Special List #25: How We Talk Ourselves Out of Treatment with Dr. Josh Austin

Put an image of your patient's cracked molar up on a 50-inch screen, stay quiet, and watch them diagnose it themselves. When Dr. Josh Austin started scanning every patient at every visit, it transformed how he presented restorative, ortho, and implant work.The scanner earns its keep by selling without feeling like selling. Josh explains why its value isn't the crown scan — it's getting the patient to say yes to the crown, and how showing people their own recession, cracks, and simulations gets them diagnosing their own mouths.The last thread is the one most GPs skip: clear aligners as a restorative tool, making the case that a few months of alignment before veneers or a crown can save you from bigger, more invasive dentistry down the road.From the mental health of dentists, to the intraoral scanner as a case-acceptance engine, to using clear aligners to make restorative dentistry easier, Josh lays out why our profession is 2.5x more likely to die by suicide, how dental school quietly trains bad habits, and why his answer, after years of giving the talk, comes down to one word.Plus: 6 dentists travel to Paris together, 37 pounds of trafficked French butter, and crashing a 13-course Michelin dinner.GuestDr. Joshua Austin runs a full-time restorative practice in San Antonio, Texas, and in early 2025 moved from a solo operatory into an eight-op, three-doctor office. He writes the "Pearls for Your Practice" column for Dental Economics, serves as global faculty for Align Technology and resident faculty at Spear Education, and in 2024 won the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and Seattle Study Club "Case of the Year."A graduate of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, he lectures across the country on dental technology, ortho-restorative treatment, and mental health, including his signature talk, "The Mental Dental Connection: The Secret to Being a Better Clinician and Better Leader."Learn more or book Josh to speak: austindentalseminars.comConnect with Josh on LinkedInQuestions answered by this episode:Why are dentists more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, and suicide?How does dental school create bad habits around alcohol and perfectionism?Can therapy actually help dentists manage the stress of practice ownership?How do I use an intraoral scanner to improve case acceptance?Why do patients say yes to treatment when they can see their own scan?What is the best way to present a cracked tooth or failing filling to a patient?How does SSRI (antidepressant) use affect dental implant success?Should general dentists offer clear aligners in a restorative practice?How can ortho with clear aligners make restorative dentistry easier?Why don't dentists look at occlusion, and how do I start?About The Special ListsThe Special Lists, presented by Referral Lab, is the podcast for dentists and dental specialists. Running a dental practice isn't easy, and if you're in private practice, it can sometimes feel like you're on an island. That's why finding your people—those who've been in your shoes and can share real, lived experience—changes the game.Referral Lab was built specifically for dental specialists, helping you track, manage, and convert every referral. It's about improving case acceptance, boosting team performance, and strengthening relationships with referring providers so your whole practice runs smarter.This spirit of connection fuels The Special Lists podcast. Hosted by the team behind Referral Lab, we bring you wisdom from practice owners and dental professionals, sharing the wins, mistakes, and lessons that shape how they run their businesses today.Got a question for us? Send us a message at speciallists.com (with two L's)Transform your referral workflow with Referral Lab, the purpose-built platform for dental specialists to track, manage and convert every referral. Request a demo at referrallab.ioHostsCameron FullCo-Founder of Referral LabCameron Full, co-founder of Referral Lab, is a strategic problem-solver with expertise in business management and digital solutions. He combines leadership, creativity, and technology to drive success across various industries.Connect with Cameron on LinkedInJason Souyias, DDSPeriodontist and Co-Founder of Referral LabDr. Jason Souyias is a periodontist, educator, and co-founder of Referral Lab software. He teaches dentists and hygienists, including as a Pikos Institute faculty member. In his Port Huron private practice, he's known for excellent patient communication and experience. He's passionate about his work and dedicated to helping other dentists.More about Port Huron, Michigan periodontist Dr. Jason SouyiasMichael Seda, DMD, MSPeriodontist and Co-Developer of Referral LabA clinician and entrepreneur, Dr. Seda brings 19 years of private practice experience to his periodontal and implant surgery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Seda's education spans several disciplines, including a degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Doctorate degree from Harvard University (DMD), and a Master's degree in Periodontics and Oral Medicine from Columbia University.More about Bay Area periodontist Dr. Michael SedaFollow Dr. Seda on Instagram @sedaperioCo-hosts: Cameron Full, Jason Souyias, DDS & Michael Seda, DDSProducer: Eva Sheie @ The AxisAssistant Producer: Mary Ellen ClarksonEngineering: Cameron LairdTheme music: Papa Funk, spring gangCover Art: Dan ChildsThe Special Lists is a production of The Axis.