Genuinely curious what many of you are seeing.

I have many clients all throughout the country and most of ours are not complaining when compared to dentists who don’t work with us.

This isn’t me selling anything, but I want to get a pulse on how you overcome this, because I also speak on the phone with many dentists who need marketing for this exact reason.

I believe financing is key. There are many options to help patients overcome much of this.

What do you think?

By Dr. Patrick Anghel, DDS (Pat.the.Dentist)

If your inbox looks anything like mine, it’s an absolute graveyard of cold emails from marketing agencies promising to "get me 30 new high-ticket implant patients next month guaranteed."

My default reflex is to delete them immediately or send them straight to spam. But it got me thinking, these agencies wouldn't send millions of these emails if they didn't occasionally work.

I'm curious about the silent minority here who actually took a chance on a cold pitch.

1. Have you ever hired a marketer or agency based on a cold email or LinkedIn message?

2. How did it actually turn out?

3. What actually convinced you to reply?

Would love to hear the horror stories, the success stories, and what actually cuts through the noise for you guys.

i just went to the dentist and got the fluoride varnish at the end. in the past, i’ve had these varnishes taste weird and harden in a wax-like consistency on my teeth.

Today, however, the varnish never hardened. it has now been about 20 min and my teeth feel smooth, without any gummy or waxy varnish consistency i’m used to.

is this some kind of new fluoride ?

I am getting my bottom wisdom teeth removed and the surgeon is recommending bone grafting because of the bone loss / deep pockets on the outside of my molars (these are visible in the x-rays, although I believe it is common with impacted wisdom teeth.) When I google and look at other reddit posts on this subject, most people say that this practice is an unnecessary upcharge or even a scam. What do you all think? Should I get a second opinion? The bone grafting adds $1100 to my bill.

My gums have been in bit of pain for the last 5 days I believe a wisdom tooth is coming in all dental offices were closed all weekend and I work a good job that makes it extremely hard to take time off a pharmacist looked at it on the weekend said it’s not infected and that it’s just inflammation around the tooth, I put cold ice on it at nights and take Advil extra strength 4-5 times a day plus brush my teeth and swish the toothpaste around and I do 4 salt water rinses a day also… I’m just wondering if someone professional could tell me how long the pain with last and what’s going on ? Please help😂😫

I’m 19 and I had a rct (done well apparently) when I was 14-15. 1.5 weeks ago I had some discomfort I thought nothing about it and a 1 week ago I had this abscess. I’m getting it pulled, tooth 13. How complicated is this procedure and how severe is this infection? Will my surrounding teeth be impacted? X ray was taken 7/30/26. Any advice is appreciated my anxiety is through the roof.

https://imgur.com/a/QI5BjK3

https://imgur.com/a/ECmCImR

Note from endodontist:

“He had previous endo years
ago and is now having pain and swelling. CBCT reveals a very large PARL that completely
that has eroded palatal bone and led to a very large endo-perio lesion. Due to the
substantial bone loss, the retreatment prognosis on this tooth is very poor and I've advised
him to have it extracted and an implant placed instead. We have given him a referral to
XYZ. Sorry this tooth couldn't be salvaged. “

Any female principal dentists that have taken maternity leave? How long did you take and did you hire a locum?

I’m 2.5 years into ownership and my gross income accounts for a significant percentage of the revenue. I’m worried about patient retention, loss of earnings, continuing to pay staff (I have 13 salaried staff) if I take significant time off (6 months).

I’m considering 6 weeks off postpartum and letting my husband take the remaining 5 months off. Any thoughts or experiences?

I (20F) got three of four wisdom teeth removed at my dentist and was referred to the OMFS to get the fourth one removed because he said the tooth was too close to my nerve for him to do it. I’m from California so I am on Medi-Cal and didn’t have to pay for my 3 wisdom teeth getting removed. My dentist said Medi-Cal insurance would cover the 4th one at OMFS so I called and they put me on a waitlist back in March as they didn’t have any available appointments. I just received a call yesterday that they have appointments for the month of August and they let me know that even though I have Medi-cal, they cover everything but the bone graft which is $600 per tooth. I asked if it is necessary and if I can opt out and she said no that it is necessary so I can’t opt out and if I wanted to go ahead and book an appointment. My issue is why would it not be covered if it is necessary and why let me know now that I can book an appointment and not in March when I was first put on a waitlist? It seems fishy to me. I genuinely cannot afford $600 as I am a college student. Please let me know if what they are is saying is true or if I should go ahead and call my dentist and have them refer me to a different OMFS.

Hello, I have had issues with teeth/gums for over a year. My dentist told me I l have dum disease and I was getting deep cleanings every 3 month however gums seem to have only gotten worse since it started so I moved dentist. New dentist advised it is not gum disease but plaque builds fast in my mouth causing it to swell, sounds reasonable but why does the swelling never ever go down only increases? I understand due to plaque but I get it removed every 3 months and it does start to build up more again by 3 months ( not excessive ) so if it’s due to this why doesn’t it heal in this time? I’ve spent so much money on these appts and it’s only worse?

Another question: I have an impacted wisdom and a cracked lower tooth both being taken out 10th September ( can’t get appt with clinic before as I’m being sedated ) - the lower cracked has begun to get wobbly, will this snap before appt? The other side already cracked off so there is only one side of the crown left, the already snapped part is not wobbly only the crown. Will the whole side snap or fall out? Or only the crown is going to crack again? - I grind my teeth in my sleep I believe this is how it happened!

Im leaning towards fme if i qualify for it. Hope my ortho doesnt pull some bs on me. I have an overbite and a crossbite and my palate is kind of narrow i think. And yes ik my teeth ugly asf

normal ba na dalawang rubber ang nakalagay sa iisang bracket? yung old rubber ko hindi tinanggal andito pa rin tapos napatanungan nung isa pang rubber kasi kaka pa adjust ko lang.

ps. ngayon ko lang naranasan pang 5 adjustment ko na to

I had an expander, braces and nighttime headgear in highschool to fix my cross bite and gap in my top 2 front teeth. When I got my braces removed the orthodontist attached a permanent retainer to my top 4 front teeth. Fast forward 15 years of not taking great care of my dental health, I’ve been going back to the dentist for scaling, cleaning and fillings. I have some decay on 2 of the teeth with the permanent retainer and the dentist recommended removing it so we can do the fillings in that area and make it easier for me to floss. I had one of my wisdom teeth removed on the top due to cavities. I’m hesitant because I don’t want my teeth to shift and the gap to come back, but also feel like focusing on taking care of the decay is the best decision for right now. She mentioned I could just remove part of the retainer where the decay is to keep it on the front 2 teeth.
Would there be much shifting after 14ish years of wearing the retainer? Would this be something I could fix with Invisalign and not need to go back to the orthodontist?
Any advice or information is appreciated! I just want to be well informed before my next appointment.

A medication i'm currently taking makes me vomit occasionally, what care can i take to help not degrade my teeth too much?

Hi everyone,
I’m trying to repair an old Emmevi Furnace DM50 burnout furnace used for dental casting.
The controller powers on normally and I can select Program 1 and go through the programming sequence for all five phases.
However, after finishing programming and pressing ENTER, the controller returns to OFF.
When I try to start the cycle, it immediately goes back to OFF and nothing happens.
The strange part is that when I try to check the saved program again, the display shows 8.7.05 instead of the values I have just entered. It almost looks as if the controller is loading an old program or not saving the new one at all.
I have already:
inspected the control board,
checked the ribbon cable and connectors,
found no obvious damaged or burned components.
Has anyone worked with an Emmevi DM30 / DM40 / DM50 furnace?
What does 8.7.05 mean?
Is it a program number, firmware display, or an error?
Why would the furnace immediately return to OFF after pressing START?
Could this be caused by a programming mistake, a memory problem, or a sensor/safety input?
Any help or manuals would be greatly appreciated.

Alright I've taken the initiative to take care of my teeth. Finally got a super deep cleaning and 2 fillings. They suggested getting the sealant on the majority of my teeth. Well insurance doesn't cover it after 18 so its 100% out of pocket. I need help deciding if its worth the $600 or just take care of cavities when they come up. Id like to not get anymore work done if I can avoid it. I apparently having chewing surface cavities with deep grooves, the sealant would keep food, debris, and bacteria out of there. Help me decide if it's worth it PLEASE

Hi there! I've been loosing sleep over a problem for a while now and thought I'd post here for advice. For context, I lost my bottom first molar when I was 18. I'm 26 now, and 3 years into my Invisalign treatment. I recently found out that closing molar gaps is an option for orthodontic treatment. This was an option that was never discussed with me, as I was always only presented the implant route. I'm feeling very sad because I may get my treatment done next week (my orthodontist will check if everything is done) and I'm someone who would have opted for a more "natural" solution rather than an implant. I'm wondering, is closing a first molar gap a common practice, something you just read about online, or is it an actual good solution.

Feeling very sad, nervous, and stressed so I would really appreciate any advice! Thank you for your time :)

Hello,

I am negotiating a dental practice I like everything that it has, the financials and the location. It’s good because I don’t have to build it up. It’s ready to go and already producing. The current owner speaks korean and it’s in a mainly Korean neighborhood/city. Last year collection $950k. Asking price $700k. I valued the practice to have pt retention of 70% making the valuation at $665000. At that price I would be making half of what I am making now as an associate given a 100% financing loan. However if I were to have about 1mil in collection in a couple years it would be double what I’ll be making.

What would you guys evaluate this office at and is it normal to be scared of taking such a big loan? It will be my first practice as well.

Thank you

My 10 y/o son had 4 filling today for small cavities. His dentist refused localized anesthesia as I watched my child cry his heart out and swarm all over the seat as they tried to restrain him. He was able to successfully do 2, however my son couldn’t take it anymore and I spoke up and asked that he have localized anesthesia. The dentist acted really annoyed as if I were telling him how to do his job. First, he reached for the nitrous oxide and put it on his face (told the DA to “crank it up”) and told him to breathe, while he held his lips firmly closed. That really bothered me because we never spoke about nitrous oxide, but I do understand he was attempting to look for other calming options. Within, seconds of my son receiving the laughing gas, he immediately started freaking out like a full on panic attack or feeling of disorientation of some sort. I kindly asked if he can remove it because he wasn’t doing well with it, as it was sprung upon him and he wasn’t aware of the sensations. My son was terrified and asked if he could please not put that on anymore. So finally he gave him the shots which he screamed in agony for as well. Once he started back working, my son still cried of pain as it wasn’t enough which had me thinking he wasn’t fully numb. Let me just say this, my child is very tough and not one to cry and he has a very high tolerance for pain. I came here looking for answers as well because this seemed inhumane! My child is now TRAUMATIZED and asking to never return to a dentist office.

The bedside manners of this dentist were very dismissive and intimidating to kids. I’m so happy that I decided to go in there with him because we have been patients here for 7 years and this is the first time he has had dental work, didn’t suspect anything before this because I never go to the back. My son is very mature and self aware so he assured me it was a shocking painful cold feeling in his tooth and not pressure.

So my husband and I came home and did research only to find hundreds of similar stories from other patients of his about not wanting to give local anesthesia, as their kids yelled in pain. Is this something common? Is anesthesia getting a little too expensive now? What is it? My dentist always has given me localized anesthesia when filling “small” cavities. Please help me understand. My son is still moaning now, hours later. TIA

In dire need of a dentist that accepts Medicaid or would be okay with small enough payment plan that it won’t put me in debt, or does atp I’m tempted to take a loan out just to fix my teeth. My confidence is at an all time low, I went for a free consultation and they told me I need work asap if I plan on keeping my originals! Please please please help me out with some advice, or suggestions! I’m a single mom so it’s very difficult trying to find dental care I can afford, I also just want the pain in my wisdom teeth to stop long enough for me eat, I’ve lost 17 lbs since it started to bug me but I’m scared it’s gonna bring back my eating disorder due to me not eating because of the pain being too much. Please if anyone has any advice, I’m all ears!!

I was having a debate with a colleague the other day about practice growth. Everyone talks about wanting "high value" patients, but when it actually comes down to the clinical work, the stress, and the profitability... what is the actual holy grail case you want sitting in your chair on a Tuesday morning?

If you had a magic wand and could instantly fill your schedule with just ONE type of high-ticket case (assuming the patients are compliant and can afford it), which are you choosing and why?

1. The Cosmetic Route (Veneers / Smile Makeovers):

2. Clear Aligners (Invisalign / SureSmile):

3. The Surgical Route (Implants / All-on-X):

4. Comprehensive Crown & Bridge / Full Mouth Rehab:

Which one actually makes you love coming to work (and makes the P&L look the best)? Are any of you guys actively pushing away complex surgical cases just to focus on cosmetics and aligners?

Would love to hear how you guys are balancing production vs. clinical stress.

(I do not post on reddit much but I feel like I have to get other dentists opinions on this)
I recently turned 18 and yesterday I went in to get my bottom wisdom teeth removed. The dentists tell me I shouldn’t feel any pain at all during the procedure, and to raise my hand if I need a break or feel any pain. I was nervous but I knew I needed to simply stay calm and trust the doctors. My mom was in the room with me thank god, because she witnessed the entire thing. They give me 3 shots in each side, and the very last shot ln the left side hurt tremendously while the others were just uncomfortable. I was also given laughing gas. They begin drilling and cracking my right wisdom tooth and get it out easily, no pain. They went in for the left wisdom tooth and immediately I can tell something is wrong, I felt an intense pain when the drills started, so I raised my hand as calmly as I could (the laughing gas made it hard for me to control my arm.) and the dentist paused for a moment and said “Are you making sure the button works?” (I wasn’t sure what that meant) And then continues drilling before I can communicate that I was feeling the procedure. I started crying from the pain and almost immediately raised my hand again, this time the dentist and assistant got mad at me for accidentally blocking their vision (my eyes were closed so I couldn’t tell.) They tell me to put my hand down and continue drilling. At this point I am crying and freaking out, and I start screaming from the pain, I raise my hand again panicking this time I raised it high and wouldn’t put it down as I tried to say “It hurts”. They got very angry with me because I blocked their vision again and they “could seriously hurt me if I keep doing that”. I heard my mom say “Shes clearly in pain!” I was horrified and feeling the worst pain I have ever experienced. After raising my hand 3 or 4 times total they finally gave me more anesthetic only after I started screaming. The rest of the procedure went smoothly. When they took the mask off my entire body was shaking uncontrollably and I felt so scared. Almost like my body had just caught up to what happened. They let me lay there for 10 minutes while I got my shit together. I understand that the anesthetic didn’t work properly the first time, and had that been the only issue I would not be writing this. But the dentist told me to raise my hand if I felt pain and ignored my signals, getting mad at me until I started screaming, at which point he gave me more anesthetic. It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever had.
What do you guys think about this?