When Bad Dentistry Is a Cry for Help: Why Dental Professionals Need to Look Deeper

A dentist posts about a colleague's terrible work on Facebook. Dozens of comments pile on. Dr. Allison House was the only one who asked a different question: What if that dentist is struggling?

In this episode, Dr. House and Shawn Zajas confront one of the most uncomfortable truths in the dental profession. When you see consistently poor clinical work from a colleague, the default response is judgment and criticism. But what if bad dentistry is a symptom of something deeper? Substance abuse. Depression. Financial crisis. Personal tragedy. Burnout.

Dr. House shares three real stories from her 26 years in practice that reframe everything:

00:00 Intro 04:23 What community do you want to be part of? 17:50 Things aren't always as they seem 20:09 The Facebook post that started everything 22:18 Dentist Concern for Dentist: Arizona's intervention model 24:07 One bad crown is human. Twelve bad crowns is a signal. 26:55 The dentist who went to rehab (and never knew who called) 28:30 "We never give each other any space to be human" 29:08 When patients and team members act out of character 31:36 The care package that changed a team member's trajectory 33:46 When dementia explains the behavior 36:11 Byron Katie's "The Work" and how it applies to dental practice 38:30 Wrap-up

One story involves a colleague whose patients kept showing up with bad work. When a patient reported smelling alcohol on that dentist's breath, Dr. House called Arizona's Dentist Concern for Dentist program. Trained professionals visited the colleague and confirmed a serious addiction. He went to rehab. Dr. House says plainly: "I'm pretty sure that had he continued down that road, he would have died."

Another story hits closer to home. Dr. House once told a patient that a famous colleague's work was terrible. Then she tried to redo it. Same result. The patient was nearly impossible to work on. The lesson: bad outcomes are not always bad dentistry.

The conversation goes beyond dentists. Dr. House describes a team member whose personality changed overnight. Her daughter had entered a treatment facility, leaving her to raise her granddaughter while processing grief. Instead of termination, Dr. House responded with a care package. She talks about a 15-year patient whose inappropriate jokes turned out to be early-stage dementia, not character failure.

Shawn and Dr. House also walk through Byron Katie's "Judge Your Neighbor" exercise, a practical tool for examining your assumptions before reacting. It is a method Dr. House uses regularly in her practice and personal life to see situations from the other person's perspective.

The takeaway is clear: one bad day is human. A pattern of bad days is a signal. And the right response is care, not condemnation.

ABOUT THE AUTHENTIC DENTIST PODCAST

The Authentic Dentist Podcast bridges the gap between clinical excellence and personal fulfillment in dentistry. Hosted by Dr. Allison House, a practicing dentist with over 26 years of experience, and Shawn Zajas, a dental marketing expert, this show tackles the profession's greatest challenges through candid conversations about ethical practice, authentic leadership, and sustainable success.

Unlike typical dental podcasts focused solely on clinical techniques or practice management, The Authentic Dentist offers wisdom for the whole practitioner, addressing who you are and how you show up in your practice and life.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

Dr. Allison House brings clinical expertise, ethical leadership, and organizational wisdom from over 26 years in practice. She has served as the youngest president of her local dental association and is a passionate advocate for ethical standards and dentist wellbeing across the profession.

Shawn Zajas combines dental marketing expertise with authentic brilliance strategy, helping dental...

Dr. Kianor Shah is doing something unprecedented. As founder of the Top 100 Doctors organization and the Doctor to Doctor movement, he has united over 1,100 healthcare professionals from 163 countries. His mission: ensure doctors lead the AI revolution rather than follow it.

In this episode of The Authentic Dentist, Dr. Shah joins Dr. Allison House and Shawn Zajas to discuss the upcoming Global Medical and Dental AI Summit in London. This three-day event will bring together 700 healthcare leaders to establish AI policy, governance standards, and practical implementation strategies.

Dr. Shah does not mince words about the state of healthcare. Third parties have gained substantial control over doctor decision-making in the past 50 years. Corporate models prioritize production numbers over patient care. MBA boards dictate the future of healthcare professionals who spent decades in training.

AI presents both a threat and an opportunity. In the wrong hands, it could accelerate the erosion of doctor autonomy. In the right hands, it could restore the patient-doctor relationship to its foundational simplicity.

The conversation covers: • Why AI should be viewed as a divine tool rather than a threat • How dentists can become the hub for overall patient health • Practical steps to start implementing AI in your practice today • Why one focused practice outperforms an empire of six • The cybersecurity concerns every dentist should understand • How a fraction of unified doctors could become the most powerful entity in healthcare

Dr. Shah brings unique perspective from his multicultural background (Iran, Germany, United States), his MBA training, and his 20 years of clinical practice. He scaled down from six practices to one and discovered greater income and fulfillment.

The London summit offers something for every healthcare professional. The dental track features 50 speakers in TED-style presentations. The Health Intelligence Board will debate with ministers and regulatory leaders. Workshops address everything from diagnostic AI to practice management automation.

For dental professionals experiencing burnout or questioning their path, this episode offers a different vision. One where doctors lead rather than follow. One where AI serves patients rather than profits. One where the profession’s future is determined by practitioners who understand what healthcare actually means.

Registration: top100doc.com/london

CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction 2:19 - The mission behind the London AI Summit 3:50 - Why optimists will prevail with AI 5:51 - The erosion of the patient-doctor relationship 8:34 - Autonomy in corporate dentistry settings 10:27 - What the London summit offers practitioners 14:23 - Breaking down silos between medicine and dentistry 17:22 - AI liability warning for dentists 20:59 - Cybersecurity concerns and HIPAA 24:25 - The competitive advantage of AI adoption 29:24 - Why dentists are positioned to lead healthcare 31:01 - Overcoming AI misconceptions 36:22 - Authentic leadership in dentistry 38:10 - One practice vs. six: Dr. Shah’s personal lesson 42:58 - The power of 0.5% of doctors united

CONNECT: The Authentic Dentist Podcast Dr. Allison House Shawn Zajas Top 100 Doctors: top100doc.com

Dr. Allison House and Shawn Zajas kick off 2026 with a raw conversation about what separates dentists who thrive from those who stall. After hosting two Olympic athletes over the holidays, Allison shares a key insight: elite performers surround themselves with coaches in every dimension of life. Not because they lack knowledge. Because growth demands outside eyes.

The episode confronts a hard truth. Intelligent people can easily slide into pessimism. The data supports it. The profession faces real challenges. Yet Allison describes “learned optimism” as the deliberate choice to see opportunity alongside struggle. She traces this back to her weightlifting background with her father, who coached her to break down complex movements into fundamental pieces. The same approach works in dental practice. When systems break, you isolate the component. Fix the pull. Fix the scheduling gap. One piece at a time.

Shawn shares his own revelation from years of journaling. He noticed a pattern of abandoned plans. The reason? Waiting for missing components before taking action. The fix? Move with an incomplete plan. The marketplace teaches you nothing if you stay on the sidelines.

The hosts discuss the Tom Brady Super Bowl comeback against Atlanta. Down 25 points in a sport where no team had ever recovered from more than 10. On the sideline, Julian Edelman kept telling teammates: “You gotta believe. It’s going to be one hell of a story.” That mindset separates practitioners who rebuild from those who quit.

For dentists who logged 2025 as a loss, Allison offers a reframe. If you caused your bad year, you have control. That means you can fix it. External forces like economy and insurance leave you powerless. Personal responsibility equals personal power.

The episode closes with practical wisdom: find a coach, stay in community with believers, and never wait for the perfect moment to move.