The ADA announced it's pulling back support for DSOs. The internet lost its mind. Kyle and Martin didn't.

In this episode, Dr. Kyle Stanley and Dr. Martin Mendelson break down what the ADA's shift actually means — and what it doesn't. The ADA is a for-profit business. DSOs aren't all created equal. And dental insurance is a defined benefit plan, not insurance. We've done a terrible job letting people call it otherwise.

But here's what really gets Kyle fired up: dentists who complain about insurance reimbursements while staying in network. A dentist in Fresno went out of network, lost 50% of his patients, and now takes home 20% more. Do the math before you say you can't.

The real message: stop spending energy on things you can't control. Don't like the ADA? Cancel your membership. Hate your reimbursements? Drop the plan. Dentistry has more models, niches, and paths than almost any profession out there. Pick one and go.

Complaining on the internet is not a strategy.

For more info or to join their live CE course, go to www.wellnessindentistry.com

Join Carabelli Club here and save $600 on your yearly membership: https://hubs.la/Q03QQGmD

If you'd like to chat with Martin about disability insurance, you can click here to find a time on his calendar. He's a licensed agent and happy to connect with you.

Get Kyle's founder's discount for Pearl AI by scheduling a demo here: https://discover.hellopearl.com/referral/kyle-stanley/

Something shifted in Dallas.

Dr. Martin Mendelson and Dr. Kyle Stanley just wrapped a Lightside Live course at MB2 Dental — one of the largest DSOs in the country, with 800 practices — and what they found wasn't what most people expect from corporate dentistry. They found a group practice that actually cares about its doctors.

In this episode, Kyle and Martin unpack what happened over those two days, share a text from a participant that no marketing copy could replicate, and get honest about why putting yourself on a waitlist and actually signing up are two very different things.

Then the conversation goes deeper. Dentists are 17 times more likely to take their own lives than the general population. When a dentist is burning out, their team feels it, their patients feel it, their family feels it. The dog feels it. And that revolving door of staff so many dentists blame on "the new generation"? It's hard to work for someone who's drowning.

The goal isn't just better courses. It's making mental health a CE requirement — right alongside HIPAA and opioids. Because you can take 50 units of veneer courses and still want to quit.

Stop waiting. It's okay to not be okay. Do something about it.

For more info or to join their live CE course, go to www.wellnessindentistry.com

Join Carabelli Club here and save $600 on your yearly membership: https://hubs.la/Q03QQGmD0

If you'd like to chat with Martin about disability insurance, you can click here to find a time on his calendar. He's a licensed agent and happy to connect with you.

Get Kyle's founder's discount for Pearl AI by scheduling a demo here:https://discover.hellopearl.com/referral/kyle-stanley/

In this episode, Dr. Martin Mendelson and Dr. Kyle Stanley reframe the way dental professionals think about complications and setbacks in practice. Rather than labeling difficult outcomes as failures, they explore how shifting language toward "complications" and "revisions" can protect a dentist's mindset and fuel long-term growth. Dr. Mendelson shares his three-step framework for processing difficult situations: accepting that things happen, allowing emotions to move through, and extracting the lesson. The conversation includes candid personal stories about implant complications and the reality that some outcomes fall outside a dentist's control entirely. Together, they emphasize the power of self-awareness, preparation, and focusing energy on what can actually be influenced rather than what cannot.

For more info or to join their live CE course, go to www.wellnessindentistry.com

Join Carabelli Club here and save $600 on your yearly membership: https://hubs.la/Q03QQGmD0

If you’d like to chat with Martin about disability insurance, you can click here to find a time on his calendar. He’s a licensed agent and happy to connect with you.

Get Kyle’s founder’s discount for Pearl AI by scheduling a demo here: https://discover.hellopearl.com/referral/kyle-stanley/

In this episode, Dr. Kyle Stanley and Dr. Martin Mendelson tackle a challenge many dentists face: how to explain the unique pressures of the profession to people outside of it. From the physical toll of working in a confined operatory to the constant balancing act of running a business while delivering clinical care, they break down why dentistry is far more demanding than it appears from the outside. The conversation explores how negative media portrayals and widespread misconceptions about dental costs and insurance continue to erode public trust and add emotional weight to an already demanding career. They also discuss the misalignment of financial incentives in dentistry and why the system often rewards treatment over prevention. The episode closes with an optimistic look at how emerging technologies like AI can help rebuild patient trust and open the door to more sustainable, prevention-focused models of care.

For more info or to join their live CE course, go to www.wellnessindentistry.com

Join Carabelli Club here and save $600 on your yearly membership: https://hubs.la/Q03QQGmD0

If you'd like to chat with Martin about disability insurance, you can click here to find a time on his calendar. He's a licensed agent and happy to connect with you.

Get Kyle's founder's discount for Pearl AI by scheduling a demo here: https://discover.hellopearl.com/referral/kyle-stanley/

In this episode, Dr. Kyle Stanley and Dr. Martin Mendelson tackle the topic of litigation in dentistry, sharing statistics and personal experiences with malpractice claims. They emphasize that even great dentists can face lawsuits, and that many claims stem more from communication breakdowns than clinical errors. The conversation focuses on what is actually within a dentist’s control, including clear patient communication, proper documentation, and setting expectations from the start. Rather than practicing in fear, they encourage dentists to focus on preventable factors that reduce risk and strengthen their ability to defend themselves if a claim arises, offering a grounded and practical perspective on navigating one of the most stressful aspects of the profession.

For more info or to join their live CE course, go to www.wellnessindentistry.com

Join Carabelli Club here and save $600 on your yearly membership: https://hubs.la/Q03QQGmD0

If you’d like to chat with Martin about disability insurance, you can click here to find a time on his calendar. He’s a licensed agent and happy to connect with you.

Get Kyle’s founder’s discount for Pearl AI by scheduling a demo here: https://discover.hellopearl.com/referral/kyle-stanley/

In this episode of the Wellness and Dentistry podcast, Dr. Martin Mendelson and Dr. Kyle Stanley explore the guilt cycle in dentistry, sharing personal experiences that reveal how guilt often stems from unclear boundaries and poor communication rather than true obligation. They discuss the importance of defining personal values, setting expectations with patients and family, and being fully present in each role, while also challenging the idea that every dental issue is a true emergency. The episode emphasizes creating systems to manage responsibilities effectively so dentists can step away from work without carrying guilt, offering a practical framework for those looking to regain control of their time and create a more balanced life.

For more info or to join their live CE course, go to www.wellnessindentistry.com

Join Carabelli Club here and save $600 on your yearly membership: https://hubs.la/Q03QQGmD0

If you’d like to chat with Martin about disability insurance, you can click here to find a time on his calendar. He’s a licensed agent and happy to connect with you.

Get Kyle’s founder’s discount for Pearl AI by scheduling a demo here: https://discover.hellopearl.com/referral/kyle-stanley/

In this episode, Dr. Kyle Stanley and Dr. Martin Mendelson break down the mental game of handling difficult patients in dental practice.

They explore practical strategies for navigating challenging situations, starting with the foundation of setting clear expectations from the beginning. The conversation emphasizes proactive communication around potential complications, helping patients understand outcomes while protecting the doctor patient relationship. They also highlight the importance of maintaining professional boundaries so that difficult interactions do not spill into personal stress.

A key theme throughout the episode is shifting focus toward what is actually controllable. Instead of reacting to patient behavior, they encourage dentists to focus on their own communication, systems, and mindset. They introduce the idea of approaching difficult situations with curiosity rather than judgment, which can diffuse tension and lead to better outcomes. They also reinforce an important truth that not every patient is the right fit for every practice, and that is okay.

Both doctors share personal stories from their own careers, including moments where things did not go as planned and the lessons that came from those experiences. These real world examples bring the concepts to life and provide relatable insights for dentists at any stage.

This episode is ideal for dentists who want to feel more confident, grounded, and in control when facing difficult patient interactions.

For more info or to join their live CE course, go to www.wellnessindentistry.com

Join Carabelli Club here and save $600 on your yearly membership: https://hubs.la/Q03QQGmD0

If you’d like to chat with Martin about disability insurance, you can click here to find a time on his calendar. He’s a licensed agent and happy to connect with you.

Get Kyle’s founder’s discount for Pearl AI by scheduling a demo here: https://discover.hellopearl.com/referral/kyle-stanley/

In this episode, Dr. Martin Mendelson and Dr. Kyle Stanley dive into a powerful and often overlooked reality in dentistry: when the practice starts to own the dentist.

Drawing from their own experiences, they unpack how practice ownership, while often seen as the ultimate goal, can quietly lead to burnout, blurred personal boundaries, and a loss of identity outside of dentistry. The conversation goes beyond awareness and into action, offering practical strategies for reclaiming control.

They explore how to identify your primary stressors, separate your self-worth from your production or practice performance, and establish clear boundaries with both your team and your family. The episode also highlights the importance of building systems that support you, rather than relying on constant personal effort.

On the tactical side, they break down tools like the Eisenhower Matrix for prioritizing what actually matters, using AI and automation to reduce cognitive load, and performing time audits to uncover where your hours are really going each day. These insights help dentists move from reactive to intentional in how they run their practice and their lives.

The key message is that meaningful change does not happen overnight. It takes effort, awareness, and a willingness to take small, consistent steps forward. Most importantly, you do not have to figure it out alone. Seeking support, learning from others, and leveraging available resources can make all the difference.

This episode is a must listen for any dentist who feels like they have lost control of their time, energy, or purpose and is ready to take it back.

For more info or to join their live CE course, go to www.wellnessindentistry.com

Join Carabelli Club here and save $600 on your yearly membership: https://hubs.la/Q03QQGmD0

If you’d like to chat with Martin about disability insurance, you can click here to find a time on his calendar. He’s a licensed agent and happy to connect with you.

Get Kyle’s founder’s discount for Pearl AI by scheduling a demo here: https://discover.hellopearl.com/referral/kyle-stanley/