In this episode, Ash welcomes Josh from Pearl AI to discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence in dental practices. They talk about how AI tools, especially those like Pearl, are helping with clinical diagnosis, streamlining chart audits, and improving patient presentations. Josh explains how using AI can assist dental teams by highlighting pathologies directly on radiographs in color, making it easier for both doctors and patients to understand what is happening.

The discussion explores the ways AI is helping practices become more efficient, from freeing up hygienists and helping with daily chart reviews to simplifying insurance verification for the front office. They also covered how AI can enhance treatment plan coordination by generating clear and visual presentations that help patients understand the care they need. The episode also addressed concerns about adopting new technology, highlighting that these tools are HIPAA compliant and designed to complement, not replace, the expertise of dental professionals.

To find out more, visit Pearl at: https://hellopearl.com/

Key Topics

• AI-assisted diagnosis and radiograph analysis
• Improving efficiency with chart audits and insurance verification
• Enhancing patient presentations and treatment acceptance
• Streamlining workflows and reducing manual tasks
• Addressing concerns with technology adoption
• HIPAA compliance and data security
• How to connect with Pearl AI for more information

Ash sits down with Tom Angeloni from Bank of America to discuss the financial aspects of dental practice ownership. The conversation covers essential advice for dental students and associates considering startup practices or acquisitions. Tom explains the importance of deciding if you truly want to be a practice owner, as this involves not just dentistry but also business management and staff leadership.

They discuss what lenders look for, including reasonable financial habits, maintaining a good credit score, and having enough liquidity, ideally about 10% of your loan request. Tom clarifies requirements for both startups and acquisitions, including the significance of working capital and the common pitfalls new practice owners face. They also cover tips for choosing practice locations, understanding practice profitability, the value of industry-specific partners like dental CPAs and contractors, and details around lending restrictions and flexibility. They also compare the challenges of starting a practice from scratch versus buying an existing one, noting issues like patient attrition and staff culture. Tom emphasizes the need to evaluate each situation based on personal, financial, and market factors.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Deciding on practice ownership and the responsibilities involved
• Financial readiness for lending: credit score, cash reserves, reasonable debt
• Down payment requirements for startups versus acquisitions
• Practice valuation methods and production requirements from lenders
• Patient attrition and transition strategies in acquisitions
• Importance of working capital and how it should be spent
• Lending restrictions on soft and hard costs
• Reimbursing pre-loan startup expenses
• Structuring the practice entity with a dental-specific CPA
• Selecting and negotiating working capital based on market
• Number of operatories to equip in a new practice
• Weighing the pros and cons of startups vs. acquisitions
• The impact of staff culture and equipment on practice success
• The need for demographic research when selecting a practice location
• Long-term sustainability and lifestyle considerations

Ash is joined by Taylor Black from Eckard Enterprises to discuss oil and gas investment opportunities, with a focus on how these can serve as alternative income streams for dentists and other high-income professionals. Taylor explains their approach to transparency, direct ownership, and risk mitigation for clients interested in oil and gas, particularly in mineral rights and working interests. They also talk about how oil and gas compares to other asset classes like traditional real estate and the stock market, highlighting its potential for consistent passive income and unique tax advantages.

Taylor also covers the misconceptions about entering the oil and gas industry, the importance of direct ownership, and strategies for distributing investment risk. Taylor also reviews expected returns, the benefits of using IRA and Roth strategies, and the flexibility of exit options for investors. Real-world examples and important due diligence tips are provided for listeners considering oil and gas as part of a diversified portfolio.

To find out more about Taylor, visit: https://eckardenterprises.com/taylor-black/

Key Topics Discussed:

• Oil and gas investments as alternative income streams for professionals
• Eckerd Enterprises’ approach: transparency, experience, and direct ownership
• Explanation of mineral rights vs. working interests
• Portfolio diversification and risk mitigation
• Entry points and capital requirements for investors
• Tax strategies, including 1031 exchanges and Roth conversions
• Due diligence and questions to ask potential sponsors
• Expected returns and cash flow mechanics
• Importance of direct ownership and flexibility in exiting investments
• Use cases for dentists and high-income earners looking for passive income

In this episode Ash sits down sits down with Zane from MyDentalForce at the SWDC show to discuss practical strategies for dental practices aiming to improve their operations and collections. Zane, a software engineer with hands-on experience as a technology director in a dental group, shares how leveraging existing patient databases can unlock significant revenue without increasing marketing spend or overloading staff with multiple software platforms.

The conversation focuses on how MyDentalForce’s solution prioritizes actionable patient outreach, task management, and integrations with phone systems to help offices reactivate patients, monitor staff productivity, and manage accounts receivable more effectively. Ash and Zane talk about the importance of human touch in patient communications and how real-time analytics and AI-supported summaries can help owners and managers see tangible improvements within two to three months, all while consolidating software costs.

To learn more, visit: https://mydentalforce.com/

Key topics discussed:

• Using data from existing patient databases to drive revenue
• Simplifying and consolidating software tools for staff productivity
• Understanding unscheduled treatment plan value and patient reactivation
• Real-time task lists and prioritization for front desk teams
• Integration with phone systems for tracking staff performance
• Human vs. AI-automated patient communication
• Managing accounts receivable through targeted patient outreach
• Flat-rate pricing and implementation details
• The practical role of AI features in dental office operations

In this episode of Beyond Bitewings, recorded live from the Southwest Dental Conference, Herb Ford from Brown and Brown (formerly Wallace Specialty) joins Ash to discuss the common misconceptions about insurance coverage for dental practices. They discuss the critical differences between general liability, cyber, and professional liability insurance, emphasizing that many practice owners may be less protected than they realize. Herb offers real-world examples of how insufficient or misunderstood coverage can leave practices exposed to significant risks, especially with increasing cyber-attacks and the complexities around group benefits and business operations.

Herb also talks about the role of umbrella insurance and how it offers additional liability protection—but not for every type of coverage, such as property damage. The episode provides practical advice on how and why dental professionals should consider group policies, disability insurance for staff, and key person coverage to maintain practice continuity. The discussion wraps up with tips for protecting both personal and business assets and recommendations for addressing gaps in current insurance strategies.

To connect with Herb, you can call him at: 972-663-5195

Or email him at herb {at} bbrown.com

Key Topics Discussed:

• General liability, cyber, and professional liability insurance: what’s covered and what isn’t
• Cybersecurity, cyber insurance, and why IT providers are not a substitute for insurance
• The purpose and limits of umbrella insurance for dental practices and individuals
• Group benefits for dental practice staff, including health, disability, and life insurance
• Disability, business overhead, and payroll protection insurance to maintain business continuity
• The importance of entity professional liability coverage for practices with multiple associates
• Business interruption and extra expense insurance for property-related disruptions
• Employee dishonesty and theft coverage
• Practical advice for practice owners on assessing and improving current insurance coverage

Ash welcomes Dr. Corey Malnikof, and they discuss his journey from struggling clinic owner to leader of 24 successful healthcare practices. They talk about the early challenges he faced, including serious financial setbacks, and how critical moments and strong mentorship led to a major shift in his mindset and business approach. Dr. Malnikof explains that personal development, intentional leadership, and a focus on systems are key factors in rapid growth.

He examines how lessons from outside the healthcare industry, including companies like Starbucks and Ritz-Carlton, helped him build a distinct culture and training structure within his clinics. Dr. Malnikof also talks about the importance of discipline, consistency, and ongoing self-improvement, not just for practice owners but across the entire team. He also outlines practical steps for healthcare professionals who feel stuck, including tracking statistics, understand key business metrics, and seeking out mentors or peers who are already achieving your desired results.

To connect with Dr. Corey, visit: https://www.coreymalnikof.com/

Key Topics Discussed:

• Dr. Corey Malnikof’s early business challenges and financial struggles
• The importance of mentorship and mindset shifts
• Applying lessons from industries like Starbucks and Ritz-Carlton
• Building intentional culture and training within clinics
• The role of discipline and consistency in business growth
• Practical approaches to developing and implementing systems
• Tracking and analyzing practice statistics for growth
• The value of ongoing staff reviews and open communication
• Seeking guidance from mentors and outside high performers
• How a leader’s behavior is reflected in the team and practice

Ash welcomes Dr. Dave Rominski of the Doctor Referral Institute to discuss how dentists may be missing a huge amount of profit and the ability to have a more sustainable business. They talk about a common challenge many dentists face: having a packed schedule without seeing that busyness translate into greater profitability, and why it can change your practice by having intentional referral relationships. Plus, they discuss why these referrals attract not just more patients, but the right patients and cases for your practice.

Dr. Dave shares why simply filling your calendar doesn’t guarantee financial success, what truly influences provider-to-provider referrals, and how you can create a predictable referral system that improves both your case mix and your bottom line. Several points were raised, including how to identify your most valuable patients, the role of practice data and KPIs, and strategies for building and maintaining strong referral networks. Tune in to learn how shifting your focus from patient volume to relationship-driven growth can set your dental practice apart.

To connect with Dr. Dave, visit: https://referralsfordoctors.com/

Key Topics Discussed:

• Impact of referral quality versus patient volume on profitability
• Identifying and tracking ideal patient profiles and referral sources
• The role of KPIs and practice management software in monitoring referrals
• Value of consistent, dedicated efforts in referral relationship building
• Common mistakes in managing referral systems
• Importance of educating and communicating with referring providers and their staff
• Strategies for diversifying and maintaining referral sources

We're revisiting this important episode about what we call BAM, an essential financial metric for dental practices. BAM stands for the Basic Amount of Money Needed to Operate the Practice, a monthly cash flow target that covers not only overhead and loan payments but also the doctor’s take-home, retirement contributions, and other foreseeable necessary expenses. The conversation explains why BAM is not the same as breakeven or net income and highlights common mistakes dentists make when evaluating practice finances.

We talk about the practical steps for calculating BAM, noting the importance of using both historical and projected figures. Listeners learn to account for staffing changes, equipment purchases, rent adjustments, loan payments, and anticipated growth. The episode also addresses how BAM serves as a basis for staff bonus systems and why it should be reviewed annually to remain accurate and fair. Other considerations include handling unique expenses like retirement plan changes, owning versus leasing property, and whether to include discretionary spending.

Key Topics Discussed:

• What BAM (Basic Amount of Money Needed) means for dental practices
• The difference between BAM, breakeven, and net income
• Why BAM is a monthly cash goal based on collections, not production
• How BAM factors into staff bonus systems
• Annual recalculation of BAM and handling large changes (“baby BAM”)
• Adjusting BAM for new hires, anticipated expenses, and growth projections
• The treatment of rent, including owner-occupied property
• Accounting for loan payments, including deferred or interest-only periods
• Whether to include retirement contributions and discretionary spending
• The effect of BAM calculation on practice planning and financial management