Managing Dental Drama
154 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsOwning, operating, and managing a dental practice can be difficult and sometimes wrought with drama. Meet Dr. Kuba, a private practice owner, and Bethany, a dental consultant, who take real-life examples and talk through issues in an open, honest, and sometimes hilarious manner. Topics are relevant to current dental and employment trends and range from “The Art of Retaining Good Employees” to “The Marriage of Dentistry and Insurance Ending in Divorce” and everything in between. Each episode provides dental leaders with various tips and tricks as well as common mistakes to avoid. Enjoy the unscripted conversation between Dr. Kuba, Bethany, and various dental practice owners!
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Episodes
Determining the Worth of Employees
August 01, 2022 10:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MBFor any practice owner that has recently had an employee state or imply, “I know MY worth,” then this episode is for you. With inflation on the rise, employees are asking for more and more income, and they are in a position to ask due to a reduced number of workers in the dental field. Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss the importance of being prepared for employees’ continued requests for more money. They also provide tips for HOW to be prepared to determine an employee’s worth. Don't forget to...
Learning from Leadership Examples
July 25, 2022 10:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MBLeadership is challenging and requires constant self-reflection and growth. Practice owners can often make mistakes while leading their teams, and those mistakes are discussed in this episode. Practice owners can be micromanagers with extremely high standards and mounting frustration when expectations aren’t met. Leadership requires patience and perspective. Dentists can also struggle with avoiding leadership altogether. Many practice owners focus on employees’ weaknesses and put effort and ...
Learning from Leadership Examples
July 25, 2022 10:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MBLeadership is challenging and requires constant self-reflection and growth. Practice owners can often make mistakes while leading their teams, and those mistakes are discussed in this episode. Practice owners can be micromanagers with extremely high standards and mounting frustration when expectations aren’t met. Leadership requires patience and perspective. Dentists can also struggle with avoiding leadership altogether. Many practice owners focus on employees’ weaknesses and put effort and ...
Dental Practice Owners are Leaders
July 18, 2022 10:00 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MBDentists, especially practice owners, are leaders. Each day, dentists are faced with the opportunity to lead their team well, serve their patients, and impact their community. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany listen to tips from Dr. Marr, who discusses her leadership style and her goal of creating mini-leaders on her team. The collaborative leadership style of Dr. Kuba is also discussed. Employees need a good leader, and there are various ways to lead. This episode concludes me remindin...
Featuring YOUR Voices
July 11, 2022 10:00 - 41 minutes - 28.7 MBJoin Bethany in this episode where YOU, the audience, are the focus. You will hear tips and tricks directly from listeners who have called in with their suggestions and comments. Learn from Dr. Cooper about how to control associate spending. Get tips from Dr. Valadez who developed a quick fifteen-minute end-of-day routine that ensures claims are paid, petty cash is tracked, and adjustments are monitored. Finally, listen to a friendly reminder from Dr. Patel about the importance of caring for...
July 4th Special – HR and Holiday Basics
July 04, 2022 10:00 - 12 minutes - 8.58 MBJoin Bethany in this special short segment on HR Basics. She covers some of the most frequently asked questions about HR – holiday pay, paid time off, meeting pay time, and training pay time. If you’ve ever wondered what is “normal” or suggested, Bethany will answer those questions in this episode! Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
July 4th Special – HR and Holiday Basics
July 04, 2022 10:00 - 12 minutes - 8.58 MBJoin Bethany in this special short segment on HR Basics. She covers some of the most frequently asked questions about HR – holiday pay, paid time off, meeting pay time, and training pay time. If you’ve ever wondered what is “normal” or suggested, Bethany will answer those questions in this episode! Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Hiring An Associate Series – Part Three
June 20, 2022 10:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBThe final section in the associate series addresses the practical steps of bringing on an associate. First, how should a practice owner find a good associate? What are the important qualities they need to have? Second, it is important to make the owner/associate relationship win/win. Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss ways to retain associates and keep them happy in the practice. Finally, Bethany wraps up with some practical next steps in starting the process of bringing on an associate. By the t...
Hiring An Associate Series – Part Three
June 20, 2022 10:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBThe final section in the associate series addresses the practical steps of bringing on an associate. First, how should a practice owner find a good associate? What are the important qualities they need to have? Second, it is important to make the owner/associate relationship win/win. Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss ways to retain associates and keep them happy in the practice. Finally, Bethany wraps up with some practical next steps in starting the process of bringing on an associate. By the t...
Hiring An Associate Series – Part Two
June 13, 2022 01:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBSo, you’ve decided you want an associate? Then, your attention should turn to the financial details necessary to make your next move. First, is your practice in the right financial position to hire an associate? If so, how much room is in your budget? Depending on the budget, you can consider starting with a part-time associate (usually 1-2 days a week) or a full-time associate (3-4 days a week). How are associates usually paid? That is the next financially motivated subject. Dr. Kuba and Be...
Hiring An Associate Series – Part One
June 06, 2022 01:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBMany solo practitioners are considering an associate for the first time in their careers. A number of them indicate that they never dreamed of bringing on an associate. So, what changed their minds? It’s no doubt that the last 2.5 years has been some of the most stressful times for practice owners. While things have stabilized somewhat, the stress of practice ownership remains elevated. Many dentists yearn for relief from the practice, the ability to take a day off or to even take a vacation...
Insurance MAD World Part Two
May 30, 2022 01:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBThe insurance conversation continues as Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss the importance of communication with patients in relation to insurance. When dropping network status with an insurance plan, Bethany has some specific opinions on how to successfully manage the communication with patients. She and Dr. Kuba discuss a recent insurance drop that Dr. Kuba made and how her team managed the transition. Additional topics include how to communicate the changes with insurance to your patients so tha...
Insurance MAD World Part One
May 23, 2022 01:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBHave you been asking yourself lately, “Where is all the money going?” Or have you noticed that certain procedures are simply less productive than they used to be? Maybe you’ve even wondered to yourself, “I feel like I’m working harder and making less, what is happening?” If these thoughts sound familiar, then tune into this episode. Dr. Kuba and Bethany spend time discussing current trends in the MAD world of insurance. The fact of the matter is that in-network practices are making less now ...
Know THY Practice
May 16, 2022 01:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBDr. Kuba has a moment of truth when she and her associate tend to a midnight emergency patient. As she fumbles to put together the supplies needed and even struggles with the equipment needed to service her patient, she realizes the importance of getting back to the basics of knowing more about her practice. In this episode, Bethany extends the conversation to encourage practice owners to not only know the clinical foundations of the practice but also the business foundations. When practice ...
The Emotional and Mental Health of the Dentist or Practice Owner
May 02, 2022 01:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBThis episode expands the mental health subject to the dentist or practice owner. While the team’s mental health is very important, the dentist or practice owner’s emotional wellbeing is paramount. In fact, in many cases the practice does not exist with a mentally well dentist or practice owner. In this mini episode, Bethany discusses five important strategies for keeping the dark clouds of despair at bay. In addition to big picture suggestions like building a professional team and investing ...
The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace
April 25, 2022 01:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBMental and emotional health have always been important. Yet, the last two plus years of pandemic changes have caused a number of people to go from confident, stable, and happy to depressed, anxious, and discontent. According to Boston University School of Public Health, depression rates have tripled in the United States, where now 1 in 3 American adults are affected. Therefore, the number of our employees now struggling with emotional health and the number of our patients struggling with men...
Thoughts on Employee Retention – April 2022
April 18, 2022 01:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MBOne of the most popular episodes thus far on Managing Dental Drama has been the first episode called, “The Art of Retaining Good Employees in a Post-Pandemic Market.” Thirty episodes and ten months later, Dr. Kuba and Bethany tackle this topic again. They both reflect on how much the job market landscape has changed even over a ten-month period of time. Together, they dialogue together on the strategies and mindset necessary to retaining employees while also fully admitting that they do not ...
Second Interview With Bethany’s Dad – Dr. Jones
April 11, 2022 01:00 - 43 minutes - 29.6 MBBack by popular demand! Dr. Jones joins Bethany again to discuss three subject matters. First, he tackles marketing and reflects back on various strategies he has tried over the years. An avid believer in consistent marketing, Dr. Jones encourages listeners to engage in a variety of marketing activities and stick with it. Second, Dr. Jones discusses his individual ways of showing appreciation and encouragement to his team members. He believes that his team are experts in their roles and that...
Thirty Positive Thoughts in Less Than Thirty Minutes
April 04, 2022 02:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBIn the everyday reality of new stresses, Dr. Kuba and Bethany were compelled to spend thirty minutes discuss all of the positive aspects of dentistry and dental practice ownership. They challenged each other to discuss thirty positives in thirty minutes. No negatives allowed. In this episode, listeners will enjoy the opportunity to reflect on all of the wonderful blessings of the dental field. Dr. Kuba and Bethany hope that this episode brightens many days and causes listeners themselves to ...
How to Tackle Uncomfortable Conversations with Employees
March 28, 2022 02:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MBEmployees seem to feel more valuable than they’ve ever been before, so when they are not performing as expected, it becomes difficult to know how to handle them. Should a practice owner address the issues and potentially risk upsetting the employee? What if the employee decides to leave, once again leaving the practice understaffed? Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss several real-life examples from the past two weeks – two brand new employees with attendance issues, two different employees with at...
10 Marketing Minutes
March 21, 2022 14:00 - 11 minutes - 8.21 MBOn this episode of Managing Dental Drama, Bethany is flying solo! Last week's episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany talked about marketing and gave some ideas and tips on low cost marketing strategies. Today, Bethany is using these 10 minutes to provide more marketing strategy takeaways that you can implement in your practice.
Low Cost Marketing Strategies
March 14, 2022 02:00 - 56 minutes - 38.8 MBMany dental offices experienced new and unpredictable patterns during and after the COVID crisis. During the volatile ups and downs, many practice owners found themselves so focused on new problems and new trends that marketing was an afterthought at best. As the waves of change have started to settle into a more predictable rhythm, the evident need for new patients has surfaced once again. In this episode, Dr. Kuba shares one of her main marketing events – patient appreciation. Bethany thro...
Disgruntled Patients
March 07, 2022 02:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBWhile disgruntled patients have always been a reality, they seem to be growing in number. The combination of massive social and economic changes has turned even some of the nicest patients into grumps. In this world-wide rise of grumpiness, the dental field certainly gets hit hard by the patients who are simply looking to fight. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss specific disgruntled patient examples from just the last week and share insights on how they each handled or would have...
An Interview with Bethany’s Dad – Dr. Jones
February 28, 2022 02:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBAt 71 years young, Bethany’s Dad, Dr. Jones, is still practicing dentistry full-time and is loving every second of it. What is his secret? Dr. Jones shares a brief synopsis of his 45-year history in the dental field. Then, he focuses on mistakes he’s made throughout those years and what he has learned from those mistakes. Like many of our followers, Dr. Jones also hit a wall about 20 years into his career. Listen to how he restored his passion for dentistry in a 4-month exit from the field. ...
Management Tool Kit: Office Policy Manual and Performance Reviews
February 21, 2022 02:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBAlthough performance reviews and the office policy manual can often be two tools that fall to the bottom of the management tool bag, they are incredibly vital to running a successful practice. The office policy manual provides a management philosophy that becomes foundational to the team. It also clarifies rules, procedures, and expectations for team members while protecting the practice owner. Performance reviews force consistent communication with employees. The reviews keep the employees ...
Management Tool Kit: Salary Review
February 14, 2022 02:00 - 47 minutes - 33 MBOne of the most common questions that Bethany gets is, “When should I give a raise?” In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany unpack the mystery of salary and hourly increases. Their advice is to ensure that the team has a clear understanding of when and how often pay will be reevaluated. This clarity will prevent employees from asking for a raise, which seems to be every practice owner’s worst nightmare. Dive into this episode for more details into how to conduct salary reviews and what to exp...
The “Surface Pressure” is Killing Me, Now What?
February 07, 2022 02:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBDo you ever feel pigeon-holed? You feel like you are out of options and too tired to fight for options? Every practice owner experiences seasons of simply wanting out. They want to walk away from the pressure and stress of it all. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss the intentional strategy of bringing in producer help. For some practices, that could mean taking the leap of faith and hiring a hygienist. For other practices, that could mean hiring a part-time associate. Whatever the...
The “Surface Pressure” is Killing Me, Now What?
February 07, 2022 02:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBDo you ever feel pigeon-holed? You feel like you are out of options and too tired to fight for options? Every practice owner experiences seasons of simply wanting out. They want to walk away from the pressure and stress of it all. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss the intentional strategy of bringing in producer help. For some practices, that could mean taking the leap of faith and hiring a hygienist. For other practices, that could mean hiring a part-time associate. Whatever the...
Staff and Supply Costs Up, Profits Down
January 31, 2022 02:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBAt almost two years past the initial onset of the pandemic, staff costs continue to soar. Practice owners are often backed into a corner with staff pay increase requests, or staff members are “bought out” by another office in the area. Hiring new employees continues to be a punch in the gut because of their starting asking rates. Add in the supply cost increases that continue to rise, and many practice owners are left either wondering how they are going to make ends meet or how they are goin...
COVID-19 Resurgence and Practice Impact Part Two
January 24, 2022 04:00 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MBDo you remember the good ‘ole days of rock-solid cancellation policies and cancellation phone call scripts? The latest resurgence of COVID-19 has caused a rattling and even complete decomposition of the plan for handling patient cancellations. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany continue discussing the current impact of COVID-19 on the practice, specifically in the way of a schedule that never seems to stay put together. Because an obliterated schedule can cause extreme stress, it is vital...
COVID-19 Resurgence and Practice Impact: Part One
January 17, 2022 03:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MBIn this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany commiserate together on the most recent impact of COVID-19 on the team and also on the schedule. This conversation is definitely real in every way – raw emotions, real reactions, and dialoguing together to find hope in yet another tough wave of this pandemic. Tune in to hear how other practice owners are weathering this storm while also finding some encouragement for yourself and your team. Show hosts Bethany Petty and Dr. Reena Kuba discuss the follow...
Top Ten for Year End
December 20, 2021 01:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBIn today’s episode Bethany is flying solo! Dr. Kuba is busy running her practice as we near the end of 2021 and will be back and ready for 2022.. As Bethany discusses the top ten important things you should do to prepare for 2022, it’s important to remember to stop and evaluate your own health and get plenty of rest. We all too often pour our everything into ensuring our practice is running smoothly and efficiently that we often forget to take care of ourselves. When you do this, everything ...
Bonus Plans – The Taking Away
December 13, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBIn this follow up episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss the other valuable aspect of having strong bonus plans – their usefulness in disciplinary action. Not only are bonuses excellent at positively motivating team members, but they can also be used to negatively motivate team members. Bonuses can (and should) be taken away when an employee is significantly underperforming or failing to meet certain deadlines or expectations. So many practice owners are limited by the small scope of options ...
Bonus Plans – The Giving Part 1
December 06, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 44.7 MBIt’s the most wonderful time of the year, and with it comes the age-old question, “What should I do for my team in the way of a bonus or holiday gift?” Nearly every practice owner struggles with the why, how, and what of gift-giving at the end of the year. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss not only year-end gift giving strategies but also on-going bonus plans for the rest of the year. Three main bonus strategies are discussed as well as the impact of these bonuses and gifts upon ...
Staffing Solutions – Remote Workers
November 29, 2021 03:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBKeeping a dental office fully staffed now seems to be a full-time job. So many practice owners are struggling to run a full schedule because they are missing key team members. One creative strategy is to offload some of the administrative work in the practice to employees who work remotely or away from the office. By incorporating remote workers into the fold, practice owners no longer have to find and retain employees who live near the office. Instead, they are able to expand their options ...
Staffing Solutions – Remote Workers
November 29, 2021 03:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBKeeping a dental office fully staffed now seems to be a full-time job. So many practice owners are struggling to run a full schedule because they are missing key team members. One creative strategy is to offload some of the administrative work in the practice to employees who work remotely or away from the office. By incorporating remote workers into the fold, practice owners no longer have to find and retain employees who live near the office. Instead, they are able to expand their options ...
Creative Team Building Ideas
November 15, 2021 02:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBYou asked, now receive! So many practice owners struggle with effective team building ideas. After receiving foundational ideas in episode twelve, this episode takes a deep dive into multiple team building examples that Dr. Kuba has executed in her practice. Self-proclaimed as “Off the Wall Ideas,” Dr. Kuba shares her creative and fun events including her original team building event. She and Bethany offer advice to practice owners struggling to start a cohesive culture through team building...
How to Help Your Team Bear Fruit
November 08, 2021 03:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBToday’s episode called for a well-timed detour. Drama hit Dr. Kuba’s office, and it required corrective conversations with two of her employees. Within these conversations, Dr. Kuba had a light-bulb moment when she realized her impact as a leader on these two employees. Using the analogy of a fruit orchard, Dr. Kuba explains how she reached a new level of understanding in how to manage her team. With a depleted employee market that seems to grow worse by the minute, retaining employees is cr...
The Basics of Team Building
November 01, 2021 01:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBDr. Kuba, a self-proclaimed introverted homebody, has an extensive team building calendar. Why? She believes it is foundational to creating and maintaining a good office culture. Her strategy works. Although she could never claim a perfect practice culture, her team has a strong unity and sense of value. Most team members who join Dr. Kuba’s practice are loyal because they feel seen, heard, and valued by Dr. Kuba. Her team often comments on the generosity of their boss and how valued they fe...
The Basics of Team Building
November 01, 2021 01:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBDr. Kuba, a self-proclaimed introverted homebody, has an extensive team building calendar. Why? She believes it is foundational to creating and maintaining a good office culture. Her strategy works. Although she could never claim a perfect practice culture, her team has a strong unity and sense of value. Most team members who join Dr. Kuba’s practice are loyal because they feel seen, heard, and valued by Dr. Kuba. Her team often comments on the generosity of their boss and how valued they fe...
A Different Management Model – Leadership Teams
October 25, 2021 01:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MBTo have a manager or to not have a manager – that is the question! After years of functioning with the traditional office manager model, Dr. Kuba found herself anxious about what would happen if her manager decided to leave. When her manager was finally burned out and done with managing, Dr. Kuba and Bethany had to incorporate a new model. In this episode, the details of how the team lead model concept works in Dr. Kuba’s office are discussed. Show hosts Bethany Petty and Dr. Reena Kuba di...
Patient Personalities on Parade
October 18, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 51.4 MBWhat do patient personalities have to do with anything? Our answer – personalities impact EVERYTHING including our interactions with patients and/or patient guardians. Continuing the conversation on personalities, Dr. Kuba and Bethany describe the specific ways that customizing communication based on the patient’s personality not only makes the communication more effective but also saves time and energy. Patients give clues to their preferred communication style. We must attend to these clue...
Personalities on Parade
October 11, 2021 01:00 - 54 minutes - 37.8 MBDo personalities really matter? The non-surprising answer – absolutely. After discussion of the four main personality types and then revealing their own personalities, Dr. Kuba and Bethany reflect on the various ways that the four distinct dispositions have impacted the practice. They discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each type and the difficulty a practice owner might have when he or she fails to consider the impact of each staff member’s personality. //Show hosts Bethany Petty and Dr...
Details Matter – The Importance of Clinical Documentation
October 04, 2021 01:00 - 48 minutes - 33.7 MBAlthough we know it, we often forget just how important clinical documentation is in the everyday life of a dental practice. This episode serves as a reminder of all the reasons why it is vital to prioritize good notes. Dr. Kuba shares about a time when a patient complained to the State Dental Board, and her documentation was suddenly under review. Due to her personal experience and the experience of others, Dr. Kuba is passionate enough about this topic to serve as a chart compliance audito...
Details Matter – The Importance of Clinical Documentation
October 04, 2021 01:00 - 48 minutes - 33.7 MBAlthough we know it, we often forget just how important clinical documentation is in the everyday life of a dental practice. This episode serves as a reminder of all the reasons why it is vital to prioritize good notes. Dr. Kuba shares about a time when a patient complained to the State Dental Board, and her documentation was suddenly under review. Due to her personal experience and the experience of others, Dr. Kuba is passionate enough about this topic to serve as a chart compliance audito...
When to Coach and When to Fire Underperforming Employees
September 27, 2021 01:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MBOne of the hardest decisions to make when managing a practice is whether or not to fire an underperforming employee. In some cases, it can feel like an incredibly emotional decision. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany dig into some important self-reflection questions to start with when deciding on an employee’s future with the business. Despite the hardships associated with firing an employee, it is often necessary. // Show hosts Bethany Petty and Dr. Reena Kuba dive into the following im...
WWKD – What Would Kuba Do?
September 20, 2021 01:00 - 51 minutes - 35.5 MBWe are putting Dr. Kuba on the spot in a special edition of “What Would Kuba Do?” In this show, Bethany presents Dr. Kuba with three scenarios from her dramatic week of sour employees and turns the table to see how Dr. Kuba would handle things. Have you ever had a Sour Patch employee? Maybe they’ve always been a bit moody, or maybe they suddenly became sour and you just can’t figure out why. Either way, you know that it is just not a good thing for your team or your practice. It is importan...
The Marriage of Dentistry and Insurance Ending In Divorce
September 13, 2021 01:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBThe landscape of dental insurance has changed drastically since it’s inception in the 1950’s. In a post-pandemic world, insurance has digressed at an alarming rate. Reimbursements are constantly being lowered, and new clauses and rules of payments are leaving many in-network providers in a difficult predicament. How is it possible to continue to be successful when we are receiving less money from dental insurance while our practice expenses are increasing? Show hosts Bethany Petty and Dr. ...
Discovering Your Why and Then Practicing Happy
September 06, 2021 01:00 - 54 minutes - 37.2 MBSo often practice owners find themselves at a place in their life and in their practice where they are completely dissatisfied. We believe arriving at a state of dissatisfaction or even frustration is caused by a series of misguided decisions along the way. It is critical for a practice owner to periodically pause, determine their “why” or their purpose, and then begin to make decisions that align with or take into consideration their purpose. //Show hosts Bethany Petty and Dr. Reena Kuba di...
Real Life Online Patient Reviews and How We Responded
August 30, 2021 01:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBAre you paralyzed in fear each time you read a negative patient review? Or do you avoid reading patient reviews because of the stress they cause? Positive and negative dental patient reviews are unfortunately a fact of life, and they deserve our attention. Show hosts Bethany Petty and Dr. Reena Kuba dive into the following important topics: The importance of either personally reading reviews or assigning a member on your team to consistently read and respond to reviews Positive and nega...