Dental Drill Bits

Sucktember Starts Long Before September

The Dental Podcast Directory is Proudly Supported By:

dental podcast directory display ad

Show Notes


September has earned a bad reputation in dentistry, but is “Sucktember” really the problem?

In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy and Dana Pardue challenge the idea that a slow September is inevitable. Instead, they look at the systems behind treatment acceptance, unscheduled treatment, and patient follow-up.

Many practices are sitting on hundreds of thousands, or even more than a million dollars, in diagnosed treatment that was never scheduled. The patient owns the decision to move forward, but the diagnosing practice still owns the process. That includes clear communication, assigned responsibility, consistent follow-up, and a system that does not allow patients to quietly disappear into a report.

If your practice is waiting for patients to remember to call, this episode may explain why treatment acceptance is slipping.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why your hiring process may be costing you great hygienists
  • The biggest mistake practices make during hygienist interviews
  • Why DISC is a powerful development toolβ€”but a poor screening tool
  • Why licensed professionals want to meet the doctor early in the hiring process
  • How to remove unnecessary hiring roadblocks and move faster with confidence

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

πŸ“£Β Identity Dental Marketing – Strategic, ethical, brand-aligned marketing that works.

πŸ“ŠΒ Practice by Numbers – A unified platform that brings performance, workflows, and insights into one systemβ€”creating accountability without pressure and helping practices make smarter, data-driven decisions.

πŸ“² Join the Conversation!

Have you ever lost a great hygienist during the hiring process?

What’s one change you could make this week to remove a roadblock for your next candidate?

Join the conversation in theΒ Dental Drill Bits Facebook Group. We’d love to hear what’s working in your practiceβ€”and what hiring lessons you’ve learned along the way.

Upcoming Event

Front Desk Pro In-Person Seminar
πŸ“ September 18, 2026 – Dallas, Texas

🎟️ Promo Code for $100 Off Tuition: SecretSauce


Subscribe to The Dental Podcast Directory Newsletter for Incredible Convenience

There are so many dental podcasts that publish great content, but it’s impossible to subscribe to all of them. Three days a week, we send an email newsletter with links to all of the recent podcast episodes published by dental-specific podcasts. To get this newsletter, type your email below and click subscribe.


Audio Disclaimer:

The audio available here uses the podcast creator’s RSS feed to pull the audio file. We do not download or host any of the audio files on our website. If the audio player is broken or the audio is no longer available, it may be that the podcast is no longer live or that the content was moved to another podcast host. If you find an error or need to make a change, please contact us by opening a support ticket. Click Here to Open a Support Ticket