Managing Dental Drama
Dental practice management advice for practice owners, office managers, and dental team leaders. Each week, Dr. Reena Kuba, a pediatric dentist and private practice owner, and Bethany Petty, a dental consultant, take real-life examples and talk through the challenges of running a dental practice in an open, honest, and sometimes hilarious way.Topics cover hiring and retaining dental team members, performance reviews, difficult patients, dental insurance, and leadership trends, ranging from “The Art of Retaining Good Employees” to “The Marriage of Dentistry and Insurance Ending in Divorce” and everything in between. Each episode gives dental leaders practical tips and common mistakes...
When Background Checks Go Wrong - Dental Hiring Tips
Are background checks truly necessary? Today, Bethany discusses a recent scenario she encountered where a brand new employee had unflattering information show up on her required background check. She presents the scenario to Dr. Kuba to get her take on background checks and what she would do in this situation. Together they discuss the role that background checks should play in the hiring process, and then dialogue through the specifics of Bethany’s scenario. Although it is uncommon, sometimes background checks reveal a negative moment or series of moments in a candidate/new employee’s history. This episode helps you...
Dental Determination - Fighting for the Positive
Feeling burned out after a busy summer? Dr. Reena Kuba and Bethany Petty share encouraging facts and trends in dentistry to help doctors, hygienists, dental assistants, and administrative team members get re-energized and fight the fall slump.
Dentistry has seasons. Summer is often one of the busier seasons for dental professionals. The schedule is naturally busier as patients utilize time off to complete treatment. Many dental professionals put their heads down and churn and burn all summer long only to hit the fall and feel like they have hit the proverbial wall. Taking a moment to sit a...
Lacking Motivation = Flab Fest
What do flabby abs and arms have to do with dentistry? In one word - EVERYTHING! Today, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss the massive impact of motivation in our everyday dental lives. It is hard to ignore the impact of motivation on the overall health of the practice. In many situations, motivation can be the single reason for a practice surging to success or failing to move forward. Bethany encourages all team members to develop important daily habits in order to power through low motivation times while Dr. Kuba encourages listeners to surround yourself with other individuals that can...
Dental Practice Owners are Leaders
Dentists, especially practice owners, are leaders. Each day, dentists are faced with the opportunity to lead their team well, serve their patients, and impact their community. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany listen to tips from Dr. Marr, who discusses her leadership style and her goal of creating mini-leaders on her team. The collaborative leadership style of Dr. Kuba is also discussed. Employees need a good leader, and there are various ways to lead. This episode concludes me reminding all dentists of the three “C’s” related to leadership – clarity, consistency, and communication.
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Introducing Laura’s Legal Lowdown
Bethany and Dr. Kuba are absolutely giddy to introduce you to a special friend and guest - Laura Diamond, Attorney to dentists. Laura is an absolute wealth of information. While Dr. Kuba has had the privilege of seeing Laura defend and advise dentists for years now, she finally gets the opportunity today to dish out some tough legal questions. Dental professionals need to hear the advice that Laura gives, so don’t miss it!
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📺Laura's Legal Lowdown
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A Fake Two Week Notice?
Bethany had an extremely interesting series of events with a client, and today she puts Dr. Kuba in the hot seat. “What would Kuba do with a fake two week notice?” Together, Bethany and Dr. Kuba unpack how to address an odd scenario where an employee turns in notice but actually did not intend for the doctor to accept the resignation.They dig into the details and speculate on the possible reasons that an employee might conduct themselves in this way, and then they discuss the various ways to respond.
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Kuba’s Best Friend - Jerry Jones
Today, Dr. Kuba talks about the stresses and challenges of cultivating a successful practice when there are so many frustrating staffing problems. Much like her self-proclaimed best friend, Jerry Jones, who does his best to have a winning team, he ultimately is at the mercy of other factors and people - like the coaches and team. Dr. Kuba, too, recognizes the hardships of good staffing decisions when she discusses two recent decisions she made in an attempt to bring an employee back from maternity leave and retain a loyal, long-time leader. She and Bethany dialogue about being creative and...
Fifth Anniversary of Managing Dental Drama
It is hard to believe, but MDD is celebrating its FIFTH anniversary! After surprising Dr. Kuba with this anniversary reminder, Bethany reflects on her favorite episode as well as the way the themes and topics have changed over the years. Dr. Kuba reflects on her favorite moments and aspects of being a show host. They both marvel at the international reach of the show (hello Germany!). Together, they dream about the days ahead for MDD. Thank you, listeners, for five amazing years!
LAST week to register for the September 18 Leadership Summit! Don’t miss it! <...
Successfully Incorporating New Things
It’s dental conference season! If you are like many dental professionals, you come back from seminars with an overwhelming amount of ideas and excitement. Yet, it is difficult to decide what to implement and even more difficult to decide how to implement. Dr. Kuba and Bethany jump into several tips in today’s episode to help you successfully incorporate new things. Whether it is a new product, new equipment, new technology, or new systems, today’s episode will support you in building a plan for implementation. Good luck!
If you’ve wanted the chance to meet the...
Staffing Solutions – Remote Workers
Keeping a dental office fully staffed now seems to be a full-time job. So many practice owners are struggling to run a full schedule because they are missing key team members. One creative strategy is to offload some of the administrative work in the practice to employees who work remotely or away from the office. By incorporating remote workers into the fold, practice owners no longer have to find and retain employees who live near the office. Instead, they are able to expand their options to other cities or even states. Dr. Kuba shares her practice journey to incorporating...
Medical Office Inefficiencies = Lessons for Dentists
Dr. Kuba is all bent out of shape today over a recent medical visit. She recaps multiple instances of inefficiencies that push her to pause, reflect, and consider the hidden lessons. She and Bethany dialogue about the potential causes of such inefficiencies as well as what dental teams can do to avoid chronic medical mistakes. Everyone can relate to those terrible medical experiences, but today’s episode will help you to stop and consider the lessons to be learned in thinking through these scenarios.
August Digest Available! This month we focus on HIRING! Grow your tea...
Growth Goals with Dr. Jones
Dr. Jones is finally back, and he is passionate about today’s topic! In this episode, he reminds listeners what it takes to truly grow. He and Bethany discuss the challenges and setbacks to growing as well as the skills and determination it takes to make daily changes that lead to growth. Today’s episode will have you smiling and hopefully recommitting to the daily pursuit of growth. Rev up that engine and get ready!
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August Digest Available TODAY! This month we focus...
Real Life Resumes - How to Pick Good Applicants
Dr. Kuba and Bethany put the gloves on today! While they often see things from different perspectives, today’s episode might represent the most they have ever disagreed on a subject matter. As Dr. Kuba reads through actual applicants from her recent job post, she shares why she accepted or rejected the candidate, and Bethany shares her perspective. If you struggle to determine who is a good applicant, this episode makes it clear that it is truly difficult to decide! However, this episode will also give you alternative perspectives to consider when shifting through a pool of employee applicants. En...
Dental Death = Pause and Reflect
The news story this week should cause us all to pause. Medical emergencies are a reality for which we should all be prepared. When an incredibly sad news story regarding a dental death occurs, we owe it to ourselves, our team, and our patients to pause and ensure that we are as prepared as we can possibly be. In an effort to remind us all, Dr. Kuba and Bethany have resurrected a recent episode regarding medical emergencies. Together they reflect on several REAL scenarios that recently occurred in the dental field. They discuss the appropriate steps to take during...
Who You Gonna Call?
The Texas heat forced Dr. Kuba and Bethany into their cozy closet to record today’s important episode. Dr. Kuba throws two completely different scenarios to Bethany and puts her on the spot for advice. Both with the question - Who you gonna call? A patient receives services in your practice and then three weeks later gets admitted to the hospital with facial swelling. Should you self-report to the Board? In another scenario, a practice owner has an incredibly valuable employee that is looking at jail time. Should you intervene to help? Regardless of the scenario, it is critical to...
Inside the Mind of an Office Manager - Delegation
Bethany’s sister-in-law is back!! Amanda has been a manager for many years now. She recalls a time when she felt, “If I want to have something done right, I have to do it myself.” This mindset led her to burnout, fatigue, and frustration. She and Bethany discuss her delegation mindset. Amanda shares how she strives to create a collaborative environment where delegation, teamwork, and equality is the norm. She also shares her mindset when hiring and managing team members. There are so many wonderful nuggets of advice in this episode. Don’t miss it!
Only a few spo...
Yucky but Useful
Have you ever been in that uncomfortable situation where you feel like you might need to report something to either the state board or even the police? This episode digs into an incredibly yucky topic, but the information provided should make it useful for any listener. Dr. Kuba and Bethany shift through many of the various situations that can come across your plate that might necessitate you filing a complaint or taking some type of action. Dr. Kuba and Bethany remind listeners of other actions that people can take if they determine not to publicly file a complaint. Get...
Insurance MAD World Part One
Have you been asking yourself lately, “Where is all the money going?” Or have you noticed that certain procedures are simply less productive than they used to be? Maybe you’ve even wondered to yourself, “I feel like I’m working harder and making less, what is happening?” If these thoughts sound familiar, then tune into this episode. Dr. Kuba and Bethany spend time discussing current trends in the MAD world of insurance. The fact of the matter is in-network practices actually are making less now due to changes in insurance. Practice owners must equip themselves with the tools needed to ev...
The Saga of Estimating and Explaining Insurance
Today’s episode continues the saga from last week’s episode (“Are Accurate Estimates Important?”). Dr. Kuba continues to unpack details about a disgruntled parent in her practice that ended up with an unexpected bill of $1,700. Today, they discuss more oversights from the team including coordination of benefit issues (involving primary and secondary insurance), miscommunication to the parent when insurance failed to pay, and failing to advocate for the parent to pursue better reimbursement from insurance. Alongside the inaccurate estimate, these missteps have Dr. Kuba and Bethany evaluating what to do with this parent and with the team. They conclude...
Are Accurate Estimates Important?
Today’s episode jumps straight into the deep end of managing a practice. Dr. Kuba shares about a disgruntled parent in her practice that ended up with an unexpected bill of $1,700. Travel together with Dr. Kuba and Bethany as they discuss step by step how they investigated the account and used it as an opportunity to learn and improve. In today’s episode, they discuss what all went wrong with the treatment estimate and then discuss the changes that could have been made to ensure a more accurate estimate. Deep and meaningful tips are included in this episode PLUS so m...
Am I Sabotaging My Practice?
As an addendum to last week’s “Money Matters” episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany dig into the various ways that a team member can unintentionally sabotage a practice. While collections (last week’s episode) is foundational to practice success, there are many other seemingly insignificant mistakes that can substantially impact success. Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss several important ones to consider. This power packed twenty minute episode will provide dental teams with multiple areas to review in their practice.
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Money Matters
Collecting money in a practice tends to be one of the more difficult tasks. At times, odd emotions get in the way. Sometimes we feel guilt over charging a patient for something they need, a service they receive. We attempt to lighten the guilt feeling by making unsanctioned collections agreements or even avoiding to collect altogether. Balances can loom over our heads at times and can cause patients to resist returning to the practice. Dr. Kuba and Bethany tackle this topic today. It is a MUST listen as collections are pivotal to the success of every practice. Stay...
DRI Fails
Last week’s episode probably sounds like a beautiful pipe dream….so today, Dr. Kuba asks the hard question, “Can you really truly pass things off to team members?” She and Bethany discuss the times where tasks are passed off and teams either fail to accomplish them OR are not equipped to complete the task successfully. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss how to ensure that the right people receive the right tasks. The DRI program can work, but it requires a well thought out plan.
👉Or watch the episode YouTube DRI Fails Episode
What is a Directly Responsible Individual?
Check this episode out in both video and audio! Today, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss a foundational management strategy called “Directly Responsible Individuals” or as Kuba refers to “The Tag-You’re-It Person”. They discuss what a DRI and how it helps in managing a great team, inspiring confidence in your team members, and lightening the load on the practice owner and manager. If you want an inspiring way to get the best out of your team, listen to this episode!
👉Video Episode Link
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The Importance of Patient Care
Need a little motivation for today? Bethany gets on a self-proclaimed soapbox today, but hopefully one that will inspire and encourage all dental professionals today. She shares of a recent encounter she had with a health provider that reminded her about the importance of what we do on a daily basis. Through dentistry and through relationships, we have the opportunity to be impactful. Today is a day to be reminded that what we do truly matters. Be encouraged today as you listen to Bethany’s important reminder!
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Encore Performance
Encore Performance: While disgruntled patients have always been a reality, they seem to be growing in number. The combination of massive social and economic changes has turned even some of the nicest patients into grumps. In this world-wide rise of grumpiness, the dental field certainly gets hit hard by the patients who are simply looking to fight. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss specific disgruntled patient examples from just the last week and share insights on how they each handled or would have handled the patient. The ability to successfully deescalate a tense situation is very complicated...
Medical Emergencies Matter
In a residual theme of “going deep”, Dr. Kuba and Bethany dig into a weighty and important topic today – medical emergencies. Together they reflect on several REAL scenarios that recently occurred in the dental field. They discuss the appropriate steps to take during an emergency in order to protect your patients, your practice, and yourself. In addition, they discuss preventive steps that can be taken to ensure that your team responds well before, during, and after an emergency. Do yourself a favor and take notes today!
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Dr. Kuba’s Therapy Session
Dr. Kuba spills the beans today. In complete vulnerability she discusses the recent opening (and closing) of her second location. She unpacks all of the emotions and thought that went into turning the page on this new and exciting venture in her life. At times, life throws curve balls your way, and you have to react, to pivot. Today’s episode focuses on the importance of pivoting and then fighting against the feelings of regret, disappointment, and even guilt and instead forcing yourself to see the silver lining in it all. Welcome to Dr. Kuba’s therapy session!
Going Deep – Stress, Relationships, and Isolation
Bethany and Dr. Kuba take a more serious tone today as they address the very real hardships of leadership, management, and practice ownership. The bottom line is – it is extremely difficult. Struggling to successfully manage a dental practice and team is so challenging, in fact, that it can feel isolating…..like nobody truly understands the stresses of it all. The isolation can often lead to loneliness and even relationship struggles. Dr. Kuba reflects on how her expectations of her husband changed over the course of practice ownership and how she learned to find support in a variety of ways...
Is AI Taking Over?
So, what is all the buzz about AI? Dr. Kuba wants to know and puts Bethany on the spot for her take on AI. Together, they discuss what this new trend is and if it is truly something new and exciting. Bethany shares some of her client’s experiences with how they have incorporated AI into their practices and addresses the highlights and possibilities of implementation as well as her own personal reservations. She gives advice to listeners on how to begin implementing new technology into daily practice life. If you’ve been wondering about the AI buzz, then...
Management Tool Kit: Salary Review
One of the most common questions that Bethany gets is, “When should I give a raise?” In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany unpack the mystery of salary and hourly increases. Their advice is to ensure that the team has a clear understanding of when and how often pay will be reevaluated. This clarity will prevent employees from asking for a raise, which seems to be every practice owner’s worst nightmare. Dive into this episode for more details on how to conduct salary reviews and what to expect in these meetings. Team pay is certainly a stressful aspect...
Real vs. Not Real
Are you ever stuck in a situation in your practice where you wonder – is this happening elsewhere? Or am I the only one? Bethany gets the opportunity to field “real vs. not-real” questions from her clients all the time. She often helps them decipher if they are truly alone in their struggles or are struggling along with the rest of the dental community. In today’s episode, she tackles four recent scenarios, rumors, and trends that she deems either real or not real. Find some comfort and encouragement today as you navigate how connected your situation is to others.
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Patient Retention = A Big Deal
So what is the big deal with patient retention? Dr. Kuba and Bethany dig into this topic today to discuss why this buzzword is so prominent amongst dentists and consultants alike. Bethany discusses multiple different ways to look at the category of retention and then describes why this number is a litmus test for health in most dental practices. This is definitely an episode you do not want to miss!
Want to watch the episode instead?! Check it out here! 👈
March content officially dropped today!! If you want to get...
Dentist Arrested??
It’s all over the news. Impossible to miss, unfortunately. Dr. Kuba and Bethany grab their vomit bags and discuss this news story. This is every practice owner/team’s nightmare…..this kind of national story that brings scathing comments, negative reviews, and a dark cloud of despair, no doubt. Dr. Kuba asks the plaguing question – can dentists truly ever take a break? This is the fear that every practice owner has – you leave town and something catastrophic occurs. Listen to today’s episode as Dr. Kuba and Bethany process this situation.
Want to watch the episode instead?! ...
Olympic Inspiration
Are you watching the Olympics? Well, Bethany is. She admits that the only thing on her TV for the last week has been the Olympics. She draws inspiration from these athletes in today’s episode and challenges all listeners to harness the power of the Olympics. She reminds everyone of the importance of being dedicated to the profession of dentistry like the elite athletes are dedicated to their sport. If your are looking for some Monday inspiration, then look no further than today’s episode!
📣February content available!! We even have abbreviated tips for...
Leadership Fails
Today, we turn the tables and ask the question…..What if the leaders are failing? It is, no doubt, a question that has nagged at the back of some of our listener’s minds. It is a valid question, albeit uncomfortable, but valid. So, Dr. Kuba and Bethany tackle this topic in today’s episode. What choice does a team member have when their doctor or their manager seems to be the problem? What steps, if any, should they take?
📣February content officially available!! If you want to turn up the love in February, then you n...
Snow, Ice, Practice Closure. Oh my!
Closing the practice for a day, two, or five is an extremely difficult decision. Whether it is due to snow, a water leak, or a broken compressor, there are multiple factors when considering a practice closure. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany discuss what to consider with patients during a practice closure. They remind listeners about the importance of clear communication with patients as well as the importance of preparation for unexpected closures. They also focus on what to consider with team members during closures. This is an important subject, so listen up!
📣February content offi...
Feedback Free Society
Have you noticed the fragility of the human psyche? One harsh word can crumble someone’s confidence or inflame it. In the workplace, corrective feedback has become incredibly challenging. Leaders must delicately balance corrective conversations and often find themselves avoiding them all together. Dr. Kuba and Bethany tackle this topic in today’s episode.
📣January content available!! If you want to start the year right, then you need to get on it TODAY! This month’s content includes:
January 5th Managing Dental Drama episode continuation – Be the GOATAnnual Practic...Insurance Saga 2026
It has been a while since Bethany and Dr. Kuba have tackled the ugly topic of insurance. They jump right into tough topics in their first 2026 episode together! Insurance ranks at the top of their list. After a recent incident with a parent who was frustrated about insurance coverage (or lack, thereof), the situation was brought to Dr. Kuba’s attention and ultimately to Bethany’s attention as well. It reopened dialogue regarding the shenanigans of dental insurance. Listen in to this refreshed conversation!
📣January content available!! If you want to start the year...
Behind the Scenes with Bethany’s Husband
Meet Bethany’s husband! He gets put on the spot today to answer some burning questions. As a high school economics and government teacher, his insight into current economic trends is always a support for Bethany as she consults with her clients. Listeners get a small piece of this insight in today’s episode. He also reflects back on the history of Bethany Consulting and shares his top tips for dental professionals. You don’t want to miss those tips! They are solid! Finally, he wraps up with a few fun facts about Bethany, Bethany Consulting, and the Subscr...
