The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

Healthcare isn't broken — it’s rigged against wellness and patient care! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Bryan Laskin, author of Unfair Care, to share his “why” behind this book and his mission to empower patients to get the best care possible in dentistry and medicine. To learn how you and your patients can make healthcare work better for you, listen to Episode 978 of The Best Practices Show!

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You feel like your team just doesn't “get it”. But maybe it’s you, the leader, that isn't getting it! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Jenni Poulos, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to reveal the two skills you need to build an aligned and committed team. Saying something once isn't communication! To learn how to inspire your team just by being clear, listen to Episode 977 of The Best Practices Show!

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For the month of December, we look back at some favorite episodes of 2025. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Barrett Straub, ACT’s CEO, to break down your production story and explain why you don't need as many patients as you think. Stop the churn-and-burn dentistry that's burning you out! To learn how to rewrite and improve your production story, listen to Episode 976 of The Best Practices Show!

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Freedom is what drew you to dentistry. But somehow, you're stuck working harder, earning less, and with less control of your time and life. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to share the key to impacting your freedom and profitability: understanding and mastering write-offs. To learn how to lower your write-offs so you can take back your time and money, listen to Episode 975 of The Best Practices Show!

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You're working hard, and you're super busy. So, why is your bank account empty? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Christina Byrne, ACT’s director of operations, to help you understand the different financial gaps where your profit may be hiding. Don't let your hard-earned money slip through the cracks! To learn how to keep more of what you produce, listen to Episode 974 of The Best Practices Show!

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You spend a ton of money on marketing to attract new patients. But how do you know if it’s working? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down new patient by referral source, what it reveals about your marketing strategies, and where to focus your time and energy. To learn how to market more to your ideal patients, listen to Episode 973 of The Best Practices Show!

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Sometimes, your “ideal dentistry” isn't ideal. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Christopher Mazzola and Dr. Charlie Ward, faculty members at the Pankey Institute, to share what to do when things aren't black-and-white for your treatment plans. To learn the systems that will lead you to success, listen to Episode 972 of The Best Practices Show!

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Do you ever feel behind, inadequate, or unworthy of praise? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Charlie Ward and Dr. Rachel Ward, faculty members at The Pankey Institute, to share how to overcome the comparison trap in dentistry that is sabotaging your practice. If you're constantly questioning yourself, this episode is for you! To learn how to reframe your thinking and focus on the positives, listen to Episode 971 of The Best Practices Show!

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Do you have a plan, or do you just hope new patients show up for appointments? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down new patient cancellation and no-show percentage and what you can do to reduce those numbers. To learn how to create strong scheduling, confirmation, and communication systems so your patients commit to showing up, listen to Episode 970 of The Best Practices Show!

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You can thrive as a small practice — you just need to be strategic. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to share how to differentiate and close your operational gaps so you attract the best patients and the best team in a changing market. To learn how to create and maintain a thriving private practice, listen to Episode 969 of The Best Practices Show!

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Do you want this year to end well? Do you want next year to be better for your practice? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Heather Crockett, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to share four questions to guide your year-end review so you can think beyond production and collections. To learn how to have thoughtful, intentional reflection and start building the practice you truly want, listen to Episode 968 of The Best Practices Show!

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Identifying and living your core values is the most important thing you will ever do. In this episode, Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, brings in ACT’s founder, Kirk Behrendt, to share the story behind their core values, how they came to be, and why core values matter to a dental practice. To gain insight and inspiration for your core values, listen to Episode 967 of The Best Practices Show!

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People want a longer lifespan. But it’s also important to focus on health span. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Uche Odiatu, one of ACT’s favorite health and wellness gurus, to share four keys to longevity that will help you live better, not just longer. To learn how you can sync up your health span to your lifespan, listen to Episode 966 of The Best Practices Show!

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Do too many of your patients owe you money? It’s a symptom of an even bigger problem! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Robyn Theisen, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to break down overdue accounts and share a four-step solution to eliminate it from your practice. To learn how to collect from patients before day 30, listen to Episode 965 of The Best Practices Show!

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Every healthy practice needs new patients. But you don't want to just have “more”. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down new patient count and new patient growth, how to calculate actual patient growth, and what you can do to improve your numbers. To learn how to keep a consistent active patient count that's right for your practice, listen to Episode 964 of The Best Practices Show!

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Do your hygiene visits feel too routine? Do your patients devalue appointments? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Carlie Einarson, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, with four ways to reinvent your hygiene op so you can take it from being transactional to transformational for your patients. To help patients feel educated, motivated, and to value hygiene, listen to Episode 963 of The Best Practices Show!

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How do you build a general practice that can pay the bills? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. John Cranham, co-founder of Cranham Culp Digital Dental, to share his tips for balancing bread-and-butter dentistry with your niche so you can have a fulfilling and profitable career. To learn how to build a healthy general practice that you enjoy, listen to Episode 962 of The Best Practices Show!

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How good is your team at capturing opportunities over the phone? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down new patient call conversion percentage, how it impacts your practice, and what you can do to improve your numbers. To learn how to help your team with their phone skills and save thousands on marketing, listen to Episode 961 of The Best Practices Show!

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Airway dentistry isn't just a fad — it’s here to stay! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Meggie Graham and Dr. Liz Turner, founders of the Untethered Airway Health Center, to talk about the growing field, what airway health really means, and why it’s important to integrate it into your practice. To learn how you can impact your patients’ health no matter their age, listen to Episode 960 of The Best Practices Show!

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959: The Secret Behind Selling Dentistry Without Selling – Dr. Tom Hedge

How do you sell dentistry without selling? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Tom Hedge, founder of The Houston Dentists Tanglewood, to review a recent presentation he gave at Smile Source Exchange and share his secret to selling dentistry without actually selling. To learn how to get patients to buy without feeling like they're sold to, listen to Episode 959 of The Best Practices Show!

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958: Metric Mondays: New Patient Re-Appointed to Hygiene Percentage - Miranda Beson

Are your new patients one-and-done, or do they stay with you long term? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down new patient re-appointed to hygiene percentage, how it affects your practice, and ways to improve your numbers. To learn how to create long-term patient relationships by re-appointing to hygiene, listen to Episode 958 of The Best Practices Show!

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957: Beat Burnout With Better Systems – Miranda Beeson

When you're burned out, it leads to chaos. Luckily, there's a cure! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to share five steps to create a solid system that will keep your practice running smooth and stress-free. To learn how better systems can bring joy back into your practice, listen to Episode 957 of The Best Practices Show!

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956: 5 Reasons Your Team Feels Overwhelmed – Michelle Wakeman

Do you and your team constantly feel overwhelmed? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Michelle Wakeman, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to explain five reasons why and what you can do to reduce burnout and overwhelm. Feeling overwhelmed is normal — and it’s fixable! To learn how to be less stressed and more productive so you can take better care of your patients, listen to Episode 956 of The Best Practices Show!

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955: Metric Mondays: Unscheduled Active Patients – Miranda Beeson

You might have 1,500 active patients. But how many don't have their next appointments scheduled? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down unscheduled active patients, how it impacts your practice, and ways to improve your numbers so your days get better at work. To learn how to keep patients tethered to your practice, listen to Episode 955 of The Best Practices Show!

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954: Big Changes With Insurances You Need to Know About – Shelley DeGroff

Working with PPOs is more confusing than ever — and it’s by design! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Shelley DeGroff, founder and CEO of PPO Advisors, to help decode the complexity around upcoming changes and help you be an active player in the game of insurance. To stay up to date with the new changes and become less insurance dependent, listen to Episode 954 of The Best Practices Show!

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953: The Importance of Muscle Health for Dentists – Dr. Uche Odiatu

Whether you're prepping a crown or driving to your practice, it all requires muscle. But how well are you taking care of them? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Uche Odiatu, one of ACT’s favorite health and wellness gurus, to demystify muscle health and help you get fit so you can be a better dentist. Your body is the best pharmacy — so give it what it needs! To learn the best way to develop and maintain muscle health, listen to Episode 953 of The Best Practi...

952: Metric Mondays: Fluoride Percentage – Miranda Beeson

Fluoride is a big deal — for your patients and your practice! But it’s common for this percentage to be lower than it should. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down fluoride percentage, how it impacts your practice, and what you can do to improve your numbers. To learn how to successfully recommend fluoride so you can improve patient health and production, listen to Episode 952 of The Best Practices Show!

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951: 7 Toxic Habits Hurting Practice Culture – Adriana Booth

Do you ever feel like your practice culture is toxic? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Adriana Booth, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to list the seven toxic habits that you might be doing, how they're affecting your culture, and what you can do to create a happier, more committed team. Great culture doesn't happen by accident! To learn how you might be sabotaging your team and what you can do to fix it, listen to Episode 951 of The Best Practices Show!

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950: How to Turn a Full Schedule into Full Potential – Miranda Beeson

A full schedule is a great thing. But is it stressing out your team? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to help you reframe your team’s mindset around having and managing a full schedule. To learn how to fill your schedule the right way and celebrate when it’s full, listen to Episode 950 of The Best Practices Show!

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949: Metric Mondays: Perio Visit Percentage – Miranda Beeson

Maybe it’s uncomfortable, or maybe you're short on time — but are you ignoring the perio conversation with your patients? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down perio visit percentage, the impact it has on your practice, and what to do to improve your numbers. Are you underdiagnosing or defaulting to prophy? To find out if you are and to learn how to fix it, listen to Episode 949 of The Best Practices Show!

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948: 1 Bold Move to Outshine Your Competitors – Adriana Booth

How do you outshine your competition without the ads and billboards? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Adriana Booth, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to share one way to make your practice stand out from the crowd. To learn how to find your unique value proposition to get patients through your doors, listen to Episode 948 of The Best Practices Show!

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947: How to Handle Difficult Conversations with Underperforming Employees – Alan Twigg

You and your team deserve a positive, rewarding work environment. A key piece of that is to optimize the people you currently have. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Alan Twigg, president of Bent Ericksen & Associates, to share how to address underperformance, ways to fix it, and what to do when nothing seems to work. To learn how to navigate these difficult conversations, listen to Episode 947 of The Best Practices Show!

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946: Metric Mondays: Perio Diagnostic Percentage and Perio Acceptance Percentage – Miranda Beeson

How do you know if you're serving your patients well? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to share two metrics that will help both your patients and your practice get healthy. To learn more about perio diagnostic percentage, perio acceptance percentage, and how to improve these numbers, listen to Episode 946 of The Best Practices Show!

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945: The Cybersecurity Checklist Every Dentist Needs – Travis Wentworth

Most days, we are online. But how often do we think about cybersecurity? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Travis Wentworth, cybersecurity expert from Intelligence Quest, to share the safeguards to put in place to reduce your risks and protect your patients and practice from common cybersecurity threats. Don't take cybersecurity for granted! To learn the best practices to stay ahead of cyberattacks, listen to Episode 945 of The Best Practices Show!

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944: From Burger King to Dental School: Dr. Louis Kaufman’s Unconventional Path to Success – Dr. Louis Kaufman

Dentistry is a difficult and demanding profession. But with the right people and the right resources, you can make it rewarding and worthwhile. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Dr. Louis Kaufman from Smile Source Chicago to share his journey from his time at Burger King to becoming a successful practice owner. To hear about his incredible path and the lessons he’s learned, listen to Episode 944 of The Best Practices Show!

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Do your patients value and trust what you're providing? There's an easy way for you to find out! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to share a metric that shows how many patients are truly connected to your practice and what to do if your numbers are dwindling. To learn the low-cost way to boost your active patient and active hygiene patient count, listen to Episode 943 of The Best Practices Show!

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Retaining patients is important — but it’s not enough for long-term success! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to share a framework and system for rethinking retention and creating loyal patients who advocate for your practice. To learn how to create lasting relationships with the ultimate patient experience, listen to Episode 942 of The Best Practices Show!

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Are you feeling exhausted, unfulfilled, and unhappy? It doesn't have to stay that way! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Kevin Groth, a long-time ACT client, to share his journey from rock-bottom to success and the steps you can take to find fulfillment and happiness. To learn how to reframe adversity and make your life better, listen to Episode 941 of The Best Practices Show!

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You will always need new patients. But you also need to keep your current patients active — especially through hygiene! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to break down why hygiene re-appointment matters and what you can do to improve your numbers. To learn the easiest way to increase revenue without chasing production, listen to Episode 940 of The Best Practices Show!

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Do you want more control over your life? Then it’s time to invest in yourself and your practice! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Lenny Hess, senior clinical director at The Dawson Academy, to talk about the best investment you can make: your education. He shares how the upcoming seven-course curriculum will transform your thinking and lead you to a more fulfilling career and balanced life. To learn more about Dawson’s Core Curriculum and what it can offer, listen to Episode 939 of The Best Practices Show!

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