“Biology remains undefeated.” Alan reflects on the stark contrast between social media’s flawless clinical highlight reels and the sobering reality of burnout and mental health struggles in the profession . Borrowing from the philosophy of absurdism and the myth of Sisyphus, he argues that because restorative work enters an aggressive biological environment destined for entropy,…
Live from the Bioclear Summit Alan sits down with Dr. Taras Konanec, Director of Operative Dentistry at McGill University . The two discuss the realities of modern dental education and the struggle to get clinic instructors on the same page . Taras details how McGill successfully integrated the Bioclear method and heated composites into its…
Kevin and Zach welcome back Alan to dive into the art of “getting ahead of it” in everyday operative dentistry to prevent patient complaints before they start . From anticipating shade discrepancies caused by tooth dehydration during anterior composite restorations to managing lingual thickness and opposing occlusal contacts, the conversation breaks down real-world restorative hurdles…
Alan is joined by Dr. Marco Maiolino live from the 2026 Bioclear Summit to challenge the profession’s obsession with superficial aesthetics and make the definitive case for longevity dentistry. Drawing on over two decades of clinical experience in Sicily, Marco breaks down the psychological nuances of real informed consent and how clinicians must take clinical…
In this episode of the “Getting Ahead of It” series, Zach, Kevin, and guest Dr. Alan Mead break down practical communication strategies to preempt patient complaints and callbacks before they happen. Starting with local anesthesia, the trio covers common chairside dilemmas: setting realistic expectations between upper and lower numbness, handling palatal pressure, navigating anatomical misses,…
Fresh from the 2026 Bioclear Alumni Summit, Alan reflects on the power of tooth preservation, the lost art of “herodontics,” and why the default move to implant therapy might be selling patients short . Addressing recent listener feedback about network reruns and solo monologues, Alan dives into standout presentations from Dr. Rafael Bustamante and Dr….
Alan welcomes Kyle Lim, the dynamic owner of Power Dental Group, to discuss how a second-generation family sharpening and retipping business evolved into a disruptive direct-to-dentist brand. Kyle pulls back the curtain on taking over his father’s blue-collar manufacturing roots, shifting away from declining trade shows, and leveraging engaging social media marketing to stand out…
In this throwback episode Dr. Justin Moody joins Alan to chronicle the remarkable evolution of Implant Pathway—from early hotel seminars to establishing a massive, purpose-built 32-operatory clinical training and nonprofit center in Scottsdale . Together, they break down the philosophy of the Fast Track program, emphasizing actionable clinical judgment, live-patient mentorship, and the importance of…
Alan reflects on the stark contrast between social media reach and traditional audio podcast listenership after short Instagram clips featuring guest Dr. Brady Smith quickly garnered tens of thousands of views while overall podcast downloads remained steady . Looking back on the evolution of dental media since co-founding The Dental Hacks in 2014, he examines…
What happens when you combine an aggressive 16-hour clinical shift, 18 frivolous state dental board investigations, and a completely fabricated, highly inappropriate anesthesia technique? You get Dr. Brady Smith’s return to the Very Dental Podcast. Alan sits down with Brady to unpack his transition from a dentist who merely likes attention to a full-blown social…