Dr. Lou Berman talks dental instruments, why you shouldn't have to pay more for great quality and how to "take the lead out of the pencil".

You might recognize today's guest as one of our sponsors, but we just can't talk enough about Berman dental instruments. That's why we brought Dr. Lou Berman, founder of Berman Dental Instruments, onto the podcast today. As an entrepreneur of many ventures, Lou's got plenty of slang to spare. Working across different industries not only "heightened his business acumen" as he says, but it also helped him become a better dentist.  If you think there aren't many business opportunities for dentists these days, think again. Lou's seen it all, from community banking to real estate investment. This kind of experience and access to information helped shaped the way Lou learned why things are done the way are, inspiring him to find ways to do it better. This kind of attitude ultimately inspired him to launch the business we all know him for today - Berman Dental Instruments. But before we get into all that business talk, we talk first about Lou's career as a dentist. He'll say he's been practicing since he was 12 years old. So many of us have those childhood memories of playing pretend, never thinking that it would shape our futures or our careers, but it really and truly does. That childhood confidence is what led Lou to start his own private practice fresh out of residency. But it was his taste for business that kept him from following that well-traveled road of dental practice. Lou loves dentistry, and he especially loves his field of endodontics. The dental slang Lou uses in his practice is both silly and practical, like all slang is, but it really works to help patients understand the sometimes very complicated procedures Lou performs. Yet after doing thousands of root canals and other pulp procedures, Lou was looking to expand his perspective. There are different entrepreneurial projects dentists can get into that don't involve teeth, and Lou shares a bit about what going out on a limb with some of these business ventures is like.  His first venture was a community bank he started with his friends. This lasted for a decade before he sold that business and took a shot at real estate investment. Both of those are things some dentists would never think of - we sure didn't! - but it's interesting to hear how Lou ties it all back into his love of dentistry. We really dive into what inspired him to start Berman Dental Instruments, and how his own experiences in business influence the ways he helps other dentists get the most out of their own dental practices and dental businesses.  Dr. Lou Berman is looking out for his dental colleagues. Whether you're looking for high-quality dental instruments at affordable prices, or need tips on how to build an online community, Lou is overflowing with advice. Launching the website for Berman Dental Instruments really gave him some insight on how to leverage Instagram to his advantage, and we discuss the different ways social media can create a sense of community between fellow dentists as well as dentists and their patients. If you're interested in making Dr. Lou part of your community, tune in now and connect with him right on his website at www.BermanDentalInstruments.com. In This Episode You Will Learn: Exactly how many editions of Pathways to the Pulp there are 2:55 The highlights of Lou's dental career 6:30  How Berman Instruments is solving modern day dental problems 10:40 How to get the best prices on your dental tools without being part of a corporate group 16:00 Why new dentists don't have to be afraid of starting their own practice from scratch anymore 18:00 Why Lou chose to use Italian steel for the new premium line of dental tools 21:58 Some Questions We Discuss: How can seasoned dentists get their hands on the new edition of Pathways? 4:24 What kinds of entrepreneurial projects can dentists get into? 8:05 How does Lou use social media communities to promote Berman Instruments? 13:42 What new tools are coming down the pipe at Berman Instruments? 20:56 What's Lou's favorite dental slang in endo? 23:57 Resources: Visit our website: www.DentalSlang.com Connect with us on Facebook: Dental Slang Click here to order your next dental tools from Berman Instruments