Alan is joined by the one and only Dr. Brian Baliwas. You might know him better as @sfdentalnerd on Instagram, where he is probably the most entertaining dental follow on the platform! Alan and Brian have a lively discussion about the frustrations of dental insurance, the perils of planned obsolescence in dental equipment, and the importance of transparency in dentistry. They delve into the surprisingly efficient insurance model used for Dr. Baliwas's dog, Xylo and contrast it with the often opaque and frustrating world of human dental insurance. The conversation also touches on the challenges of running a fee-for-service practice, the hidden costs of dental procedures, and the value of patient communication. Key Takeaways: Dental insurance vs. pet insurance: Dr. Baliwas highlights the stark differences between the transparent and efficient claims process for his dog's insurance and the confusing world of human dental insurance. This raises questions about the role of employers, transparency, and the overall value of dental insurance plans. Planned obsolescence: The conversation explores the frustrating trend of planned obsolescence in dental equipment, with examples like air polishers and intraoral scanners. Dr. Baliwas shares his experience of repairing his own equipment due to a lack of available parts and discusses the push towards subscription models for dental technology. Fee-for-service dentistry: Brian discusses the benefits and challenges of running a fee-for-service practice, emphasizing the importance of accurate cost analysis and transparent patient communication. The value of hygiene: Brian and Alan discuss patient perceptions of dental hygiene and the importance of comprehensive exams in a preventive dental model. They also touch on the use of air polishers and guided biofilm therapy. The importance of company support: When choosing dental products and equipment Brian stresses the importance of excellent company support and customer service rather than simply focusing on the "best" brand names. Some links from the show: @sfdentalnerd: Dr. Brian Baliwas's Instagram handle Healthy Paws: Pet insurance company EMS Airflow iTero Element: Intraoral scanner mentioned in the context of planned obsolescence Medit i700 "Buy Now" Documentary Episode Index: 01:26 The Role of Social Media in Dentistry 02:39 Emergency Dentistry and Zylo's Insurance 05:35 Transparency in Dental and Medical Insurance 19:18 In-Network vs. Out-of-Network Dental Practices 27:25 The Role of Hygiene in Dentistry 28:54 Patient Perception vs. Clinical Reality 29:48 Innovative Hygiene Tools and Techniques 31:52 The Cost and Maintenance of Dental Equipment 34:10 Subscription Models and Planned Obsolescence 37:47 The Value of Customer Support 42:08 Disposable vs. Durable Dental Tools 47:42 The Frustration of Warranties and Repairs 52:22 Leveraging Social Media for Dental Practice Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook" or "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!" The Very Dental Podcast network is and will remain free to download. If you’d like to support the shows you love at Very Dental then show a little love to the people that support us! -- Crazy Dental has everything you need from cotton rolls to equipment and everything in between and the best prices you’ll find anywhere! If you head over to verydentalpodcast.com/crazy and use coupon code “VERYDENTAL10” you’ll get another 10% off your order! Go save yourself some money and support the show all at the same time! -- The Wonderist Agency is basically a one stop shop for marketing your practice and your brand. From logo redesign to a full service marketing plan, the folks at Wonderist have you covered! Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/wonderist! -- Enova Illumination makes the very best in loupes and headlights, including their new ergonomic angled prism loupes! They also distribute loupe mounted cameras and even the amazing line of Zumax microscopes! If you want to help out the podcast while upping your magnification and headlight game, you need to head over to verydentalpodcast.com/enova to see their whole line of products! -- CAD-Ray offers the best service on a wide variety of digital scanners, printers, mills and even their very own browser based design software, Clinux! CAD-Ray has been a huge supporter of the Very Dental Podcast Network and I can tell you that you’ll get no better service on everything digital dentistry than the folks from CAD-Ray. Go check them out at verydentalpodcast.com/CADRay!

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