Dental Drills Bits

Sandy Pardue & Dana Salisbury
Dental Drills Bits

Sandy Pardue of Classic Practice Resources & Dana Salisbury discuss issues facing the dental practice owner of today. This is the podcast where you will want a pen and paper to take notes on every single procedure, system, step by step process, and lessons Sandy shares that she has accumulated in 40 years. Enjoy the fun, laid-back vibe as things get real. Sandy is an energetic lecturer and consultant in the area of dental practice management. She is Director of Consulting with Classic Practice Resources and has over 40 years of “hands-on” experience.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Front Desk Chaos to Clarity

    Front Desk Chaos to Clarity Episode Description: In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast, Sandy and Dana tackle one of the biggest front desk challenges in dental practices—how to maintain consistency and organization when multiple team members rotate through the same position. 🔄 One doctor from the Dental Drill Bits Facebook group asked: How do I streamline communication and documentation when different front desk employees work on different days? Sandy and Dana break it all down, sharing real-world strategies to bring clarity and structure to the front office. They discuss the importance of detailed checklists, clear procedures, and training that eliminates confusion, ensures predictability, and keeps both doctors and teams stress-free. Plus, they dive into the hidden risks of poor communication—and how to fix them fast. Key Takeaways: ✔️ Why inconsistency in front desk processes causes frustration for both doctors and employees 😫 ✔️ How standard operating procedures (SOPs) create predictable and stress-free workflows 📋 ✔️ The must-have checklists that keep your front office running smoothly every day ✅ ✔️ How to prevent micromanagement while still ensuring accountability 🔄 ✔️ Why role clarity reduces conflict and improves team morale 🙌 ✔️ A step-by-step action plan to start organizing your front office today 🏁 Sandy also shares how Front Desk Pro attendees are already using these strategies to create smoother, more productive front desks! 🎟 SPECIAL OFFER: Want to master front desk efficiency? Don’t miss Front Desk Pro! 📍 Burbank, CA – March 28, 2025 📍 Philadelphia, PA – May 9, 2025 Use promo code "Secret Sauce" for $100 off your registration! 👉 Register now at ClassicPractice.com Sponsors: ✅ Plan Forward – The dental membership plan partner that helps your office thrive. Mention Dental Drill Bits for an exclusive offer! Learn more here. Take Action Today: Don’t let front desk chaos slow you down! Take Sandy’s challenge: ➡️ Sit down with your front office team and list everything that needs to happen daily ➡️ Create a simple checklist to ensure consistency ➡️ Store your SOPs in a digital folder or binder for easy training and accountability Subscribe & Leave a Review: Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe to Dental Drill Bits and leave a review! Your feedback helps us bring you even more game-changing strategies.

    21 min
  2. FEB 10

    Do You Really Need an Office Manager?

    Episode Title: Do You Really Need an Office Manager? Episode Description: In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast, Sandy and Dana tackle one of the most common dilemmas for dental practice owners—Do you really need an office manager? 🤔 Hiring an office manager can seem like the perfect solution to reducing stress and improving operations, but without a clear role definition, it can create more challenges than solutions. In this episode, they break down when an office manager is truly needed, what skills are essential for success, and whether team leaders might be a better alternative. They also discuss how to structure leadership within a practice to maximize efficiency, build team culture, and create accountability. Key Takeaways: ✔ Should your practice have an office manager, or is there a better solution? 🤷‍♂️ ✔ The most common mistakes practice owners make when appointing an office manager 🚨 ✔ What to look for in an ideal candidate (hint: it's not just about tenure) 🎯 ✔ The power of team leaders and how they can provide structure without creating bottlenecks 🔄 ✔ Why communication is critical and how to prevent role confusion 🗣️ ✔ How to train and empower leadership within your team for long-term success 🚀 They also highlight upcoming training opportunities that can help practice owners and office managers strengthen their leadership skills and build a thriving, efficient team. Listen Now: 🎧 Tune in to the full episode here: [Insert Podcast Link] 🎟 SPECIAL OFFER: Thinking about leveling up your front office leadership? Don’t miss Front Desk Pro! 📍 Burbank, CA – March 28, 2025 📍 Philadelphia, PA – May 9, 2025 Use promo code "Secret Sauce" for $100 off your registration! 👉 Register now at ClassicPractice.com Sponsors: ✅ Plan Forward – The dental membership plan partner that helps your office thrive. Mention Dental Drill Bits for an exclusive offer! Learn more here. Take Action Today: Start evaluating your leadership structure! Do you need an office manager, or would team leaders be a better fit? Outline clear roles, set accountability measures, and ensure every leader knows their purpose. Subscribe & Leave a Review: Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe to Dental Drill Bits and leave a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.

    27 min
  3. Mastering Onboarding for a Thriving Dental Practice

    FEB 3

    Mastering Onboarding for a Thriving Dental Practice

    Episode Title: Mastering Onboarding for a Thriving Dental Practice Episode Description: In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast, Sandy and Dana dive into the make-or-break process of onboarding new team members in a dental practice. A strong onboarding system not only prevents turnover but also sets the stage for a thriving team culture and long-term success. 🚀 They share real-world experiences, practical strategies, and actionable steps to ensure new hires feel welcomed, supported, and set up for success from day one. Key Takeaways: ✔ The biggest onboarding mistakes that lead to early resignations 🚨 ✔ How to create a structured onboarding journey that boosts retention 🎯 ✔ Why assigning a buddy system makes integration seamless 👫 ✔ The power of checklists, SOPs, and training milestones 📋 ✔ How to gather feedback to continuously improve your onboarding process 🔄 ✔ What “turnover trauma” is and how to prevent it from costing your practice thousands 💸 They also discuss Sandy’s upcoming Front Desk Pro seminar, where dental teams can get hands-on training to improve efficiency, communication, and patient experience. Listen Now: 🎧 Tune in to the full episode here: [Insert Podcast Link] 🎟 SPECIAL OFFER: Sign up for Front Desk Pro and use promo code "Secret Sauce" for $100 off! 👉 Register at ClassicPractice.com Sponsors: Don’t just look ahead. Plan Forward. Discover the dental membership plan partner that empowers your entire office. Created by a team in your shoes. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://www.planforward.io/ Take Action Today: Start tracking your open time and production goals now! Print out your schedules, analyze past weeks, and involve your team in finding solutions. Remember, every day is an opportunity to optimize your schedule and serve your patients better. Subscribe & Leave a Review: Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to Dental Drill Bits and leave a review. Your feedback helps us continue to deliver valuable content!

    23 min
  4. JAN 27

    Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule

    Episode Title: Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule Episode Description: Welcome to another exciting episode of Dental Drill Bits! This week, Sandy Pardue is joined by a very special guest—Dana Pardue Salisbury, the original co-host and HR business professional. Together, they kick off the new season with a deep dive into one of the most critical topics for dental practices: managing open time in your schedule. Discover actionable tips to identify, track, and eliminate wasted time in your practice. Whether you're dealing with broken appointments, patient no-shows, or underutilized slots, this episode equips you with practical strategies to improve productivity, enhance patient care, and boost your bottom line. Plus, hear Dana’s unique perspective on the patient experience and why over-communicating about appointment changes can backfire. Stay tuned until the end for a game-changing resource that could revolutionize how you handle in-house membership plans! What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Dana Salisbury's journey back to Dental Drill Bits and her insights on training and development for dental practices. The real cost of open time and why tracking it is crucial. How to calculate daily, hourly, and per-unit production goals. Strategies to reduce cancellations, no-shows, and last-minute reschedules. The importance of maintaining a reliable call list and leveraging patient interactions. Patient perspective: Why excessive appointment changes can harm patient satisfaction. The role of team meetings in addressing missed opportunities. An introduction to Plan Forward—a custom dental membership platform offering tools for automated billing, patient communication, and more. Sponsors: Don’t just look ahead. Plan Forward. Discover the dental membership plan partner that empowers your entire office. Created by a team in your shoes. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://www.planforward.io/ Take Action Today: Start tracking your open time and production goals now! Print out your schedules, analyze past weeks, and involve your team in finding solutions. Remember, every day is an opportunity to optimize your schedule and serve your patients better. Subscribe & Leave a Review: Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to Dental Drill Bits and leave a review. Your feedback helps us continue to deliver valuable content!

    20 min
  5. JAN 8

    A to Z Job Duties of a Dynamic Manager: Office Manager Essentials Part 2

    Wondering how to ease the burden and stress off yourself as the doctor? In this week's rerun episode of Dental Drill Bits, Michael and Sandy are exploring the universe of responsibilities that come with the role of an office manager in a dynamic and demanding dental practice. They break down the essential duties that will keep your practice running smoothly without the added headache. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Understand the scope of day-to-day activities a dental office manager oversees. Discover the role an office manager plays in shaping employee and patient relations. Uncover how essential marketing, compliance, and staff training duties fall under the office manager's purview. Realize the importance of clear and consistent communication between the office manager and the doctor. Appreciate effective strategies for cultivating excellent customer service and patient relations skills. Gain insights on the significance of consistency and communication in propelling the practice forward. Learn useful tips for avoiding burnout and strategies to find the right fit for your office manager role. Tune in to this episode of Dental Drill Bits and boost your dental practice's effectiveness, efficiency, and overall success with an office manager! (This episode originally aired on 1/3/2024) Sponsors: Do you need a new website or marketing agency with no long-term contracts? Visit DocSites' website here and be sure to mention this podcast episode for a special deal! https://www.docsites.com/landing-pages/ddb/

    28 min
  6. 12/25/2024

    Personal Touch vs. Automation: Winning Patient Retention

    Are you struggling with patient no-shows that disrupt your dental practice’s schedule? In this rerun episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy and Michael dive deep into practical strategies to minimize cancellations and improve patient attendance. The conversation kicks off with a focus on the art of clear communication, where they assert the power of personalized phone calls over cold automated messages. These personal touches not only confirm appointments but also strengthen the patient-practice bond, making each patient feel recognized and appreciated. Moving beyond communication, Sandy and Michael explore the often-overlooked aspect of office efficiency, from managing personnel roles to implementing effective scheduling systems. They provide a candid critique of over-automation, pointing out how it can erode patient relations and lead to an uptick in unattended appointments. By sharing relatable anecdotes and actionable advice, Sandy illustrates the importance of addressing unconfirmed slots quickly and empathizing with patient concerns from the get-go. Wrapping up, the hosts offer a toolkit for handling broken appointments and stress the need for practices to take charge of their scheduling processes to foster efficiency and elevate patient care. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The significance of personalized communication over automated messages. The role of clear communication in reducing no-shows and cancellations. How to balance automation with personal patient relations. Effective appointment confirmation techniques that engage patients. Strategies for efficient schedule management, including personnel roles. Tips for promptly addressing unconfirmed appointments. Handling patient objections to decrease cancellations. Insights into maintaining a patient-first approach throughout the scheduling process. Tune in now to transform your practice's appointment strategies and strengthen patient connections! (This episode originally aired on Sep 06, 2023) Sponsors: Do you need a new website or marketing agency? Check out what DocSites can do for you: DocSites.com/landing-pages/ddb Mentions and Links: Communities/Groups: Dental Gumbo Group Front Desk Pro

    27 min

About

Sandy Pardue of Classic Practice Resources & Dana Salisbury discuss issues facing the dental practice owner of today. This is the podcast where you will want a pen and paper to take notes on every single procedure, system, step by step process, and lessons Sandy shares that she has accumulated in 40 years. Enjoy the fun, laid-back vibe as things get real. Sandy is an energetic lecturer and consultant in the area of dental practice management. She is Director of Consulting with Classic Practice Resources and has over 40 years of “hands-on” experience.

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