Dental Digest Podcast with Dr. Melissa Seibert

Dental Digest Institute & Dr. Melissa Seibert: Dentist
  • 4.9 (274)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Dental Digest podcast is a show dedicated to discussing the latest trends, topics, and innovations in the field of dentistry. The podcast was created and is hosted by Dr. Melissa Seibert, a practicing dentist, and features interviews with leading experts in the field of dentistry, including dentists, researchers, educators, and industry professionals. Topics covered on the show range from clinical techniques and technology to practice management and marketing strategies, with a focus on providing actionable insights and practical advice for dental professionals at all stages of their careers. The Dental Digest podcast is available on all major podcast platforms and is a valuable resource for dental professionals looking to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in the field of dentistry.

  1. 16H AGO

    Adhesion Beyond the Myths with Prof Bart Van Meerbeek

    Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Register for the live meeting: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/ElevationSummit Download the Injection Molding Guide: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/IMpdf  In Part 2 of this series, Dr. Melissa Seibert and Professor Bart Van Meerbeek transition from foundational adhesive science into the nuanced clinical decisions that shape long-term outcomes. If Part 1 established the biological and material principles behind durable bonding, this episode addresses the gray zones clinicians navigate daily: contamination, enzymatic degradation, substrate variability, polymerization stress, and postoperative sensitivity. The discussion confronts several widely accepted assumptions and asks a more rigorous question: what does the evidence actually support? Professor Van Meerbeek offers data-driven clarity on topics that are often ritualized rather than critically examined. From the debated role of chlorhexidine and MMP inhibition to the thermal effects of curing lights, air particle abrasion, C-factor management, and the true value of flowable composites, this conversation reframes bonding as a system rather than a single step. The message is consistent: simplification may be attractive, but substrate awareness, technique sensitivity, and respect for hydrophobic layering remain central to predictable outcomes. The episode concludes with a forward-looking reflection on where adhesive dentistry stands today. According to Van Meerbeek, modern multi-step systems may already be operating above 90% of their theoretical potential. The future, therefore, is not merely about bonding harder but bonding smarter—possibly integrating bioactivity without compromising performance. For clinicians committed to practicing with intellectual precision rather than procedural habit, this episode provides both reassurance and recalibration.

    35 min

  2. FEB 23

    Universal vs. Multi-Step Bonding with Prof. Bart Van Meerbeek

    Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Register for the live meeting: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/ElevationSummit Download the Injection Molding Guide: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/IMpdf  In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr. Melissa Seibert sits down with Professor Bart Van Meerbeek, one of the most influential figures in adhesive dentistry worldwide. From dentin permeability to hybrid layer degradation, Professor Van Meerbeek's research has fundamentally shaped how clinicians understand the biological and mechanical realities of bonding. This conversation moves beyond product marketing and into the core science: what we truly know, what remains uncertain, and why durability in adhesion continues to require deliberate clinical judgment. Together, they unpack the "adhesion degradation paradox," the hydrophilicity trade-off inherent in universal systems, and the persistent performance gap between simplified one-step adhesives and multi-step gold standards. The discussion explores film thickness, hydrophobic layering, stress distribution, and the biomechanical role of flowable composites as stress-relieving buffers. They also examine why 10-MDP concentration matters, why not all universal adhesives perform equivalently, and how bonding strategy should be tailored to substrate conditions—from young permeable dentin to sclerotic or amalgam-affected substrates. This is not a discussion about shortcuts. It is a rigorous, clinically grounded examination of what evidence-based adhesive dentistry actually demands. If you are striving to practice with greater clarity, confidence, and scientific defensibility, this episode will recalibrate how you think about bonding protocols in everyday practice. Part 2 will continue the conversation, moving deeper into contamination management, clinical troubleshooting, and long-term durability.

    32 min

  3. FEB 16

    Fixed vs Removable Solutions for the Edentulous Arch with Dr. Darin Dichter

    JOIN ELEVATED GP Follow @dr.melissa_seibert on Instagram   Dr. Dichter brings nearly 20 years of clinical, research and teaching experience — as a general practitioner and prosthodontist — to his position with Spear. He serves as an instructor in the Treating the Terminal Dentition and Fully Edentulous Patient seminar, in addition to multiple Spear Workshops. Dr. Dichter has served as a guest lecturer and clinical instructor at Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, teaching occlusion and esthetics. He has been a Spear faculty member since the company's inception, as well as a contributing author for Spear Digest. He is passionate about education and is involved with multiple study groups in the U.S. and Canada. After earning his D.M.D. from OHSU in 1995, Dr. Dichter practiced general dentistry and eventually joined a startup practice in his hometown in coastal Oregon before moving to a practice in Portland. He brought 16 years of restorative dental experience into UCLA's world-renowned, full-time advanced prosthodontics residency, which he completed in 2014.

    44 min

  4. FEB 3

    Risk-Based Treatment Planning with Dr. Brian Vence

    Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Register for the live meeting: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/ElevationSummit Download the Injection Molding Guide: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/IMpdf  Episode Description In part two of this two-part conversation, Dr. Brian Vence moves from philosophy into execution, offering a clear, ethical, and highly practical framework for how comprehensive dentistry is diagnosed, discussed, and ultimately chosen by patients in a successful fee-for-service practice. This episode is a deep dive into how dentists can guide patients through complex decisions without pressure, persuasion, or procedural selling. Dr. Vence outlines his structured yet flexible approach to patient intake, record gathering, diagnosis, and treatment planning—centered around what he calls the Pathway to Essential and Meaningful Treatment. Rather than dictating solutions, he emphasizes co-discovery: helping patients see, understand, and articulate their own problems before ever discussing procedures. A central theme is risk reduction over procedures. Dr. Vence explains how he frames treatment options not as products to purchase, but as graduated ways to lower biological, structural, functional, and aesthetic risk over time. From stabilizing compromised teeth to sequencing orthodontics, restorative care, and provisional solutions, the focus remains on sustainability—not urgency. You'll hear practical insight on: How to structure patient intake from the first phone call through diagnosis and case presentation Why allowing patients to ask for solutions is more powerful than proposing them How to use analogies and visual co-discovery to explain complex problems without overwhelm The difference between short-term stabilization and long-term structural correction Why timelines, pacing, and emotional safety matter more than closing treatment plans Dr. Vence also addresses real-world concerns around fees, financing, and practice sustainability. He discusses why fee structures should reflect time, complexity, and overhead—not insurance schedules—and how this approach supports both clinical integrity and business stability. Importantly, he underscores that dentists cannot want treatment more than the patient does—a mindset shift that allows for clarity, calm, and long-term success. The episode closes with a candid reflection on leadership, emotional resilience, and the inner work required to sustain a fee-for-service practice over decades. Dr. Vence shares why confidence doesn't come from certainty or volume, but from having a clear vision, strong values, and the ability to remain grounded as conditions change. Together, parts one and two provide a comprehensive roadmap for dentists who want to practice at a higher level—clinically, ethically, and relationally—while building a practice that is both financially stable and deeply fulfilling. This is not about faster dentistry. It's about better decisions, made well, over time.

    28 min

  5. JAN 27

    Building a Fee-for-Service Practice Through Trust, Diagnosis, and Meaningful Conversations with Dr. Brian Vence

    *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-695fd1b8-25fc-8328-8327-03cc041aa4d0-5" data-testid= "conversation-turn-10" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Register for the live meeting: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/ElevationSummit Download the Injection Molding Guide: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/IMpdf  Episode Description In part one of this two-part conversation, Dr. Brian Vence shares a deeply thoughtful and experience-driven perspective on what it actually takes to build a successful fee-for-service practice—one rooted not in persuasion or sales tactics, but in trust, diagnosis, and meaningful human connection. With more than three decades of clinical experience and a career dedicated to interdisciplinary, comprehensive care, Dr. Vence reframes treatment planning as a behavioral and relational process, not a transactional one. He challenges the idea that comprehensive dentistry is something that must be "sold," and instead positions it as a process of helping patients clarify their own values, goals, and tolerance for risk—at their pace, not ours. This episode explores how dentists can meet patients where they are without abandoning ideal diagnosis. Dr. Vence explains why patients often fixate on a single tooth or isolated concern, and how honoring that starting point—when done thoughtfully—can open the door to deeper, more comprehensive care over time. Rather than overwhelming patients with full-mouth solutions on day one, he advocates for sequencing conversations, building psychological safety, and creating space for patients to envision what's possible. A major theme of the discussion is the concept of "Pathways to Essential and Meaningful Treatment." Dr. Vence walks through how environment, language, and timing directly influence patient decision-making—and why treatment planning conversations are often better held outside the operatory, away from the fight-or-flight associations many patients carry with dentistry. In this episode, you'll hear: Why fee-for-service dentistry begins with mindset and culture—not insurance policies How to stop "convincing" patients and instead become a clear, unbiased sounding board Why comprehensive treatment planning is fundamentally about behavior, not procedures How environment and language influence whether patients feel safe enough to future-focus The importance of honoring patient autonomy while still holding space for ideal diagnosis Dr. Vence also shares practical insights into new patient workflows, from the first phone call to in-office consultations, emphasizing the value of curiosity, listening, and slowing down. He highlights why efficiency often crowds out effectiveness—and why the most productive clinical days are rarely about volume, but about depth of connection. This conversation is especially relevant for dentists who feel tension between practicing the dentistry they know is right and navigating patient hesitancy, financial concerns, or insurance-driven expectations. If you've ever felt frustrated trying to align comprehensive care with patient readiness, this episode offers a grounded, humane, and sustainable way forward. Part one sets the philosophical and relational foundation. In part two, the conversation continues into diagnosis, case presentation, and how to guide patients through complex decisions without coercion. This is not an episode about selling dentistry. It's about helping patients—and clinicians—make clearer, more meaningful choices.

    37 min

  6. JAN 20

    Dr. John Kois's Clinical Decision-Making Regarding Wear Patients

    Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Register for the live meeting: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/ElevationSummit Download the Injection Molding Guide: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/IMpdf     Episode Description In part two of this in-depth conversation, Dr. John Kois moves beyond theory and into clinical application, tackling the questions every restorative dentist eventually faces: Who is actually a high-risk occlusal patient? How do we distinguish past adaptation from active breakdown? And why do so many "standard solutions" fail to prevent restorative complications? Building on the foundational concepts from part one, this episode focuses on how occlusion shows up in day-to-day practice—and how dentists can make more informed decisions before committing to complex restorative or implant treatment. Dr. Kois explains why visual wear alone is an unreliable predictor of risk, how to identify whether wear is active versus inactive, and why patient symptoms often tell a more important story than what we see on models or scans. A major theme of this conversation is closing the gap between chairside evaluation and real-world function. Dr. Kois challenges common habits—such as adjusting restorations with patients fully reclined, relying solely on articulating paper marks, or reflexively prescribing nightguards—and explains why these approaches often miss the true etiology of failure. Instead, he emphasizes evaluating occlusion in positions and movements that reflect how patients actually chew, speak, and function throughout the day. In this episode, you'll learn: How to identify true high-risk occlusal cases before restorative treatment begins Why active wear and patient-reported change matter more than historical attrition How muscle symptoms, mobility, and joint loading influence predictability When nightguards and Botox may mask symptoms rather than solve the problem Why larger restorative and implant cases demand a deeper understanding of jaw position, tooth fit, and functional pathways Dr. Kois also shares candid insights on emerging technologies such as jaw tracking—where they add value, where they fall short, and why they are most impactful in comprehensive and full-arch cases rather than routine dentistry. The discussion highlights an important truth: many restorative failures are not material failures, but diagnostic failures rooted in incomplete occlusal assessment. The episode closes with a powerful reflection on learning, clinical growth, and professional development—distinguishing information from knowledge, and knowledge from wisdom. Dr. Kois outlines the progression from skepticism to commitment, underscoring why true clinical mastery requires not just understanding concepts, but applying them consistently over time. Together, parts one and two form a cohesive framework for thinking differently about occlusion—one grounded in physiology, adaptation, and long-term predictability. If you're aiming to move beyond bread-and-butter dentistry and into more complex, fulfilling clinical work, this conversation provides essential perspective on how to do so more thoughtfully and successfully.

    32 min

  7. JAN 13

    Dr. John Kois Reframes Occlusion

    Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com Register for the live meeting: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/ElevationSummit Download the Injection Molding Guide: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/IMpdf  Episode Description Occlusion is one of the most talked-about—and most misunderstood—topics in restorative dentistry. In this first installment of a two-part conversation, Dr. John Kois challenges many of the static, mechanical definitions of occlusion that most dentists were taught in dental school and offers a fundamentally different way of thinking about how the masticatory system actually works in real patients. Drawing from decades of clinical practice, specialty training in both periodontics and prosthodontics, and his experience educating restorative dentists around the world, Dr. Kois reframes occlusion as a dynamic, adaptive system rather than a fixed set of contacts to be checked off with articulating paper. He explains why relying solely on traditional concepts like MIP, right and left working movements, and morphological classifications often fails to predict long-term outcomes—and why this gap is at the root of many restorative failures, postoperative sensitivity, mobility, muscle pain, and patient dissatisfaction. This episode lays the foundation for understanding occlusion through the lens of function, adaptation, and risk, rather than dogma. Dr. Kois introduces key concepts such as pathway wear, jaw position relative to the head, and the body's adaptive responses to occlusal disharmony—highlighting why so many problems are misattributed to bruxism, airway issues, or "parafunction," when the true etiology lies elsewhere. You'll hear why: MIP should be viewed as a terminal position, not the starting point of occlusal analysis Static bite relationships often tell us very little about whether an occlusion is actually working Pathway wear is one of the most critical—and commonly missed—risk factors in restorative cases Many restorative "failures" are actually adaptive responses by the body trying to protect itself Dentists often succeed not because occlusion is ideal, but because patients adapt—sometimes at a long-term biological cost This conversation is especially relevant for dentists who want to move beyond single-tooth dentistry and into more comprehensive care—full-mouth cases, complex restorative planning, implant rehabilitation, and interdisciplinary treatment. If you've ever had a case that looked perfect on the articulator but unraveled clinically, this episode will help you understand why. Part one sets the conceptual framework. In part two, the discussion continues into how these principles influence diagnosis, restorative decision-making, and long-term predictability. If occlusion has ever felt confusing, frustrating, or inconsistent in your hands, this episode will help you start seeing the system differently—and more clearly.

    45 min

  8. JAN 8

    Difficult Patients: How Dentists Actually Get in Trouble (and How to Protect Your License) — Part 2 with Evan Sampson

    Episode Description In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, we move from theory into the real-world details that quietly put dentists at risk every single day. My guest, Evan Sampson, is a healthcare attorney who has served as general counsel to one of the largest dental support organizations in the country. He brings a rare and invaluable perspective at the intersection of dentistry, law, payer audits, and regulatory enforcement — and in this episode, we get very specific. We unpack what actually makes certain procedures, CDT codes, and clinical scenarios high-risk from a fraud, waste, and abuse standpoint, even when there is no malicious intent. Evan explains how dentists inadvertently get flagged as outliers, why payer audits are often data-driven rather than complaint-driven, and how documentation gaps — not clinical skill — are what ultimately create exposure. This conversation goes deep into: Why up-coding, unbundling, and weak surgical extraction documentation are some of the most common (and expensive) pitfalls How payer audits are triggered, what auditors look for, and why Medicaid claims carry disproportionate risk Why dentists should write progress notes as if a regulator, payer, or board investigator will read them later — because one day, they might The legal realities of fee-for-service, out-of-network billing, professional courtesy, discounts, and when "good intentions" can still create compliance problems We also spend significant time on a topic every dentist encounters but few are trained to manage: difficult and high-risk patients. Evan shares how to identify red flags that may not be obvious at first, when it is appropriate to terminate the doctor-patient relationship, and how to do so without exposing yourself to allegations of abandonment. We discuss unruly patients, non-payment, mid-treatment dismissals, refunds, releases, and why protecting your license sometimes means making uncomfortable — but strategic — decisions. This episode is ultimately about risk reduction, professionalism, and self-preservation. Not practicing defensively, but practicing deliberately. Tightening the details. Building a culture of compliance. And understanding that most dentists who get into serious trouble never thought they were doing anything wrong. If you care about protecting your license, your livelihood, and your future — this is an episode you don't want to skip.

    34 min
See All (196)

4.9
out of 5
274 Ratings

About

The Dental Digest podcast is a show dedicated to discussing the latest trends, topics, and innovations in the field of dentistry. The podcast was created and is hosted by Dr. Melissa Seibert, a practicing dentist, and features interviews with leading experts in the field of dentistry, including dentists, researchers, educators, and industry professionals. Topics covered on the show range from clinical techniques and technology to practice management and marketing strategies, with a focus on providing actionable insights and practical advice for dental professionals at all stages of their careers. The Dental Digest podcast is available on all major podcast platforms and is a valuable resource for dental professionals looking to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in the field of dentistry.

Information

You Might Also Like