The Word of Mouth Podcast

The People Problem: Why Hiring and Retention Is the Real Growth Strategy for Dental PracticesYou can have the best marketing, the latest technology, and a beautiful office — but without the right people, none of it works.In this episode of the Word of Mouth Podcast, Jeff and Sarah dig into one of the biggest pain points in dentistry today: hiring and retaining quality staff. From hygienist shortages to the role of workplace culture, they break down why people are the foundation of every successful dental practice — and what dentists can do right now to build a team that actually wants to stay.In this episode:🔍 40% of dentists are actively trying to hire a hygienist or assistant — and 9 out of 10 say it's very difficult to find good candidates📉 Hygienist salaries are up 33% over the last 10–15 years while dentist salaries have dropped 10–15% — making "just pay them more" an increasingly unsustainable solution🔄 Turnover is up significantly since 2020, and replacing an employee costs far more than retaining one — in time, training, and lost productivity👥 Over 63.7 million Americans live in a dental health professional shortage area, meaning demand for qualified providers isn't slowing down anytime soon🏆 The practices that win won't just be the ones that grow the fastest — they'll be the ones that build teams that actually want to stay and grow togetherThe key takeaway? Culture isn't a perk — it's a strategy. The practices that invest in people early are the ones that scale, retain patients, and thrive long-term.🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and wherever you listen.📞 Interested in talking with Opkie? Book a call here for a free practice market analysis: https://opkie.link/Word-Of-Mouth

The Old Dental Marketing Playbook Is Dead — Here's What Actually Works NowThe days of set-it-and-forget-it dental marketing are over. In this episode of the Word of Mouth Podcast, Jeff and Sarah break down why the strategies that built practices a decade ago are now quietly killing them — and what the most successful independent practices are doing instead to attract, convert, and keep their ideal patients.In this episode:🔄 The Marketing Shift — Why dentistry is returning to its roots with community-first strategies, and why the overreliance on Google Ads and PPOs is a slow leak most practices haven't noticed yet💬 Referrals Are Your Most Underutilized Asset — How to identify your best patients, ask for referrals the right way, and use "golden trigger" moments to make it feel natural — not salesy⭐ The Review Revolution — Why a handful of detailed, genuine reviews now outweigh hundreds of generic 5-star ratings, and how negative reviews are actually shaping patient trust more than positive ones📱 Social Media & Video Testimonials — How one practice captured six video testimonials in a single day — and why a short iPhone video builds more trust than any Google review ever could📊 The Metric That Actually Matters — Why patient lifetime value and retention beat new patient acquisition every time, and how speed of follow-up directly impacts how long patients stayThe key takeaway? The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing — it builds trust, and right now, trust is the only currency that's appreciating in dentistry.🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and wherever you listen.📞 Interested in talking with Opkie? Book a call here for a free practice market analysis: https://opkie.link/Word-Of-Mouth

AI isn't coming for your dental chair — it's coming for your X-ray reads, your scheduling, your patient follow-ups, and your implant placement success rate. In this episode of the Word of Mouth Podcast, Jeff and Sarah break down exactly how artificial intelligence is reshaping modern dental practices, from diagnostics to patient trust to the business side of running a practice.In this episode:🔬 AI-powered diagnostics are now performing at levels comparable to trained clinicians — acting as a second set of eyes on every scan🦷 Predictive AI can identify problem areas before they become cavities — giving dentists a powerful new tool for preventative treatment conversations📈 Case acceptance and patient trust are rising when AI is used in treatment presentations — Sarah shares her own firsthand experience🤖 Practice efficiency wins: AI is automating charting, scheduling, documentation, patient outreach, and review requests — the stuff no one went to dental school for🏆 Implant placement success rates are improving with AI augmentation — and every percentage point translates directly to the bottom lineThe key takeaway? AI isn't replacing the dentist — it's making the dentist the smartest, most trusted person in the room.🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and wherever you listen.📞 Interested in talking with Opkie? Book a call here for a free practice market analysis: https://opkie.link/Word-Of-Mouth

Drilling and filling may soon be a thing of the past — and the innovations replacing them are more exciting than most patients (and dentists) realize.In this episode of the Word of Mouth Podcast, Jeff and Sarah break down the wave of biological and tech-driven treatments reshaping modern dentistry, from peptide therapy and platelet-rich fibrin to laser dentistry, 3D printing, and AI — and why dentists who position themselves around these innovations now will have a massive competitive edge.In this episode:🦷 Peptides in Dentistry — How treatments like Curodont (developed in Switzerland 25+ years ago) are helping dentists remineralize enamel, stabilize implants, fight bacterial infection, and regenerate periodontal tissue before a filling ever becomes necessary💉 Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) — Using the patient's own blood to accelerate healing, a technique already widely adopted in surgical medicine now making its way into dental practices⚡ Laser Dentistry — Minimally invasive procedures with faster healing and reduced discomfort, directly addressing dentistry's biggest PR problem: pain🖨️ 3D Printing & AI Diagnostics — Technologies making it easier for patients to make informed decisions and for dentists to deliver better outcomes (with a full AI deep-dive episode coming soon)📈 The Business Case — The digital dentistry market is projected to reach $13.7 billion by 2033, and dentists who leverage these innovations for positioning — whether for wellness practices, family dentistry, or cosmetic dentistry — are the ones who will winThe key takeaway? Retained patients cost 5x less than acquiring new ones — and dentists who lead with innovation, education, and biological treatment aren't just doing better dentistry, they're building better businesses.Resources Mentioned:Curodont (peptide remineralization treatment) → https://professional.vvardis.com/Digital Dentistry Market Report → https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-dentistry-market-to-reach-us-13-7-billion-by-2033-expands-amid-rapid-technological-adoption-and-precision-care-demand----persistence-market-research-302723484.html🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. 🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and wherever you listen. 📞 Interested in talking with Opkie? Book a call here for a free practice market analysis: https://opkie.link/Word-Of-Mouth

The Dental Workforce Crisis: Laws That Are Changing Everything in 2026The dental labor market is broken — and lawmakers across the country are scrambling to fix it. In this episode of the Word of Mouth Podcast, Jeff and Sarah break down the biggest legislative moves shaping the future of dental workforce access, from state-level creative solutions to a rare bipartisan win in Congress.In this episode:📊 ADA Workforce Report — 4 in 10 practices can't find hygienists, 63.7 million Americans live in dental deserts, and the "old way" of staffing is officially dead🏛️ Indiana HB 1254 — A creative new law allowing foreign-trained dentists to enter the workforce as hygienists, plus updated nitrous oxide certification rules🌴 Florida's Dental Therapist Bill — A promising mid-level provider bill that passed the House but stalled in the Senate (and why it matters that 15 other states already have them)💰 Action for Dental Health Act — Congress just voted 391-32 to renew $20M in federal grants for mobile dental clinics and workforce recruitment through 2028The key takeaway? Where there's a gap, there's an opportunity — and right now, the gaps in dentistry are massive.Resources mentioned:ADA HPI Workforce Report → https://www.ada.org/resources/research/health-policy-institute/dental-practice-research/dental-workforce-shortagesIndiana HB 1254 → https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1254/detailsFlorida HB 363 Coverage → https://floridapolitics.com/archives/783135-no-dental-therapists-this-year-after-bill-tackling-oral-health-care-shortage-pulled-in-senate/Action for Dental Health Act → https://decisionsindentistry.com/2026/03/house-reauthorizes-action-for-dental-health-act-to-strengthen-workforce-and-expand-access/🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and wherever you listen.The Word of Mouth Podcast — Business, trends, and news shaping the face of dentistry.

Breaking the Cookie-Cutter Mold: Future-Proofing Your Dental PracticeWelcome back to the Word of Mouth Podcast, the weekly show where we discuss the business, trends, and tech evolving the dental practice landscape.The dental market is predicted to double by 2033, yet many dentists are seeing a decrease in their take-home pay. Why? Because the old, cookie-cutter approach to dentistry is losing ground to DSOs (Dental Service Organizations). In this episode, Jeff and Sarah explore how private practices can stand out, get creative, and build their own "blue ocean" in a crowded market.In this episode, we cover:Hobbies & Dentistry: How Dr. Shaw combined his love for hockey with his career to become the sideline dentist for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, and how you can leverage your own passions for community exposure.Community Outreach: The massive opportunities in school-based prevention programs and building local trust.The Emergency Room Gap: Millions of patients visit crowded hospital ERs for non-traumatic dental emergencies. Learn how adjusting your hours can capture this market and create lifelong, loyal patients.The Premium Patient Experience: A look at Apa Aesthetics in Miami and how simple, low-cost changes—like noise-canceling headphones, Netflix, and professional headshots—can create a spa-like atmosphere that keeps patients coming back.🎁 Special Listener Freebie! Want to break away from the volume game? We are giving our listeners free access to our DSO Defense Wall Guide & Worksheet (normally a $97 value!). This 3-step system will help you organize your practice, identify your ideal patients, and craft clear messaging that sets you apart. Links below!Wanna see how Opkie can help your practice? https://opkie.link/Word-Of-MouthFree Resources:DSO Defense Wall GuideDSO Defense Wall WorksheetArticles Mentioned in this Episode:NJ Devils Assistant Team Dentist: Ready Rinkside: Dentist Keeps Devils SmilingRising Dental Emergency Room Visits: Rising dental emergencies fuel growth in after-hours and weekend dentist servicesSchool Dentistry Program: School-Based Caries Prevention ProgramsApa Dental: This Miami dentist is redefining the dental experienceSubscribe to be notified of future episodes! We release new episodes every Tuesday.

Wanna see how Opkie can help your practice? https://opkie.link/Word-Of-MouthLinks to Articles mentioned:ADA article: https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2026...NADP article: https://www.nadp.org/a-hard-needle-to...Actual Utah Legislation: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/stati...Persistence Market Reserach: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/stati...Defering Dental Research: https://link.springer.com/article/10....