper update [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVjNzJHzzXvVZnNWGBhRrjvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1] * Matt Standridge's VERY thorough rebuttal [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMVjNzJHzzXvVZnNWGBhRrjvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.2] * Matt would like to thank some mentors/friends for the inspiration: Drs Mark Deluke, Audrey Yoon, Tracey Nguyen, Jeff Rouse, and Marianna Evans Join the Very Dental Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/752256272130042] using one of these passwords: Timmerman, Paul, Bioclear, Hornbrook, Gary, McWethy, Papa Randy, Frank or Lipscomb! The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you'd like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! We're proud to be supported by the folks at Net32! https://www.net32.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=very-dental-fb I'm a big fan of the Bioclear Method [https://www.bioclearmatrix.com/bioclear-learning-center/]! I think you should give it a try and I've got a great offer to help you get on board! Use the exclusive Very Dental Podcast code VERYDENTAL8TON for 15% OFF your total Bioclear purchase, including Core Anterior and Posterior Four day courses, Black Triangle Certification, and all Bioclear products. Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you'll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/crazy] and use coupon code "VERYSHIP" you'll get free shipping on your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist]! Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/enova] to see their whole line of products! CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you'll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay [http://www.verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay]!