The Dental Handoff

Episode 205 | Who Trains the People Who Run Dental Practices? - Savanah Carlson, MAADOM

Every clinical role in a dental practice comes with a license, a certification, or an advanced degree. The office manager who coordinates everything those clinicians do? She learns it on the job, alone, and owns the outcome regardless.   In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Savanah Carlson, MAADOM, Director of U.S. Partners and Learning Programs at MaxAssist, former Director of Member Services at AADOM, and a dental practice management professional who has held every admin role dentistry has. She grew from Patient and Social Media Coordinator to Office Manager at Lund Dental Associates in Stoneham, Massachusetts, earned her Fellowship, Mastership, and Diplomate credentials from AADOM, led member services for the 10,000-plus member national association, and now brings that depth of experience to helping dental teams perform at their best through MaxAssist's AI-powered scheduling and admin tools.   The conversation covers what it takes to build a culture that is genuinely healthy rather than performed, how to anchor a team when everything is pulling it apart, and why the patient experience in any practice is owned entirely by the people at the front, not the people at the chair.   This episode is for dental office managers, hygienists, dentists, and practice owners who want to close the gap between the care they deliver clinically and the experience patients carry home. In this conversation, you’ll learn: * Why the patient experience begins and ends with the admin team and what that means for how practices should be led * The difference between toxic positivity and a genuinely healthy culture and why most practices cannot tell them apart * What happens when leadership cannot clearly answer why we are seeing these patients * Why communication is an applied science that no dental education pathway actually teaches * How the DISC assessment changes not just how you lead your team but how you talk to patients * The two-question end-of-day habit that costs nothing and builds more trust than most management strategies * What good AI adoption looks like for an admin team and what it looks like when a practice is using it for the wrong reasons * What it means to go after connection first and let everything else build from there Connect with Savanah Carlson, MAADOM: MaxAssist: https://maxassist.com/ [https://maxassist.com/] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/savanahmcarlson Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min [https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min] Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com [https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com/]

Episode 204 | Saying Yes, Earning the CSP, and Owning the Stage - Lisa Copeland, RDH, CSP, CVP

Lisa Copeland holds the CSP, the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association, one of the most respected credentials in professional speaking. Fewer than 17% of speakers in the world have earned it. She is one of only three registered dental hygienists to ever receive it. That credential came after thirty years of saying yes. Perio in Scranton. Implantology in Washington, DC. Six years in Singapore. Twenty years in corporate education. Two IRONMAN races. Open water swimming. Snowboarding. A book. And a PACE-approved company she built from scratch to coach dental professionals, consultants, and emerging speakers on how to communicate with influence.   In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with her longtime colleague and friend to unpack the speaking framework Lisa has refined over decades: why your conclusion matters more than your introduction, how the 10-20-30 rule forces clarity no other constraint can, and why ending a talk on Q&A quietly kills every room.   This one is for hygienists, dentists, practice owners, and anyone in the dental profession who wants to communicate with more intention, whether that is in the operatory, in a team meeting, or on a stage in front of hundreds. You’ll Learn: * Why fewer than 17% of speakers earn the CSP and why one of only 3 RDHs to hold it says structure matters more than stage presence * How to write a presentation by starting with your conclusion and building everything backwards * Why your conclusion is the most important part of any talk and why most people write it last * The 10-20-30 rule: 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30-point font and why 30-point font is the one constraint that forces clarity * Why you should never end your presentation on Q&A and exactly how to control the room so you finish on your terms * How saying yes to things she was not qualified for yet became the only strategy she ever needed *  What flap surgery in a Scranton perio office taught her about preparation and what she still misses on the distal of tooth 14 CONNECT WITH Lisa Copeland, RDH, CSP, CVP: Website: communicatewithinfluence.org Email: lisa@communicatewithinfluence.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisagcopeland Book a Free Discovery Call: bookme.name/LisaCopelandRDH [http://bookme.name/LisaCopelandRDH] Workshop: Vivos Institute, June 26 and 27  |  Code LISA200 saves $200  |  AGD PACE CE credit eligible  Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min [https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min] Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com [https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com/]

Episode 203 | Brand, Trust, and the Three-Legged Marketing Table - Chris Snyder

In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Chris Snyder, founder of 360 Media + Marketing. Since 2016, Chris has built a reputation for helping dental professionals stand out through personal branding, public relations, and advertising with a focus on authentic storytelling and strategic visibility.   Chris breaks down why most dental marketing misses the mark, why email still converts better than social media, and what the three-legged table of visibility, voice, and networking actually looks like inside a dental practice.   This episode is for dentists, dental hygienists, practice owners, and CE-focused clinicians who want to move from transactional to relational marketing and build a brand patients actually remember. You’ll Learn: * Why visibility is the first leg of a three-legged marketing strategy and why ads alone will not get you there * How to earn the right to make the ask before you ever pitch a sale * Why email still outconverts social media and what to do with that information * The role your website plays in SEO and how to trigger a Google crawl today * What alt text actually does and why automated alt text may be hurting your trust * Why long-form content like podcasts, blogs, and speaking creates trust faster than any ad * How Chris applied the Walgreens neighborhood strategy to dental practice marketing * The three things every practice should build before spending on ads CONNECT WITH Chris Snyder: https://360mediaandmarketing.com/ [https://360mediaandmarketing.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-snyder-360mediamarketing/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-snyder-360mediamarketing/]   Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min [https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min] Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com [https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com/]

Episode 202 | Full Arch Implants, Case Acceptance and the Blue Ocean Practice - John Heimke

In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. John Heimke, DMD, MPH, President of Facial Designers, Inc., aesthetic dentist, full-arch implant provider, and faculty at the FMR in New York. They cover what it actually takes to build a fulfilling, high-performing dental practice.   Dr. Heimke unpacks the Blue Ocean Strategy that reshaped his practice over 15 years ago, explains why 1.8 million Americans are ready for full-arch implants but cannot find a provider, and details how switching to Guided Biofilm Therapy transformed his hygiene department with patients voluntarily asking to come in 3 to 4 times a year.   This episode is for dentists, dental hygienists, practice owners, and CE-focused clinicians who want to move beyond single-tooth dentistry and build something that lasts. You’ll learn: *   Why 1.8 million patients are ready for full-arch implants right now but cannot find a provider *   The Blue Ocean Strategy concept that transformed Dr. Heimke's practice 15 years ago *   How AI smile design with Smile Cloud and a 75-inch screen changes case acceptance *   Why a full-mouth restoration costs less than the average American car and how to say that to patients *   The real flossing compliance data: only 3 feet of floss sold per person per year in the US *   How Guided Biofilm Therapy moved patients from twice a year to 3 to 4 visits voluntarily *   Why patients do not care what material you use; they want to know if you can solve their problem *   The router upgrade under $200 that makes every technology in your office run faster today Connect with John Heimke, DMD, MPH: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-heimke-1bbb0810/ https://www.everyonelovesmysmile.com/ [https://www.everyonelovesmysmile.com/] Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min [https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min] Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com [https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com/]

Episode 201 | Why Perfection Is Ruining Dentistry and What to Do Instead - JoAnn Gurenlian

What if the biggest thing holding you back in dentistry is trying to be perfect? In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian to unpack a challenge many dental professionals face but rarely discuss: perfectionism. From early training to clinical practice, dentistry often reinforces the pressure to get everything right. But that constant pursuit of perfection can quietly lead to burnout, self- doubt, and stalled growth. This conversation explores how fear of mistakes shapes learning, confidence, and long-term success in dental hygiene and beyond. Dr. Gurenlian shares a different perspective, one grounded in education, leadership, and real clinical experience. Instead of avoiding failure, she explains why it is essential for developing skills, resilience, and better patient care. With decades of experience in dental hygiene education, research, and advocacy, Dr. Gurenlian offers practical insight into how shifting your mindset can change the way you practice and lead. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by expectations in dentistry, this episode will help you rethink what progress actually looks like. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why perfectionism is so common in dentistry * How fear of failure impacts clinical performance * Why mistakes are essential for growth and learning * How to build confidence in practice * Ways to shift from perfection to progress   Connect with JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AFAAOM: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joann-gurenlian-rdh-ms-phd-afaaom-8ab135165/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joann-gurenlian-rdh-ms-phd-afaaom-8ab135165/] Where to Find Dr. Kelly: Let's Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance. https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min [https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min] Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com [https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com/]