Dental Podcast Episodes
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Marie Fluent Release Date: 11/20/25 |
Ensuring compliance and best practices for eye safety isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about protecting the health and well-being of your team and your patients. So stay tuned as we dive into the essential steps every dental professional needs to take to keep their eyes on safety! Our guest is Dr. Marie Fluent. Dr. Fluent’s dental career spans over 35 years and includes all roles within the dental practice. She is passionate and deeply committed to improving dental infection control and patient safety.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Kandra Sellers, RDH Release Date: 11/6/25 |
As dental professionals, we often focus solely on dental insurance reimbursements, yet many procedures qualify for coverage under medical insurance. By understanding how to articulate the medical necessity of certain dental treatments, dentists can not only enhance patient care but also unlock additional revenue streams. Joining us is our guest Kandra Sellers. Kandra is a RDH with over 25 years in the dental industry. She is widely considered one of the most passionate and respected dental coaches. She is an educator in the field of oral systemic health, as well as founder and CEO of TIPS Medical Billing.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Katrina Klein, RDH Release Date: 10/31/25 |
In this episode, we’ll explore why muscle strength is a game-changer for dental professionals, the key muscle groups you need to focus on, and simple exercises to keep you strong, stable, and pain-free. To tell us more about it is our guest, Katrina Klein. Katrina is a registered dental hygienist for 16 years, national speaker, author, competitive bodybuilder and certified personal trainer. She’s the founder of ErgoFitLife, where ergonomics and fitness are a lifestyle to prevent, reduce or eliminate pain.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Stephanie Vondrak Release Date: 10/23/25 |
Today’s episode is all about expanding your expertise and setting yourself apart in the ever-evolving world of dentistry. As a general dentist, you have the opportunity to transform your practice by sub-specializing in airway and TMJ conditions—two critical areas that are often overlooked but deeply impact patient health. Our guest today is Dr Stephanie Vondrak. She owns and operates a private practice in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Dr. Vondrak is a prime example of how expanding a practice with specialized services in airway and TMJ disorders can elevate the standard of care across all phases of restorative dentistry. In doing so, she has not only enhanced patient outcomes but also found immense fulfillment in her career.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Karson Carpenter Release Date: 10/16/25 |
Beyond our primary goal of protecting patients and employees from transmissible disease, there’s another crucial consideration: the potential for patients or employees to weaponize agencies like the Department of Public Health, OSHA, or your state dental board as a form of retaliation against you or your practice. While this is thankfully rare, it’s essential to be prepared for the potential challenges such situations might bring. Joining us today to shed light on this topic is Dr. Karson Carpenter, a dentist and expert consultant on infection control and OSHA compliance in the dental setting. Dr. Carpenter is the founder and CEO of Compliance Training Partners, a company dedicated to helping dental practices stay compliant and navigate investigations related to infection control violations.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Melissa Turner, BASDH, RDHEP, EFDA Release Date: 10/9/25 |
As AI continues to advance, it’s essential for dental professionals to stay informed and proactive. By embracing AI today, you can position your practice for a more efficient, effective, and patient-centered future. To tell us more about AI and how it can do many things for dentists and hygienists is our guest, Melissa Turner, a 20-year veteran dental hygienist. Melissa is a sought-after consultant and speaker. She partners with companies of all sizes on brand strategy and product growth, leveraging her unique insights from experience in the boardroom and as a clinician.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Christopher Pescatore Release Date: 10/2/25 |
In-office milling and 3D printing are cutting-edge technologies. But, like any major investment, these tools come with their own set of questions. Is this the right time to spend the money? What kind of volume do I need to make this investment profitable? Are there any ongoing costs and do I have the staff to manage these machines? Today, we'll be talking to Dr. Chris Pescatore, who will give his candid viewpoint on the pros and cons of these in-office technologies. Dr. Pescatore is general dentist for over 30 years who maintains a full-time practice dedicated exclusively to aesthetic restorative dentistry in Danville, California.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Jacqueline Patterson Release Date: 9/25/25 |
As with any profession, doing the same thing every day can put us in a rut. As things become routine we soon begin to lose interest. So as dental professionals, how to stay inspired, fulfilled, and energized in our dental career? Today we’re diving into a topic that’s more important than ever for dental professionals: how to reignite your passion for dentistry and avoid the burnout that’s become all too common in our field. Our guest today is Dr. Jacqueline Patterson, a general dentist and orofacial myofunctional therapist with over 15 years of experience.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Karson Carpenter Release Date: 9/18/25 |
In today’s episode, we’ll discuss a scenario that every dental practice owner dreads—a disgruntled employee reporting infection control violations to the Department of Health. We’ll explore a real-life case that highlights just how devastating such a report can be, leading to potential fines, damaged reputation, loss of patient trust and even the shutting down of the practice. What can we do to prevent this? Joining us today to shed light on this topic is Dr. Karson Carpenter, a dentist and expert consultant on infection control and OSHA compliance in the dental setting. Dr. Carpenter is the founder and CEO of Compliance Training Partners, a company dedicated to helping dental practices stay compliant and navigate investigations related to infection control violations.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Katrina Klein, RDH Release Date: 9/15/25 |
In a field where precision and stamina are paramount, poor ergonomics can lead to chronic pain, fatigue, and long-term health issues. But it doesn't have to be this way. By understanding and implementing ergonomic practices, and choosing the right kind of operatory delivery systems and equipment, we can transform our work environment into a space that supports our bodies as much as our skills. To tell us more about it is our guest, Katrina Klein. Katrina is a registered dental hygienist for 16 years, national speaker, author, competitive bodybuilder and certified personal trainer. She’s the founder of ErgoFitLife, where ergonomics and fitness are a lifestyle to prevent, reduce or eliminate pain.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Phil Klein, DMD Release Date: 9/4/25 |
It’s not uncommon for those of us who are looking to hire a new office manager to have some questions. For instance, how do you find this person? What should you pay them? And once you hire someone, what is the typical training you should be giving them and, of course, what is the best way to ensure that your new office manager stays with you and isn’t tempted to look around for another opportunity, potentially at a dental office right down the road? This episode addresses these questions and more so stay tuned!
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Ashley Clark Release Date: 8/28/25 |
In this episode we are joined by oral pathologist and dentist, Dr. Ashley Clark. She brings a wealth of knowledge about the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management strategies for oral ulcerations. She'll share insights into what dentists should look for during routine exams, when to be concerned, and how to approach treatment or referral.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Steven Milman Release Date: 8/21/25 |
Are typical mouthwash products effective and are they worth recommending to our patients? Are there any products out there that can actually make a significant difference in our fight against perio disease? Our guest, Dr. Steven Milman, will address these questions and more. Dr. Milman received his dental degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. He completed his Periodontal residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He was a researcher in periodontal microbiology and was a full time periodontist in his private practice in Round Rock and Austin, Texas for 36 years.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Melissa Turner, BASDH, RDHEP, EFDA Release Date: 8/14/25 |
Melissa Turner has been a practicing dental hygiene for 20 years and she is of the mindset that nothing is out of reach when it comes to opportunities for dentists and dental hygienists. She attributes many of these opportunities to the rapid advancements in technology as well as our inner desire to expand our own horizons beyond clinical dentistry. Join us for an informal discussion with Melissa addressing fractional executives in dentistry, the growth of multi-location group practices and how the role of dental hygienists will revolutionize the dental practice.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Kandra Sellers, RDH Release Date: 8/7/25 |
As a dentist you are a medical specialist. That means it is totally appropriate and acceptable to tap into a patient's medical insurance for procedures that fall within the realm of medical necessity. And there are plenty of procedures performed in our operatories that do fall within the range of medical necessity. So why would we want to start billing to medical insurance companies and how difficult is this to do? To answer these questions and more is our guest, Kandra Sellers. Kandra is a RDH with over 25 years in the dental industry. She is widely considered one of the most passionate and respected dental coaches. She is an educator in the field of oral systemic health, as well as founder and CEO of TIPS Medical Billing.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Maria Kunstadter Release Date: 7/31/25 |
Perhaps we look at teledentistry as something that would be good for practices in remote areas but not particularly useful for urban practices, where patients can easily get to dentists. But there's actually a lot more below the surface when it comes to teledentistry. Especially today, where we continue to see increasing demands for convenient healthcare solutions. In this environment, teledentistry emerges as a tool that holds immense potential for every dental practice. To tell us more about it is our guest Dr. Maria Kunstadter. Over the past decade, Dr. Kunstadter, a practicing dentist, has been at the forefront of this innovative approach to dental care, integrating it seamlessly into her practice while also dedicating herself to educating and assisting fellow dental professionals in maximizing the potential of teledentistry.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Scott Benjamin Release Date: 7/24/25 |
Today we'll talk with Dr. Scott Benjamin about how he streamlined his root canal cases and boosted his confidence and success rate by incorporating dental laser technology into his endodontic workflow. He sees lateral canals filled with sealer on post-op x-rays like never before! Dr. Benjamin has been in private practice in rural upstate NY for over 40 years and is an internationally recognized authority on dental lasers and advanced dental technologies. Dr. Benjamin has faculty appointments at several universities, is the Chairman of the ADA Standards Committee Working Group on Dental Lasers and is a Past-President of the Academy of Laser Dentistry. He currently serves on the editorial review board for several prestigious dental journals.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Karson Carpenter Release Date: 7/17/25 |
While you're working hard in your operatory preparing an MOD on #15 something is about to happen at the reception desk that will haunt you and your practice for months and months to come. It will also cost you thousands of dollars. And this can happen to any dental office, especially those that don't train their employees on the nuances of HIPAA compliance. It all started when a patient who owed the practice money requested their dental records. To tell us how this all played out and what it cost the practice owner is our guest Dr. Karson Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter is a dentist and expert in OSHA and Infection Control Compliance and is founder and president of Compliance Training Partners.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Ankur Gupta Release Date: 7/10/25 |
So what are some of the things we do that require no extra time and still have a significant impact on maintaining our ergonomic equilibrium with the goal of preventing workplace injuries. To tell us all about and share some really amazing tips that focus on fitness and career longevity is our guest Dr. Ankur Gupta. Dr. Gupta graduated from the University of Michigan school of dentistry in 2004. He is private practice in North Ridgeville Ohio and has become a sought after speaker and lecturer on many aspects of how to build an extraordinary dental practice.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Jacqueline Patterson Release Date: 7/3/25 |
Expanding into sleep dentistry can bring a new level of fulfillment to your career and positively impact your patients’ lives. Our guest today is Dr. Jacqueline Patterson, a general dentist and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist with over 15 years of experience. She believes that early assessment and intervention in children suffering from airway issues can non-invasively improve both their dental and overall health, with benefits that will last a lifetime. Dr Patterson, thanks for joining us.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Phil Klein, DMD Release Date: 6/26/25 |
What’s interesting about root resorption is that it utilizes our own soft tissue cells to work against us, initiates its attack against the tooth from the inside out and from the outside in. In this podcast, presented by Endodontist Dr. Phil Klein, we’ll learn about this insidious process and hopefully we’ll get a better understanding of the fundamentals behind the different types of root resorption. By doing so, we as clinicians, can sharpen our diagnostic skills and optimally manage these conditions on a case by case basis.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Maria Kunstadter Release Date: 6/19/25 |
So we've heard a lot about teledentistry. We've heard that it benefits not only the patient, but also the dental practice. Is all this just hype, or should we start thinking seriously about implementing teledentistry into our workflow? To help us answer some of these questions is our guest, Dr. Maria Kunstadter, a seasoned dentist with a wealth of experience in teledentistry. Over the past decade, Dr. Kunstadter has been at the forefront of this innovative approach to dental care, integrating it seamlessly into her practice while also dedicating herself to educating and assisting fellow dental professionals in maximizing the potential of teledentistry.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Ashley Clark Release Date: 6/12/25 |
The white patch looks like the typical leukoplakia. The patient has no history of heavy smoking or drinking so the question is, what should you do as this patient's general dentist. What risk does the patient face by not referring the patient to an oral surgeon or periodontist for a second opinion and/or a biopsy? Should you just do the biopsy yourself? To tell us about leukoplakia and what we should be doing as GPs is our guest Dr. Ashley Clark. Dr. Clark is a dentist and Board-Certified Oral Pathologist currently serving as the Vice President of CAMP Laboratory. She is on the Professional Board for Oral Cancer Cause and Digital Dental Notes. Dr. Clark has won several teaching awards, has provided over 100 continuing education courses, and has authored more than 40 publications and book chapters. She can be reached at aclark@camplaboratory.com.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Todd Snyder Release Date: 6/5/25 |
If you're thinking of moving to a new area and perhaps starting a brand new dental practice, there is certainly a lot to think about. To help us sort through some of the pros and cons, we'll be talking to a super interesting dentist who actually experienced this having moved from So Cal to Las Vegas Nevada. Our guest Dr. Todd Snyder. He is a popular speaker on Viva Learning.com, a cosmetic dentist, international author, lecturer and consultant to dental companies. You can reach Dr. Snyder at: www.Legion.Dentist.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. John Frachella Release Date: 5/29/25 |
The use of medical management of caries is, for the most part, not taught in dental schools and it's not used nearly enough among practicing dentists. Removing the infected dentin with a microbrush and then treating the affected dentin with SDF followed by the placement GI can result in an incredibly high success rate. So the question is, why aren't more dentists doing this in their practice. Dr. Frachella believes a good part of the reason is that most dentists don't look at this treatment as profitable. He disagrees. So let's find out more from our guest, Dr. John Frachella, who is not only knowledgeable but also quite entertaining. Dr Frachella is a pediatric dentist with 50 years experience in the delivery of dental services in public and private settings. He’s worked in private practices across the country and for a decade was on staff at OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University) Dental School. He lectures at NYU Dental School for the largest dental residency program in the US.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Emily Boge, EdD, RDH, CDA, FAADH, FADHA Release Date: 5/22/25 |
Today we'll be talking about five significant things that dental hygiene school does not tell you while you are a hygiene student. We'll talk about why it's so important to know these things in order to survive, grow and thrive in the real world of dentistry. Our guest today is Emily Boge, She is one of the most knowledgeable educators you'll ever want to meet on the subject of dental assisting and dental hygiene. Emily blends her extensive experience in dental hygiene and dental assisting with a dual Doctorate in Education and Organizational Leadership.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.5
Guest: Dr. Chafic Safi Release Date: 5/19/25 |
What if there were a simple way to deliver an electronic charge into difficult-to-reach spaces, cauterizing soft tissue and making it easier to flush out? By doing so, we could effectively eliminate microbes hiding in constricted lateral and accessory canals. The good news is that with the introduction of a new technology we can do just that. This innovative device seamlessly integrates with the Root ZX3 apex locator, requiring no additional time or space—yet offering a major breakthrough in root canal therapy. Joining us today to discuss this technology is Dr. Chafic Safi. Dr. Safi completed his postgraduate residency in Endodontics at the University of Pennsylvania in 2015, where he also earned a Master of Science in Oral Biology. He lives and practices in Montreal, Canada.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Katrina Klein, RDH Release Date: 5/15/25 |
What we do for a living is a physically demanding profession. We're performing extremely detailed tasks that require high precision and clear visibility. And doing this over and over again, throughout the course of the day, can be traumatic to our bodies. So it's imperative that we are aware of our body position and the patient's position in the chair so that we minimize wear and tear on our musculoskeletal system. That means developing and maintaining good ergonomic habits. To tell us about this is our guest, Katrina Klein. Katrina is a registered dental hygienist for 16 years, national speaker, author, competitive bodybuilder and certified personal trainer. She’s the founder of ErgoFitLife, where ergonomics and fitness are a lifestyle to prevent, reduce or eliminate pain.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Larry Clark Release Date: 5/8/25 |
In this episode we'll learn about peri-implantitis and how a simple procedure using a silver impregnated plug can effectively prevent it from progressing into an implant failure. Our guest is Larry Clark, a well-respected dental researcher who has been involved in the dental industry for over 25 years.
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Supporter: Viva Learning Originals
CE Credits: 0.25
Guest: Dr. Phil Klein, DMD Release Date: 5/1/25 |
So picture this: you're in your operatory in the middle of a restorative case on a Friday afternoon and your staff member comes in and says your 10 yo patient Johnnie, just fell off of his skateboard and knocked out his upper right central incisor. The Mother is pretty stressed out and she's waiting for you to come to the phone. So the question is, as a GP, are you prepared to handle this case in the best possible way? In this episode we'll review the basics on how to handle the avulsed permanent tooth with complete apex formation. In a future podcast, I'll talk about avulsion of permanent teeth that have incomplete apex formation.
