Dentistry Unmasked: A Roundtable Podcast

Before you sign your next employment contract, do you actually know what you’re agreeing to?  This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam sit down with Jim Weliky, an employment attorney who represents employees, to look at dental employment agreements from a perspective associates do not always hear.  Jim explains why there is really no such thing as a “standard” or “boilerplate” contract and why associate dentists should consider having an employment attorney review an agreement before signing it. The conversation covers at-will employment, termination provisions, non-compete and non-solicitation clauses, and what may (or may not) be negotiable before you accept a position. They also discuss one of the most important lessons in employment law: if something matters to you, get it in writing. Verbal promises and reassuring conversations may mean very little when they conflict with the language of a signed agreement. Whether you’re signing your first associate contract, changing jobs, or have been practicing for years, this episode will make you look at employment agreements differently. The few hundred dollars you spend understanding a contract before signing it could save you from a much more expensive problem later.

Do you really understand your taxes or do you simply hand everything to your CPA and hope for the best?  This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam sit down with Brian Hanks, author of the new book Taxes for Dentists, to break down what every dentist should understand about taxes and personal finance. Brian explains why dentists shouldn’t be passive participants in their financial lives, even when they have a great CPA or financial planner. Understanding a few fundamental tax concepts can help you ask better questions, make smarter decisions, and work more effectively with the professionals advising you.     From knowing what deserves your attention to understanding how tax decisions can affect your bigger financial picture, this conversation is about becoming a more informed practice owner not becoming your own accountant. If taxes are something you only think about once a year, this episode may change the way you approach your finances.

What if dental anxiety isn't just something patients have to live with? What if we could actually help them overcome it—in as little as three hours? In this episode of Dentistry Unmasked, Drs. Pam Maragliano and Brian Nový welcome Dr. Kelly Daly, a clinical psychologist and researcher at NYU, for a fascinating conversation about dental fear, where it comes from, and the surprising science behind treating it. Is dental fear the result of a bad experience, or is it something patients learn long before they ever sit in the dental chair? Can dentists really recognize an anxious patient? And are sedation and anti-anxiety medications helping patients overcome their fears—or simply helping them get through another appointment? Dr. Daly challenges some long-held assumptions about dental anxiety and explains how exposure therapy, behavioral strategies, and emerging technologies like virtual reality and telehealth could change the way we care for fearful patients. Perhaps most importantly, she reveals why the most anxious patient in your practice might be the one you'd least expect—and why simply asking about fear could be one of the most powerful things you do. This conversation might change the way you talk to patients, structure your appointments, and think about the role of psychology in dentistry. Want to help your fearful patients? Learn more about Dr. Daly's research and patient referral opportunities at dentalfearless.org. And don't miss next week's episode, when Pam, Brian, and Dr. Daly continue this eye-opening conversation!

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam chats with Dr. Stephen Shaw and they explore the movement toward simplification in direct restorative dentistry and take a closer look at one of its most challenging steps: composite shade selection. Traditional composite systems can require clinicians to choose from an overwhelming number of shades and opacities, adding complexity to everyday procedures while leaving practices with materials that may rarely be used, or expire before they ever make it into a restoration.  So, how much inventory do we really need? The conversation dives into the science behind newer adaptive shade technologies and the Filtek Easy Match system, which was designed to simplify shade selection using just three shades while adapting to variations in tooth structure and opacity. They discuss what simplified shade systems could mean for clinical efficiency, inventory management, predictability, and the everyday restorative workflow. Can we really make composite dentistry simpler without compromising the final result? If you've ever stared at a tray full of composite shades wondering whether there has to be an easier way, this episode is for you.

Every "yes" comes with a cost. But sometimes, so does "no." This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam wraps up her candid conversation with Irene Iancu by exploring one of the most difficult realities of building a public career in dentistry: knowing when to walk away.  From declining lucrative contracts and speaking engagements to ending partnerships and losing income, Irene shares why protecting your reputation sometimes means making decisions that don't make financial sense in the short term. Together, they discuss the challenges of setting boundaries, handling criticism, being labeled "difficult," and staying true to your values in an industry where relationships and visibility often influence opportunity.  Whether you're building a personal brand, speaking on the lecture circuit, creating content, or simply navigating your professional career, this episode is a reminder that credibility is earned over years, but can be lost in a single decision.  Success isn't measured by every opportunity you accept; it's often defined by the ones you're willing to decline.

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam sit down with Grace Rizza, CEO of Identity Dental Marketing to talk about why effective marketing starts long before you build a website, post on social media, or launch an ad campaign. It starts with understanding who you are as a clinician, what your practice stands for, and the patients you actually want to serve. Grace explains why your mission should be reflected throughout your brand and marketing, where DIY marketing can work (and fall short), and how the right marketing team can help turn your vision into a consistent message. The conversation also tackles some of the most common and costly marketing mistakes dentists make. If your marketing feels generic, inconsistent, or simply isn’t bringing the results you expected, this episode may help you figure out why. Before you spend more on marketing, make sure your marketing actually represents you.

Posting on social media is easy. Understanding what you're signing isn't. This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam continues her conversation with Irene Iancu, diving into the business side of social media and the contracts that come with content creation and brand partnerships.Not all collaborations are created equal. Irene breaks down the critical differences between being a content creator, an influencer, an educator, and a key opinion leader (KOL) and why each role requires different expectations, deliverables, and contract language. From ownership of your photos and videos to usage rights, exclusivity, licensing, and compensation, she explains the clauses every dental professional should understand before saying "yes" to a partnership. Whether you're creating your first sponsored post or building a personal brand online, this episode will help you recognize your value, ask the right questions, and protect your content before you hit "sign." If social media is part of your career, or you want it to be, don't miss this eye-opening conversation!

What does it really mean to become "known" in dentistry? Most of us see the highlight reel: the standing ovations, keynote presentations, podcasts, brand partnerships, social media, and travel. But what happens behind the scenes once your name becomes your brand? This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam sits down with Irene Iancu for an unfiltered conversation about building a public career in dentistry. From landing those first speaking opportunities to navigating conference politics, industry relationships, and the ever-evolving roles of educator, influencer, creator, and key opinion leader, Irene shares the realities that few people talk about. They also explore the pressure to always say "yes," how opportunities are really created, what companies are looking for, and the responsibility that comes with having a public voice. Whether you're dreaming of speaking, creating content, partnering with industry, or simply curious about what happens behind the curtain, this episode offers an honest look at the rewards, the challenges, and everything in between. If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to build a career beyond the operatory, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

Thirty-five years into dentistry, Dr. Abdi Sameni isn’t thinking much about slowing down. He’s still asking what he can learn next. Sameni joins Drs. Pam Maragliano and Brian Nový for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when dentists remain students of their profession. They explore why some of the most interesting dental education is happening outside the usual circles, how communities such as bioemulation connect clinicians around the world, and why mentorship can change the trajectory of a career. But the conversation also gets clinical: Is biomimetic dentistry always the right answer? Are dentists intervening too late—or sometimes doing too much? Sameni makes the case for respecting the tooth at every stage of life, detecting disease before conventional treatment becomes necessary, and choosing treatment for the patient in front of you rather than following a clinical ideology. Plus: why a Class II composite can still be worth traveling to learn, the surprisingly important problem of orthodontic retention, and what keeps dentistry interesting after decades in practice.

Dentists may be attractive borrowers to banks—but that doesn't necessarily mean they're borrowing money wisely. In this episode of Dentistry Unmasked, Drs. Pam Maragliano and Brian Nový talk with Daniel Gurfinkel of Gurfinkel & Partners about practice debt, credit, cash flow, and how dentists can approach financing more strategically. Brian shares his own experience seeking operating capital and discovering that the way he had structured his borrowing and credit wasn't necessarily taking full advantage of the options available to him. Gurfinkel, who describes his firm as a medical funding consultancy rather than a lender or broker, explains why practice owners often default to the easiest source of capital—which can also be among the most expensive. The conversation gets into refinancing high-interest debt, separating personal and business credit, and why understanding how banks evaluate dental practices can change the financing options available to practice owners. Gurfinkel also discusses promotional 0% financing strategies, their limitations, and why dentists need a repayment plan before relying on short-term capital. Pam and Brian also explore some less obvious factors that may affect a dentist's borrowing position, including the health of a credit profile and whether everyday business spending is actually helping establish business credit.   In this episode: Why the easiest source of capital may not be the cheapest   How high-interest debt can erode dental practice cash flow   Why lenders may view dentists differently from other business owners   The relationship between personal credit and practice financing   What dentists should understand about 0% promotional financing   Why short-term financing requires a clear repayment strategy   How business credit can differ from personal credit   Questions dentists should ask before taking on additional debt   Financial strategies discussed in this episode may not be appropriate for every practice or individual. Consider consulting qualified financial, tax, and lending professionals before making borrowing or refinancing decisions.