Simplify Dentistry

Join our hosts, as they sit down with Drs. Bart and Brian Farrell to discuss their journey into oral surgery, practice growth strategies, and insights into modern surgical techniques. The Farrell brothers share valuable perspectives on leadership, practice management, and the evolution of oral surgery in today's healthcare landscape. Episode Navigation * 00:00 - Introduction and welcome * 01:07 - Path to dentistry and oral surgery * 03:02 - Evolution of surgical techniques * 11:31 - Impact of technology on practice * 18:43 - Practice growth and equity partnerships * 27:53 - Leadership lessons learned * 40:52 - Discussion on dental education future   Key Takeaways Practice Evolution * Transition from traditional surgical methods to digital planning and virtual surgery * Implementation of therapeutic dressings and Exparel for better patient outcomes * Importance of collecting and analyzing practice data for improvement * Focus on doctor-led leadership in growing practices   Technology Impact * Digital planning replacing traditional articulators * Integration of CBCT and STL files for precise surgical planning * Improved anesthesia delivery systems * Enhanced surgical efficiency through technology Meet Your Guests: Dr. Bart Farrell: Experienced oral surgeon following in his father's footsteps, focused on patient care and practice growth. Leader in implementing new surgical techniques and practice management strategies. Dr. Brian Farrell: Innovator in oral surgery techniques, particularly in orthognathic surgery. Frequent lecturer and educator, sharing expertise in modern surgical approaches and practice development.   Connect With Simplify Dentistry * Website: simplifydds.com * Podcast: Available on major platforms Topics: oral surgery, practice management, dental technology, healthcare leadership, dental education, practice growth, surgical techniques, dental practice acquisition, dental anesthesia, orthognathic surgery

Join Dr. Murtuza Shah-Khan and Dr. Richard Offutt as they sit down with Gary Bird, founder of SMC National and host of Dental Marketing GOAT. In this no-fluff conversation, Gary breaks down the real barriers that hold dental practices back from growth—from marketing missteps to front desk inefficiencies. Learn how to convert more leads, improve patient experience, and think like a modern dental business.   Episode Navigation 00:00 – Welcome and guest intro 01:45 – Why most dental marketing fails 04:05 – Referral patients vs. marketing patients 08:00 – Breaking through the dental “growth ceiling” 10:00 – Front desk: capability vs. capacity 14:00 – How to review call “game tape” 18:30 – Training for pricing and phone conversions 21:00 – Turning insurance calls into booked appointments 25:20 – Simplifying your marketing strategy 27:45 – Final takeaways and where to connect   Key Takeaways Dental Marketing Myths * Most practices lose a majority of their marketing ROI at the front desk * Referral patients come in with built-in trust—marketing patients don’t * Practice owners often underestimate how many calls they miss or mishandle Fixing the Front Desk * Review recorded calls for training and accountability * Scripts don’t mean robotic—they create confidence * Pricing questions are not objections—they’re opportunities to connect * Marketing without conversion systems is just expensive hope   Featured Discussion Topics * Dental marketing strategy * Referral vs. marketing patients * Front desk performance * Practice growth bottlenecks * Call conversion and scripting * Business systems for dental teams   Meet Our Guest Gary Bird is the founder and CEO of SMC National [https://www.smcnational.com], a dental marketing agency helping group practices scale with smart strategy and strong conversion systems. He’s also the host of Dental Marketing GOAT and a frequent voice in national dental business conversations.   Connect With Simplify Dentistry Website: simplifydds.com [https://www.simplifydds.com] Podcast: Available on all major platforms   Topics: dental marketing, front desk training, dental growth strategy, practice conversion, patient acquisition, call scripting, practice management, referral patients, dental business systems

Join Dr. Mustafa Shah-Khan and Dr. Richard Offut as they discuss the evolving landscape of dentistry with Dr. Pamela Maragliano, Chief Editor of Dental Economics. From AI implementation to practice culture and staffing challenges, this episode provides valuable insights into current industry trends and practical solutions for modern dental practices.   Episode Navigation * 00:00 - Introduction and welcome * 00:32 - Dr. Pam's dual role as practice owner and chief editor * 01:37 - Current dental industry trends * 03:02 - Discussion on AI in dentistry * 07:44 - Remineralization technologies * 10:58 - Dental hygiene staffing challenges * 14:15 - Practice culture and staff retention * 22:18 - Independent practices vs DSOs * 34:58 - Notable podcast guests and insights   Key Takeaways   Current Industry Trends * AI implementation remains a developing technology with both clinical and administrative applications * Staff retention requires flexibility and focus on culture * Independent practices must define their position in the market * Practice success requires both clinical and business competencies   Practice Management Insights * Create clear practice mission and non-negotiables * Invest in operational infrastructure * Focus on building the right team culture * Consider alternative scheduling models for staff satisfaction   Featured Discussion Topics * Artificial Intelligence in dentistry * Staff recruitment and retention * Practice culture development * DSO trends and independent practice strategies * Remineralization technologies * Business management competencies   Meet Our Guest Dr. Pamela Maragliano: Chief Editor of Dental Economics magazine and owner of a dental practice in Salem, Massachusetts. Dr. Pam brings unique insights from both clinical practice and industry leadership perspectives.   Connect With Simplify Dentistry *  Website: simplifydds.com * Podcast: Available on major streaming platforms Topics: dental AI, practice management, dental staffing, DSO trends, practice culture, dental technology, dental economics, dental practice ownership, dental industry trends, dental business management

In this episode of Simplify Dentistry, host Dr. Richard Offutt sits down with Dr. Brett Wells of Wells Family Dental Group. Brett shares his journey of building a patient-centered, multi-location practice in Raleigh, North Carolina, while balancing growth, leadership, and family life. From creating trust-based relationships to navigating the challenges of expansion, Brett offers wisdom for dentists who want to grow without losing sight of their values.   Episode Navigation 00:00 – Welcome and introduction 01:25 –Brett’s journey into dentistry and building his practice 05:40 – Why trust is the foundation of patient care 09:10 – Balancing growth with personal and professional life 14:20 – Expanding into multiple locations 20:05 – Leadership lessons from practice ownership 26:15 – Family, faith, and finding perspective 31:50 – Advice for young dentists and practice owners 36:10 – Final reflections and where to connect   Key Takeaways Building a Patient-Centered Practice * Trust is the foundation of long-term patient relationships * Growth should align with values, not just numbers * Communication and consistency are key to building loyalty Leadership & Growth * Expansion requires clarity of vision and the right team * Balance comes from setting boundaries and priorities * Success isn’t just about growth—it’s about purpose and impact   Featured Discussion Topics * Patient-centered dentistry * Building multi-location practices * Leadership lessons in ownership * Work-life balance for dentists * Values-based growth strategies   Meet Our Guest Dr. Brett Wells is the owner of Wells Family Dental Group in Raleigh, NC. With a focus on patient trust, team culture, and values-based leadership, Brett has grown his practice into a thriving multi-location group while maintaining a strong balance between work, family, and community.   Connect With Simplify Dentistry Website: simplifydds.com [https://simplifydds.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Podcast: Available on all major platforms   Topics: patient-centered dentistry, leadership, practice growth, multi-location practices, work-life balance, values-based leadership, dental entrepreneurship, dental practice management

In this episode of Simplify Dentistry, hosts Dr. Mustafa Shah-Khan and Dr. Richard Offutt welcome Dr. Paul Etchison—practicing dentist, author of Dental Practice Hero, and host of the Dental Practice Heroes podcast. Paul shares his journey of building a thriving multi-doctor practice, the systems that created freedom instead of chaos, and the leadership lessons that help dentists design practices that serve both their patients and their lives.   Episode Navigation 00:00 – Welcome and introduction 01:42 – Paul’s early journey and practice growth 05:10 – Why systems equal freedom in dentistry 09:15 – Building high-performing teams and accountability 14:20 – Leadership lessons from Dental Practice Hero 20:40 – Common mistakes dentists make when scaling 27:15 – Balancing growth with work-life freedom 33:50 – How simplicity drives long-term success 38:12 – Closing thoughts and where to connect   Key Takeaways Leadership & Systems * Systems are the key to scaling without losing control * Leadership means creating clarity, not micromanaging * Accountability structures empower teams and reduce stress for owners Practice Growth Insights * Growth should support your life—not consume it * Culture comes from clear expectations and consistent follow-through * Scaling requires simplicity: fewer moving parts, stronger systems   Featured Discussion Topics * Scaling dental practices with systems * Leadership strategies for owners * Team culture and accountability * Work-life balance in dentistry * Lessons from Dental Practice Hero   Meet Our Guest Dr. Paul Etchison is a practicing dentist, podcast host, and author of Dental Practice Hero: From Ordinary Practice to Extraordinary Experience. He grew his practice into a multi-doctor group while maintaining work-life balance and now helps other dentists simplify their practices through leadership, systems, and mindset.   Connect With Simplify Dentistry Website: simplifydds.com [https://simplifydds.com] Podcast: Available on all major platforms   Topics: dental leadership, dental practice systems, practice growth, work-life balance, dental entrepreneurship, team culture, accountability, practice management