The Very Dental Podcast Network

Recent Episodes

1. Very Clinical: Dr. Sully Sullivan on Replacing Yourself

   Aug 4, 2026

   Dr. Sully Sullivan from Nashville, Tennessee discusses the origins and philosophy of the 3D Dentists Mastermind program, which emphasizes teaching dentists to "replace themselves" to overcome bandwidth limitations and enable practice growth. He explains the core principles of comprehensive diagnosis, lower case acceptance rates (15-20%), and fewer well-planned visits, while detailing the Mastermind curriculum that includes accountability through peer groups and mandatory DSLR photography. Sullivan also covers the Digital Implant Continuum course, a live-patient training program held at a nonprofit facility in North Carolina that teaches extraction, grafting, guided implant surgery, and restoration, with a 2-to-1 mentor ratio and unlimited post-course support.

2. AME: Escaping the Outrage Machine with Dr. Dawn Grimes

   Aug 3, 2026

   Dr. Alan Mead and frequent guest Dr. Dawn Grimes discuss the negative impact of consuming news and media-driven outrage on mental health and daily well-being. Alan shares his strategy of driving his morning commute in complete silence to protect his peace and mental state, while Dr. Grimes emphasizes the importance of staying present rather than worrying about future events. The conversation touches on mindfulness, personal responsibility for one's emotional state, and ends with anecdotes about recognizing people by their distinctive voices and laughs in public.

3. Group Function: Decoding DSOs with Dr. Mark Costes & Dr. Paul Etchison

   Jul 31, 2026

   Dr. Alan Meade hosts Dr. Mark Costes and Dr. Paul Etchison to decode the evolving landscape of Dental Service Organizations (DSOs). The discussion covers the shift from early consolidation arbitrage models to a second wave of private equity investment focused on same-store growth, practice-level equity retention, and selective acquisition criteria. The guests explain how DSO valuations, recapitalization events, and investor expectations are reshaping which practices are attractive targets and what the future holds for independent and consolidating dental practices.

4. Very Clinical: Feed the Associate First with Dr. Sully Sullivan

   Jul 28, 2026

   Dr. Sully Sullivan from Nashville, Tennessee discusses his journey transforming his family dental practice from a traditional two-doctor operation into a thriving multi-provider clinic with six dentists, five hygienists, and 35 total staff members across an 11,000 sq ft facility. The episode focuses on his philosophy of 'feeding the associate first'—strategically hiring complementary providers and prioritizing their growth to drive overall practice success. Sullivan shares how he and his father navigated generational differences, invested in advanced technology like cone beam imaging and implant capabilities, and scaled from $1.4M to over $3M in collections by expanding the clinical skill set of the practice rather than relying solely on marketing.

5. AME: The "After This..." Trap

   Jul 27, 2026

   Dr. Alan Bean, host of the Alan Meat Experience podcast, reflects on hosting his son's graduation party at his 40-acre farm property and discusses the psychological concept of the "arrival fallacy"—the tendency to defer life activities in anticipation of future events, only to find that happiness and fulfillment don't automatically arrive once the event passes. He explores how he unconsciously postpones other commitments (bike riding, meetings, personal projects) when focused on upcoming milestones, and notes that this pattern continues as he anticipates his next major event: a live podcast recording at the Bioclear Summit in October.

6. Very Dental: The Truth About "Printed Ceramics" & AI Design with Damien Bonner

   Jul 24, 2026

   Damien Bonner from Cadre Dental discusses Shining 3D's latest dental technology, including the newly released Elf intraoral scanner and Ceramix Nano restorative 3D printer. The conversation covers the differences between ceramic printing systems, material composition and limitations, AI-assisted crown design, and the evolving landscape of chairside restorative dentistry. Bonner addresses pricing, workflow integration, and how these new tools compare to traditional milling and lab workflows.

7. Very Dental Classics: Finesse, Panache, Elan with Dr. Bart Schultz

   Jul 21, 2026

   Dr. Bart Schultz, a seasoned dentist and best friend of host Dr. Alan Meade from dental school, joins the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about clinical dentistry, practice philosophy, and life balance. The discussion spans complex restorative cases (implants, bone grafts, sinus lifts), patient communication challenges, treatment planning across multiple phases, and the 'all-on-4' approach. They reflect on their 23-year careers since graduation, personal purchases and consumerism, the importance of doing work that brings joy, and Bart's recent experience with his father's full-mouth dental rehabilitation.

8. AME: The Averages

   Jul 20, 2026

   Dr. Alan Mead, host of the Alan Meade Experience, discusses his personal experiences with chainsaw use while preparing for his son's graduation party on his 40-acre farm, and reflects on a challenging tooth extraction case that prompted deeper thinking about dental fee structures. The episode centers on Mead's observation that general dentists typically charge flat fees regardless of procedure difficulty, forcing them to 'live within the averages' rather than scale fees based on actual complexity, time, and patient difficulty factors.

9. Group Function: From Hours to Minutes with Erez Druk and Dr. Giles Damron

   Jul 17, 2026

   Erez Druk, co-founder and CEO of Freed AI, discusses his AI-powered medical scribe software that converts clinical conversations into structured notes. Joined by returning guest Dr. Giles Damron, a practicing dentist who has used Freed for two years, they explore how the technology reduces documentation burden across 100+ medical specialties, with specific focus on dental applications, customization capabilities, and upcoming features like AI-powered front desk scheduling.

10. Very Clinical: Streamline Your Implant "Tackle Box" with Dr. Chris Salierno

    Jul 14, 2026

    Dr. Chris Salerno, a restorative implant specialist from New York, joins the Very Clinical Podcast to discuss streamlining implant workflows and inventory management using the Neos implant system. The episode covers his philosophy on implant restoration beyond simple placement, the benefits of single-platform implant systems for reducing inventory complexity, and innovative Neos components like aesthetic healing abutments and tissue formers. Salerno emphasizes learning from clinical complications and shares insights on implant economics and practice efficiency.