Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury

Feb 24, 2025

Finding the Right Candidate

Hiring the right person for your dental practice can feel like searching for a unicorn—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury dive deep into how to attract and hire top talent for your dental practice without the frustration.

What you’ll learn:
✅ Why a strong job ad is your first (and biggest) hiring tool ✍️
✅ How to attract working professionals instead of job hoppers 💼
✅ The balance between experience, attitude, and coachability ⚖️
✅ Why phone screenings matter—and what to listen for 📞
✅ The secret to making your practice the workplace of choice 🏆
✅ A step-by-step plan to streamline your hiring process 🔄

Real Results in Action:
Sandy shares how a well-placed blind ad led to 180 applicants in just a few days—and how this approach can help you find the right candidate faster than you think!

🎟 SPECIAL OFFER:

Want to master front desk efficiency? Don’t miss Front Desk Pro!
📍 Burbank, CA – March 28, 2025
📍 Philadelphia, PA – May 9, 2025

Use promo code "Secret Sauce" for $100 off your registration!
👉 Register now at ClassicPractice.com

📢 Sponsored by:

✅ Plan Forward – The dental membership plan partner that helps your office thrive. Mention Dental Drill Bits for an exclusive offer! Learn more here.

💡 Take Action Today:

Don’t let hiring challenges slow down your practice growth! Take Sandy’s Challenge:
➡️ Review your current job ad—does it attract the right candidates?
➡️ Implement a phone screening process to filter applicants faster
➡️ Make your hiring process an extension of your practice culture

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Front Desk Chaos to Clarity 0

Feb 17, 2025

Front Desk Chaos to Clarity

Episode Description:

In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast, Sandy and Dana tackle one of the biggest front desk challenges in dental practices—how to maintain consistency and organization when multiple team members rotate through the same position. 🔄

One doctor from the Dental Drill Bits Facebook group asked: How do I streamline communication and documentation when different front desk employees work on different days? Sandy and Dana break it all down, sharing real-world strategies to bring clarity and structure to the front office.

They discuss the importance of detailed checklists, clear procedures, and training that eliminates confusion, ensures predictability, and keeps both doctors and teams stress-free. Plus, they dive into the hidden risks of poor communication—and how to fix them fast.

Key Takeaways:

✔️ Why inconsistency in front desk processes causes frustration for both doctors and employees 😫
✔️ How standard operating procedures (SOPs) create predictable and stress-free workflows 📋
✔️ The must-have checklists that keep your front office running smoothly every day ✅
✔️ How to prevent micromanagement while still ensuring accountability 🔄
✔️ Why role clarity reduces conflict and improves team morale 🙌
✔️ A step-by-step action plan to start organizing your front office today 🏁

Sandy also shares how Front Desk Pro attendees are already using these strategies to create smoother, more productive front desks!

🎟 SPECIAL OFFER:

Want to master front desk efficiency? Don’t miss Front Desk Pro!
📍 Burbank, CA – March 28, 2025
📍 Philadelphia, PA – May 9, 2025

Use promo code "Secret Sauce" for $100 off your registration!
👉 Register now at ClassicPractice.com

Sponsors:

✅ Plan Forward – The dental membership plan partner that helps your office thrive. Mention Dental Drill Bits for an exclusive offer! Learn more here.

Take Action Today:

Don’t let front desk chaos slow you down! Take Sandy’s challenge:
➡️ Sit down with your front office team and list everything that needs to happen daily
➡️ Create a simple checklist to ensure consistency
➡️ Store your SOPs in a digital folder or binder for easy training and accountability

Subscribe & Leave a Review:

Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe to Dental Drill Bits and leave a review! Your feedback helps us bring you even more game-changing strategies.

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Do You Really Need an Office Manager? 0

Feb 10, 2025

Episode Title: Do You Really Need an Office Manager?

Episode Description:

In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast, Sandy and Dana tackle one of the most common dilemmas for dental practice owners—Do you really need an office manager? 🤔

Hiring an office manager can seem like the perfect solution to reducing stress and improving operations, but without a clear role definition, it can create more challenges than solutions. In this episode, they break down when an office manager is truly needed, what skills are essential for success, and whether team leaders might be a better alternative.

They also discuss how to structure leadership within a practice to maximize efficiency, build team culture, and create accountability.

Key Takeaways:

✔ Should your practice have an office manager, or is there a better solution? 🤷‍♂️
✔ The most common mistakes practice owners make when appointing an office manager 🚨
✔ What to look for in an ideal candidate (hint: it's not just about tenure) 🎯
✔ The power of team leaders and how they can provide structure without creating bottlenecks 🔄
✔ Why communication is critical and how to prevent role confusion 🗣️
✔ How to train and empower leadership within your team for long-term success 🚀

They also highlight upcoming training opportunities that can help practice owners and office managers strengthen their leadership skills and build a thriving, efficient team.

Listen Now:

🎧 Tune in to the full episode here: [Insert Podcast Link]

🎟 SPECIAL OFFER:

Thinking about leveling up your front office leadership? Don’t miss Front Desk Pro!
📍 Burbank, CA – March 28, 2025
📍 Philadelphia, PA – May 9, 2025

Use promo code "Secret Sauce" for $100 off your registration!
👉 Register now at ClassicPractice.com

Sponsors:

✅ Plan Forward – The dental membership plan partner that helps your office thrive. Mention Dental Drill Bits for an exclusive offer! Learn more here.

Take Action Today:

Start evaluating your leadership structure! Do you need an office manager, or would team leaders be a better fit? Outline clear roles, set accountability measures, and ensure every leader knows their purpose.

Subscribe & Leave a Review:

Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to subscribe to Dental Drill Bits and leave a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content.

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Mastering Onboarding for a Thriving Dental Practice 0

Feb 3, 2025

Episode Title: Mastering Onboarding for a Thriving Dental Practice

Episode Description:

In this episode of The Dental Drill Bits Podcast, Sandy and Dana dive into the make-or-break process of onboarding new team members in a dental practice. A strong onboarding system not only prevents turnover but also sets the stage for a thriving team culture and long-term success. 🚀

They share real-world experiences, practical strategies, and actionable steps to ensure new hires feel welcomed, supported, and set up for success from day one.

Key Takeaways:
✔ The biggest onboarding mistakes that lead to early resignations 🚨
✔ How to create a structured onboarding journey that boosts retention 🎯
✔ Why assigning a buddy system makes integration seamless 👫
✔ The power of checklists, SOPs, and training milestones 📋
✔ How to gather feedback to continuously improve your onboarding process 🔄
✔ What “turnover trauma” is and how to prevent it from costing your practice thousands 💸

They also discuss Sandy’s upcoming Front Desk Pro seminar, where dental teams can get hands-on training to improve efficiency, communication, and patient experience.

Listen Now:

🎧 Tune in to the full episode here: [Insert Podcast Link]

🎟 SPECIAL OFFER:
Sign up for Front Desk Pro and use promo code "Secret Sauce" for $100 off!
👉 Register at ClassicPractice.com

Sponsors:

Don’t just look ahead. Plan Forward. Discover the dental membership plan partner that empowers your entire office. Created by a team in your shoes. Find out more here, and be sure to mention Dental Drill Bits for a special offer! https://www.planforward.io/

Take Action Today:
Start tracking your open time and production goals now! Print out your schedules, analyze past weeks, and involve your team in finding solutions. Remember, every day is an opportunity to optimize your schedule and serve your patients better.

Subscribe & Leave a Review:
Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to Dental Drill Bits and leave a review. Your feedback helps us continue to deliver valuable content!

Download this Episode