In this episode of the Group Function podcast, Alan sits down with Joe Chickerillo and Lana Rivera to recap an incredible Chicago Midwinter meeting and dive deep into why the word “consultant” feels broken in modern dentistry. Joe shares his “first and only” philosophy for evaluating tech startups and disruptive ideas, while Lana leverages her…
In this special, off-topic feature of the Very Clinical Podcast, hosts Zach and Kevin trade dental bonding agent chat for guitars and grit. They welcome Alan to kick off a multi-part series on the cultural endurance of rock and roll music. Inspired by Alan’s recent trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the…
Alan dives into the clinical and psychological mysteries of pain tolerance and the supreme value of profound anesthesia. Alan opens up about a humbling experience with a phobic patient who simply wouldn’t go numb, his deep love for his trusty Septodont Perject “pencil” syringe, and why he fiercely stands by Itena DentoTemp for zero-failure provisionals….
Alan sits down with George Khoury, VP of Enterprise Sales at Net32, to discuss the evolution of the dental supply industry. Drawing on his 30-year career—spanning the early days of digital X-rays at Schick to nearly two decades at Henry Schein—George provides a candid look at why the traditional “high-touch” sales rep model is facing…
In this throwback episode from 2023 Alan revisits a long-standing “chip on his shoulder”: the persistent and often unscientific demand for antibiotic premedication in joint replacement patients. Sparked by his own wife’s hip surgery, Alan dives into the disconnect between evidence-based ADA/AAOS guidelines and the “premedicate for life” culture maintained by many orthopedic surgeons. With…
Alan recovers from a Mother’s Day brunch—feeling a bit like a boa constrictor that swallowed a goat—to discuss a profound connection between the worlds of 12-step recovery and clinical dentistry. Drawing on his 24 years of recovery, Alan explores the “spiritual principles” of honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness, and how they apply to patients struggling with…
In this special compilation episode of the Very Dental Podcast, Alan explores one of the most universal and uniquely blunt experiences in the profession: the “I hate dentists” phenomenon. Recorded live at the 2026 Voices of Dentistry meeting in Arizona, this episode features a wide-ranging roundtable of perspectives from doctors Eric Applesies, Alex Kantor, Paul…
This throwback episode from May 2024 brings together Zach, Kevin and Al for a candid look at how their clinical philosophies have evolved over decades of practice. From the baseball diamonds of the Midwest to the operatory, the guys dive into the “then vs. now” of daily dentistry. They tackle the shift from buried subgingival…
Alan explores the shifting landscape of digital reputation, from the “gold rush” era of 2018 to the current state of consumer skepticism and review fatigue. He dives into how online feedback has largely replaced traditional SEO and Yellow Pages for dental marketing, specifically through its influence on the Google “three-pack.” He balances his perspective as…
Recorded live at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting,Alan is joined by Kate Reinert and Brian Shoberg from Zirc Dental Products to the podcast lounge. The trio discusses the evolving landscape of dental trade shows in the digital age and the enduring value of hands-on continuing education. Brian and Kate introduce Zirc’s latest innovation: a double-sided, one-piece…