Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
Business & Finance
About
Teresa Duncan explores the dental business from behind-the-scenes of the industry to tackling management and business issues in the office. Show notes over at http://nobodytoldmethat.libsyn.com/
Episodes
- EP 173 Why Dentists Shouldn't Ignore Medical Billing
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Most dental patients think their only option is to pay out of pocket or rely on limited dental insurance, but what if thousands of dollars in…
- EP 172 Things Every Dental Assistant Wants in 2026 (Dental Assistant Retention Secret)
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter What keeps great dental assistants loyal to a practice and why do so many leave? Julie Varney shares what dentists can understand about retent…
- EP 171 The Truth About Running a Dental Practice in 2026
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Dentistry is changing fast and most practices are either adapting or falling behind. From rising costs and staffing challenges to new technolo…
- EP 170 How to Dominate AI Search Results in 2026 (Dental Marketing Tips)
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter If your dental marketing still focuses only on getting found by Google, you're already behind because today your real audience is not just pat…
- EP 169 I Taught Dentists Leadership (And I Learned This!)
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Sometimes the most powerful management lessons come from honest conversations with dental professionals who are navigating the same challenges…
- EP 168 What Makes a Great Dental Office Manager (It's Not What You Think)
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter This episode with my friend Michelle Affanato breaks down what truly makes a great dental office manager, especially for those promoted from w…
- EP 167 Can Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDA) SOLVE The Dental Shortage?
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Dental practices are being stretched thinner than ever, but the solution isn't just hiring more people. It's learning how to better use, train…
- EP 166 The Real Reason Dental Billing Is So Frustrating
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Does dental billing feel harder than it used to? You're doing the same work, but claims stall, rules change, and nothing seems consistent anym…
- Special Episode: Chew On This Trends for 2026
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter What will dentistry really look like in 2026? Teresa Duncan and Kevin Henry cut through the noise to unpack the economic, workforce, insurance…
- EP 165 The Side of Dental Practice Management No One Talks About!
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Most dental practices don't struggle because of dentistry but because of what happens behind the scenes. Practice management is rarely taught…
- EP 164 How To Protect Your Dental License
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Did you know that throwing away a simple "education letter" from an insurance company could be the first step toward an audit seven years late…
- EP 163 Leadership Advice For New Managers
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Leading employees can feel like walking through a minefield. One wrong step and morale, productivity, or trust can explode. But great leaders…
- EP 162 #1 Cost Optimization Expert: Use My Tips to Cut Dental Costs by 28%
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Your practice might look efficient, but what if unnoticed expenses are quietly draining thousands from your bottom line each year? My friend A…
- EP 161 The Real World of Dentistry No One Prepares You For
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Dental school prepares you to save teeth but not for the life that comes with it. The truth is, most dentists are blindsided by what happens o…
- Special Episode: The Dental Billing Lie Everyone Believes
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter In this special takeover episode, Ashley Bond shares why dental billing isn't a solo job, it's a team sport. When hygienists, assistants, and…
- EP 160 True Crime: California Dentist "Reign of Terror"
Dr. Bicuspid Editor-in-Chief Kevin Henry joins me to discuss some crazy current events! A California dentist has been sentenced to 75 years to life in state prison after what prosecutors called a "reign of terror." The man's crimes include…
- EP 159 My Takeaways From The NADP Meeting
Every year, I attend Converge, the annual conference of the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP). It's where I explore the latest issues and challenges faced by carriers and providers. I've watched the evolving partnerships between…
- EP 158 Lessons Patients Taught Me The Hard Way
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Lessons Patients Taught Me The Hard Way Some of the most powerful lessons in dentistry don't come from textbooks or training, but from real-li…
- EP 157 The One Mistake That Could Wipe Out Your Dental Practice Overnight
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Did you know a single ransomware attack can cost a dental office six figures or shut it down entirely? A small dental practice is an ideal tar…
- EP 156 Dental Insurance Secrets Every Dentist Should Know
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Did you know 80% of dental claim denials can be overturned with the right strategy? I love meeting fellow insurance nerds! My time with Dr. Ch…
- EP 155 Beyond Micromanagement: What Makes Today's Office Managers Great
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Modern office managers lead through clarity, culture, and connection not control. My longtime friend and colleague Lorie Streeter joins me for…
- EP 154 Dental Case Acceptance Tips: How Your Team Can Increase Treatment Acceptance Rates
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Is the secret to more dental case acceptance hiding in plain sight right inside your own team? If you've ever wondered why some patients freez…
- EP 153 Dental Clues to Your Baby's Developmental Delays: What Every Parent Should Know
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter What if your child's speech or chewing could give you clues about hidden developmental delays? Did you know that your child's visit to the den…
- EP 152 Future of Interoperability of Dental Information with Steve Roberts, CEO of VYNE
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Imagine a dental world where patient data flows as freely as it does in medicine—no more wasted time, lost information, or clunky workarounds.…
- EP 151 Dentists Are Burning Out FAST and Here's How to Stop It!
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Are you a dentist feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or just stuck in survival mode? What if the real issue isn't your clinical skills, but how…
- EP 150 She Turned $40/mo Side Hustle into a 7-Figure Dental Business!
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter She started charging just $40 a month—now she runs a business that hit 7 figures. In this episode, Amanda DeMoura shares how her small side hu…
- EP 149 Dr. Greg Wu Defies Medical Odds and Grows As A Leader
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter A stroke stole his manual skills—could it end his career? In this episode, Dr. Gregory Wu opens up about the life-altering moment a stroke der…
- EP 148 What To Do When Tragedy Strikes A Dental Practice
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter What actually happens when an unexpected loss or injury shatters the routine of your practice? It's a question no one wants to ask—until it's…
- EP 147 Why Most Dentists Are Losing Money on PPOs… And How to Stop It!
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Are you a dentist or manager in a seemingly endless struggle to stay profitable on PPO plans? You're definitely not alone. One of my first tru…
- EP 146 Key Tips You Absolutely Need Before Outsourcing Your Dental Billing!
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Outsourcing your dental billing can either clean up your RCM or leave you picking up the pieces. Before you trust someone with your cash flow,…
- EP 145 DENTAL INSURANCE and MEDICARE ADVANTAGE Secrets You Need to Know!
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Missing these insurance secrets could cost your dental practice - are you prepared? From navigating insurance portals and password overload to…
- EP 144 Dental Billing & Outsourcing with Michelle Repash
"More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter || " Dental billing companies can spot embezzlement and cash flow issues faster than your in-house team! Dental billing expert Michelle Repas…
- EP 143 Medical Billing for Dental Procedures: Your Newest RCM Tool
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: https://www.odysseymgmt.com/newsletter Leslie Icenogle, CPC, a leading medical-dental billing expert, shared her strategies to maximize your dental revenue through proper medical co…
- EP 142 How Erika Pusillo Built A Dream Career As A Dental Manager
Are you signed up for my newsletter? Watch this episode on YouTube! Ever wonder what happens when a sterilization tech becomes a practice optimizer for a 50-person dental office? I sat down with someone who lived that exact journey, and he…
- EP 141 Hiring a Dental Manager? Avoid These Mistakes
Are you struggling to find the right office manager? It might be costing you more than you think! In this episode, I'm sharing how to avoid the common hiring mistakes many dental practices make when choosing the perfect manager. I'll expla…
- EP 140 My Advice and Two Impactful Words For An Amazing 2025
Along with my quick wrap up of 2024 I thought that I'd share two words that have helped me in difficult situations. Perhaps they'll come in handy for 2025 and the many decisions to come. The simple words "unless" and "until" have helped me…
- EP 139 Industry Updates and How They Impact Your Dental Business with Ted Osterer
Ted Osterer returns to the show to discuss recent bankruptcies and sales in our industry. Large companies are experiencing shifts and they have teams of advisors. How can a smaller dental business learn from these mistakes and strategize f…
- Ep 138 What Every Dental Practice Needs to Know About Labor Laws and Employee Relations
In this episode of Nobody Told Me That!, I sit down with HR expert Alan Twigg from Bent Erickson and Associates to discuss HR policies and how they can make or break a dental practice. From avoiding legal pitfalls with proper documentation…
- Ep 137 How and When to Terminate a Patient
Not every patient is a good fit for your practice. Life is actually easier when you prune the bad ones. If you've dealt with patients who miss appointments, delay payments, or even compromise your team's safety, this episode is for you. Th…
- EP 136 Growing Into A Great Manager
Being a new manager is scary and challenging. Everything is different now. You are juggling your work friendships and building trust with your doctor. You're managing different personalities all while leading by example, there's a lot more…
- EP 135 Chew On This Cross-Pod: Space Dentistry and Assistants Giving Injections
These are excerpts from two fun episodes of my other podcast Chew on This. Have you ever wondered how treatment in space would happen? Of course you have! My co-host Kevin Henry and I explore the challenges of space dentistry, including ho…
- EP 134 What's The AADOM Conference All About? | American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM)
What's the big deal with the AADOM Conference? New attendees are often surprised by the event so let me share what to expect. The AADOM Conference offers networking and educational sessions plus key opportunities for dental office managers…
- Ep 133 Cross-Pod: The Future of Dental Billing
I'm sharing a recent podcast episode I recorded with my friends at A Breath of Fresh Air. Their podcast focuses on dental billing and they wanted my thoughts on our industry's future. We talked about the surprising ways dental and medical…
- EP 132: How to Manage Out-of-Control Claims in Your Dental Practice
Dealing with out-of-control claims can feel overwhelming but I'm here to help you get a handle on it. We'll break down actionable steps to bring order to the chaos and make sure your dental aging report cleans up nicely. I'll walk you thro…
- EP 131: The Truth About Going Out of Network
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@odysseymgmt You should know a few facts about leaving a network before you make any big decisions. In this solo episode, I share tidbits from my hundreds of strategy calls with dentists and managers on this to…
- EP 130: Insurance Mailbag: Audits, Medicare Advantage & Disallows
My Mid-Year Insurance Update webinar generated a lot of questions (as usual!). I couldn't answer them all so I thought I'd share them with you. The webinar touched on Open Season, Medicare Advantage, audits, materials upgrades and particip…
- EP 129: Mastering Dental Marketing with Sean Hamel
In this episode I was able to hang out with Sean Hamel, the brain behind the Art of Dental Marketing. He believes strongly in personalized, emotionally engaging marketing and gave us lots of examples. He talked about using killer videos an…
- EP 128: Virtual Clinical Dentistry Is Easier You Think with Brant Herman
Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube ! My friend Brant Herman joins me to talk about virtual clinical dentistry. It's not a stretch to call him a dental visionary. His Mouthwatch camera enabled low cost intraoral imaging…
- EP 127: Bite-Sized Social Media Strategies for Dental Teams with Rita Zamora
Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube ! In this special mini edition of "Nobody Told Me That!" I turned the reins over to Rita Zamora of Connect 90 to share her expertise in social media content. Social media fatigue is re…
- EP 126: Virtual Receptionists and Digital Customer Service with Rita Zamora and Rebecca Herring
Don't forget to check out the video episode on YouTube ! In this episode of "Nobody Told Me That!" we explore how modern solutions like virtual assistants are transforming dental practices. Joined by industry experts Rita Zamora and Rebecc…